December 22 Evening Edition

NBC5
— Shutdown Expected to Drag Into Christmas as Talks Continue Even a temporary measure to keep the government running for a few days while negotiations continued seemed out of reach – Lisa Mascaro, Darlene Superville and Kevin Freking
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Federal-Government-Shutdown-Begins-Trump-Lawmakers-Fail-Deal-Wall-503378981.html

 

ABC7
— A look back at recent federal government shutdowns (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996.)
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/a-look-back-at-recent-government-shutdowns/2971149/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Chicago Democrat operatives tied to McHenry County chairman behind ‘Crooked Joe’ flyers, printer says under threat of jail – Amanda Marrazzo
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-mchenry-county-campaign-flyer-jail-contempt-20181221-story.html
— Here’s what a partial government shutdown means for Chicago – Mike Riopell, Morgan Greene
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-federal-government-shutdown-chicago-20181217-story.html
— Chicago Heights mayor unopposed after 3 challengers tossed from ballot – Ted Slowik
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-slowik-chicago-heights-election-ct-1223-story.html
— Facebook has 5 ‘core values.’ Guess where ‘protect users’ ranks – Joseph Holt
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-facebook-privacy-zuckerberg-microsoft-amazon-1221-20181220-story.html
— Shutdown to stretch until at least Thursday as Senate adjourns with no budget deal – Paul Kane, David Weigel and Philip Rucker
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-20181222-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— New asylum policy comes with few details, many questions – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/new-asylum-policy-comes-with-few-details-many-questions/
— Trump staying in D.C. for Christmas – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-staying-in-d-c-for-christmas/
— Open and closed: shutdown’s varied impact on parks, tourists – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/open-and-closed-shutdowns-varied-impact-on-parks-tourists/

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Breaker Press president names Jack Franks’ former campaign manager in court Political printing company outs County Board chairman’s ex-campaign staffers – ED KOMENDA
https://www.nwherald.com/2018/12/21/breaker-press-president-names-jack-franks-former-campaign-manager-in-court/apkgyas/

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Taxes upset you? Look at pensions – David Giuliani
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/david-giuliani-taxes-upset-you-look-at-pensions/article_d282fc0e-0488-11e9-a229-e3b49a1b6c59.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Let’s do a comparison: An active worker making $50,000 in 2008 would see his income rise to $58,400 by 2018 if increases only kept up with the rate of inflation. With a public pension, a person’s income would rise to $67,200 during the same time, nearly double the increase of the active worker’s pay. Under the Illinois Constitution, the state cannot diminish employees’ pensions. The state Supreme Court interprets this to mean that the terms of an employee’s public pension benefits must stay exactly the same from the very first day of employment. In 2011, the state made changes to the pension systems for employees who started in 2011 or later — known as Tier 2. When they retire, they’ll get noncompounded, annual increases of 3 percent or half the consumer price index, whichever is less. When Tier 2 folks start retiring, our state likely will see its pension costs grow less rapidly — or perhaps start to fall. But we’re decades away from that rosy scenario. In the meantime, more and more people are leaving the state. That means fewer taxpayers are staying around to pay the growing pension bills.)

 

WREG
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Barrington promotes LGBTQ activity big time.
https://wreg.com/2018/12/21/neighbors-cover-street-with-rainbow-flags-after-couples-flag-stolen-replaced-with-american-flag/

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Activist and Parkland survivor David Hogg to attend Harvard University – AP (DIERSEN: Having survived a mass shooting at a Florida high school gives Hogg standing to fight against gun violence. Having been forced to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old by my Democrat GAO superiors gives me standing to fight against political affiliation discrimination, against reverse discrimination, against age discrimination, and against retaliation. Previously, they gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/activist-and-parkland-survivor-david-hogg-to-attend-harvard-university

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— The Fate of Illinois Farmland, An Intergenerational Effort – KRISTIN WALTERS (DIERSEN: On my mother’s side, my grandfather, my great grandfather, and my great great grandfather operated a farm in Grant Park. On my father’s side, my great grandfather and my great great grandfather operated a farm in Crete.)
http://www.nprillinois.org/post/fate-illinois-farmland-intergenerational-effort#stream/0

 

WINNETKA PATCH
— Winnetka Attorney, GOP Committeeman Considered To Replace Rauner   A Republican national committeeman confirmed he was the fourth person approached by Gov. Bruce Rauner about taking his place on the ballot. – Jonah Meadows (DIERSEN: What if any of the four had gone public when they were approached? Would the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee have a) forced Rauner to withdraw and b) replaced him with Ives?)
https://patch.com/illinois/winnetka/winnetka-attorney-gop-committeeman-considered-replace-rauner

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Detail of What Happened in Court Featuring Revelation of Jack Franks’ Allies Who Sent Mail Smearing Joe Tirio’s Name
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/22/detail-of-what-happened-in-court-featuring-revelation-of-jack-franks-allies-who-sent-mail-smearing-joe-tirios-name/

 

AMERICANS FOR TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
— Good Morning America Celebrates ‘Drag Kid’ – ‘Desmond Is Amazing’ – Media Child Abuse? – Peter LaBarbera
https://americansfortruth.com/2018/12/21/good-morning-america-celebrates-drag-kid-desmond-is-amazing-media-child-abuse/

 

NEW AMERICAN
— Supreme Court: Borders Open; Trump Can’t Stop Illegal-Alien Invasion – R. Cort Kirkwood
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/31003-supreme-court-borders-open-trump-can-t-stop-illegal-alien-invasion

 

GOPUSA
— Government shutdown 2018: What will close and who still needs to work
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=61503

 

PJ MEDIA
— 4 Reasons Why Big Tech is Hazardous to Our Lives – JEFF SANDERS (DIERSEN: Instead of reading articles linked in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and instead of reading my comments on those emails, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes want you to spend 24 hours a day on a Democrat website called Facebook.)
https://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/4-reasons-why-big-tech-is-hazardous-to-our-lives/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: 1. They are spying on us. . .2. They are censoring us. . .3. They are selling us. . .4. They are time-wasters.)

 

BREITBART
— Gun Control Activist David Hogg Accepted to Harvard – Awr Hawkins (DIERSEN: Having survived a mass shooting at a Florida high school gives Hogg standing to fight against gun violence. Having been forced to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old by my Democrat GAO superiors gives me standing to fight against political affiliation discrimination, against reverse discrimination, against age discrimination, and against retaliation. Previously, they gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/22/gun-control-activist-david-hogg-accepted-harvard/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Hogg emerged as a gun control activist following the February 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas attack and continues to seek restrictions on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. On December 9, 2018, Breitbart News reported that Hogg mocked Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for sharing Bible verses on Twitter, pushing Rubio to pass gun laws instead. On December 8, Breitbart News reported that Hogg was pushing a federal sales tax on all firearms, despite the fact that such a tax would run the risk of making firearms cost prohibitive for poorer Americans who may need them most. On October 29, 2018–two days after the attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue–Hogg mocked President Trump’s suggestion that places of worship acquire armed protection. No security was in the synagogue when the attacker struck.)

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— LaBarbera: Catholic Church ignoring source of scourge Another state (Illinois) has discovered the Catholic Church hasn’t been honest about priest abuse in its ranks. – Steve Jordahl
https://www.onenewsnow.com/church/2018/12/21/labarbera-catholic-church-ignoring-source-of-scourge

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Pro-lifers save two babies by singing Christmas carols outside abortion centers – Lisa Bourne
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/pro-lifers-save-two-babies-by-singing-christmas-carols-outside-abortion-cen

 

THE HILL
— Shutdown to drag on for days after Senate adjourns without deal – JORDAIN CARNEY AND JESSE BYRNES
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/422610-senate-adjourns-until-monday-without-taking-action-to-end-shutdown

 

POLITICO
— Senate adjourns with no sign of shutdown in sight The Senate move, no plans to reconvene until Dec. 27, suggest Washington is settling into a lengthy government shutdown. – HEATHER CAYGLE, BURGESS EVERETT and RACHAEL BADE
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/22/government-shutdown-2018-deal-1074299

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Russians Tried, but Were Unable to Compromise Midterm Elections, U.S. Says – Julian E. Barnes
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/us/politics/russia-midterm-election-influence-coates.html
— Government Shutdown to Continue for Days as Senate Adjourns Until Thursday – Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Katie Rogers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/22/us/politics/shutdown-trump-senate.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “For Trump, ‘a War Every Day,’ Waged Increasingly Alone. At the midpoint of his term, the president has grown more sure of his own judgment and more isolated from anyone else’s than at any point since he took office.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/22/us/politics/trump-two-years.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: “Saving the Dreamers” would result in millions more children being brought into America illegally.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/newt-gingrich-and-donald-graham-fund-the-wall-and-save-the-dreamers/2018/12/22/eb89b756-05f0-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Government Shutdown Continues as Senate Adjourns Until Thursday Negotiations over a spending deal are expected to continue – Kristina Peterson and Natalie Andrews
https://www.wsj.com/articles/on-day-one-of-shutdown-talks-set-to-resume-over-border-wall-funding-11545496150

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “A rogue presidency: The era of containing Trump is over.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-rogue-presidency-the-era-of-containing-trump-is-over/2018/12/22/26fc010e-055b-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html
— Shutdown to stretch on until at least Thursday as Senate adjourns with no deal over budget, Trump’s border wall – Paul Kane and Philip Rucker
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/shutdown-day-1-trump-warns-it-could-be-a-long-stay-amid-impasse-over-border-wall/2018/12/22/006ff10c-060b-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html

 

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
— Russia’s election trolls found it all too easy to manipulate black voters – Solomon Jones
http://www.philly.com/columnists/russia-election-interference-black-voters-20181219.html

 

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
— When was the last government shutdown? A timeline of US shutdowns – Fiza Pirani (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree during shutdowns in 2013 and this year. I was an IRS employee during shutdowns in 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. I was a GAO employee during shutdowns in 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1995, and 1996.)
https://www.ajc.com/news/national/when-was-the-last-government-shutdown-timeline-shutdowns/KlN1FLdhfBz9FznrrIBpTI/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— White House Digs In on Wall Demand, Aims for ‘Painless’ Shutdown – Erich Wagner 3:1
https://www.govexec.com/management/2018/12/white-house-digs-wall-demand-aims-painless-shutdown/153781/

 

MOTOR ILLUSTRATED
— 2019 Jeep Cherokee vs 2019 Ford Escape Quick Comparison – Matt St-Pierre (DIERSEN: I am considering buying a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited or a 2019 Ford Escape Titanium. Which would you recommend and why?)
https://motorillustrated.com/2019-jeep-cherokee-vs-2019-ford-escape-quick-comparison/14968/

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.