February 10 Morning Edition

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Ives beats Rauner in Wayne Township Republican Organization straw poll – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: If I was still the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, the organization would be conducting straw polls for a) Rauner/Sanguinetti v. Ives/Morthland, b) Harold v. Grasso, c) Diganvker v. Jhingan, d) Stella v. Vlakancic, e) Minor v. Grant v. Byrne, f) Kinzler v. Orozco, g) Zito v. Khouri, h) Mendrick v. Bibbiano, i) Tornatore v. DeMichele v. Gavanes, j) Hart v. Abbott v. Tully, k) McGowen v. Almiron v. Eckhoff v. Zaruba v. Tatro v. Chinchilla, l) Wiley v. Zay v. McQuade, m) Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee candidates, n) etc.)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511332446-ives-beats-rauner-in-wayne-township-republican-organization-straw-poll
(FROM THE ARTICLE: State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton} easily bested Gov. Bruce Rauner in a Republican primary straw poll vote conducted by the Wayne Township Republican Organization (WTRO), 88 percent to 12 percent. Ives also topped Rauner by a better than 3-to-1 margin (76 percent to 24 percent) on the question of “Who has the best chance of beating the democratic candidate.” The WTRO straw vote takes on added significance with some given how accurate it was in predicting the 2016 presidential race won by Donald Trump. “I have always felt the GOP committeemen in Wayne Township have the pulse of the voters,” organization chairman Jerry Marchese said in a press release. “We shall anxiously await the results of this poll and how it matches the outcome from the March 20th primary elections.” In the WTRO straw vote for sheriff, James Mendrick topped Frank Bibbiano, 69 percent to 31 percent; while Burt Minor topped Amy Grant in the race for state representative in the 42nd District, 85 percent to 15 percent; and Tonia Khouri squeaked by Nic Zito, 53 percent to 47 percent in the 49th District. Another poll of all the races is slated to take place on March 8, less than two weeks before voters formally go to the polls. “As always, we encourage everyone to get out to vote on Tuesday, March 20th, and vote for the candidate of their choice,” Marchese added in the press release. “Our committeeman will be stopping by or knocking on doors from now until Election Day to encourage voters to come out to vote.”)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Budget finally OK, Congress heads into big fight over immigration, Dreamers – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, if you do not glorify and praise citizens of foreign countries, Democrats and RINOs call you a White supremacist, a Nazi, a KKK member, a hater, a racist, a sexist, a bigot, and even worse things. Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because they work for less money.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-congress-budget-immigration-fight-20180209-story.html
— Transgender student appeals after judge denies unrestricted access to Palatine locker room – Angie Leventis Lourgos
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-transgender-locker-room-appeal-20180208-story.html
— Student says 1st Amendment rights violated when school ‘threatened’ him to be quiet during Cary mayor’s visit – Amanda Marrazzo (DIERSEN: Should I start filing lawsuits again? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes demonize, denigrate, and condemn me as being litigious, but I have not filed a lawsuit since 1998. Should I write a book about all the lawsuits and demands for arbitration that I have filed? In 1988, when I was 40 years old, I became an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged GAO with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-met-cary-grove-first-amendment-20180209-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A Cary-Grove High School senior said his First Amendment rights were violated when Cary’s mayor came to his school for a question-and-answer session and the student was told not to interrupt, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court. Matthew Ahmann, 18, a self-described political journalist, has been outspoken against Mayor Mark Kownick in recent years through his politically driven Facebook account. In his lawsuit filed against the school board of Crystal Lake-based District 155, Ahmann said that on Sept. 26 he did as he was told by the school’s dean, James Kelly, after receiving a “threatening ultimatum” and kept quiet during the mayor’s visit to his advanced placement politics class. Ahmann, who also is seeking $50,000 in compensatory damages, said in the lawsuit that Kelly approached him after having a conversation with Kownick. Kelly told him not to “say or do anything” during Kownick’s visit “or negative consequences would follow.” According to the lawsuit, “Mayor Kownick and Dean Kelly, working in concert and prior to the mayor’s speech, conspired to stifle Matt’s continued political journalism by having Dean Kelly threaten and intimidate Matt.” Ahmann did however record the session on his cellphone and weeks later posted it on his politically charged Facebook page. He said the district in retaliation punished him by placing him on a one-day in-school suspension. Ahmann said in the lawsuit he wants this expunged from his record because having this “permanent academic record of suspension” hurts his future chances of being accepted into colleges and earning scholarships.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— As snow blankets Chicagoland, a third of Cook County jail guards called in sick – Andy Grimm (DIERSEN: While I worked for the Park Forest Post Office 1966-1969, I was frequently called in to work because my coworkers had called in sick.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-snow-blankets-chicagoland-a-third-of-cook-county-jail-guards-called-in-sick/

 

DAILY HERALD
— State appeals adding ‘pain’ as medical marijuana qualifier – AP (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180209/news/302099905/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois’ lousy credit rating: It’s contagious
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/bonds

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rauner makes re-election case as ‘proud Republican’ – RYAN VOYLES and TOM LISI (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. In Illinois, if you do not defend and advance the Illinois Republican Party platform, you should not seek or hold any kind of government or political office as a Republican.)
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/rauner-makes-re-election-case-as-proud-republican/article_f6871c3d-134f-5195-9225-0ca5551d816a.html

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Polls don’t bode well for Rauner – RICH MILLER
http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/miller-polls-don-t-bode-well-for-rauner/article_99984a5a-4ce7-5ae3-9d7e-214f4546a82d.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rauner pushes for term limits, end to Madigan’s reign – Tom Kacich
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-02-10/rauner-pushes-term-limits-end-madigans-reign-visit-n-g.html

 

WGEM
— Illinois looking into medical marijuana instead of opioids – Patrick Doss (DIERSEN: If you promote pot or opioids, you promote destruction.)
http://www.wgem.com/story/37472301/2018/02/Friday/illinois-looking-into-medical-marijuana-instead-of-opioids
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The bill passed through a senate committee with a 16-1 vote, with the lone opposition vote coming from Republican Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington, Illinois. His office said Friday that the reasoning behind that opposition vote was concerns from the Illinois Department of Health over being able to staff the additional people needed to streamline the process. If it becomes a law, it would allow people applying for the medical marijuana program in the first year, to do so without a physician’s certification, or the fingerprint background check.)

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you are charged with anything bad, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be guilty: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German Americans, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://nprillinois.org/post/why-men-remain-high-power-positions-despite-claims-abuse#stream/0

 

WJBD RADIO
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, if you are charged with anything bad, the more of the following that you are, the more that you are presumed to be guilty: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owner, German Americans, draft avoider, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2018/02/09/white-house-speechwriter-resigns-after-domestic-abuse-allegations

 

IVES FOR GOVERNOR
— Ives Releases New TV Spot To Honor the Life of Denny McCann: Repeal Sanctuary State
https://mailchi.mp/592bb3b94198/ives-releases-new-tv-spot-to-honor-the-life-of-denny-mccann-repeal-sanctuary-state

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly pot pushes use opioid problems to push pot.
https://www.ilnews.org/news/health/dispensary-owner-medical-pot-for-pain-would-be-better-quality/article_089ee400-0d14-11e8-8f00-1f34e4a07e45.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— The Walgreens Restroom Kerfuffle – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/homosexuality/walgreens-restroom-kerfuffle-2/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— NEW IVES’ AD: “NOW THAT I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION …”
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/new-ives-ad-now-that-ive-got-your-attention-.html


— BETWEEN A FARMER AND A DISABLED VETERAN, WHO DESERVES TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES MORE?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2018/02/between-a-farmer-and-a-disabled-veteran-who-deserves-taxpayer-subsidies-more.html

 

AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION
— BEYOND OUTRAGEOUS: Walgreens’ new policy welcomes men into women’s restrooms
https://www.afa.net/activism/action-alerts/2018/walgreens-new-policy-welcomes-men-into-womens-restrooms/

 

BREITBART
— Illinois Candidate for Gov. Jeanne Ives Releases Ad Aimed at Conservatives – WARNER TODD HUSTON
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/09/illinois-candidate-for-governor-jeanne-ives-releases-ad-aimed-at-conservatives/
— Democrats, Business Sacrifice ‘Dreamers’ To Preserve Chain Migration – NEIL MUNRO (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because they vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because they work for less money.)
http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/02/09/democrats-sacrifice-dreamers-to-preserve-chain-migration-immigration-inflow/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Democrats Helped Create Neo-Nazi Arthur Jones – Rich Logis
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/democrats_helped_create_neonazi_arthur_jones.html

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Shame: 2018 Winter Olympics allows men claiming to be ‘women’ to compete against real women – DOROTHY CUMMINGS MCLEAN
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/shame-2018-winter-olympics-allows-men-claiming-to-be-women-to-compete-again

 

GOPUSA
— Bermuda repeals same-sex marriage
http://www.gopusa.com/bermuda-repeals-same-sex-marriage/

 

THE HILL
— Second White House aide resigns amid past abuse allegations – AVERY ANAPOL
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/373227-second-white-house-official-in-one-week-resigns-over-domestic-abuse

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Democrats Give Up Fighting For Dreamers. Again. – Cesar Vargas (DIERSEN: What are your demographics? Who fights for those who share your demographics?)
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-vargas-dreamers-democrats_us_5a7e2bebe4b08dfc9304249f

 

REUTERS
— U.S. budget deals grants $1.5 billion for opioid-addicted babies, families – Duff Wilson, John Shiffman
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-congress-opioids/u-s-budget-deals-grants-1-5-bln-for-opioid-addicted-babies-families-idUSL2N1PZ112

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Fox News Removes a Top Executive’s Column on Olympic Team Diversity – Michael M. Grynbaum (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps demonize you, denigrate you, and condemn you as being a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot and even worse things if you do not promote diversity, that is, if you do not promote getting rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, draft avoiders, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/business/media/fox-news-olympics-john-moody.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fox News on Friday removed an incendiary op-ed article by one of its top executives, after the piece drew criticism for mocking American Olympic officials who had emphasized the diversity of this year’s team of athletes. The column suggested, sarcastically, that the United States Olympic Committee adopt a new motto: “Darker, Gayer, Different.” The piece, published on Wednesday and written by John Moody, an executive vice president and executive editor of Fox News, caused an uproar on social media. Some of the network’s employees expressed dismay that Fox News had allowed the article to be published on its website. “John Moody’s column does not reflect the views or values of Fox News and has been removed,” the network said in a statement. Mr. Moody, a Time magazine alumnus who was one of the network’s earliest senior news managers, was close to Roger E. Ailes, Fox News’s former chairman. Mr. Moody’s role at Fox News has dwindled over the years; despite his lofty title, he has little formal oversight over the channel’s day-to-day coverage.)
— How Taxpayers Who Want Help Can Find a Reputable Preparer – Ann Carrns (DIERSEN: Do you prepare and file your own income tax returns? I have since 1964. I worked for IRS 1971-1980 and for GAO on audits of IRS 1986-1988. I itemized 1972-1977 and my wife and I have itemized since 1978. I won a split decision in Tax Court when my Democrat IRS superiors and Money Magazine disallowed my education deductions in 1978. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980. I have used Quicken and Turbotax since they became available. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and of federal taxes. What do you say to people who do not even know if they take the standard deduction or if they itemize who viciously demonize, viciously denigrate, and viciously condemn my knowledge of IRS and of federal taxes?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/your-money/find-tax-return-preparers.html
— Select the Worst Trump Minion – Gail Collins (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who serve as minions for my critics/opponents.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/opinion/worst-trump-minion.html
— The Great Republican Power Grab – Editorial (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about a) those who succeeded in 2015 in gerrymandering my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 in Wheaton and b) why they did it?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/opinion/republicans-gerrymandering-power.html
— For Republicans, the Tea Party Is Over – Carl Hulse
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/us/politics/republicans-budget.html
— Fight Over Cambodian Leader’s Facebook ‘Likes’ Reaches a U.S. Court – Julia Wallace (DIERSEN: Facebook is a Democrat website.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/world/asia/cambodia-facebook-hun-sen.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: The Era of Fiscal Austerity Is Over. Here’s What Big Deficits Mean for the Economy. It depends on whether you look at the short, medium or long term. – Neil Irwin
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/upshot/the-era-of-fiscal-austerity-is-over-heres-what-big-deficits-mean-for-the-economy.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump asks “Why might the White House have kept Rob Porter?” and says “Everyone else was incompetent.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-might-the-white-house-have-kept-rob-porter-everyone-else-was-incompetent/2018/02/09/f2ab30ac-0de2-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— There’s One Thing Worse Than Paying Bad Teachers Not to Work Bill de Blasio’s New York has started putting them back in the classroom, especially in poor areas. – Marcus A. Winter (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that I am so BAD that since 1997, my GAO superiors have had the Civil Service Retirement System pay me $1,058,890 ($4,322 X 245 months) in today’s dollars to not work.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/theres-one-thing-worse-than-paying-bad-teachers-not-to-work-1518219111
— Free Speech Gets Expensive A university sent the College Republicans a $17,000 security bill. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/free-speech-gets-expensive-1518221133
— College Republicans Avoid Security Fees for Campus Event University of Washington blocked from charging college GOP group security fees – Michelle Hackman
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-group-avoids-school-fees-1518217236
— Will China Impose a New World Order? When Pax Britannica gave way to Pax Americana, the transition was peaceful. A repeat is unlikely, says the author of ‘Safe Passage.’ – Tunku Varadarajan (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who have no problem with China running the world? Those who promote China want to get rid of me.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-china-impose-a-new-world-order-1518219178
— The Enlightenment Is Working Don’t listen to the gloom-sayers. The world has improved by every measure of human flourishing over the past two centuries, and the progress continues – Steven Pinker (DIERSEN: Has America been good to you? Are you doing better than your parents? Neither of my outstanding parents attended college. My mother never attended high school. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. I earned three master’s degrees, six professional certifications, and a professional license. My father did not buy a new car until he was 45, and it was a bottom of the line 2-door Chevy. I bought my first new car in 1966 when I was 17. My daily driver is a 2003 Chevy Cavalier LS that I bought from my aunt in 2010. Other cars that I own are: 1972 Chevy Corvette*, 1996 Ford Thunderbird LX*, 2005 Chevy Corvette*, 2013 Dodge Charger R/T Max*, and 2016 Ford Mustang*. Previously, I bought a 1958 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy BelAir, 1962 Chevy Impala SS, 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint*, 1968 Oldsmobile 442*, 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, 1969 Dodge Charger SE*, 1974 Dodge Dart*, 1978 Chevy Chevette*, 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale*, 1990 Ford Thunderbird LX*, 1993 Ford Thunderbird*, and 1997 Chevy Cavalier*. (* = bought new))
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-enlightenment-is-working-1518191343
— In Collective Identities, We Both Lose and Find Ourselves Races, nations and even generations are thought of as having personalities, talents—even destinies. – Crispin Sartwell (DIERSEN: Who in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township, in your county, and in Illinois takes the lead in demonizing, denigrating, and condemning members of the following groups as being White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and bigots, and even worse things: 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.wsj.com/articles/in-collective-identities-we-bothe-lose-and-find-ourselves-1518216561
— Despite U.S. Push, Most NATO Allies Fail to Fulfill Military-Spending Goals Even as European military outlays rise, the majority of allies won’t meet 2%-of-GDP benchmark, officials say – Julian E. Barnes (DIERSEN: As everyone knows, were it not for America’s military might, virtually every country in the world invade and would attempt to conquer the countries around them.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/despite-u-s-push-most-nato-allies-fail-to-fulfill-military-spending-goals-1518200382

 

KIPLINGER
— Tax Planning for Newlyweds Will getting married cut your tax bill or will you fall victim to the marriage tax penalty? (DIERSEN: My wife and I have paid the marriage penalty big time since we got married in 1978. Under the new Republican tax law, if there was no marriage penalty, instead of $10,000, the SALT cap would be $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.kiplinger.com/article/taxes/T055-C000-S001-marriage-and-taxes.html

 

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says: Dumbed-Down Security Briefings Still Too Difficult for Trump to Read.” My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails contain links to too many articles from too many sources.)
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/02/dumbed-down-security-briefings-still-too-difficult-for-trump.html

 

RAW STORY
— Conservative group enriches its leaders with questionable dealings as its political influence grows – Pro Publica
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/02/conservative-group-enriches-leaders-questionable-dealings-political-influence-grows/

 

NEXT GENERATION STRATEGIES
— The only way Illinois Policy Institute survives is if it purges itself of Tillman, Proft and Hughes. Will be interesting to see as this unfolds what exactly Proft and Hughes did to justify the nearly $300,000 in consulting fees. – Pat Brady
https://twitter.com/pat_brady/status/962017458969182208

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.