February 12 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Trump impeachment trial: Defense lawyers decry his trial, say Democrats cry ‘fight’ too – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/trump-lawyers-decry-his-trial-say-democrats-cry-fight-too-%7C-live/10332855/
— Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley breaks from Donald Trump, says ‘he let us down’ – Alex Meier
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/nikki-haley-we-shouldnt-have-listened-to-trump/10333025/
— Biden administration to begin admitting migrants forced to wait in Mexico – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/biden-administration-to-admit-migrants-waiting-in-mexico/10332796/
— WI marijuana: Milwaukee officials propose reducing weed fines to $1 – Terry Sater
https://abc7chicago.com/10334094/

NBC5
— The Republican Party May Be About to Break Up
https://www.nbcchicago.com/lx/the-republican-party-may-be-about-to-break-up/2436807/

— A Large Share of Republicans Want Trump to Remain Head of the Party, CNBC Survey Shows – Steve Liesman
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/a-large-share-of-republicans-want-trump-to-remain-head-of-the-party-cnbc-survey/2436925/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Illinois reports 2,598 new COVID-19 cases, 32 more deaths
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-reports-2598-new-covid-19-cases-32-more-deaths

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Stark divide in Illinois COVID-19 vaccinations by race, ethnicity and age, new data shows – JOE MAHR and JENNY WHIDDEN
(DIERSEN: Democrats hint/imply/argue/shout that the more of the following that you are, the more that you should let others get vaccinated before you: White, male, older, healthy, heterosexual, married, non-poor, law enforcement officer, veteran, Trump supporter, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, gun owner, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/vaccine/ct-illinois-covid-vaccine-demographics-20210212-yuetcgi4mjd6terw62dljefceu-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Mike Pence could turn the impeachment trial around.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/steve-chapman/ct-column-trump-impeachment-trial-pence-chapman-20210212-ollclvwkmfg5rlrill6q74tgpe-story.html
— Chicago-area counties have among the lowest COVID vaccination rates in the state. Officials say they’re handcuffed by supply. – SARAH FREISHTAT and ROBERT MCCOPPIN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/vaccine/ct-covid-illinois-county-vaccination-rates-20210212-iagejgjsyfetlomz7ju3cpne3y-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Illinois House has some rule changes, and that’s progress. The Republicans, reform advocates, some editorial boards aren’t totally pleased with changes under new House Speaker Chris Welch. But progress is not the norm. Keep at it. – Rich Miller
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/2/12/22280811/illinois-house-rule-changes-speaker-chris-welch-republicans-rich-miller

DAILY HERALD
— Romney’s Family Security Act redistributes wealth, creates distortions, grows government – Veronique de Rugy
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20210212/romneys-family-security-act-redistributes-wealth-creates-distortions-grows-government
— No redistricting data until end of September – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20210212/news/302129924/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ask “New Illinois GOP chairman is right to pursue unity; can he achieve it?”
https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20210212/editorial-new-illinois-gop-chairman-is-right-to-pursue-unity-can-he-achieve-it

BUREAU COUNTY REPUBLICAN
— Open letter to Rep. Adam Kinzinger – Evalyn Hassler, Princeton
https://www.shawlocal.com/bureau-county-republican/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2021/02/11/letter-open-letter-to-rep-adam-kinzinger/

DAILY EGYPTIAN
— Kinzinger questions the current direction of the GOP – George Wiebe
https://dailyegyptian.com/105979/news/illinois-representative-kinzinger-questions-the-current-direction-of-the-gop/

MARION REPUBLICAN
— Southern Illinois GOP chairs condemn Kinzinger – Bruce Rodely, Chairman, Perry County GOP
https://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/discuss/20210212/letter-to-the-editor-southern-ilinois-gop-chairs-condemn-kinzinger

FOX ILLINOIS
— U of I continues to fight anti-Semitism – Evan Hensley
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/u-of-i-continues-to-fight-anti-semitism
— NY GOP chair calls for prosecution, impeachment of Cuomo
https://foxillinois.com/news/coronavirus/ny-gop-chair-calls-for-prosecution-impeachment-of-cuomo

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Citizens, businesses await action on challenges to Pritzker’s COVID restrictions as judge accuses governor of venue shopping – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/citizens-businesses-await-action-on-challenges-to-pritzkers-covid-restrictions-as-judge-accuses-governor-of/article_de584ab6-6cb9-11eb-bb11-6f94a1886218.html

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER: ILLINOIS ABOUT TO FORCE TEACHERS TO LUNGE INTO “WOKE” OBLIVION
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/thorner-illinois-about-to-force-teachers-to-lunge-into-woke-oblivion.html
— BIDEN MOVING AMERICA CLOSER TO EMBRACING RADICAL ‘GREAT RESET’ MOVEMENT
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/biden-moving-america-closer-to-embracing-radical-great-reset-movement.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump’s lawyers implore senators not to bow to ‘cancel culture’ as defense rests – Alex Swoyer
(DIERSEN: Who leads the cancel culture in your municipal district, in your municipality, in your township, in your county district, in your county, and in Illinois? I should write a book about those who lead the cancel culture in Wheaton’s West District, in Wheaton, in Milton Township, in DuPage County’s 4th District, in DuPage County, and in Illinois.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/12/trumps-lawyers-implore-senators-not-bow-cancel-cul/
— ‘Disgusted’ Nikki Haley splits with Trump: ‘He let us down’ – Seth McLaughlin
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/12/nikki-haley-splits-donald-trump-he-let-us-down/
— Trump’s defense highlights Democrats endorsing unrest, calls impeachment ‘political vengeance’ – Dave Boyer and Alex Swoyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/12/trumps-defense-highlights-democrats-endorsing-unre/

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— The Left’s Immigration Plan Under Biden. Influential Democrats in Congress are looking to do a whole lot more than overturn the modest reforms of the Trump administration. – MICHAEL VOLPE
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-lefts-immigration-plan-under-biden/

BREITBART
— Matt Gaetz: GOP Establishment Has a Frontman in Adam Kinzinger – JEFF POOR
https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2021/02/12/matt-gaetz-gop-establishment-has-a-frontman-in-adam-kinzinger/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Thursday on FNC’s “The Ingraham Angle,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) discussed his ongoing feud with colleague Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) over the direction of the Republican Party and former President Donald Trump’s role in the party. Gaetz reacted to Kinzinger’s efforts to steer the party away from Trump and his allies in the post-Trump presidency era. “If Adam Kinzinger wants to challenge me in a Republican primary, he better pack a lunch if he’s coming to northwest Florida,” Gaetz said. “I think I could win a Republican primary in my district or in the state of Wyoming based on the crowds I got there.” “Donald Trump was a threat to the establishment in both parties, Laura, and in the Republican Party, the establishment wants their power back, and they found their frontman in Adam Kinzinger,” Gaetz continued. “I believe we should still be the America first party that stands against starting wars in places that excessively entangle our country in foreign matters. I don’t think we should invite every illegal alien across our borders so that corporate America can have lower wages for our fellow Americans, and I don’t think we should have trade deals that benefit Wall Street but hollow out the towns and cities throughout our great nation.” The Florida Republican lawmaker reminded viewers that Kinzinger and other Trump critics, including Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), sought jobs from the former president in his presidency’s early stages. “He wanted to be Trump’s secretary of the Air Force,” Gaetz added. “It’s just so funny to me, Laura, that all these people that ended up being anti-Trump wanted jobs with Trump. Romney wanted to be the secretary of state. Kinzinger wanted to be the secretary of the Air Force. He even enlisted my help to get that job. And then when they didn’t get that job, they wanted with President Trump, they all of a sudden decided to accelerate their own fame by becoming critics.”)
— Fauci: ‘We’re Going To Be Wearing Masks for Several, Several Months’ – TRENT BAKER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/12/fauci-were-going-to-be-wearing-masks-for-several-several-months/

CNS NEWS
— How Conservatives Can Respond to Big Business’ Betrayal – Tony Perkins
(DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will Wheaton businesses officially dump their customer, dump their employees, dump their etc. who do not promote LGBTQ? How soon, if not already, will Wheaton organizations officially dump their members, dump their etc. who do not promote LGBTQ?)
https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/tony-perkins/how-conservatives-can-respond-big-business-betrayal
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If there is good news, Justin agrees, it’s that consumers are finally seeing corporate America for what it is. And if their resentment continues to grow, it could signal a major shift in the political landscape. Remember: conservatives and the Republican Party have long been the most reliable advocates of business. Now, with the Chamber of Commerce outing itself as a satellite office of the Democratic Party, a dramatic sea change could be underway.)
— Scalise: Dems ‘Don’t Want You to Know …What Else Was Happening in the Capitol’ on Thursday – Susan Jones
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/washington/susan-jones/scalise-dems-dont-want-you-know-what-else-was-happening-capitol

CBN NEWS
— ‘Fact-Checking’ for Profit: Conservatives Call out Big Tech Funded Censorship – Caitlin Burke
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2021/february/fact-checking-for-profit-conservatives-call-out-big-tech-funded-censorship

DAILY CALLER
— Biden’s Deputy Press Secretary Suspended Without Pay After Allegations He Threatened Reporter Over Love Story – SHELBY TALCOTT
https://dailycaller.com/2021/02/12/tj-ducklo-suspended-without-pay-allegations-intimidated-politico-reporter-tara-palmeri/
— The Left Is Calling To ‘Deprogram’ Trump Supporters — Will Biden Buckle?
https://dailycaller.com/2021/02/12/deprogram-reality-czar-ocasio-cortez-white-supremacy-truth-media-joe-biden/

THE HILL
— NRCC finance chair Darin LaHood: Republicans who voted for Trump impeachment will not be penalized – JOSEPH CHO
(DIERSEN: What does LaHood say to hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters who want him to not only punish, but to get rid of once and for all a) the 2,446,891 in Illinois who voted for Trump, b) the 193,611 in DuPage County who voted for Trump, c) the 20,080 in Milton Township who voted for Trump, and d) the 157 in my precinct who voted for Trump?)
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/538567-nrcc-chair-says-republicans-who-voted-for-trumps-impeachment-will-not-be

REUTERS
— Anti-Trump Republicans face major challenge in launching third party
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1395092/anti-trump-republicans-face-major-challenge-in-launching-third-party

NBC NEWS
— Trump’s impeachment defense team argues his words before riot were ‘ordinary political rhetoric’ – Adam Edelman
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-defense-present-case-senate-impeachment-trial-n1257601

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Orange County rally organizer accused of running over Trump supporters faces new charges – HANNAH FRY, JAMES QUEALLY
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-20/orange-county-rally-organizer-new-charges-assault

USA TODAY
‘– We shouldn’t have followed him’: Nikki Haley sharply condemns Trump’s post-election behavior – William Cummings
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/12/nikki-haley-tells-politico-republicans-shouldnt-have-followed-trump/6735480002/

NEW YORK MAGAZINE
— Firing Actors for Being Conservative Is Another Hollywood Blacklist – Jonathan Chait
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about the leading blacklisters in Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton. I would focus on those who have/had lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout. I would focus on those who are/were leaders of the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, and Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.)
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/02/gina-carano-mandalorian-fired-hollywood-blacklist-mccarthyism.html

VOICE OF AMERICA
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater asks “Who Were the US Capitol Rioters?”
(DIERSEN: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will use this to get rid of “normal” Trump supporters once and for all. The more of the following that a Trump-supporter is, the faster that hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters will get rid of them: White, male, older, non-poor, law enforcement officer, veteran, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, heterosexual, married, gun owner, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if your ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.voanews.com/usa/who-were-us-capitol-rioters
(FROM THE ARTICLE: They found that in contrast to right-wing extremists arrested over the past five years, the Capitol rioters make up an older, better employed crowd. The majority are white and male. Sixty-six percent are 34 years or older; 85% have jobs; 13% are business owners, while 27% hold white-collar jobs. . .Now, nearly five weeks after the attack, researchers at the University of Chicago have concluded that the majority of the rioters were not members of far-right groups but “normal” Trump supporters — part of his political base. Among them were doctors, lawyers, architects and business owners. . .Of the 221 defendants the researchers investigated, 198 had no known links to militias or other far-right groups. That is about 90% of the total. The researchers characterize these unaffiliated rioters as “normal” pro-Trump activists.)

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Voters Don’t Trust Social Media Censorship (DIERSEN: One could compare and contrast the articles that I share with the articles that the following share: Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO). Overwhelmingly, the articles that IRP, DCRCC, and MTRO do not share promote the traditional marriage/family, right to life, immigration, illegal drugs, Second Amendment, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Republican Party platform.)
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/february_2021/voters_don_t_trust_social_media_censorship

LGBTQ NATION
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Angry Republicans may start their own party as GOP rallies around seditionist Trump. They are considering calling it the “Integrity Party” as a rebuke to former President Donald Trump and his supporters.”
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/02/angry-republicans-may-start-party-gop-rallies-around-seditionist-trump/

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.