February 22 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois rescinded 10,000 gun licenses last year. More than 75 percent of holders ignored the notice. – Stacy St. Clair and Annie Sweeney (DIERSEN: How many gun owners with revoked FOID cards are there in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, and in your county?)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-aurora-shooting-gary-martin-gun-20190221-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: There are currently 2,285,990 active FOID cards and 325,187 active concealed carry licensees statewide, according to state police. Of the concealed carry holders, only 126,559 submitted fingerprints with their applications.)
— Reactions to the Jussie Smollett case epitomize the polarized state of U.S. politics – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-jussie-smollett-polarized-politics-20190221-story.html
— Pritzker’s budget brims with optimism, but tough political fight lies in wait – Rick Pearson
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-pritzker-budget-politics-20190221-story.html
— How mayoral candidate Gery Chico turned City Hall experience into lucrative law practice – Bill Ruthhart
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-gery-chico-chicago-mayor-ethics-20190221-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ‘Empire’ star owes Chicagoans, hate crime victims an apology – Mary Mitchell
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/hateful-publicity-stunt-lands-empire-star-jail/

 

ABC7
— What’s next for Jussie Smollett? Possible big police bill – Chuck Goudie and Barb Markoff
https://abc7chicago.com/whats-next-for-jussie-smollett-possible-big-police-bill/5150032/

 

WTTW
— Dark Money at Play as Graduated Income Tax Fight Begins – Amanda Vinicky
https://news.wttw.com/2019/02/21/dark-money-play-graduated-income-tax-fight-begins

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— How Illinois bet on video gambling and lost – JASON GROTTO, SANDHYA KAMBHAMPATI AND DAN MIHALOPOULOS
https://www.bnd.com/news/state/illinois/article226593209.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Illinois senator saves choking representative with Heimlich maneuver – Bernard Schoenburg
https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190221/illinois-senator-saves-choking-representative-with-heimlich-maneuver

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Catholic leaders say Illinois abortion legislation an affront to religious freedoms Bills presented by Democrats called ‘an assault on human dignity’ – REBECCA ANZEL
https://www.nwherald.com/2019/02/22/catholic-leaders-say-illinois-abortion-legislation-an-affront-to-religious-freedoms/a39ymlv/

 

SOUTHERN
— Proposed Illinois bill would require schools to teach details of consent in sex ed – GRANT MORGAN
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/proposed-illinois-bill-would-require-schools-to-teach-details-of/article_b2df4ffc-4f7a-5c58-8eb1-65ca345e509e.html

 

SUBURBAN LIFE
— McCombie: ‘Huge task’ in rebuilding House GOP caucus Savanna rep first woman to lead effort to elect Republicans – Peter Hancock
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2019/02/21/mccombie-huge-task-in-rebuilding-house-gop-caucus/agvxxya/

 

FOX ILLINOIS
— Illinois taxpayers spending more money on abortions – Rachel Droze
https://foxillinois.com/news/local/illinois-taxpayers-spending-more-money-on-abortions-02-21-2019
— Trump attends the reception for National African American History Month
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/livetrump-attends-the-reception-for-national-african-american-history-month

 

KTOV
— OUTSTANDING: Iowa Senate panel OKs bill mandating businesses use E-Verify – AP
https://ktvo.com/news/local/iowa-senate-panel-oks-bill-mandating-businesses-use-e-verify

 

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Ramirez-Rosa Slammed For Not Taking $35K Pay Cut As Promised – Mina Bloom (DIERSEN: Have you taken a pay cut? GAO audits IRS. In 1980, I took a $19,203/year (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO. Since then, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have used that to hint/imply/argue/shout a) that IRS GROSSLY OVERPAID ME and that IRS should not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974; b) that GAO viewed the experience that I gained working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $81,071-$91,880/year), as being WORTHLESS; and c) that GAO viewed the MBA that I had earned from Loyola in 1976, my passing the CPA examination on first attempt in 1979, and my having almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul as being WORTHLESS.)
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/02/21/ramirez-rosa-slammed-for-not-taking-35k-pay-cut-as-promised-but-ald-says-opponent-running-nasty-misinformation-campaign/

 

COOK COUNTY RECORD
— Appeals panel: CPS worker doesn’t need to prove work environment ‘hellish’ to press discrimination suit – Scott Holland (DIERSEN: Have you had a ‘hellish’ work environment? Prior to my Democrat GAO superiors forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old, they gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. All during those almost 18 years, they hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that I caused everything that went wrong in the office, b) that the job I had should have been held by a Democrat, a minority, a female, someone younger than me, and/or a veteran, c) that I was a draft dodger, d) that the master’s degrees that I earned in 1980 and 1997, the professional certifications that I earned in 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and professional license that I earned in 1981 were not job-related, were worthless, and were a distraction, d) that GAO should not have promoted me in 1986, that GAO should not have hired me in 1980, that IRS should not have promoted me in 1974, 1973, or 1972, and that IRS should not have hired me in 1971, e) that what I learned working for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels (currently $81,071-$91,880/year) was worthless, f) etc.)
https://cookcountyrecord.com/stories/511783251-appeals-panel-cps-worker-doesn-t-need-to-prove-work-environment-hellish-to-press-discrimination-suit

 

CNS NEWS
— Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke Not Buying Salary Motive: Smollett ‘Was on a Political Mission for the Left’ – Melanie Arter (DIERSEN: In 1980, if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, and/or a veteran, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have forced me to take a $19,203 (26%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO.
https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/melanie-arter/former-milwaukee-sheriff-david-clarke-not-buying-salary-motive-smollett-was

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Obama judge, Trump judge, Clinton judge to hear border wall emergency challenges – Stephen Dinan (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that concerning Diersen v. GAO, a) Republican Peter Fitzgerald appointed the judge and GAO’s defense attorney, b) that Republican Dennis Hastert was the Speaker of the House while the lawsuit was pending, c) that Republican Henry Hyde was my U.S. Representative while the lawsuit was pending, and d) that Republican George Bush was President while the lawsuit was pending. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes ignore Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois and use the aforesaid to hint/imply/argue/shout a) that my claims have no merit and b) that GAO wasted my career and forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old because I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/21/obama-judge-trump-judge-clinton-judge-hear-border-/
— What the Democrats should do about gun background checks – Frank Miniter
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/21/what-the-democrats-should-do-about-gun-background-/
— Tearful Jussie Smollett apologizes to ‘Empire’ cast: ‘I swear to God, I did not do this’ – Victor Morton
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/21/jussie-smollett-apologizes-empire-cast/

 

FOX NEWS
— A border wall isn’t enough – Asylum laws must be stricter to cut illegal immigration – Ryan James Girdusky
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/a-border-wall-isnt-enough-asylum-laws-must-be-stricter-to-cut-illegal-immigration
— Coast Guard officer ordered to jail, accused of being ‘domestic terrorist’ – Samuel Chamberlain
https://www.foxnews.com/us/coast-guard-officer-accused-of-being-domestic-terrorist-ordered-to-jail
— MAGA-hat wearing teen claims California high school wouldn’t permit her to wear hat – Elizabeth Zwirz (DIERSEN: If you are a Trump supporter, why aren’t you wearing a MAGA hat? I do not wear a MAGA hat because if I did, my nasty, vicious, hate-filled critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would shout at my wife that I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-student-reportedly-claims-she-wasnt-allowed-to-wear-maga-to-school

 

DAILY CALLER
— HERE’S A ROUND-UP OF JUSSIE SMOLLETT’S WORST TWEETS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS SUPPORTERS – Scott Morefield
https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/21/jussie-smollett-tweets-trump/

 

NEWSMAX
— Smollett Story Not Only Hoax Hate Crime During Trump Years – Jason Devaney
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/jussie-smollett-lies-fake-news-hate-crime/2019/02/21/id/903798/

 

PJ MEDIA
— Trump’s Chances to Win in 2020 Improve with Every News Cycle – MARK ELLIS
https://pjmedia.com/election/trumps-chances-to-win-in-2020-improve-with-every-news-cycle/

 

BREITBART
— Jussie Smollett ‘Dissatisfied’ with over $1,000,000 Annual ‘Empire’ Salary – Justin Caruso (DIERSEN: What did you do to qualify yourself for better paying jobs? I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32.)
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/02/21/report-jussie-smollett-dissatisfied-with-over-1000000-annual-empire-salary/
— Iowa Looks to Punish Businesses Hiring Illegals After Mollie Tibbetts Death – John Binder
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/21/iowa-looks-to-punish-businesses-hiring-illegals-after-mollie-tibbetts-death/
— Blue State Blues: Trump Is the Most ‘Progressive’ President Ever for Blacks, Gays, Jews – Joel B. Pollak
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/02/22/blue-state-blues-trump-is-the-most-progressive-president-ever-for-blacks-gays-jews/
— Miley Cyrus Rips Into Trump: ‘Racist, Sexist, Hateful A**hole’ – Justin Caruso
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2019/02/21/miley-cyrus-rips-into-trump-racist-sexist-hateful-ahole/

 

ACCURACY IN MEDIA
— Media Alleges ‘Disinformation Campaign’ Against Dem Candidates – Brian McNicoll
https://www.aim.org/aim-column/media-alleges-disinformation-campaign-against-dem-candidates/

 

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
— The Covington Catholic Kids Take the Gloves Off Their lawsuit seeks to teach the media a lesson it will never forget. – GRAYSON QUAY (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, you should sue those who hint/imply/argue/shout that you are a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, etc. Ever-increasingly, if you are accused of being any of the aforesaid, your life is over and you are dead.)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-covington-catholic-kids-take-the-gloves-off/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— 2020 Democrat candidates are now supporting reparations for slavery – Peter Barry Chowka
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/02/2020_democrat_candidates_are_now_supporting_reparations_for_slavery.html
— Waking up in an American nightmare – Robert Arvay
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/02/waking_up_in_an_american_nightmare.html

 

TPM
— Meet The Lone US Attorney Leading Trump’s Non-Citizen Voting Crusade – Allegra Kirkland
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/bobby-higdon-us-attorney-north-carolina-non-citzen-voter-fraud

 

LIFEZETTE
— California High School Student Couldn’t Wear Her MAGA Hat to School Why can’t she show pride in her country this way? – Elizabeth Zwirz
https://www.lifezette.com/2019/02/california-high-school-student-couldnt-wear-her-maga-hat-to-school/

 

LIFE NEWS
— Illinois Bill Would Legalize Abortions for Any Reason Up to Birth, Force Christians to Fund Them – THOMAS MORE SOCIETY
https://www.lifenews.com/2019/02/21/illinois-bill-would-legalize-abortions-for-any-reason-up-to-birth-force-christians-to-fund-them/

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Martyrs who resisted Islam were once celebrated. Has Pope Francis rejected their supreme sacrifice?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/martyrs-who-resisted-islam-were-once-celebrated.-has-pope-francis-rejected
— LGBTQ group kicks out tennis legend Martina Navratilova for opposing trans men competing with women – Martin M. Barillas
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/lgbtq-group-kicks-out-tennis-legend-martina-navratilova-for-opposing-trans
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: US bishops side with globalists in condemning Trump’s border wall
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/us-bishops-are-wrong-to-condemn-trump-for-his-border-wall.-heres-why

 

CHRISTIAN POST
— Colo. House passes LGBT-inclusive sex ed bill blocking schools from teaching abstinence only – Leah MarieAnn Klett
https://www.christianpost.com/news/colo-house-passes-lgbt-inclusive-sex-ed-bill-blocking-schools-from-teaching-abstinence-only.html

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOLER BANNED FROM WEARING MAGA HAT ON CAMPUS ‘How does being a patriot in trying to show pride in your country, how is that inappropriate?’
https://www.wnd.com/2019/02/california-high-schooler-banned-from-wearing-maga-hat-on-campus/

 

ROLL CALL
— A reporter’s homage to government workers — unsung heroes of transparency America needs information that presents an objective a version of reality – John M. Donnelly (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325. For almost 6 of those years, I worked on audits of many federal agencies. For 3 of those years, I worked on audits of IRS. For almost 9 of those years, I worked on audits of federal financial industry regulators.)
https://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/government-workers-transparency
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Whistle-blowers and internal documents are the lifeblood of journalism. Without such sources, the full story of what’s happening in our country can’t come out. But there’s another, less heralded category of information that feeds journalism: the government institutions that provide Americans with non-partisan, objective data — places like the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Research Service, the Congressional Budget Office and the inspectors general.)

 

THE HILL
— Smollett controversy roils political world – JUDY KURTZ
https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/431076-smollett-roils-politics

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Americans crow about their success in promoting hatred against individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-legitimate-national-emergencies-according-to-real-americans_n_5c6dc693e4b0f40774cbac9e

 

YAHOO NEWS
— Teen is fighting to wear her MAGA hat to school: ‘Since when is patriotism inappropriate?’ – Elise Solé (DIERSEN: Trump-haters are filled with hatred. If you wore a MAGA hate outside of your home, how viciously would Trump-haters in your neighborhood, precinct, municipality, township/ward, county, and Illinois demonize you, denigrate you, condemn you, harass you, insult you, threaten you, and/or harm you?)
https://www.yahoo.com/news/teen-fighting-wear-maga-hat-school-since-patriotism-inappropriate-015831730.html

 

ABC NEWS
— Judge sets $100,000 bond for Jussie Smollett, orders ‘Empire’ actor’s passport surrendered Jussie Smollett has been charged with felony disorderly conduct. – Chris Francescani, Stephanie Wash and Eva Pilgrim
https://abcnews.go.com/US/jussie-smollett-custody-chicago-police-allegedly-lying-attack/story?id=61208295

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: 2020 Democrats Embrace Race-Conscious Policies, Including Reparations – Astead W. Herndon
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/us/politics/2020-democrats-race-policy.html

— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats encourage children to be promiscuous and to engage in LGBTQ activity.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/us/colorado-sex-education-in-schools.html

 

NEW YORK POST
— The list of bogus ‘hate crimes’ in Trump era is long – Tamar Lapin
https://nypost.com/2019/02/21/the-list-of-bogus-hate-crimes-in-trump-era-is-long/
— Where was the skepticism over Jussie Smollett’s claims? – Heather Mac Donald (DIERSEN: Because of my terrible demographics, there was tremendous skepticism of my claims in Diersen v. GAO. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always stressed that I am Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, old (born in 1948), non-poor, gun owner, 100% German American, draft avoider, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844.)
https://nypost.com/2019/02/21/where-was-the-skepticism-over-jussie-smolletts-claims/

 

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
— California Republicans hope their next leader can make them relevant again – Joe Garofoli (DIERSEN: What percent a) of California voters and b) of Illinois voters are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-draft avoiders, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-Republicans-hope-their-next-leader-can-13634407.php
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The California Republican Party has never been less relevant. It has no statewide elected officials. It’s a super-minority in the Legislature. Only 1 in 4 registered voters belongs to it. And the state’s entire GOP House delegation can fit in a minivan. Yet the three people vying to be state party chair this weekend at the GOP’s convention in Sacramento aren’t calling for wholesale changes. Far from it. They don’t think the party needs a new approach to immigration or climate change, issues where polls say the GOP is out of step with California voters. Nor should it back away from President Trump — even though 62 percent of likely California voters polled in January said they disapproved of his job performance. “It’s a great day in America: Donald Trump is president,” would-be party chair Steve Frank said on my “It’s All Political” podcast, repeating the line he uses during his frequent appearances on conservative talk radio shows across the state. Neither of his opponents would disagree. Absent any policy differences, the main distinction between the candidates is a battle over whether the problem is, in fact, what’s left of the California Republican Party’s establishment. The 1,400 delegates meeting this weekend will choose between Frank, whose roots in the California Republican Party go back to Ronald Reagan’s first term … as governor; Travis Allen, who ran for governor last year and thought the Republican opponent backed by Trump, John Cox, was too liberal; and Jessica Millan Patterson, a longtime party operative unknown to the public but the favorite of the GOP’s withered establishment.)

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Police Say Smollett Faked Hate Crime Because He Was Dissatisfied With His Salary ‘Empire’ actor said he was victim of a racist and antigay attack last month – Erin Ailworth
https://www.wsj.com/articles/jussie-smollett-arrested-after-charge-of-filing-false-report-of-attack-11550753504
— The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make With Hiring The most highly qualified and enthusiastic candidates too often get ignored – Peter Cappelli (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-biggest-mistakes-companies-make-with-hiring-11550763917

 

USA TODAY
— Who’s misusing your personal data? Why we need federal privacy protection regulations. – Michael Chertoff (DIERSEN: Federal employees have absolutely no privacy. That is why while I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, I never even tried to hide the fact that I am Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, old (born in 1948), non-poor, gun owner, 100% German American, draft avoider, my ancestors have been in America since 1844, American-nameplate car owner, married, childless, pet-less, etc. Of course, my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates used the aforesaid against me.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/02/22/americans-need-federal-privacy-laws-prevent-personal-data-misuse-column/2940204002/#

 

GALLUP
— Trump Job Approval 50% or Higher in 17 States in 2018 – JEFFREY M. JONES
https://news.gallup.com/poll/247004/trump-job-approval-higher-states-2018.aspx

 

PHILADELPHIA ENQUIRER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hater uses Jussie Smollet to promote hatred against those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.philly.com/news/columnists/jussie-smollett-empire-chicago-police-ann-coulter-race-lgbt-jenice-armstrong-20190221.html

 

BOZEMAN DAILY CHRONICLE
— Democrats want to make us dependent on government. – Dan Klusmann
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/democrats-want-to-make-us-dependent-on-government/article_dfdbe830-8141-582d-ae6a-278f35b51ccb.html

 

NEW YORKER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Trump-haters paint Trump and his supporters as being Nazis.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/revisiting-the-american-nazi-supporters-of-a-night-at-the-garden

 

HR DIRECTOR
— How should businesses plan for an ageing workforce? – Anthony Sutton (DIERSEN: The federal government plans for an aging workforce by wasting the careers of and by getting rid of its employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who do not make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40. It is called up-or-out, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
https://www.thehrdirector.com/features/planning/ageing423/

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.