February 20 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Speaker Madigan, top allies named in new federal subpoena served on southwest suburb The feds are looking for records involving a former ComEd lobbyist, Mike Madigan and Ald. Marty Quinn, among others. – Robert Herguth and Mark Brown
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/19/21144796/speaker-michael-madigan-top-allies-named-new-federal-subpoena-served-on-southwest-suburb
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: State’s cut of pot jackpot will hit $127 million, Pritzker’s new budget predicts – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/2/19/21144609/states-cut-of-pot-jackpot-will-hit-127-million-pritzkers-new-budget-predicts

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Kinzler for GOP in U.S. House District 6
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200220/endorsement-kinzler-for-gop-in-us-house-district-6
— Black caucus supports Pritzker’s budget plan, calls for added minority community investment – Ben Orner
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200219/black-caucus-supports-pritzkers-budget-plan-calls-for-added-minority-community-investment

ABC7
— Bernie Sanders says he’s ‘disowning’ his sexist backers during Democratic debate (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, the following have disowned me and disowned my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails: a) Milton Township Republican Organization, b) DuPage County Republican Central Committee, c) Illinois Republican Party, d) TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, e) Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, f) Illinois Center Right Coalition, g) American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, h) Wheaton, i) Milton Township, j) DuPage County, k) Illinois, l) activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who state that they are religious, conservative, and/or Republican, m) etc.)
https://abc7chicago.com/politics/sanders-says-hes-disowning-his-sexist-backers/5949681/

ALTON DAILY NEWS
— Plummer Reacts to Budget Address – Doug Jenkins
http://www.altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=299179#.Xk6VOWhKiM8
— Bill Would Require Electric Car Charging Outlets in Homes – Cole Lauterbach
http://altondailynews.com/news/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=299171#.Xk6VkGhKiM8

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— GOP Wants Balanced Budget Without Progressive Tax – ERIC STOCK
https://www.peoriapublicradio.org/post/gop-wants-balanced-budget-without-progressive-tax#stream/0

WQAD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.wqad.com/article/news/recreational-marijuana-in-illinois-whos-making-what/526-bf03d78c-626e-46bf-bf5b-1f232dfe5d75

WGLT
— GOP Wants Balanced Budget Without Progressive Tax – ERIC STOCK
https://www.wglt.org/post/gop-wants-balanced-budget-without-progressive-tax-0#stream/0

X95
— SENATOR SCHIMPF REACTS TO PRITZKER’S BUDGET ADDRESS
http://www.x95radio.com/2020/02/20/state-senator-schimpf-reacts-to-pritzkers-budget-address/

AURORA PATCH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Your past predicts your future. Your rejection of the rule of law in the past predicts that you will reject the rule of law in the future.
https://patch.com/illinois/aurora/calendar/event/20200305/778982/change-your-life-with-a-clean-record

ELMHURST PATCH
— Traffic Light Pushed In Elmhurst – David Giuliani (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those in Wheaton who continue to do everything that they can to destroy me because I succeeded in stopping the installation of a traffic light at intersection of Harrison and President during the early 1980s.)
https://patch.com/illinois/elmhurst/traffic-light-pushed-elmhurst

CENTER SQUARE
— Trump refills swamp in Illinois as federal prosecutors try to drain it – Brett Rowland
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/op-ed-trump-refills-swamp-in-illinois-as-federal-prosecutors/article_82df77bc-534d-11ea-9586-333a867646eb.html

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker’s 2021 Illinois budget: Unbalanced. No reforms. More spending. And of course, more tax hikes – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/pritzkers-2021-budget-unbalanced-no-reforms-more-spending-and-of-course-more-tax-hikes-wirepoints/
— Michael Bloomberg’s Insertion of Paid Lawyers Into State AG Offices is Dangerous and Must be Stopped – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/michael-bloombergs-insertion-of-paid-lawyers-into-state-ag-offices-is-dangerous-and-must-be-stopped-wirepoints/
— “Pritzker’s budget doesn’t change the trajectory of Illinois, it’s not a budget for a nearly junk-rated state that’s losing people.” – Ted on the Illinois Channel
https://wirepoints.org/pritzkers-budget-doesnt-change-the-trajectory-of-illinois-its-not-a-budget-for-a-junk-rated-state-thats-losing-people-ted-on-the-illinois-channel/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Illinois Leaks Scores with Freedom of Information Request to Secretary of State’s Office about Jack Franks
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/19/illinois-leaks-scores-with-freedom-of-information-request-to-secretary-of-states-office-about-jack-franks/
— NWH Editor Accepts the John Pletz Challenge to Cover Negative Comments about Jack Franks at County Board Meeting
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/19/nwh-editor-accepts-the-john-pletz-challenge-to-cover-negative-comments-about-jack-franks-at-county-board-meeting/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Exclusive Interview with Franklin Graham
https://illinoisfamily.org/event/exclusive-interview-with-franklin-graham/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Jack Franks on same list as institutionalized killer – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/02/jack-franks-on-same-list-as-institutionalized-killer/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— 2020 Dems unite — against Bloomberg Billionaire tells rivals he knows best how to defeat Trump – Seth McLaughlin and David Sherfinski
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/feb/19/michael-bloomberg-takes-fire-democratic-debate-deb/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Trump wins the debate as Democrats explain why not one of them can beat him – Tiana Lowe
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/trump-wins-the-debate-as-democrats-explain-why-not-one-of-them-can-beat-him
— IRS knocking: Agency to visit high-income taxpayers at home in new focus on delinquent nonfilers – Jay Heflin (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS as a Revenue Officer 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year. I worked for GAO as an Analyst on audits of IRS 1986-1988 at the GS-13 Step 1-3 levels, currently $101,176-$107,922/year.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/irs-to-increase-visits-of-high-income-taxpayers-for-compliance

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— BILLIONAIRE BEATDOWN: ‘Mini Mike’ Savaged By Democratic Rivals in Nevada Diminutive mayor bullied by much taller opponents in humiliating debut – Andrew Stiles
https://freebeacon.com/politics/bloomberg-debate-humiliation/
— Bloomberg: I’m Too Rich for TurboTax – Josh Christenson
https://freebeacon.com/politics/bloomberg-i-make-a-lot-of-money-i-cant-go-to-turbo-tax/
— Democrats Deserve a Younger, Healthier Frontrunner in 2020 – Andrew Stiles
https://freebeacon.com/politics/hillary-young-healthy-winner/
— Health Records, Heart Attacks Take Center Stage Ahead of Nevada Debate Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg’s campaigns trade shots over which of the 78-year-olds did and did not have a heart attack – Alex Griswold
https://freebeacon.com/politics/health-records-heart-attacks-take-center-stage-ahead-of-nev-debate/

BREITBART
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that they hate America and that they hate Americans.
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/02/19/amy-klobuchar-daca-illegal-future/
— NBC News Shields 2020 Democrats from Open Borders Agendas at Debate – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/02/19/bc-news-shields-2020-democrats-from-open-borders-agendas-at-debate/

CNS NEWS
— Gallup: Liberals Six Times More Likely to Smoke Pot Than Conservatives – Michael W. Chapman (DIERSEN: I would not want to work for, work with, or supervise anyone who sells or uses pot.)
https://www.cnsnews.com/article/national/michael-w-chapman/gallup-liberals-six-times-more-likely-smoke-pot-conservatives

DAILY CALLER
— Bernie Loses It When Bloomberg Calls Him The ‘Best Known Socialist’ Who ‘Happens To Be A Millionaire With Three Houses’ – SCOTT MOREFIELD
https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/19/bernie-sanders-michael-bloomberg-millionaire-three-houses/

NEWSMAX
— Blue Invasion of Red States Could Make GOP Whig Party – George J. Marlin (DIERSEN: What do you say to hypocrite Democrats who hypocritically move into Republican areas to hypocritically take advantage the prosperity and safety that Republicans created there?)
https://www.newsmax.com/george-j-marlin/liberal-spending-income-tax/2020/02/19/id/954769/

FOX BUSINESS
— Trump: Democrats treated illegal immigrants better than our veterans
https://finance.yahoo.com/video/trump-democrats-treated-illegal-immigrants-042651032.html

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Pete Buttigieg attacks Christian Trump supporters’ judgement – Frieda Powers (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who promote LGBTQ activity hint/imply/argue/shout that if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, GOD WILL SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL.)
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2020/02/19/pete-buttigieg-attacks-christian-trump-supporters-judgement-888879

NEW YORK TIMES
— Elizabeth Warren, Criticizing Bloomberg, Sent a Message: She Won’t Be Ignored “I’d like to talk about who we’re running against: a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians,” Ms. Warren said at Wednesday’s debate. “And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump.” – Maggie Astor
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-debate.html
— Millions of Americans Have Moved Off Assistance. Does Trump Get Credit? The president has reveled in the declines in Americans receiving aid from several government programs in recent years, citing his economic policies as a catalyst. – Jim Tankersley and Lola Fadulu
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/business/trump-welfare-poverty.html
— Warren Leads an Onslaught of Attacks, Zeroing In on Bloomberg The sharp exchanges in the Nevada debate reflected the urgency of the moment as Michael Bloomberg, in his first presidential debate, was repeatedly criticized in personal terms. – Alexander Burns and Jonathan Martin
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/democratic-debate-nevada-recap.html
— How to Work the System at Work Five tips to gain leverage on the job. – Malia Wollan (DIERSEN: To get ahead, my Democrat coworkers and subordinates in the federal government helped my Democrat superiors and supervisors get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran and who had not made GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/19/magazine/worker-tips.html
— Illinois Governor Looks to Income Tax Change to Boost Fiscal Year 2021 Revenue – Reuters
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/02/19/us/19reuters-illinois-budget.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want all the citizens of all the foreign countries to see themselves as being refugees.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/opinion/sunday/immigration-trump-refugees.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Warren’s viral takedown of Bloomberg: ‘Titanic, meet iceberg’ – Allyson Chiu (DIERSEN: Government is nasty. Politics is nasty. Candidates who are White, male, older, heterosexual, rich, German American, non-Jewish, and/or non-veteran should expect that sooner or later, they will be called White supremacists, KKK members, racists, sexists, senile, bigots, exploiters, Nazis, anti-Semites, cowards, and even worse things.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/20/bloomberg-warren-debate/

NEW YORK POST
— China expels three Wall Street Journal reporters over ‘racist’ opinion piece – Yaron Steinbuch
https://nypost.com/2020/02/19/china-expels-three-wall-street-journal-reporters-over-racist-opinion-piece/

USA TODAY
— Trump’s visit to ‘occupied territory:’ President earns big bucks, some voter support — and protester ire – Gabrielle Canon (DIERSEN: To what extent is your neighborhood, your precinct, your municipal district, your municipality, your township, and your county “occupied territory? The more votes that Democrats get in a territory, the more occupied that territory is.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/19/president-trump-visits-california/4810604002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Bloomberg Bankrolls a Social-Media Army to Push Message Campaign is hiring workers for $2,500 a month to promote candidate to all their contacts – Jeff Horwitz and Georgia Wells
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bloomberg-bankrolls-a-social-media-army-to-push-message-11582127768

FORBES
— OUTSTANDING: Top Trump Campaign Spokesman: Marijuana Must Be ‘Kept Illegal’ – Tom Angell
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2020/02/19/top-trump-campaign-spokesman-marijuana-must-be-kept-illegal/#35c83537762b

FED SMITH
— Federal Retirement Benefits on the Chopping Block – John Grobe (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who have made it the most clear that they want my federal retirement benefits to be cut.)
https://www.fedsmith.com/2020/02/19/federal-retirement-benefits-chopping-block/

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. View all posts by David Diersen