February 11 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Congressional Budget Office expects $2.3T deficit before Biden COVID-19 relief plan – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/budget-office-expects-$23t-deficit-before-biden-relief-plan/10330923/

NBC5
— Biden Gets 62% Approval in CNBC Economic Survey, Topping First Ratings of the Last Four Presidents – Steve Liesman
(DIERSEN: Of course, hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters want Biden to see this as a mandate to immediately get rid of Trump-supporters once and for all.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/biden-gets-62-approval-in-cnbc-economic-survey-topping-first-ratings-of-the-last-four-presidents/2435520/

CBS2
— Republicans Mock Illinois House Democrats: Meet The New Rules, Same As Old Ones
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2021/02/11/republicans-mock-illinois-house-democrats-meet-the-new-rules-same-as-old-ones/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria put in charge of national Republican congressional fundraising – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-darin-lahood-republican-fundraising-20210211-ndmbzg4m6vhbjb24xrwnbvc2py-story.html
— Countersuit filed in Orland Park robocalls battle; mayor alleges fraudulent email – MIKE NOLAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/ct-sta-orland-park-robocalls-lawsuit-st-0212-20210211-2tv6eg6einaujdxunfigwj3wqi-story.html
— Prosecutors rest their case in impeachment trial, urge Senators to convict Trump or face dire democracy damage – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-trump-impeachment-trial-20210211-7m24gu5flzeqlmqb6lxapp4sv4-story.html
— Trump impeachment trial Day 3 highlights: ‘We were invited’ and a quick defense – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-impeachment-trial-highlights-20210212-klem4gwjivgm3i52slfzg4htpm-story.html
— Biden wants to raise refugee admissions to 62,500, quadrupling Trump’s record-low limit – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-biden-refugee-admissions-20210211-zcdbtutuprapvk4l5qtg6rv2jm-story.html
— A look at how impeachment is playing (or isn’t) beyond cable news | Lightfoot, Preckwinkle reject Pritzker’s COVID-19 vaccination plan | Obama center foe takes his complaint to Biden – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-impeachment-interest-ignored-obama-center-biden-spin-20210211-32ngbki4nnewzhsm6wlf7wqiru-story.html
— Egging of student apartment displaying Israeli flag prompts University of Illinois police probe; school condemns anti-Semitism – ELYSSA CHERNEY
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-university-of-illinois-israeli-flag-apartment-egging-20210211-5ett6oohjreprozcvd74mdiosq-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Five reasons why the impeachment trial is absolutely crucial. The craving for a Trump conviction likely won’t be satisfied this week. But it’s important to see the forest for the trees: The nation needs this reckoning for many reasons.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/2/11/22276592/reasons-why-impeachment-trial-crucial-trump-s-e-cupp
— Rioters acted on Trump’s ‘order,’ Democrats say in impeachment trial – AP
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied that they took adverse actions against me on orders from the following: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, their major donors, their political consultants, their campaign managers, their campaign staff members, and their campaign volunteers, d) leaders of Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, and/or e) those who I have sued.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/11/22278325/rioters-acted-trumps-order-democrats-say-impeachment-trial
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Capitol attack not a finale, but an opening act. After impeachment, Democrats must quickly look to the future. Because the Capitol mob is coming back.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/2021/2/11/22278141/capitol-mob-riot-jan-6-electoral-vote-certification-trump-impeachment-house-senate-trial-elections
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters say “Trump can’t hang on to lawyers after false election claims. Since losing the November election to President Joe Biden, Donald Trump has been hemorrhaging attorneys.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2021/2/11/22278426/trump-cant-hang-lawyers-false-election-claims

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois House speaker term limits and other changes OK’d in party line split – JJ Bullock
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210210/illinois-house-speaker-term-limits-and-other-changes-okd-in-party-line-split

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Republicans sour on Trumpism plan to chart a new course High-ranking members of the GOP have started discussions about forcing a new direction for the GOP—or even a new party. Illinois’ own Adam Kinzinger addressed the group in a Feb. 5 Zoom call. – Bloomberg
(DIERSEN: I am a member of the platform faction inside the GOP. Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/government/republicans-sour-trumpism-plan-chart-new-course
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A poll of the participants in what McMullin called the “new conservative summit” found that 43% want to establish a new faction inside the GOP that would support candidates and back officials such as Representative Liz Cheney who want the party to move on from Trump, he said, noting that 40% of participants wanted a new party, even knowing the challenges.)

SOUTHERN
— What Kinzinger vs. Trump tells us about the Illinois GOP – Jim Nowlan
https://thesouthern.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-jim-nowlan-what-kinzinger-vs-trump-tells-us-about-the-illinois-gop/article_8a936003-baca-5d0c-b2ca-9eb090c925a5.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: So, Adam has become the darling of suburban Dems and maybe 15-20% of GOP voters who, like me, agree with his criticism of Trump. Not a recipe for success in a statewide primary for U.S. Senate or governor, unless he stirs up several opponents, and can then win with 30% or so of the vote. Trump loyalists in my rural area appear to be sticking with the ex-president. They believe he speaks their blunt language to the powers that be and represents them more effectively than anyone ever has or ever will. . .Not to be cast aside entirely, the Illinois GOP this past week narrowly defeated a Trump conservative, and elected as state chair a calm, mainstream Republican lawyer from the remarkably successful Tracy family of western Illinois. Tracy siblings operate and wholly own the 6,000-employee DOT Foods enterprise of tiny Mount Sterling in equally minuscule Brown County. Don Tracy may not himself be in the Griffin billionaire class (I don’t know), but he sure has the stature to get his phone calls returned from traditional, major GOP donors. At present, the Illinois GOP holds no state offices and but one-third of legislative and congressional seats. It has no money, and an uncomfortable, at best, relationship with the Trump base; after all, the Tracy forces worked hard to eke out a narrow win over a Trump candidate for party chair. Illinois needs a competitive two-party political system. I commend Don Tracy for taking on a thankless role, but I worry that the GOP, both nationally and in Illinois, is in for a rough ride until we get past the Trump era.)

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria put in charge of national Republican congressional fundraising – RICK PEARSON
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/rep-darin-lahood-of-peoria-put-in-charge-of-national-republican-congressional-fundraising/article_31e204e6-b87a-54d5-8727-04744b5e1048.html

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Criminal element well represented in Illinois Senate – Jim Dey
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/jim-dey-criminal-element-well-represented-in-illinois-senate/article_aaaa5a1c-1ec1-59a5-87d1-4e326dc7ee18.html

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Unfunded Mandate Ban – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?id=318814#.YCXHcS4XCM8

ELGIN PATCH
— About half of all police officers in Kane County municipalities opted not to take the coronavirus vaccine, a board member said last week. – Jason Addy
https://patch.com/illinois/elgin/s/hf9sm/50-of-officers-rejected-coronavirus-vaccine-kane-co-official

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Tribune Adds Support for Keeping John Lausch as U.S. Attorney
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/tribune-adds-support-for-keeping-john-lausch-as-u-s-attorney/
— IL-16: Adam Kinzinger to be Challenged Again by James Marter
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/marter021121/
— ASKING AGAIN: Now That Underwood Is On Appropriations Committee, Will She Be Able to Get Covid Money for McHenry County?
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/il-14-now-that-underwood-is-on-appropriations-committee-will-she-be-able-to-get-covid-money-for-mchenry-county-copy/
— Even Wall Street Journal Notices Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Corruption Fighting Record
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/even-wall-street-journal-notices-illinois-u-s-attorneys-corruption-fighting-record/
— FOID Card Roundup in Lake in the Hills
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/foid-card-roundup-in-lake-in-the-hills/
— Corruption Bipartisan
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/corruption-bilpartisan/
— Interested in Getting Involved in County Government?
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2021/02/11/interested-in-getting-involved-in-county-government/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— DuPage Township Clerk Resigned – JOHN KRAFT & KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2021/02/dupage-township-clerk-resigned/

CAPITOL FAX
— DuPage sheriff says end of cash bail would hurt his inmate addiction program, but he’s being sued over that program
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/11/dupage-sheriff-says-end-of-cash-bail-would-hurt-his-inmate-addiction-program-but-hes-being-sued-over-that-program/
— 2,838 new confirmed and probable cases; 102 additional deaths; 1,954 hospitalized; 448 in ICU; 3.3 percent average case positivity rate; 3.9 percent average test positivity rate; 56,094 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/11/2838-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-102-additional-deaths-1954-hospitalized-448-in-icu-33-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-39-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-56094-average-daily-doses/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— How Biden is allowing Chinese govt. to quietly creep onto U.S. college campuses – Bill Gertz
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/11/how-biden-allowing-chinese-govt-quietly-creep-us-c/
— GOP demands Pelosi pay fine for bypassing metal detectors – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/11/gop-demands-nancy-pelosi-pay-fine-bypassing-metal-/
— Project Veritas suspended by Twitter after story on hate speech algorithms – Douglas Ernst
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/11/project-veritas-suspended-by-twitter-after-story-o/

FOX NEWS
— Gaetz tells Kinzinger to ‘bring it’ as GOP feud heats up. Twitter spat illustrates the divide in Republican Party between Trump supporters and critics. Paul Steinhauser
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gaetz-tells-kinzinger-to-bring-it-as-gop-feud-heats-up

GOPUSA
— Pope Attempts To Blend Christian Church With Marx’s Socialism In Policy Address
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106417
— CDC Study Finds Two Masks Are Better Than One Vs. COVID-19; Why Not Three?
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106384
— BofA Accused Of Helping The Feds ‘Ferret Out Conservatives’
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106398

ACCURACY IN MEDIA
— Media falsely ties Capitol Hill insurrection to increase in firearm sales
https://www.aim.org/aim-column/insurrection-gun-sales/

TOWNHALL
— Stop Calling It an ‘Insurrection’ – Kurt Schlichter
https://townhall.com/columnists/kurtschlichter/2021/02/11/stop-calling-it-an-insurrection-n2584502

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— If Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is the Standard, What About Democrat ‘Kingmaker’ Rev. Al Sharpton? – Larry Elder
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.snappages.site/blog/2021/02/11/if-rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-is-the-standard-what-about-democrat-kingmaker-rev-al-sharpton

EPOCH TIMES
— 70 Percent of Republicans Would Consider Joining Trump-Led Party, Poll Finds
https://www.theepochtimes.com/70-percent-of-republicans-would-consider-joining-trump-led-third-party-poll-finds_3693713.html

POLITICO
— NRCC will ‘absolutely’ support Republicans who backed impeachment, finance chair says. The campaign arm for House Republicans has a longstanding policy of staying out of primaries — something that helps Rep. Darin LaHood stay above fray. – SHIA KAPOS
(DIERSEN: 2,446,891 in Illinois voted for Trump. 193,611 in DuPage County voted for Trump. 20,080 in Milton Township voted for Trump. 157 in my precinct voted for Trump.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/11/nrcc-republicans-impeachment-darin-lahood-468767
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rep. Darin LaHood, a vocal ally of Donald Trump, said Thursday that the campaign arm of House Republicans won’t seek to punish members of the conference who supported impeaching the former president. The Illinois Republican was named finance chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday, just as the organization unveiled its strategy for retaking the House after the party made a surprisingly strong showing in the 2020 election.)
— National Republicans dive into Newsom recall push. The Republican National Committee is sending $250,000 to help the state GOP force a vote over whether the first-term Democrat should remain in office. – ALEX ISENSTADT
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/11/california-newsom-recall-republicans-468747

CBS NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters say “House managers argue impeachment is about preventing future Trump abuses.”
https://news.yahoo.com/house-managers-argue-impeachment-preventing-003146630.html

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Rioters acted on Trump’s ‘order,’ Democrats say in trial
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied that they took adverse actions against me on orders from the following: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, their major donors, their political consultants, their campaign managers, their campaign staff members, and their campaign volunteers, d) leaders of Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, and/or e) those who I have sued.)
https://www.kltv.com/2021/02/11/chilling-video-footage-becomes-key-exhibit-trump-impeachment-trial/

CBS BALTIMORE
— ‘Trump Demanded It’ | Attorney For Maryland Man Facing Riot Charges Says He Went To U.S. Capitol ‘At The Request Of The President’ – Mike Hellgren
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have hinted/implied that they took adverse actions against me on orders from the following: a) leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, b) Republican leaders of Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton, c) Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct, their major donors, their political consultants, their campaign managers, their campaign staff members, and their campaign volunteers, d) leaders of Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, and/or e) those who I have sued.)
https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/02/11/trump-demanded-it-attorney-for-maryland-man-facing-riot-charges-says-he-went-to-u-s-capitol-at-the-request-of-the-president/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump Was Sicker Than Acknowledged With Covid-19. When hospitalized with the coronavirus in October, his blood oxygen levels had plunged and officials feared he was on the verge of being placed on a ventilator.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/trump-coronavirus.html

WASHINGTON POST
— U.S. federal debt to exceed size of economy even before Biden stimulus is approved, CBO says. CBO’s deficit projections come the day after the Federal Reserve chairman warned of the dangers of high unemployment. – Jeff Stein
https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/02/11/cbo-deficit-debt-stimulus/

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.