December 26 Evening Edition

ABC7
— President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump make surprise visit to troops in Iraq for Christmas – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/president-trump-first-lady-visit-troops-in-iraq-for-christmas/4970506/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps stress the importance of employees who oversee federal food stamps.
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/shutdown-to-cut-office-overseeing-federal-food-stamps-by-95-percent/4970744/

 

NBC5
— 30 New Illinois Laws Taking Effect in 2019 – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/new-2019-illinois-laws-503509331.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Trump signals no end to shutdown: ‘You have to have a wall’ – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/trump-signals-no-end-to-shutdown-you-have-to-have-a-wall-

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Racial divide scuttles Chicago’s Women’s March. What happens now? – Clarence Page
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-chicago-womens-march-louis-farrakhan-donald-trump-tamika-mallory-20181226-story.html
— While GM idles sedan production, Chicago-area Ford, Chrysler plants are going strong after shifting to SUVs – Robert Channick
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ford-chrysler-jeep-auto-plants-chicago-20181203-story.html
— The voice of the people of 1968 – Ron Grossman (DIERSEN: What were you doing in 1968? I was a full-time student at UIC and a part-time employee for the Park Forest Post Office. I lived with my parents and brother in Crete. I sold my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 and bought a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE. I saved money for college expenses.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-flashback-1968-letters-editor-voice-people-1230-20181219-story.html
— Top stories of 2018: Lake County Democrats join national blue wave – Frank Abderholden
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-top-stories-blue-wave-st-1227-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump received bone spurs diagnosis as a favor.” (DIERSEN: Did you register for the draft? I did in 1966 when I was 18 years old. I was classified 1-A notwithstanding the fact that my eyesight could not be corrected to 20/20, I had partial red/green color blindness, and I had Osgood-Schlatter disease (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osgood%E2%80%93Schlatter_disease). I got four student draft deferments 1966-1970 while I attended UIC and NIU and I got a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971. I always knew that would be used against me, but I did know that it would be used against me so strongly.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-bone-spurs-vietnam-20181226-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Politics aside, renaming Dan Ryan Expressway for Obama has appeal – Editorial (DIERSEN: In a state in which Republicans are in the minority, renaming the expressway would shout “Republicans are not welcome.”)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/dan-ryan-expressway-barack-obama-bill-daley-renaming-chicago-mayoral-election/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Our wishes for lawmakers in new era: independence, cooperation – Editorial (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, tragically, far more Democrat lawmakers defend and advance the Democrat Party platform than Republican lawmakers defend and advance the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181226/editorial-our-wishes-for-lawmakers-in-new-era-independence-cooperation
— ‘I feel respected’: Navy recruits welcomed at Arlington Heights school for Christmas – Russell Lissau (DIERSEN: Who disrespects you? My critics/opponents, their operatives, their dupes disrespect those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German Americans, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181225/i-feel-respected-navy-recruits-welcomed-at-arlington-heights-school-for-christmas

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Pain at the pump? Move to increase Illinois’ gas tax gaining some traction – KEVIN BARLOW
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/pain-at-the-pump-move-to-increase-illinois-gas-tax/article_621f8df8-313d-5a31-a4df-e59fd5197b5b.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Rauners say that they want Trump to learn from Rauner’s difficulties.
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-12-26/editorial-the-bogus-budget-battle.html

 

GALESBURG REGISTER MAIL
— Rauner years an expensive lesson – Scott Reeder
https://www.galesburg.com/opinion/20181226/scott-reeder-rauner-years-expensive-lesson

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Republican lawmaker (Tim Bivins) wants to see more party leadership – Scott Bertram
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/illinois/republican-lawmaker-wants-to-see-more-party-leadership/article_b0e52d88-0915-11e9-93da-0ba2d1dc9973.html

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Over $17M donated to GoFundMe for Trump’s border wall – McKenzie Stauffer
https://foxillinois.com/news/offbeat/over-17m-donated-to-gofundme-for-trumps-border-wall
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump confuses, misleads on border wall.”
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/fact-check-trump-confuses-misleads-on-border-wall

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Mike Walkup Writes of Jack Franks’ Threat During 2016 County Fair
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/26/walkup-writes-of-franks-threat-during-2016-county-fair/
— Politician Other Than Jack Franks Called a Weasel
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/12/26/politician-other-than-jack-franks-called-a-weasel/

 

SE ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey decries continuing exodus from state, cites taxes as cause – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511689988-bailey-decries-continuing-exodus-from-state-cites-taxes-as-cause

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ANOTHER IL GOP OFFICIAL (John McGlasson) JOINS CALL FOR STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO RE-GATHER FOLLOWING RAUNER REVELATIONS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/another-il-gop-official-joins-the-call-for-state-central-committee-to-re-gather-following-rauner-rev.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The conservative wing of the party willingly and enthusiastically supported Governor Rauner in his first campaign,” McGlasson said. “Then, in my opinion, he broke his word and turned to liberal stances on social issues and forgot his plans to balance the budget and reform our pension system. That is why he lost the enthusiastic support of social conservatives.” McGlasson said the IL GOP leadership change is urgent. “We need to find a leader who can bring us together while respecting the party platform. Chairman Schneider’ term lasts through the spring of 2020. We cannot wait that long to begin the transformation,” he said. Illinois Review reached out to Morrison after his December 14th statement, and he has yet to reply.)
— FAMILIES ENCOURAGED TO “SHOUT THEIR ADOPTIONS!” JANUARY 27 AT STATE CAPITOL
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/families-encouraged-to-shout-their-adoptions-january-27-at-state-capitol.html
— CHICAGO WOMEN’S MARCH CANCELS JANUARY OUTDOOR RALLY; LEADERSHIP LINKED TO ANTI-SEMITISM
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/12/chicago-womens-march-cancels-january-outdoor-rally-leadership-linked-to-anti-semitism.html

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— President Trump, Take Your Case For The Wall To The People
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/29374

 

FOX NEWS
— Farrakhan awash in federal dollars, anti-Semitic hate notwithstanding – Deroy Murdock
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/farrakhan-awash-in-federal-dollars-anti-semitic-hate-notwithstanding

 

DAILY CALLER
— OPINION: 10 REASONS WE CAN ALL BE THANKFUL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP – Paris Dennard
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/26/reasons-thank-trump/

 

EAGLE PAC
— Facebook suspends accounts tied to Dem disinformation scheme in Alabama race – Greg Norman
https://eagleactionreport.com/articles/facebook-suspends-accounts-tied-to-dem-disinformation-scheme-in-alabama-race

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— People Believe ‘Fake News’ Because They Want it to Be True – JIM GERAGHTY
https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/people-believe-fake-news-because-they-want-it-to-be-true/

 

THE HILL
— Democrats worry: Top three candidates in polls are all white men – AMIE PARNES (DIERSEN: How bad are your demographics? According to anti-Trumps, the following are bad demographics: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, draft avoider, German American, and if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/422545-dems-worry-top-three-candidates-in-polls-are-all-white-men

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Juan Escalante glorifies and praises citizens of foreign countries.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-2018-trump-immigrants_us_5c1a76cee4b0ce5184b98729

 

CBS NEWS
— “We do live paycheck by paycheck”: Federal workers struggle as shutdown continues – ROB LEGARE (DIERSEN: Have you ever lived “paycheck by paycheck?” I have never lived “paycheck by paycheck,” and of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always been furious about that. They stress a) that my parents provided me with room and board 1966, 1967, 1968, weekends during my first semester at NIU in 1969, and the summer of 1969, b) that I got student draft deferments 1966-1970 and a financial hardship draft deferment 1970-1971, c) that I got married in 1978, d) that my wife had savings and income, and e) that we gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents.)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-workers-struggle-as-shutdown-continues-through-christmas-2018-12-25/

 

ABC NEWS
— ABC Sneers: ‘Without Any Proof,’ Trump Cites Federal Workers Who Back Him on Border Wall – Tim Graham (DIERSEN: Some of my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government disapproved of their having to waste the careers of and to get rid of their employees like me who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. That is, they disapproved of having to carry out political affiliation, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation orders.)
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tim-graham/2018/12/26/abc-without-any-proof-trump-cites-federal-workers-who-back-him-border

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq to See American Troops – Annie Karni, Mark Landler and Thomas Gibbons-Neff
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/politics/trump-iraq-troops-visit.html
— Stocks Bounce Back From Edge of Bear Market – Emily Flitter
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/business/business-stock-markets.html
— As Shutdown Lingers, Only Guarantee for Federal Workers Is More Uncertainty – Alan Blinder and Kate Taylor (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.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/us/shutdown-federal-workers-.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Dow soars more than 1,050 points, its biggest point gain in history, recovering from days of losses – Thomas Heath
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/us-stocks-volatile-as-markets-try-to-recover-from-christmas-eve-freefall/2018/12/26/29f8905e-0928-11e9-85b6-41c0fe0c5b8f_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Dow Industrials Post First-Ever 1,000 Point Gain in a Session
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-stocks-poised-for-gains-11545827647

 

BOSTON
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Bill would bar workers from being fired for private pot use Workers can still be fired for using the drug, even if it’s outside of work and its effects have worn off by the time they return to their jobs. – AP
https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2018/12/25/bill-would-bar-workers-from-being-fired-for-private-pot-use

 

SEATTLE TIMES
— As labor market tightens, women are moving into male-dominated jobs – CLAIRE CAIN MILLER and Jed Kolko (DIERSEN: Women did not want the jobs that I had because they were male-dominated jobs. Women did not want the jobs that I had because they were bad jobs. Because the jobs that I had were bad jobs, my superiors had an extremely hard time hiring women to take them. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/careers/as-labor-market-tightens-women-are-moving-into-male-dominated-jobs/

 

BLOOMBERG
— Hot Labor Market Brought Full-Time Perks to Part-Time Employees – Rebecca Greenfield (DIERSEN: I got full-time Civil Service Retirement System credit while I worked part-time for the Post Office 1966-1969. My Democrat IRS and GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were furious about that. They would not have been furious about that if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-24/hot-labor-market-brought-full-time-perks-to-part-time-employees

 

FORBES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/12/26/these-states-are-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-in-2019/#7e226d6c5add

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Trump claims federal workers want shutdown for border wall – Jessie Bur
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2018/12/26/trump-claims-federal-workers-want-shutdown-for-border-wall/

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.