December 28 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Amid shutdown, Trump reissues threat to close U.S.-Mexico border unless wall funds pass Congress – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-government-shutdown-20181228-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Federal workers cope with stress – Juliet Linderman and Lisa Mascaro (DIERSEN: How have federal government shutdowns impacted you? I was a federal retiree and Social Security recipient 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.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20181228/281479277535298

 

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES: ‘This isn’t a slam dunk’: Why legalizing pot could test Pritzker’s clout – Marni Pyke (DIERSEN: Your position on pot says more about you than anything that you can say about yourself. If you do not oppose pot, you hint/imply/argue/shout that you are a Democrat, a Democrat plant, a Libertarian, a Libertarian plant, a Green, a Green plant, a RINO, someone who is anti-religious, someone who is anti-conservative, someone who is anti-Republican, and/or someone who is anti-American. Sooner or later, if pot is not stopped, pot will destroy America.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181228/this-isnt-a-slam-dunk-why-legalizing-pot-could-test-pritzkers-clout
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “This isn’t a slam dunk,” said Moylan, who’s concerned selling marijuana in stores could escalate crime, crashes and addiction rates. “The process should be slowed … I don’t appreciate them trying to steamroll this.” . . . The plan conceptually would allow Illinois residents age 21 and older to buy one ounce of marijuana at a time from a licensed shop and grow up to five plants. The state sales tax of 6.25 percent could apply to purchases, and municipalities would have the final say on whether businesses could operate in their towns. . . State’s attorneys Robert Berlin in DuPage County, Joe McMahon in Kane County and Patrick Kenneally in McHenry County, all Republicans, oppose legalization. “It has a significant potential to increase traffic-related deaths,” Kenneally said. . .AAA Traffic Safety Foundation research found the percentage of drivers in fatal crashes who recently used marijuana spiked to 17 percent from 8 percent from 2013 to 2014, the motorist advocacy group reported. Of course, more people were using marijuana in 2014, after it became legal.)
— Getting identity politics right – E.J. Dionne Jr. (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats identify themselves as being anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, 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 for a long time.)
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181228/getting-identity-politics-right
— Time for Pritzker, Democrats to follow fair-map vow – Editorial
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20181228/editorial-time-for-pritzker-democrats-to-follow-fair-map-vow

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Who promotes gambling and other vices? ANSWER: Those who are Democrat, Democrat plant, Libertarian, Libertarian plant, Green, Green plant, RINO, anti-religious, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, and/or anti-American.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-12-28/editorial-still-community-support-casino.html

 

SOUTHERN
— What does the federal government shutdown mean for Southern Illinois? – MARILYN HALSTEAD
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/what-does-the-federal-government-shutdown-mean-for-southern-illinois/article_62ea8994-fc94-516b-aeff-4c7823abf462.html

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— The Cost of the Wall is Nothing Compared to the Yearly Cost of Illegal Immigration – Daniel Horowitz
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2018/12/the-cost-of-the-wall-is-nothing-compared-to-the-yearly-cost-of-illegal-immigration/

 

PROPUBLICA
— If You’re Over 50, Chances Are the Decision to Leave a Job Won’t be Yours A new data analysis by ProPublica and the Urban Institute shows more than half of older U.S. workers are pushed out of longtime jobs before they choose to retire, suffering financial damage that is often irreversible. – Peter Gosselin (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote age discrimination a) to get rid of those who are older than they are and/or b) to curry favor with those who promote age discrimination. I should write a book about those in the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) who are leading the effort to get rid of old people like me. How soon will they amend MTRCC, DCRCC, and IRP bylaws to prohibit anyone over age 40 a) from being a Republican Precinct Committeeman/Captain and b) from seeking or holding any kind of government or political office as a Republican?)
https://www.propublica.org/article/older-workers-united-states-pushed-out-of-work-forced-retirement

 

DAILY CALLER
— ICE DUMPS OFF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON THE STREETS OF TEXAS – David Krayden (DIERSEN What if ICE started to dump off illegals in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, in your precinct, in your neighborhood, and in front of your residence? Would Democrat Precinct Committeemen/Captains in each precinct assign them to live with and be taken care of by the registered Democrats in each precinct?)
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/27/ice-dumps-off-illegals-streets-texas/
— TIJUANA MAYOR REVEALS HOW MUCH THE CARAVAN COSTS THE CITY EVERY DAY – Mike Brest
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/27/tijuana-caravan-mexico-costs/
— REPORT DETAILS NATURE OF FACEBOOK’S SECRET RULEBOOK GOVERNING GLOBAL SPEECH – Chris White
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/27/facebook-privacy-hate-speech/
— TRUMP CALLS OUT CNN FOR ACCUSING US TROOPS OF MISCONDUCT – Amber Athey (DIERSEN: What would the Trump-haters in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois do to you if you wore a MAGA hat? Would they stare condescendingly or threateningly at you, go inside their residence, slam their front door, pull down their shades, close their garage door, shout at you, threaten you, throw something at you, etc.?)
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/27/trump-tweet-cnn-troops-sign-maga-hats-misconduct/
— IF YOU ONLY GET YOUR NEWS FROM CNN, YOU HAVE NO IDEA THIS STORY HAPPENED – Peter Hasson & Joe Simonson (DIERSEN: Those who succumb to my critics/opponents and do not read GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails miss articles a) that promote Trump, b) that promote the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, and other planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform, c) that promote the illegal drugs, equal opportunity (no race of gender based preference giving), and other planks in the Republican Party platform, and d) promote the Milton Township Republican Party resolution against video gambling.)
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/27/cnn-democrat-russian-false-flag/

 

TOWNHALL
— How Compassionate Is the Democrats’ Open-Borders Policy? – David Limbaugh (DIERSEN What if ICE started to dump off illegals in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, in your precinct, in your neighborhood, and in front of your residence? Would Democrat Precinct Committeemen/Captains in each precinct assign them to live with and be taken care of by the registered Democrats in each precinct?)
https://townhall.com/columnists/davidlimbaugh/2018/12/28/how-compassionate-is-the-democrats-openborders-policy-n2538159
— The Art of the Wall Deal – Wayne Allyn Root
https://townhall.com/columnists/wayneallynroot/2018/12/28/the-art-of-the-wall-deal-n2538178
— Easy ‘Pass’ Rumors Led Migrant Boy’s Father on Border Trek, Says Family – Bob Price
https://www.breitbart.com/border/2018/12/27/easy-pass-rumors-led-migrant-boys-father-on-border-trek-says-family/

 

BREITBART
— Knights of Columbus Write Open Letter to Senators Hirono, Harris – Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/27/knights-of-columbus-write-open-letter-to-senators-hirono-harris/


— Unsecured Borders a Cash Cow to Child Sex Trade – Jaco Booyens
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/27/watch-director-jaco-booyens-unsecured-borders-a-cash-cow-to-child-sex-trade/

 

BLAZE
— MSNBC stunned at new survey showing how many Hispanics voted for Republicans in midterms Looks like the heated rhetoric didn’t work – Carlos Garcia (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps shout at Hispanics that Trump and his supporters are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things who should be gotten rid of once and for all. Democrats are counting on using Hispanics to get rid of Republicans once and for all.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/msnbc-stunned-at-new-survey-showing-how-many-hispanics-voted-for-republicans-in-midterms

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— PRESIDENT TRUMP PROVES TRUE, AT HOME AND ABROAD Alan Keyes calls decision to pull out of Syria ‘an act of statesmanship’
https://www.wnd.com/2018/12/president-trump-proves-true-at-home-and-abroad/

 

CANADA FREE PRESS
— Build the Wall
https://canadafreepress.com/article/build-the-wall

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Chicago chapter of Women’s March cancels 2019 rally – Rick Moran
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/chicago_chapter_of_womens_march_cancels_2019_rally.html

 

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— A Massacre of Innocence – Michele Bregande
https://www.amgreatness.com/2018/12/27/a-massacre-of-innocence/

 

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— When ‘Trashing Our Allies’ Was All the Rage The same neocons who gush about alliances today were telling anyone not on board with the Iraq invasion to ‘go to hell.’ – ANDREW J. BACEVICH
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/remembering-when-trashing-our-allies-was-all-the-rage/

 

ODESSA AMERICAN
— The wall would have saved a little girl’s life – Rick Manning, President of Americans for Limited Government.
https://www.oaoa.com/editorial/columns/guest_columns/article_51038494-0976-11e9-a885-8f44890c9b7c.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump under fire for signing soldier’s MAGA hat – S.A. Miller (DIERSEN: What would the Trump-haters in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois do to you if you wore a MAGA hat? Would they stare condescendingly or threateningly at you, go inside their residence, slam their front door, pull down their shades, close their garage door, shout at you, threaten you, throw something at you, etc.?)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/27/trump-under-fire-for-signing-soldiers-maga-hat/
— Air Force: Nothing wrong with U.S. troops asking Trump to sign MAGA hats CNN, media outlets accuse troops of engaging in political activity – Valerie Richardson
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/28/air-force-nothing-wrong-us-troops-asking-donald-tr/

 

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Tammy Duckworth is entitled to her own gun opinions, but not her own gun facts – David Keene
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/tammy-duckworth-is-entitled-to-her-own-gun-opinions-but-not-her-own-gun-facts
— Trump urged to nationalize ‘E-Verify’ after 700 percent surge in arrests of illegal workers – Paul Bedard
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trump-urged-to-nationalize-e-verify-after-700-surge-in-arrests-of-illegal-workers

 

THE HILL
— Poll: 47% of Americans blame Trump for government shutdown – Reuters (DIERSEN: In Illinois, outside of Cook County, anti-Trumps and Trump-haters blame Republican Precinct Committeemen (RPC) for Trump being elected in 2016 and for what Trump has done since then. To justify that logic, they have to stress that RPCs put people in political offices who promote Trump. More specifically, that RPCs elect Republican township and county party officers, Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) members, an IRP National Committeeman, and an IRP National Committeewoman who promote Trump. IRP SCC members elect IRP Chairmen. IRP Chairmen appoint IRP Co-Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Secretary, and Treasurer. To what extent do the aforesaid promote Trump? How much clout does your RPC have? What is your RPC’s weighted vote? Is your RPC a) the chairman of a Republican township or county party committee, b) a Republican township or county party officer, c) an IRP SCC member, d) an IRP officer, e) the IRP National Committeeman, f) the IRP National Committeewoman?)
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/poll-47-americans-blame-trump-government-shutdown-n952466
— Trump, Dems dig-in as shutdown heads into second week – NIV ELIS
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/423061-trump-dems-dig-in-as-shutdown-heads-into-second-week
— Nauert faces questions about qualifications at UN – MORGAN CHALFANT AND REBECCA KHEEL (DIERSEN: No one questioned the qualifications of a) my coworkers who my Democrat IRS superiors promoted over me 1975-1980, b) my coworkers who my GAO superiors assigned to audits of IRS 1980-1985 and 1989-1997 instead of me, and c) my coworkers who my GAO superiors promoted over me 1980-1997. I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/422832-nauert-faces-questions-about-qualifications-at-un

 

UPI
— Top users of social media at greater risk for depression, survey says – Len Canter
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2018/12/20/Top-users-of-social-media-at-greater-risk-for-depression-survey-says/5521545342956/

 

NBC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote LGBTQ activity, that is, ever-increasingly, Democrats promote the destruction of traditional marriage and the traditional family.
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/year-s-11-must-read-lgbtq-news-stories-n952346

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Inside Facebook’s Secret Rulebook for Global Political Speech Under fire for stirring up distrust and violence, the social network has vowed to police its users. But leaked documents raise serious questions about its approach. – Max Fisher
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/world/facebook-moderators.html
— El Paso Is on Edge After a Child’s Death and the Release of Hundreds of Migrants – Simon Romero
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/us/immigrants-el-paso-release-death.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: “In rebuke of Trump policy,” an anti-Trump “judge criticizes asylum seeker’s detention.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/nyregion/trump-asylum-immigrants-ban.html
— Trump’s Tax Cut One Year Later: What Happened? Many corporations made good on promises to raise wages and pay bonuses. But others announced layoffs, even as the $1.5 trillion tax cut added billions to their bottom lines. – Jim Tankersley
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/us/politics/trump-tax-cuts-jobs-act.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— While Washington focuses on the wall, Mexico fears its own border crisis – Mary Beth Sheridan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/while-washington-focuses-on-the-wall-mexico-fears-its-own-border-crisis/2018/12/27/cbb38854-04b4-11e9-958c-0a601226ff6b_story.html

 

USA TODAY
— Fact check: What Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic ‘On the Basis of Sex’ gets right (and wrong) – Patrick Ryan (DIERSEN: When will a movie be made about Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois? SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_v._Republican_Party_of_Illinois and https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/13/us/seeking-return-to-ways-of-patronage-in-politics.html Would Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar play themselves in it?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2018/12/26/fact-check-new-ruth-bader-ginsburg-movie-biopic/2402923002/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Caravan’s Stymied Passage Leaves Migrant Issue Boiling Massive groups heading north have led to deeper U.S. political divide and complicated would-be immigrants’ plight – Juan Montes and José de Córdoba
https://www.wsj.com/articles/caravans-stymied-passage-leaves-migrant-issue-boiling-11545993000
— The Chief Justice and the President John Roberts would be more credible rebuking Donald Trump if he did more to rein in the lower courts. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-chief-justice-and-the-president-11545955968
— Seven New Year’s Tax Resolutions for 2019 – Laura Saunders (DIERSEN: The SALT cap will affect my wife and I. Roskam should increase the SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/seven-new-years-tax-resolutions-for-2019-11545993002
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As a result, says economist Joe Rosenberg of the Tax Policy Center, the new SALT cap is likely to affect two other groups most. They are filers earning less than about $200,000 who took SALT deductions in the past but weren’t subject to AMT.”)
— Teachers Quit Jobs at Highest Rate on Record Small raises, budget frustration and opportunities elsewhere persuade teachers and other public-education workers to move on – Michelle Hackman and Eric Morath (DIERSEN: What do those who viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn teachers as being over-compensated have to say about this?)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/teachers-quit-jobs-at-highest-rate-on-record-11545993052
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The Hidden Cost of a Government Shutdown. The Trump administration plays it down by counting only employees formally on the federal payroll.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hidden-cost-of-a-government-shutdown-11545955599

 

PRESTON BUSINESS REVIEW
— Ex-Disney worker sues after he claims female boss called him a ‘stuffy old fart‘
https://prestonbusinessreview.com/ex-disney-worker-sues-after-he-claims-female-boss-called-him-a-stuffy-old-fart/41996/

 

STARS & STRIPES
— Air Force: Nothing improper about airmen displaying pro-Trump merchandise at Ramstein – John Vandiver (DIERSEN: What would the Trump-haters in your neighborhood, in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois do to you if you wore a MAGA hat? Would they stare condescendingly or threateningly at you, go inside their residence, slam their front door, pull down their shades, close their garage door, shout at you, threaten you, throw something at you, etc.?)
https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/air-force-nothing-improper-about-airmen-displaying-pro-trump-merchandise-at-ramstein-1.562274

 

THE WEEK
— Trump and the Air Force say it’s fine Trump signed MAGA hats, Trump 2020 gear at bases in Iraq and Germany
https://theweek.com/speedreads/814746/trump-air-force-say-fine-trump-signed-maga-hats-trump-2020-gear-bases-iraq-germany

 

NEWSWEEK
— GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN: MORE THAN 54,000 BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO WORK WITHOUT PAY, WHILE TRUMP SAYS THEY ‘WANT THE WALL’ – ROBERT VALENCIA
https://www.newsweek.com/government-shutdown-border-patrol-agents-work-without-pay-trump-says-border-1273198

— LINDSEY GRAHAM CLAIMS TRUMP BORDER WALL IS DEFENSE AGAINST ‘RADICAL ISLAM’ – DAVID BRENNAN
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-border-wall-defense-against-radical-islam-lindsey-graham-claims-1273335

 

BLOOMBERG LAW
— ‘Future of Work’ Policy to Take Shape Outside of Congress – Tyrone Richardson (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes promote preference giving, that is, they promote Affirmative Action, Diversity, and/or Inclusion, that is, they promote patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and/or retaliation. They want preference to be given to those who share their political affiliation, race, gender, age group, national origin, religion, sexual preference, marital status, veteran status, income level, education level, etc.)
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/future-of-work-policy-to-take-shape-outside-of-congress

 

WEALTHY RETIREMENT
— Your Biggest Health Risk Factor in Retirement – Steve McDonald (DIERSEN: What do your critics/opponents do? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes focus on driving out of Illinois, out of DuPage County, out of Milton Township, out of Wheaton, and out of my precinct those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, married, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time, past and present union members, past and present federal employees, federal retirees, America-nameplate vehicle owners, those who are childless, those who are pet-less, etc.)
https://wealthyretirement.com/retirement-planning/two-minute-retirement-solution/loneliness-retirement-health-risk-factor/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But new research by AARP reports that as much as 59% of the decline in both physical and mental health that happens in retirement is due to one factor, and it is somewhat controllable… Loneliness. An AARP study reported that 35% of adults older than 45 are lonely. And that condition is responsible for a 45% increase in risk of death, the development of brain biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s and an increased need for long-term care. The isolation that leads to loneliness not only takes too many of us too soon but also is the major contributor to the healthcare costs that bankrupt many retirees. But it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Taking daily microsteps to correct the conditions that lead to isolation can make a difference. The first step is to recognize that you are lonely and want more friends and greater contact with friends and family. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, and it gives us a schedule and a reason to get out of the house.)

 

MOTLEY FOOL
— Most Employees Still Aren’t Happy With Their Jobs But employers have the ability to change that. – Maurie Backman (DIERSEN: To get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran like me who had not made 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, my Democrat superiors and supervisors in the federal government did everything that they could to make them unhappy. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, 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.fool.com/careers/2018/12/16/most-employees-still-arent-happy-with-their-jobs.aspx

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.