December 4 Evening Edition

ABC7
— FULL COVERAGE: George HW Bush funeral plans, legacy and a look back at his life
https://abc7chicago.com/society/watch-george-hw-bush-funeral-plans-life-and-legacy/4808060/
— More than 50,000 hens killed in egg farm fire in Grant Park, Illinois (DIERSEN: I am related to the Mussmans. I visited this farm with my parents and brother many times during the 1950s and 1960s. For many years, the Mussmans and the Diersens got together once a month on a Saturday evening alternating between their homes. In the early 1950s, Ralph Mussman (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-03-06-0803051510-story.html)  saved me from drowning when I fell off a pier at a lake in Wisconsin.   He  took me on my first plane ride; his daughter Sandy and I sat in the back seat of a rented Piper Cub. During the 1970s, his getting a major contract to supply McDonald’s with eggs for its new Egg McMuffin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMuffin) helped him to dramatically expand his egg business. I hunted pheasants on his farm a number of times. During the 1960s, my father worked for him part-time for a while delivering eggs to homes in Park Forest.  During the 1970s, a friend of mine who worked for the Secret Service rented a small plane in northwest Indiana and we landed on the air strip on this farm and visited with Ralph. Ralph owned a 1964 Oldsmobile Starfire that helped spark my interest in cars.)
https://abc7chicago.com/more-than-50000-hens-killed-in-egg-farm-fire/4829385/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The fire broke out at about 2:30 a.m. at Mussman’s Back Acres at 9998 N 16000E Road in Grant Park, Ill. and the fire was raised to a fifth alarm before it was struck out, fire officials said. Chopper 7HD flew overhead as firefighters poured water onto the farm. The Grant Park Fire Department said five buildings at the plant were damaged, with two receiving heavy fire damage and the other three damaged by heavy smoke. The company said two of the two barns are a total loss. A spokesperson for the farm, Brian Birch, said the quick actions of the Grant Park Fire Department help to save at least 250,000 to 300,000 hens. No people were hurt. Michigan-based Konos purchased the farm in 2015. Mussman’s serves several Chicagoland retailers. Despite the fire, Birch says Konos will be able to fulfill all of its contracts. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters from a number of south suburban departments responded, including from Orland Park, Palos and Frankfort. Mussman’s Back Acres’ website says it is a family-owned farm and they also grow their own feed. The company said there should be no supply interruption.)

 

NBC5
— Which Mayoral Candidates Are Challenging Opponents’ Petitions – Shelby Bremer
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-mayor-petition-challenges-501917571.html
— Illinois Looks To Its Past, Future Amid 200th Birthday Party
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/12/04/illinois-looks-to-its-past-future-amid-200th-birthday-party/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— GOP campaign committee reports ‘cyber intrusion’
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/gop-campaign-committee-reports-cyber-intrusion-
— Joe Biden says he’s the ‘most qualified person in the country to be president’
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/joe-biden-says-he-s-the-most-qualified-person-in-the-country-to-be-president-

 

WGN TV
— Thousands of chickens killed in fire at Mussman’s Back Acres egg farm – AP
https://wgntv.com/2018/12/04/large-fire-reported-at-mussmans-back-acres-egg-farm/

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Say Cheese: Pritzker and Rauner smile and try to look like they like one another – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/pritzker-rauner-photograph-bicentennial-illinois-navy-pier-veterans/
— Preckwinkle’s petition pounce: Challenges Mendoza, four other women – Mark Brown and Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/preckwinkle-mayor-race-petition-challenges-mendoza-brown-cook-chico-daley-joyce-wilson-green/
— Here’s how to pay your property taxes now (if you want) — 3 months early – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/county-county-property-tax-treasurer-2019-pay-early/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The decision to post the bills now is in response to a large number of requests from taxpayers, accountants and tax advisors, the treasurer’s office said in a press release. This is the earliest that first installment payments have been accepted by the county. Treasurer Maria Pappas said making the tax bills available this far in advance makes the process easier and more transparent and gives taxpayers more time to get questions answered — particularly about the federal tax law that went into effect earlier this year. Before that law, all local income and property taxes were deductible from income taxes. Now, there is a $10,000 cap on deductions for state and local taxes. “If they want to pay now, they can, and if they want to go to an accountant to understand the new Trump law, they can,” Pappas said.)
— Biden says he’ll decide on presidential run within 2 months – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/joe-biden-says-hell-decide-on-2020-presidential-run-within-2-months/
— Wisconsin’s Walker defies protesters on lame-duck session – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/wisconsin-legislature-republicans-weaken-democratic-governor/
— Remember this, Mr. Pritzker: We’re your boss, and public records belong to us – Phil Kadner
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/illinois-foia-open-meetings-act-jb-pritzker-public-records-access/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Wisconsin Republicans plan dramatic lame-duck votes to limit the powers of incoming Democrats – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-wisconsin-governor-power-vote-20181204-story.html
— Berrios sister, friend quickly land jobs with Illinois secretary of state after assessor ouster – Hal Dardick
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-berrios-family-new-jobs-20181204-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: t didn’t take long for former Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios’ sister and one of his close friends to land new government jobs, though they did have to take a major pay cut. Carmen Berrios and Victoria LaCalamita started work Monday with the Illinois secretary of state. That office is led by Jesse White, who cut a campaign radio ad for Berrios, the former chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and an unabashed defender of old-school patronage politics. The secretary of state’s office, which has around 3,700 jobs, has long been known as a patronage haven under both Democrats and Republicans. The two women will each make $37,992 a year as public service supervisors in the Vehicle Services Department, said Dave Druker, White’s spokesman. Druker said the two were hired to fill open positions after going through an application process and were “graded based on experience and training.” Carmen Berrios and LaCalamita both resigned their executive jobs in the assessor’ office last weekend, before newly elected Assessor Fritz Kaegi took over Monday. Carmen Berrios was being paid $126,000 as deputy assessor in charge of tax services and outreach, and LaCalamita was being paid $139,000 as deputy assessor of financial operations.)
— In 1943, George H.W. Bush trained at Naval Air Station Glenview and was ‘terrified the entire time’ – Alexandra Kukulka
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/news/ct-gla-george-hw-bush-naval-station-glenview-tl-1206-story.html
— Satanic Temple statue among holiday displays at Illinois Capitol – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-satanic-display-in-state-capitol-20181204-story.html
— Former Cook County commissioner Ed Moody, House Speaker Madigan ally appointed recorder of deeds – Gregory Pratt
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-ed-moody-appointed-recorder-of-deeds-20181204-story.html
— Challenges filed in treasurer’s race against signatures turned in by Ald. Ameya Pawar, Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin – John Byrne
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-city-treasurer-challenges-20181204-story.html
— Bush 41 was ‘an American closer,’ says GOP rival Pat Buchanan – Clarence Page
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-perspec-page-bush-buchanan-trump-20181204-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Someone who wants to abolish the Second Amendment and the GOP uses Bush to bash the NRA and the GOP.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-rubin-nra-bush-republican-party-20181203-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trevor seeks discovery recount in narrow House race loss to Morrison – Christopher Placek
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181204/trevor-seeks-discovery-recount-in-narrow-house-race-loss-to-morrison
— St. Michael Church in Wheaton to expand parking – Katlyn Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181204/st-michael-church-in-wheaton-to-expand-parking
— Special prosecutor sought in narrow sheriff’s race dispute – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20181204/news/312049889/
— DuPage forest preserve plans to allocate $12 million for clubhouse – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181204/dupage-forest-preserve-plans-to-allocate-12-million-for-clubhouse

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Pritzker shows ‘deep gratitude’ for Rauner at Illinois bicentennial – Mike Riopell
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20181204/pritzker-shows-deep-gratitude-for-rauner-at-illinois-bicentennial

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Fire damages egg production facility in rural Grant Park – Jeff Bonty
https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/fire-damages-egg-production-facility-in-rural-grant-park/article_f3fe0f80-f7d2-11e8-9c79-bfa11bcd629a.html

 

WREX
— Gov. Bruce Rauner will attend funeral services for former President Bush
https://wrex.com/category/2018/12/04/gov-bruce-rauner-will-attend-funeral-services-for-former-president-bush/

 

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
— Court cites free speech in striking down part of federal law over statements on illegal immigration – Bill Mears (DIERSEN: What do you say to those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, in Illinois, and in the world that encourage illegal immigration?)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/court-cites-free-speech-in-striking-down-part-of-federal-law-over-statements-on-illegal-immigration
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A federal appeals court has tossed out parts of a law that would punish those who would knowingly encourage immigrants to come to, or remain, in the U.S. illegally. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit concluded the federal law unconstitutionally bans a range of protected speech. The Justice Department prosecuted a San Jose woman who ran an immigration consulting firm, for allegedly helping arrange green cards for those working in the country illegally. The judges concluded the law’s reach was overbroad.)

 

GOPUSA
— A college president turns a chicken sandwich into an intellectual adversary
http://www.gopusa.com/a-college-president-turns-a-chicken-sandwich-into-an-intellectual-adversary/

 

HOT AIR
— Social Media Checks To Get A Gun License? – JAZZ SHAW
https://hotair.com/archives/2018/12/04/social-media-checks-get-gun-license/

 

TOWNHALL
— 90,000 Illegal Aliens Have Come to America Since the Caravan Formed in October – Katie Pavlich
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2018/12/04/illegal-immigrants-literally-drop-children-over-the-border-fence-n2536948
— Rep. Scalise Explains to ‘The View’ Why His Position on Gun Control Hasn’t Changed After Being Shot – Lauretta Brown
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/laurettabrown/2018/12/04/rep-scalise-explains-to-the-view-why-his-position-on-gun-control-hasnt-changed-after-being-shot-n2536978
— Truly Disgusting: ‘Conservative’ WaPo Columnist Uses Bush 41’s Death to Chide Republicans And the NRA – Beth Baumann
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2018/12/04/truly-disgusting-conservative-wapo-columnist-uses-bush-41s-death-to-chide-rep-n2536917

 

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— CARTER/CLINTON JUDGES RULE AIDING ILLEGAL ALIENS IS PROTECTED BY 1ST AMENDMENT – Daniel Greenfield
https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/272143/carterclinton-judges-rule-aiding-illegal-aliens-daniel-greenfield

 

DAILY SIGNAL
— Money, Support for Migrant ‘Caravans’ Flow Through Chicago – Kevin Mooney
https://www.dailysignal.com/2018/12/04/money-support-for-migrant-caravans-flow-through-chicago/

 

DAILY CALLER
— MIGRANTS BREAK THROUGH BORDER, SOME MAY HAVE ESCAPED CAPTURE – David Krayden
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/04/report-caravan-migrants-crash-border-potentially-escape-tijuana/
— NED RYUN PREDICTS ‘VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS’ FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND MASS AUTOMATION – Nick Givas
https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/04/ned-ryun-immigration-violence-fox-news/

 

CNS NEWS
— Federal Employee Downloaded 9,000 Pages of Porn, Infecting Network with Russian Malware – Craig Bannister
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/craig-bannister/ig-fed-employee-downloaded-9000-pages-pornography-infecting-network

 

NEWSMAX
— Frustrated Migrants Breach Border at Tijuana – Sandy Fitzgerald
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/migrants-mexico-tijuana-caravan/2018/12/04/id/893044/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illegals scarf up welfare, with new Census data confirming 63% of non-citizens helping themselves – Monica Showalter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/12/illegals_scarf_up_welfare_with_new_census_confirmation_of_63_helping_themselves.html

 

BREITBART
— Conservative Leaders Demand Congress Fund Border Wall for National Security – Ken Klukowski (DIERSEN: Who are the “conservative leaders” in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois? What do they do to promote the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving), and the rest of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and the Republican Party platform? Do they have a website? If so, how often do the post things on it? Do they send out emails? If so, how often, how many read them, and who reads them?)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/12/04/conservative-leaders-demand-congress-fund-border-wall-national-security/
— Michelle Malkin: Bush Legacy ‘Impoverishes the American Worker’ and ‘Grows the Deep State’ – Robert Kraychik
https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/12/04/michelle-malkin-bush-legacy-impoverishes-american-worker-grows-deep-state/

 

FEDERALIST
— New Documentary Reveals How Border Insecurity Exacerbates Opioid Deaths – Ericka Andersen
https://thefederalist.com/2018/12/04/opioid-documentary-reveals-how-border-insecurity-exacerbates-the-drug-crisis/

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Outsiders vs. Insiders: Wall funding debate shows DC elites fiddle while the nation burns – Jeffrey A. Rendall
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/29237-outsiders-vs-insiders-wall-funding-debate-shows-dc-elites-fiddle-while-nation-burns

 

CONSERVATIVE REVIEW
— House GOP runs out the clock on its majority; First Step Act stalls in the Senate – Drew White
https://www.conservativereview.com/news/the-weekly-watchman-house-gop-runs-out-the-clock-on-its-majority-first-step-act-stalls-in-the-senate/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump asks “Can Republicans Acknowledge Their Midterm Defeat?”
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/12/can-republicans-acknowledge-their-midterm-defeat/

 

ROLL CALL
— Tornado Strikes Congressman’s Hometown, Grazes McDonald’s His Dad Built Rodney Davis breaks out the chain saw after rare December tornadoes – Michael Teitelbaum
https://www.rollcall.com/news/hoh/rodney-davis-chainsaw-december-tornadoes

 

THE HILL
— Dozens of migrants from caravan breach border – TAL AXELROD
https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/419587-dozens-of-migrants-from-caravan-breach-border
— Trump: Border wall ‘pays for itself in two months’ – RAFAEL BERNAL
https://thehill.com/latino/419669-trump-claims-us-loses-250-billion-a-year-to-illegal-border-crossings
— Court rules that encouraging illegal immigration is protected by First Amendment – MEGAN KELLER
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/419656-court-rules-encouraging-undocumented-immigrants-to-enter-us-is
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans promote illegal immigration.
https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/419585-thousands-of-migrants-traveling-to-us-dead-or-missing-over-last

 

REUTERS
— Pentagon extends Mexico border mission until end of January
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-caravan-military/pentagon-extends-mexico-border-mission-until-end-of-january-idUSKBN1O32QY

 

CBS NEWS
— Asylum denials hit record-high in 2018 as Trump administration tightens immigration policy – KATE SMITH
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/asylum-seekers-asylum-denials-hit-record-high-in-2018-as-trump-administration-tightens-immigration-policy-as-the-caravan-arrives/

 

WASHINGTON POST
— The government wants to keep its employees from talking about impeachment. It can’t do that. – Kathleen Clark
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2018/12/04/government-wants-keep-its-employees-talking-about-impeachment-it-cant-do-that/

 

USA TODAY
— Child care costs and strict hours are crippling working parents, especially the single ones – Briana Williams
https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/allthemoms/2018/12/04/child-care-costs-crippling-working-parents-especially-single-ones/2116870002/

 

FORTUNE
— Migrants Breach the U.S. Border Fence in a Bid for Asylum
http://fortune.com/2018/12/04/migrants-breach-border-fence-asylum/

 

AMERICA MAGAZINE
— As immigration denial rates increase, asylum seekers face setback at U.S. border – J.D. Long-García
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/12/04/immigration-denial-rates-increase-asylum-seekers-face-setback-us-border

 

MEDIA MATTERS
— Fox guest: Donating to migrants in the caravan is “aiding and abetting criminals on the border” Campus Reform’s Lawrence Jones: UC Berkeley students sending money to migrants “should concern most Americans”
https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018/12/04/fox-guest-donating-migrants-caravan-aiding-and-abetting-criminals-border/222219

 

NIEMAN LAB
— The information demands on the modern digital journalist are overwhelming and leading to burnout – JOHN CROWLEY
http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/12/alert-alert-the-information-demands-on-the-modern-digital-journalist-are-overwhelming-and-leading-to-burnout/

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.