December 27 Morning Edition

ABC7
— DISGUSTING: FOX VALLEY MALL IN AURORA SHUT DOWN DUE TO FIGHT, 7 ARRESTED – Eric Horng
http://abc7chicago.com/news/fox-valley-mall-in-aurora-closed-due-to-fights/1674153/

 

NBC5
— DISGUSTING: Fox Valley Mall Shut Down After Large Fight: Official  Police said six people were in custody in relation to the incident Monday night, but it was unclear if they would be charged with anything – Ash-har Quraishi
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Police-Respond-to-Fox-Valley-Mall-in-Suburban-Aurora-408357915.html

 

WGN TV
— DISGUSTING: 7 arrested after ‘big brawl’ closed Aurora mall; similar mall melees reported across the country – MIKE LOWE
http://wgntv.com/2016/12/26/watch-hundreds-of-teens-fight-at-connecticut-mall-similar-incidents-reported-across-the-country/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DISGUSTING: Fights among teens force closing of Fox Valley Mall – Sarah Freishtat  (DIERSEN: When you were a teen, what did you do when you were not in school?  I did yard work, delivered newspapers, washed dishes, cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, pumped gasoline, and delivered mail.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-fight-closes-fox-valley-mall-20161226-story.html
— The Democrats’ destructive politics of righteousness – Kenneth L. Woodward  (DIERSEN: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that it is righteous to be anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-democrats-clinton-bill-hillary-dnc-chicago-trump-perspec-1227-jm-20161227-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump and his team have a new strategy: Ignore the law.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-milbank-trump-law-st-1228-20161226-story.html
— The days of stay-at-home moms are ‘long gone,’ report says – Danielle Paquette  (DIERSEN: Did you have a stay-at-home mom?  I did and my father could afford to send me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod.  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that to hint/imply/argue/shout that my parents were filthy rich, that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and that I have always been privileged.  I should write a book about how much money the parents of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes had.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-stay-at-home-moms-study-20161222-story.html
— AP New Year’s poll: Americans hopeful for a better 2017 – EMILY SWANSON and VERENA DOBNIK  (DIERSEN: Individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors WILL FOCUS ON MAKING 2017 WORSE FOR individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us–ap-poll-new-years-hopes-20161226-story.html
— FRONT PAGE: Cigarette butts make up nearly half of trash at Chicago beaches, study shows – Grace Wong  (DIERSEN: What does that say about cigarette smokers?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-lake-michigan-beaches-trash-met-20161227-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Democrats weigh 2018 challenge to Rauner; GOP on the attack – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/democrats-weigh-2018-challenge-to-rauner-gop-on-attack/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DISGUSTING: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Fox mall shuts down after fights – Eric Peterson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161226/news/161229283/
— Education panel recommends boosting funding by $3,000 per pupil – Kerry Lester
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161227/news/161229275/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump imitates Putin, but the U.S. isn’t Russia.”
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161227/discuss/161229335/
— Say no to $50 million Kane County Forest Preserve Board tax hike request – State Representative-Elect Allen Skillicorn, East Dundee
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20161227/discuss/161229741/

 

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Looking At Black Employment Trends – Cole Lauterbach  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=232701#.WGJRFxsrKM8

 

PEKIN TIMES
— Lawmakers: Balance taxing with spending – Bill Knight
http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20161227/knight-lawmakers-balance-taxing-with-spending

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— Taxes, fees eating away at Costco profits in Illinois, Proft tells listeners
http://westcooknews.com/stories/511063090-taxes-fees-eating-away-at-costco-profits-in-illinois-proft-tells-listeners

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Gov. Rauner could double the literacy rate in CPS (That’s reform): Watch UChicago Charter School Principal Howell – Jeff Berkowitz
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2016/12/gov-rauner-could-double-the-literacy-rate-in-cps-thats-reform-watch-uchicago-charter-school-howell-cableweb/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Left Hates IFI – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/ifi_news/simply-cant-stand-us/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THE RIGHT TAKE: THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/12/the-right-take-the-divided-states-of-america.html

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Parting Regrets from the LOSer’s Presidency – Deborah C. Tyler
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/12/parting_regrets_from_the_losers_presidency.html
— Obama’s hatred of Israel will rebound – Karin McQuillan
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/12/obamas_hatred_of_israel_will_rebound.html

 

NEWS WITH VIEWS
— THANKFULLY, OBAMA TO EXIT THE WHITE HOUSE – Frosty Wooldridge
http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty1198.htm

 

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— ‘Kill Whitey!’ Says White Professor – ROD DREHER  (DIERSEN: What do you say to Whites who pander to anti-Whites, that is, what do you say to Whites who pander to racists?)
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/kill-whitey-white-professor-drexel/

BREITBART
— Obama Administration Nearly Doubles Number of Refugee Arrivals So Far in FY 2017 – MICHAEL PATRICK LEAHY
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/12/26/obama-administration-nearly-doubles-number-refugee-arrivals-far-fy-2017/

 

BLAZE
— Obama suggests the media should have helped Democrats win elections – Sara Gonzales  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the media helps elect Democrats and defends and advances the Democrat Party platform.)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/26/obama-suggests-the-media-should-have-helped-democrats-win-elections/
— Here’s how Trump’s expected inauguration crowd stacks up against Obama’s – Sara Gonzales
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/26/heres-how-trumps-expected-inauguration-crowd-stacks-up-against-obamas/
— White House tells Trump, ‘only one president at a time’ – Brandon Morse
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/26/white-house-tells-trump-only-one-president-at-a-time/

 

NET RIGHT DAILY
— ‘You’re fired’: How Trump can reduce the federal workforce and drain the swamp – Robert Romano  (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government and virtually all federal employees are Democrats. If they have to get rid of employees, they first get rid of any remaining employees who are Republican, and then they get rid of employees who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://netrightdaily.com/2016/12/youre-fired-trump-can-reduce-federal-workforce-drain-swamp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republican presidential candidates the past many years have spoken of plans to reduce the federal workforce and rein in the bureaucracy in Washington, D.C. Rudy Giuliani in 2008 planned to do so by simply not rehiring workers to replace the retiring Baby Boomers, a proposal that was adopted by John McCain the same year and Mitt Romney again in 2012. President-elect Donald Trump once again adopted the hiring freeze this year in his successful bid to win the presidency via “Donald Trump’s Contract with the American Voter,” promising to “to reduce the federal workforce through attrition.” Now Trump will have the opportunity to finally put that plan into motion and to dust off his famous slogan from NBC’s The Apprentice: “You’re fired.” Because there is another more practical, political problem for Trump, and that is that after 8 years, the current 1.3 million non-defense civilian federal workforce is currently staffed with loyalists to President Barack Obama, who may not wish to implement Trump administration policies and may even seek to undermine the President-elect. On his way out, Obama created an avenue for a small number of political appointees to rehired on the career side to burrow them into the workforce — called conversions. He also changed civil service rules to make it easier to hire federal employees outside of the traditional http://USAjobs.gov system. So, how to drain the swamp? Federal rules make it extremely difficult to fire anybody in the civil service, a process that can take up to two years, even when there is cause like, say, only showing up to work one-third of the time. The federal employee unions get involved, and the whole thing is a mess. That said, federal managers attempting to deal with problem employees had best get started on day one. But one additional step that could be taken would be to reform civil service laws to make it easier to fire career federal employees, legislation that would need to be taken up by Congress, such as proposed by U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) likely to cause a major fight. Another idea is to incentivize early retirement through financially lucrative, limited-time-only buy-outs. This would be accomplished via a one-time appropriation by Congress in the next continuing resolution — due on April 28, 2017 — reducing the amount of time served and the eligible retirement age on a temporary basis. The program could be administered by the Office of Personnel Management, with enough funds to facilitate the buy-outs, which would need to be big enough to promote early retirement. More immediately, in the next continuing resolution, Congress could simply defund the personnel budgets of non-defense civilian departments and agencies, forcing an immediate 10 to 20 percent reduction in the workforce. Specifically, this would be done by taking last year’s enacted full-time equivalent number for each department, agency and office, and then cutting it by 10 to 20 percent. Also, it would be necessary to defund existing preferences under federal rules being given to those laid off being later rehired on a first-in-line basis. This latter part is essential, because otherwise, the Obama personnel who were just laid off will be the first to be rehired when positions need to be filled. That would lay off anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 federal employees. If it becomes necessary to refill certain positions, that can be dealt with later — with non-Obama personnel. But first things first, let’s start out from a point of reduction, truly limiting the size of the government via personnel. Federal regulations, called Reduction in Force at 5 CFR Part 351, generally dictate a last-in, first-out seniority system when it comes to layoffs. The last federal employees who were hired were by Obama. A 10 to 20 percent reduction of the federal workforce then would naturally hit Obama’s hires the hardest. This too would be a major fight, but tied to the continuing resolution, the continued funding of the non-essential portions of the government would be at stake, giving Republicans in Congress the leverage they need to prevail, provided they are willing to get tough. Congressional Democrats would likely attempt to force a government shutdown over any changes to the civil service via the April funding bill, particularly anything reducing the workforce on a mandatory basis and preempting the possibility of Obama personnel being rehired during a Trump administration. Indeed, Senate Democrats are likely to force a shutdown in the April funding bill no matter what it contains in order to test the new President’s resolve and that of House and Senate leaders. Such a shutdown would be unsurprising, as it will be one of the few tactics available to Democrats whilst in the minority in the House and the Senate to stop Republican policies. To which, there is a simple solution: No back-pay for federal employees after the shutdown ends. Usually, after government shutdowns, non-essential personnel can expect to receive back-pay, essentially a paid vacation for their troubles during the shutdown. So, simply issue a warning that there will be no back-pay during the ensuing government shutdown, and suddenly the federal workforce, if not the unions whose job it is to protect those who have been there the longest, will be the biggest advocates of ending the shutdown immediately — even if it ultimately means an across-the-board reduction of the workforce. Self-preservation would kick in just from a monthly cashflow basis for most employees who have bills to pay. Much of the workforce lives in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia anyway, all of which voted for Hillary Clinton. If there is no back-pay during the ensuing government shutdown, Democrats using the shutdown tactic to forestall inevitable federal workforce reductions would only be punishing their own voting constituencies instead of protecting 80 to 90 percent of them from a cessation of pay. Nobody in the federal government is entitled to their jobs, and with a Republican president, government shutdowns should no longer be leverage used to enact Democratic policies or to protect government employee constituencies. No back-pay during government shutdowns would take away leverage Democrats usually wield. This would increase the likelihood of success in a fight over the civil service issue, and critically, once Democrats capitulate, over any other issue in future policy-based funding battles in continuing resolutions and omnibus spending bills, like Obamacare. It’s time to play hardball. If the Trump administration wants to be able to enact the President-elect’s agenda in the relatively short time that is available, the biggest obstacle may not be Congress. There are problems there to be sorted out, to be sure. The biggest problem will be with the federal workforce itself, leaking to the press like a sieve and undermining the administration at every turn. In this case, hiring freezes, early retirements and a big, real cut in the size of the workforce should be the first order of business by the Trump administration to truly drain the swamp.)

 

REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Pence’s Influence Likely to Be Limited as VP – Rebecca Berg
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/12/27/pences_influence_likely_to_be_limited_as_vp_132641.html

 

POLITICO
— Trump’s use of Twitter will be ‘really exciting part’ of his presidency, Spicer says – NOLAN D. MCCASKILL
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/will-donald-trump-tweet-as-president-sean-spicer-232975
— Trump rewards big donors with jobs and access  Contributors who met with Trump gave about $59 million in support of his campaign and other Republicans, averaging more than $800,000 per donor. – ISAAC ARNSDORF
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-donors-rewards-232974

 

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “What the immigration battle could look like under Trump.”
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/27/politics/donald-trump-administration-immigration/

 

CNBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The market rally has nothing to do with Trump’s victory.”
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/27/the-market-rally-has-nothing-to-do-with-trumps-victory-analyst-says.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Four Cabinet nominations that could blow up in Donald Trump’s face.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/26/four-cabinet-nominations-that-could-blow-up-in-donald-trumps-face/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: The anti-Trumps who said that Trump could not defeat Clinton ask “Can Donald Trump persuade Americans to support his agenda?” and say “It’s not likely.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/12/27/can-donald-trump-convince-americans-to-support-his-agenda-hell-soon-find-out-how-difficult-this-is/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Do you suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome? – Justin Raimondo
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-raimondo-trump-derangement-syndrome-20161226-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Financial Holdings of Some Donald Trump Nominees Complicate Approval Process  Cabinet picks with vast holdings must work to get their books in line ahead of Senate hearings – REBECCA BALLHAUS
http://www.wsj.com/articles/some-donald-trump-nominees-face-stiff-and-costly-confirmation-battles-1482753602
— Obama’s Parting Betrayal of Israel  Trump must ensure there are consequences for supporting U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334. – JOHN BOLTON
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-parting-betrayal-of-israel-1482795616
— As China Pivots, Trump Risks Fighting an Old War  Incoming U.S. administration highlights trade retaliation as Beijing shifts to a form of high-tech protectionism – ANDREW BROWNE  (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps want America to be dependent on China, to fear China, to pander to China, and to surrender to China.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/as-china-pivots-trump-risks-fighting-an-old-war-1482833142
— Why Some Adults Don’t Go Back to Get Their Degrees  Programs aimed at college dropouts face challenges when studying is required – MELISSA KORN
http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-some-adults-dont-go-back-to-get-their-degrees-1482588000
— College Enrollment Drops 1.4% as Adults Head Back to Work  Push to get more people into school hits headwind of fewer high-school grads – MELISSA KORN
http://www.wsj.com/articles/college-enrollment-drops-1-4-as-adults-head-back-to-work-1482123660
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Adults Lured Back to College – Melissa Korn  (DIERSEN: In 1992, when I was 43 years old, I started taking graduate courses in financial markets and trading at IIT, and I earned a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997. I did that because the courses directly related to my GAO job duties and helped me carry out my GAO job duties, because GAO encouraged its employees to take job-related graduate courses, because my Democrat GAO superiors had made it clear that they would never again assign me to audits of IRS, and because they led me to believe that they would continue to assign me to audits of federal financial industry regulators at least until I was eligible to take regular retirement in 2003. However, on September 30, 1997, they succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.” In 1976, when I was 27 years old, I started taking graduate accounting courses at DePaul, and I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I did that because the courses directly related to my IRS job duties and helped me carry out my IRS job duties and because IRS encouraged its employees to take job-related graduate courses. In 1972, when I was 23 years old, I started taking graduate business courses at Loyola, and I earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. I did that because the courses directly related to my IRS job duties and helped me carry out my IRS job duties and because IRS encouraged its employees to take job-related graduate courses.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/states-aim-to-lure-college-dropouts-back-to-school-1482588001

 

USA TODAY
— DISGUSTING: Merry (cannabis) Christmas! Pot sales are running high – Trevor Hughes
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/22/retailers-reporting-strong-marijuana-sales-holidays/95762702/

 

BLOOMBERG
— Fear of Trump Triggers Deep Spending Cuts by Nation’s Second Largest Union  An internal memo outlines plans to slash budgets by 30 percent at SEIU, the group behind the Fight for $15. – Josh Eidelson  (DIERSEN: If I had been paid $15 an hour in today’s dollars while I washed dishes while I was in high school, I would have bought a new loaded 1966 Pontiac GTO instead of a new 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-27/fear-of-trump-triggers-deep-spending-cuts-by-nation-s-second-largest-union

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Estimate on how many Americans are under surveillance could come soon – Eric White
http://federalnewsradio.com/federal-headlines/2016/12/estimate-many-americans-surveillance-come-soon/

 

NATIONAL MEMO
— Will Trump Undo Obama’s Executive Actions In His First 100 Days? – Steven Rosenfeld
http://www.nationalmemo.com/trump-obamas-executive-actions/

 

GUARDIAN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Whites say “Alt-right groups will ‘revolt’ if Trump shuns white supremacy.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/27/alt-right-donald-trump-white-supremacy-backlash

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.