February 14 Morning Edition

ABC7
— White House press aide TJ Ducklo resigns after threatening reporter – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/white-house-aide-resigns-after-threatening-reporter/10337542/

NBC5
— Trump Remains Dominant Force in GOP Following Acquittal. By most objective measures, Trump’s grasp on the GOP and its future remains airtight. – AP
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/trump-remains-dominant-force-in-gop-following-acquittal/2437726/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Republican-controlled Senate in Mississippi votes to ban transgender athletes on female teams – AP
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/republican-controlled-senate-in-mississippi-votes-to-ban-transgender-athletes-on-female-teams

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Pritzker said the failure of his graduated-rate income tax would leave Illinois with two options. He’s eliminated both of them. – DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-jb-pritzker-illinois-budget-proposal-20210214-bjbay24vpvggfpg2urhbn4ojsy-story.html

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Social distancing, masking not going away anytime soon, public health director says – Dean Olsen
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/02/14/covid-19-precautions-still-recommended-after-vaccinations/4460791001/

SUBURBAN CHICAGOLAND
— Seniors are pushed aside in Illinois COVID-19 vaccination program – Ray Hanania
(DIERSEN: I am 72 years old. I hereby give my place in line to those in Illinois who are younger than me, and especially to those who are discriminated against, and especially to those who are minority, female, LGBTQ, non-married, non-healthy, poor, veteran, citizens of foreign countries, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent, RINO, liberal, moderate, Trump-haters, non-Christian, non-Protestant, non-Italian American, non-German American, and/or those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time.)
https://suburbanchicagoland.com/2021/02/14/seniors-are-pushed-aside-in-illinois-covid-19-vaccination-program/

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DuPage County reports 133 COVID-19 cases Saturday, 7 deaths, 3.53% of population fully vaccinated – Joshua Welge
https://www.shawlocal.com/my-suburban-life/coronavirus/2021/02/13/dupage-county-reports-133-covid-19-cases-saturday-7-deaths-353-of-population-fully-vaccinated/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Celebrates His Acquittal, Says The Impeachment Was Part Of A ‘Witch Hunt’ – JASON SLOTKIN
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/trump-celebrates-his-acquittal-says-impeachment-was-part-witch-hunt#stream/0
— Embracing ‘The Diversity Of God’: Harlem Church Engages, Affirms Queer Members – SCOTT SIMON
(DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, churches promote the Democrat Party platform including dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/embracing-diversity-god-harlem-church-engages-affirms-queer-members#stream/0

WIREPOINTS
— Here Are The Falsehoods From ISBE And Others Defending Illinois” Pending ‘Culturally Responsive Teaching Standards” – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/distortions-and-falsehoods-from-isbe-and-others-defending-illinois-pending-culturally-responsive-teaching-standards-wirepoints/

BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS
— Breaking News from Breakthrough Ideas
https://www.facebook.com/110040734453977/videos/750777012514600

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— CHICAGO HAD $41,100 IN DEBT PER TAXPAYER BEFORE COVID-19, SECOND TO NEW YORK – Justin Carlson
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/chicago-had-41100-in-debt-per-taxpayer-before-covid-19-second-to-new-york/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Overwhelmed Border Patrol fears ‘mass migration’ under Biden’s catch-and-release policy – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/14/overwhelmed-border-patrol-fears-mass-migration-und/
— D.C. Delegate Norton to Congress: Censure Trump, declare him ‘ineligible’ under 14th Amendment – Andrew Blake
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/13/eleanor-holmes-norton-urges-congress-to-censure-do/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump gives his ‘deepest thanks’ after second acquittal – Zachary Halaschak
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-reacts-second-impeachment-aquittal
— McConnell hints at criminal prosecution for Trump and says former president bears responsibility for Capitol breach – Emily Brooks
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mcconnell-trump-impeachment-trial-acquit-capitol-riot

AMERICAN THINKER
— Across America, leftists dumb students down rather than raising them up – Andrea Widburg
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/across_america_leftists_dumb_students_down_rather_than_raising_them_up.html
— Studies show Westerners allegedly getting dumber – Eric Utter
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/studies_show_westerners_allegedly_getting_dumber.html
— With Trump’s abortive impeachment, Sen. McConnell goes full narcissist – Andrea Widburg
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/with_trumps_abortive_impeachment_sen_mcconnell_goes_full_narcissist.html
— What if the leftists want a civil war? – Sam Younnokis
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/what_if_the_leftists_want_a_civil_war.html
— Trump’s 2nd impeachment is the start of a bad chapter in America – Andrew W. Coy
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2021/02/trumps_2nd_impeachment_is_the_start_of_a_bad_chapter_in_america.html

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Press Secretary Suspended After Threatening to ‘Destroy’ Reporter – Debra Heine
https://amgreatness.com/2021/02/12/biden-white-house-deputy-press-secretary-suspended-after-threatening-to-destroy-reporter/

BREITBART
— Trump’s Lawyers Beat the ‘Cancel Culture’ – JOEL B. POLLAK
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/13/pollak-trumps-lawyers-beat-the-cancel-culture-free-speech/
— Donald Trump Hints at Political Future While Celebrating Second Impeachment Acquittal – CHARLIE SPIERING
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/02/13/donald-trump-hints-at-political-future-while-celebrating-second-impeachment-acquittal/

TOWNHALL
— Biden and Big Tech Are Coming for Us – Jonathan Garthwaite
https://townhall.com/columnists/jonathangarthwaite/2021/02/14/biden-and-big-tech-are-coming-for-us-n2584659
— The Effort to Recall Gavin Newsom Continues to Gain Steam – Bronson Stocking
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bronsonstocking/2021/02/13/recall-gavin-crosses-threshold-n2584705

NEWSMAX
— Married Americans More Likely to Vote Republican – Eric Mack
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/marriage-americans-republicans-data/2021/02/14/id/1009956/

TEXAS GOP
— Texas GOP Lauds President Trump’s Acquittal
https://www.texasgop.org/texas-gop-2nd-impeachment/

ONE NEWS NOW
— Twitter shuts down conservative whistleblower, Project Veritas – Michael F. Haverluck
https://onenewsnow.com/media/2021/02/13/twitter-shuts-down-conservative-whistleblower-project-veritas

POLITICO
— Party leaders rip Republicans who voted to convict Trump – BEN LEONARD
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/republican-senators-convicted-trump-backlash-469008
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters say “Trump escapes conviction but even his allies say he’s damaged.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/trump-impeachment-witch-hunt-469001

REUTERS
— Prominent anti-Trump Republicans reject 3rd party
(DIERSEN: I predict that “prominent anti-Trump Republicans” will join more strongly with the following to destroy the Republican Party once and for all: individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.ksl.com/article/50106140/prominent-anti-trump-republicans-reject-3rd-party

CNN
— Louisiana Republican Party censures Cassidy following vote to convict Trump – Kelly Mena and Dan Merica
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/bill-cassidy-louisiana-republican-party-censure/index.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Is This the End of Obsessively Hating Donald Trump? Loathing him has been a passion, an addiction, a compulsion. Let impeachment be the last hurrah. – Keith Olbermann
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have promoted the most hatred against those like me who do not hate Trump. I would focus on those who also have promoted the most hatred against individuals, organizations, and companies that are conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/opinion/trump-impeachment-media.html
— Will American Ideas Tear France Apart? Some of Its Leaders Think So’ – Nicole Daniels
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/learning/lesson-of-the-day-will-american-ideas-tear-france-apart-some-of-its-leaders-think-so.html
— Losing sleep over wokeness Politicians and prominent intellectuals say social theories from the United States on race, gender and post-colonialism are a threat to French identity and the French republic. – Norimitsu Onishi
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/world/europe/france-threat-american-universities.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “For Trump, an Escape, Not an Exoneration.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/us/politics/trump-impeachment-acquittal.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Biden has started erasing Trump’s legacy. Now the hard part starts. – Annie Linskey
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-trump-legacy/2021/02/13/54129452-6c8b-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: According to a hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater, you are dishonorable if you do not hate Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/14/there-are-only-seven-honorable-republican-senators/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: From what I see, ever-increasingly, Democrat churches promote LGBTQ, BLM, dependency on government, dependency on charity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/14/biden-faith-based-neighborhood-partnership/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump’s Second Impeachment Trial Sharpens Republican Divides. Seven Republicans voted to convict, and several more, including Mitch McConnell, criticized the ex-president, who still commands loyalty. – Lindsay Wise
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-second-impeachment-trial-sharpens-republican-divides-11613268255

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Lindsey Graham says he’ll try to convince Trump to help the GOP secure the House and Senate in 2022 – Yelena Dzhanova
https://www.businessinsider.com/graham-wants-to-convince-trump-to-help-gop-2022-elections-2021-2

DES MOINES REGISTER
— I helped shape Section 230 in the ’90s, and I doubt social media can self-regulate. The status quo, where Twitter, Facebook, Google and YouTube can suppress anybody they feel like, isn’t a tenable situation. Free speech on the internet is at stake in what we do next. – Greg Ganske
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2021/02/14/free-speech-internet-stake-section-230-reconsidering/4454208001/

GUARDIAN
— Republican rebels who voted to convict feel Trumpists’ fury. Immediate backlash from powerful rightwingers reveal the strength of Trump’s grip on the Republican party. – Victoria Bekiempis
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/14/republican-rebels-trump-impeachment-trial
— Convicted or not, Trump is history – it’s Biden who’s changing America – Robert Reich
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/14/trump-impeachment-biden-american-rescue-plan-robert-reich

DAILY MAIL
— Republicans turn on seven ‘traitors’ who voted to convict Trump: Louisiana GOP censures Senator Bill Cassidy for turning on the ex-president and MAGA supporters call on Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski to resign – ANDREW COURT
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9258363/Republicans-turn-RINO-traitors-Romney-Collins-Murkowski-voted-convict-Trump.html

IOL
— SOUTH AFRICA: Social media companies to account for their content – Faheem Khota
(DIERSEN: Since 2000, my critics/opponents have done everything that they could to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters, but failing that, they have done everything that they could to stop everyone from reading those newsletters.)
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/international/social-media-companies-to-account-for-their-content-3bfd9ed7-6734-4752-8e32-9629418ff154
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Now, new legislation from Senator Mark Warner will make changes to the bill. Democrat Warner introduced the Safe Tech Act to the Senate on February 5. This bill would essentially update the protections that social media corporations would have enjoyed under section 230 and hold them more accountable for the content that is posted on their platforms and expose them to many more lawsuits. What lies at the heart of this though, is the voices of the users of social media platforms. They would need to be a lot more rules put in place and a lot more moderators working around the clock to make sure that these rules are being adhered to. In a tweet, Warner said that “The SAFE TECH Act doesn’t interfere with free speech – it’s about allowing these platforms to finally be held accountable for harmful, often criminal, behaviour enabled by their platforms to which they have turned a blind eye for too long.” Should this bill be successful, it will certainly be a game-changer for the way social media companies are run if they don’t want to be caught on the wrong side of the law.)

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.