December 22 Morning Edition

ABC7
— Congress passes COVID-19 relief package with $600 stimulus checks for most Americans. The relief package would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct payment stimulus checks to most Americans. – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/stimulus-check-update-second-package/8976099/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Community health centers must decide who to vaccinate first
(DIERSEN: According to the Democrats, the following are discriminated against, and therefore, they should get priority: minorities, females, younger people, illegals, those who have less money than others, those who have less education than others, those who have health problems, non-Christians, non-Protestants, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, non-gun owners, liberals, moderates, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, boozers, gamblers, stoners, criminals, etc.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/essential-coronavirus-news/2020/12/21/22193051/latest-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chicago-illinois-2020

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging again in Illinois prisons, as inmates and advocates call for more action – CHRISTY GUTOWSKI
https://www.chicagotribune.com/investigations/ct-coronavirus-illinois-prisons-outbreak–20201222-workhpdahvbvxlqr3rvbruworm-story.html
— MARCH 4, 2019 FLASHBACK: Where do the Naperville City Council candidates stand on the issues? Here are their answers. – ERIN HEGARTY
(DIERSEN: Are/were you a Naperville newcomer? Notwithstanding Naperville’s $630 Real Estate Transfer Tax for me ( https://www.naperville.il.us/government/city-finances/taxes-fees-and-financial-forms/real-estate-transfer-tax/ ), I bought a 20′ X 40′ unit for $210,000 in Naperville’s Iron Gate Motor Condos ( https://www.irongatemotorcondos.com/contact/ ).)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-city-council-candidates-st-0304-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Joe McElroy: When I was elected to City Council in 2011, the city was in the final stages of downsizing the staff. Today we have fewer employees than we did 10 years ago, even though we have more people. If and when tax and fee increases are needed, we should protect existing residents first, shifting as much of the tax burden as possible to newcomers (real estate transfer tax) and visitors (sales taxes). However, we need to remain competitive with other cities. Also, we should look at how much we charge nonresidents to use our library and other city services.)

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE: At least 10 DuPage suburbs to have contested mayoral elections – Katlyn Smith and Scott Morgan
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20201221/at-least-10-dupage-suburbs-to-have-contested-mayoral-elections
— Despite election fatigue, voters need to refocus for local races – Editorial
(DIERSEN: Questions to ask candidates: If elected, would you encourage or discourage the following: reparations, BLM, LGBTQ, dependency on government, dependency on charity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, more gun controls, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20201222/editorial-despite-election-fatigue-voters-need-to-refocus-for-local-races
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump haters are overjoyed that “Barr undercuts Trump on election and Hunter Biden inquiries.” Who are/were lead undercutters in the organizations that you are/were a member of? I should write a book about present/past undercutters in the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc. I would focus on undercutters who undercut/undercutted those like me who support the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20201221/news/312219945

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Restaurant asks Illinois Supreme Court to throw out indoor dining ban – SARAH MANSUR
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/restaurant-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-throw-out-indoor-dining-ban/article_d2c5df1b-fbad-5083-bd63-db294c27daa3.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Members of Congress face backlash as they get priority for scarce vaccine – Stephen Loiaconi
(DIERSEN: According to the Democrats, the following are discriminated against, and therefore, they should get priority: minorities, females, younger people, citizens of foreign countries, those who have less money than others, those who have less education than others, those who have health problems, non-Christians, non-Protestants, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, non-gun owners, liberals, moderates, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, etc.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/vaccination-of-members-of-congress-spurs-backlash-questions-of-fairness

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— LGBTQ advocates sue Trump administration over strict, new asylum rules
(DIERSEN: LBGTQ advocates are anti-Republican.)
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/border-report-tour/lgbtq-advocates-sue-trump-administration-over-strict-new-asylum-rules/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump haters say “Trump, House lawmakers plot futile effort to block Biden win.”
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/trump-house-lawmakers-plot-futile-effort-to-block-biden-win/
— Second stimulus check: Who gets the $600 payment and when
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/second-stimulus-check-who-gets-the-600-payment-and-when/

NPR ILLINOIS
— ‘Already Behind’: Diversifying The Legal Profession Starts Before The LSAT – NINA TOTENBERG
(DIERSEN: Because so many law school professors are so anti-conservative, I never took the LSAT. However, I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and I passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/already-behind-diversifying-legal-profession-starts-lsat#stream/0

WHEATON PATCH
— Wheaton Public Library Continues ‘Talking About Race’ Series. The Jan. 7 virtual meeting will be about how to be an anti-racist.
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, Independents and Independent plants, and RINOs hint/imply/argue/shout that Republicans are racists and even worse things and especially Republicans who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/wheaton-public-library-continues-talking-race-series

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Why Did Chicago Stop Growing? Our city became a metropolis by gobbling up suburbs we now know as neighborhoods. Then, in the 1960s, it stopped. – EDWARD MCCLELLAND
http://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/December-2020/Why-Chicago-Stopped-Growing/

CHICAGO NOW
— Watch a discussion of possible 2022 Republican Gov Candidates, IL’s budget deficit, Speaker Madigan’s possible stage exit & vaccines – Jeff Berkowitz
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2020/12/watch-a-discussion-of-possible-2022-republican-gov-candidates-ils-budget-deficit-speaker-madigans-possible-stage-exit-vaccines-cable-net/

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— Restaurant asks Illinois Supreme Court to throw out indoor dining ban – SARAH MANSUR

https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/restaurant-asks-illinois-supreme-court-to-throw-out-indoor-dining-ban

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump appeals to Supreme Court, House Republicans to overturn ‘rigged’ election – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/21/donald-trump-appeals-supreme-court-house-republica/

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Union: Stay at Home (Unless You’re Campaigning for Georgia Democrats) – Collin Anderson
https://freebeacon.com/2020-election/union-stay-at-home-unless-youre-campaigning-for-georgia-dems/
— Teachers at Elite NYC Private School Make List of 24 ‘Anti-Racist’ Demands – Alex Nester
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrat teachers make their students anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexuals, anti-married people, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://freebeacon.com/campus/teachers-at-elite-nyc-private-school-make-list-of-24-anti-racist-demands/

BREITBART
— CDC Panel: People Over 75, Frontline Workers, Potentially Illegal Farmworkers Should Get Shot Next
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/12/21/cdc-panel-people-over-75-frontline-workers-potentially-illegal-farmworkers-should-get-shot-next/

DAILY CALLER
— Mitch McConnell: GOP Win In Georgia Will Guarantee Biden ‘Will Be A Moderate’ – SCOTT MOREFIELD
https://dailycaller.com/2020/12/21/mitch-mcconnell-republican-georgia-joe-biden-moderate-senate/

EPOCH TIMES
— All Eyes on Congress as Lawmakers Vow to Oppose Electoral Votes – IVAN PENTCHOUKOV AND ZACHARY STIEBER
https://www.theepochtimes.com/all-eyes-on-congress-as-lawmakers-vow-to-oppose-electoral-votes_3627956.html
— State GOP Lawmakers Call on Congress Members to Back Elector Challenge – IVAN PENTCHOUKOV
https://www.theepochtimes.com/state-gop-lawmakers-call-on-congress-members-to-back-elector-challenge_3628308.html

THE HILL
— Trump supporters organizing ‘second inauguration’ for him online Jan. 20 – JOSEPH CHOI
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/531186-trump-supporters-organizing-second-inauguration-for-him-online-january-20

POLITICO
— Breaking down the $900B stimulus package and $1.4T omnibus bill. The legislation offers a wide range of help, both for individuals and for struggling elements of the economy, from mass transit to movie theaters. – CAITLIN EMMA and MARIANNE LEVINE
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/20/details-stimulus-package-omnibus-bill-449499

CNN
— Trump supporters drown out GOP senator at Georgia election rally – Erin Burnett
(DIERSEN: Which hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will seek to lead the Illinois Republican Party: Adam Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, Pat Brady? How strongly will they promise to get rid of the 2,446,891 who voted for Trump in Illinois, the 193,611 who voted for Trump in DuPage County, the 20,080 who voted for Trump in Milton Township, and the157 who voted for Trump in my precinct?)
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/12/22/kelly-loeffler-interrupted-trump-election-chants-ebof-sot-vpx.cnn

ABC NEWS
— Blacks in Air Force face many forms of discrimination, inspector general report finds
(DIERSEN: At GAO, IRS, and the USPS, the more of the following that you are, the more discrimination that you face: Trump supporter, conservative, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owner, draft avoider, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-force-blacks-discrimination-inspector-general-report/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Senate Candidates Duel in Georgia as G.O.P. Voters’ Anger Persists. As the state’s Republican senators rallied with Ivanka Trump, and their Democratic challengers welcomed Kamala Harris, conservative voters were focused on the president’s election loss. – Astead W. Herndon and Rick Rojas
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/21/us/politics/georgia-senate-race.html
— Why ‘Pivot Counties’ That Stuck With Trump May Be a Warning for Democrats More than 200 counties flipped from Barack Obama to Donald J. Trump in 2016. Joe Biden won only 25 of them back. – Trip Gabriel
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/us/politics/trump-voters-swing-counties.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It is a region of small, postindustrial cities that have suffered manufacturing losses, where largely white voters, after years of voting for Democrats, embraced Mr. Trump’s nationalism and culturally backward-gazing message. “You can look at the part of the country where I live and where I serve, there is a feeling they have been left behind and we haven’t delivered,” said Representative Cheri Bustos, a Democrat whose northwest Illinois district includes nine Obama-Trump counties. All of them stayed with Mr. Trump this year. Ms. Bustos, who was chair of the Democrats’ House campaign committee, barely won re-election herself. She said Democrats needed to bring concrete benefits to farmers in the same way Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered rural electrification. Despite expectations that Mr. Biden, with his Everyday Joe persona, would win back many blue-collar voters, he appears to have done worse with them than Hillary Clinton or Mr. Obama in both of his elections.)

WASHINGTON POST
— About 74 percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight, according to the CDC – Linda Searing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/most-american-adults-are-overweight/2020/12/18/faefa834-408d-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE: Google, Facebook Agreed to Team Up Against Possible Antitrust Action, Draft Lawsuit Says Draft lawsuit quotes Facebook’s Sandberg saying Google pact was a ‘big deal strategically’ – Ryan Tracy and John D. McKinnon
(DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes side with Google and with Facebook against me and against my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-facebook-agreed-to-team-up-against-possible-antitrust-action-draft-lawsuit-says-11608612219
— Why Many Bosses Won’t Require Workers to Get the Covid-19 Vaccine – Chip Cutter and Sarah Krouse
(DIERSEN: To get rid of their employees, members, and residents who are the following, expect that employers, organizations, municipalities, townships, counties, states, and countries will require vaccination of those who are Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German Americans, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/covid-2020-12-21/card/NCshgM5uVuCJHiL1nT6a?mod
— Companies Have Promised $35 Billion Toward Racial Equity. Where Is the Money Going? Corporations say they are using their financial might to narrow racial wealth and opportunity gap; tracking those efforts can be tough – Lauren Weber
(DIERSEN: To promote racial equity is to get rid of those who are Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German Americans, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-have-promised-billions-toward-racial-equity-where-is-the-money-going-11608570864
— Long-Haul Covid Patients Put Hope in Experimental Drugs People suffering from debilitating symptoms for months after getting sick with Covid are searching for relief – Sumathi Reddy
https://www.wsj.com/articles/experimental-drugs-aim-to-treat-long-haul-covid-11608569400
— The Month Coronavirus Unraveled American Business – A WSJ Documentary March 2020 began on a high note for American business and ended with the economy in tatters
https://www.wsj.com/video/series/31-days-in-march/the-month-coronavirus-unraveled-american-business-a-wsj-documentary/4B61D14E-2D7B-44BD-A71F-7C271B62AFA4
— A Pandemic of Misinformation. The media’s politicization of Covid has proved deadly and puts Americans’ freedoms at risk. – Scott W. Atlas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-pandemic-of-misinformation-11608570640

BLOOMBERG
— McConnell Says He Will Allow Biden’s Cabinet Nominees a Hearing – Max Berley
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-22/mcconnell-says-he-will-allow-biden-s-cabinet-nominees-a-hearing

FORBES
— Fox News, Newsmax Walk Back Election Fraud Claims After Voting Machine Manufacturer Threatens Legal Action – Jemima McEvoy
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/12/21/fox-news-newsmax-walk-back-election-fraud-claims-after-voting-machine-manufacturer-threatens-legal-action/

WASHINGTONIAN
— Yet Another Trump March Promised for January 6 in DC. The event “will be wild!” the President tweeted this weekend. – ANDREW BEAUJON
(DIERSEN: Which hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will seek to lead the Illinois Republican Party: Adam Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, Pat Brady? How strongly will they promise to get rid of the 2,446,891 who voted for Trump in Illinois, the 193,611 who voted for Trump in DuPage County, the 20,080 who voted for Trump in Milton Township, and the157 who voted for Trump in my precinct?)
https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/12/21/yet-another-trump-march-promised-for-january-6-in-dc/

WASHINGTON MONTHLY
— Who Will Hold Republicans Accountable in a Biden Administration? The Washington Monthly will be there and can do so much more if you help. – David Atkins
(DIERSEN: Which hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will seek to lead the Illinois Republican Party: Adam Kinzinger, Joe Walsh, Pat Brady? How strongly will they promise to get rid of the 2,446,891 who voted for Trump in Illinois, the 193,611 who voted for Trump in DuPage County, the 20,080 who voted for Trump in Milton Township, and the157 who voted for Trump in my precinct?)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/12/21/who-will-hold-republicans-accountable-in-a-biden-administration/

NEWSWEEK
— Hundreds of Young Republicans, Trump Admin, GOP Officials Defy COVID Rules at Florida Gala – KATHERINE FUNG
https://www.newsweek.com/hundreds-young-republicans-trump-admin-gop-officials-defy-covid-rules-florida-gala-1556372

POLITICAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump haters say “The Twitter Presidency: How Donald Trump’s Tweets Undermine Democracy and Threaten Us All.”
https://www.psqonline.org/article.cfm?IDArticle=20100

EDUCATION NEXT
— Pandemic Offers Opportunity to Reduce Standardized Testing – Joshua P. Starr
(DIERSEN: What tests have you passed? The tests that I have passed include a) the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 when I was 30 years old, b) the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981, c) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997, d) all the tests necessary to earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, e) all the tests necessary to earn an MBA from Loyola in 1976, f) all the tests necessary to earn a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, g) the Federal Service Entrance Examination in 1970, and h) the Post Office employment examination in 1966.)
https://www.educationnext.org/pandemic-offers-opportunity-reduce-standardized-testing/

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.