WHITE HOUSE
— Joint Address Issues Survey Now is your chance to give your input. Let us know what issues you want President Trump to focus on and your ideas for the future of our country. Take the survey and share your thoughts:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/joint-address-issues-survey
ABC7
— FATHER OF DEAD NAVY SEAL FROM ILLINOIS REFUSED TO MEET PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT CEREMONY – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/father-of-dead-navy-seal-refused-to-meet-trump-at-ceremony/1774199/
NBC5
— New DNC Chief Faces a Trump-Era Reckoning The reaction Saturday — and the unusual campaign that preceded it — underscores the challenges Perez and Democrats face as they look to recover from a disastrous electoral slide – Bill Barrow
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/New-DNC-Chief-Faces-Divided-Party-and-Trump-414806153.html
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Did the 2011 White House correspondents’ dinner spur Trump to run for president? – Amy B Wang (DIERSEN: Democrats are disciples of Saul Alinsky. Alinsky’s fifth rule encourages the use of ridicule. I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who use ridicule.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-white-house-correspondents-dinner-trump-20170226-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: If several media and political pundits are to be believed, President Donald Trump sits in the White House today as the result of several hours one warm April evening nearly six years ago: the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. That year, at the invitation of none other than The Washington Post, Trump — then best known for “Celebrity Apprentice” – attended the event, an annual gathering of journalists that typically has been headlined by the sitting president. Or, as The Post’s Roxanne Roberts once described it, a dinner “devolved from a little-known media evening into a black-tie mash-up of the Super Bowl, the Oscars and Davos, Washington-style.” Trump was no ordinary celebrity guest in 2011, however. In addition to being a reality TV fixture, he was one of the most vocal opponents of President Barack Obama, leading the “birther” movement that had demanded Obama release his birth certificate. Trump had also been hinting, not for the first time, that he might launch his own bid for the presidency. All of those things coalesced to make Trump the target of a large swath of jokes at the 2011 correspondents’ dinner. First came Obama, who roasted Trump for a full five minutes that evening, seeming to delight in directing zingers at the man who had questioned whether he was a legitimate president. (Unbeknown to the world then, the president was also, at the same time, authorizing the raid that would kill Osama bin Laden.) “No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than the Donald,” Obama said. “That’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter, like: Did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” Obama also joked about Trump’s experience to lead the nation. “All kidding aside, obviously, we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience,” he said. “For example, no, seriously, just recently in an episode of ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around, but you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership and so, ultimately, you didn’t blame Little John or Meatloaf — you fired Gary Busey. And these are the kinds of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well-handled, sir. Well-handled.” But it was comedian Seth Meyers, the host of that year’s dinner, who really laid into Trump. For several minutes, Meyers lobbed one joke after another at Trump’s expense, even wedging in a prescient imitation of Trump hosting a White House news conference: “Gary Busey said recently that Donald Trump would make an excellent president. Of course, he said the same thing about an old, rusty birdcage he found.” “Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican – which is surprising, since I just assumed that he was running as a joke.” “Donald Trump owns the Miss USA pageant, which is great for Republicans because it will streamline their search for a vice president.” Video from the dinner would later show Trump seemingly frozen in the audience, lips pursed, staring straight ahead with his face set into something between a squint and a hard scowl, as Meyers continued. Several publications have since seized upon the 2011 dinner as the moment in which Trump’s political ambitions crystallized. “That evening of public abasement, rather than sending Mr. Trump away, accelerated his ferocious efforts to gain stature within the political world,” the New York Times wrote last March. “And it captured the degree to which Mr. Trump’s campaign is driven by a deep yearning sometimes obscured by his bluster and bragging: a desire to be taken seriously.”)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Stop stalling on school funding for kids – Editorial (DIERSEN: “Funding” is code for increasing taxes.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-stop-stalling-on-school-funding-for-kids/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— More taxes? Really? – PAUL FICHTNER, Member, DuPage County Board
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170224/ISSUE07/170229911
(FROM THE LETTER: I read with interest a recent opinion piece (“Here’s a way to stop Illinois’ shame spiral,” Feb. 15) by Michael Belsky that calls for a “tax revision commission.” I suspect his main goal is to call for a tax on services when he says, “Today only 17 percent comes from the sale of goods and 71 percent is derived from services. The service economy is benefiting from the state and not sharing in the cost. This is wrong.” In 1965, there was no state income tax. Today it is 3.75 percent, soon to go higher. Sales taxes that were 4 percent in 1965 are now over 10 percent in Chicago. These large increases in taxation rates over the years have made up for any “lack of service tax revenue” and were probably designed with the fact that services are not taxed. Last year, 37,508 people moved out of Illinois, and companies have made decisions not to locate here. Residents are leaving because of high tax rates that have also caused businesses to not move or expand. An additional service tax will hurt the very service industry that he shows is such an important part of our economy. It is very disappointing to hear the drumbeat of more revenue as the “only way” to recover from bad fiscal management. The crisis I see is the lack of urgency in addressing ideas to reduce expenses, smart consolidation of governments and exploring privatization of some government functions. Pushing aside my 10.75 percent sales-taxed breakfast in Chicago this fine morning, I call for the creation of an Expense/Efficiency Revision Commission, on par with any Tax Revision Commission.)
NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Sanctuary State Bill Causes Dueling Rallies in The Capital City – Matthew Witkos
http://newschannel20.com/news/local/sanctuary-state-bill-causes-dueling-rallies-in-the-capital-city
ALTON TELEGRAPH
— Overly generous compensation drives Illinois’ budget woes – Rachel Greszler (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 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 33.)
http://thetelegraph.com/opinion/op-ed/97462/op-ed-overly-generous-compensation-drives-illinois-budget-woes
PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
— LaHood, Bustos could reach out more to voters during next recess – Chris Kaergard and Nick Vlahos
http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170226/lahood-bustos-could-reach-out-more-to-voters-during-next-recess
HERALD & REVIEW
— Hey, lawmakers! Budget mess not a laughing matter – Editorial
http://herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial/our-opinion-hey-lawmakers-budget-mess-not-a-laughing-matter/article_1b412e21-4cc5-5654-95ad-f6ae819f64f6.html
TIMES
— For Illinois Governor: The search for rich guys – David Giuliani
http://www.mywebtimes.com/opinion/columnists/as-it-is-the-search-for-rich-guys/article_8640ed3f-c987-5b2e-b508-92a0483ac573.html
RIVER CITY READER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Rich Miller says “Trump’s Tactics Just Don’t Work for Anybody Else.”
http://www.rcreader.com/commentary/trump-tactics-dont-work-for-anybody-else
WSIL TV
— New Dem Party chairman Perez pledges to repair, unite party – AP (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Democrat Party is united against individuals, against organizations, against companies, against governments, and against countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/34606642/new-dem-party-chairman-perez-pledges-to-repair-unite-party
— Congress returns, with health care, Supreme Court on agenda – AP
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/34607098/congress-returns-with-health-care-supreme-court-on-agenda
CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps but India and its citizens ahead of America and its citizens.
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/indian-tech-graduates-fear-america-may-shut-them-out/663188419
CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Finding Rodney Davis – Tom Kacich (DIERSEN: Can people find you? People have been able to find me at 630-653-0462 since April of 1978 and at diersen@aol.com since January 8, 1995.
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-02-26/tom-kacich-finding-rodney-davis.html
JOURNAL GAZETTE TIMES COURIER
— Governor candidate Ameya Pawar: Progressive tax structure possible fix to Illinois debt – JARAD JARMON (DIERSEN: Progressive tax rates discourage people from earning more money.)
http://jg-tc.com/news/governor-candidate-progressive-tax-structure-possible-fix-to-illinois-debt/article_2cd88c4e-4d5d-5b39-b113-8ae7e84721a5.html
SOUTHERN
— Time for HUD to deliver for Cairo – Editorial
http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/voice-of-the-southern/voice-of-the-southern-time-for-hud-to-deliver-for/article_9cbb01bd-532f-5c13-9fc7-4646bfd411f1.html
DANVILLE COMMERCIAL NEWS
— TRAGIC: Casino legislation watch still in effect – JENNIFER BAILEY
http://www.commercial-news.com/news/local_news/casino-legislation-watch-still-in-effect/article_f7e5df94-b69e-5f29-870c-fca92cc3cc80.html
BELOIT DAILY NEWS
— NEW TRIER HIGH SCHOOL SEMINAR SPARKS CIVIL RIGHTS, RACE DEBATE – AP
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/article/20170226/AP/302269891
WIREPOINTS
— Illinois Bill to Prioritize Bondholders Over the Public Must Be Stopped – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/illinois-bill-to-prioritize-bondholders-over-the-public-and-taxpayers-must-be-stopped-wirepoints-original/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Target Practice, Then Car Demolition Near Algonquin Township Road District with Road District Equipment
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/24/target-practice-then-car-demolition-at-algonquin-township-road-district-property/
— Former School Supt. Bob Blazier and Former St. Rep. Mike Tryon Send Postcard Endorsing Bob Miller for Algonquin Township Road Commissioner
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/blazier-and-tryon-send-postcard-endorsing-miller/
— Early and Absentee Votes That Have Been Cast
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/early-and-absentee-votes-that-have-been-cast/
— Early McHenry Signs for April Election
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/early-mchenry-signs-for-april-election/
— Team Nunda Mails Post Card
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/team-nunda-mails-post-card/
— Nunda Incumbent Slate Buys Sticker on Saturday NWH
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/nunda-incumbent-slate-buys-sticker-on-saturday-nwh/
— Pro-Life PAC Endorsements in Nunda Township
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/pro-life-pac-endorsements-in-nunda-township/
— Pro-Life PAC Endorsements in Algonquin Township
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/pro-life-pac-endorsements-in-algonquin-township/
— Algonquin Township’s Hot GOP Road Commissioner Race Mailings
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/algonquins-hot-road-commissioner-race-mailings/
— Linda Moore Passing Out Door Hangers in Write-In Campaign for Grafton Township Trustee
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/linda-moore-passing-out-door-hangers-in-write-in-campaign-for-grafton-township-trustee/
— Nunda’s Mainly Non-Incumbents’ Mailing
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/nundas-mainly-non-incumbent-mailing/
— The Race for Algonquin Township Supervisor
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/the-race-for-algonquin-township-supervisor/
— Jack Schaffer Robo-Calls for Bob Miller
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/jack-schaffer-robo-calls-for-bob-miller/
— Dueling GOP Slates Emerge in Algonquin Township
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/dueling-gop-slates-emerge-in-algonquin-township/
— Slots in Lakewood – Part 1
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/24/slots-in-lakewood-part-1/
— Slots in Lakewood – Part 2
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/25/slots-in-lakewood-part-2/
— Slots in Lakewood – Part 3
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/02/26/slots-in-lakewood-part-3/
WASHINGTON TIMES
— Pleading poverty, demanding new taxes States are going broke because they broke the bank – Stephen Moore
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/26/states-pleading-poverty-demanding-new-taxes/
GATEWAY PUNDIT
— FAKE NEWS: New York Times Caught MAKING-UP False Quote From Trump’s CPAC Speech – Ryan Saavedra
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/02/fake-news-new-york-times-caught-making-false-quote-trumps-cpac-speech/
FOX NEWS
— Trump Has Thrown The Press Into A Tailspin
http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/02/26/watters-trump-has-thrown-press-tailspin
BREITBART
— Trump Fans Urge Oscars Boycott: ‘Put The Lying, Socialist Perverts Out of Business’ – DANIEL NUSSBAUM (DIERSEN: What percent of Hollywood is anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors – 97%,98%, 99+%?)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/02/26/trump-fans-urge-oscars-boycott/
— DNC Chair Perez: Trump Immigration Order a ‘Racist’ Action Against Muslims – PAM KEY
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2017/02/26/dnc-chair-perez-trump-immigration-order-a-racist-action-against-muslims/
BLAZE
— Starbucks pledged to hire 10K refugees after Trump’s ‘travel ban’ — then Americans responded in force – Chris Enloe
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/02/25/starbucks-pledged-to-hire-10k-refugees-after-trumps-travel-ban-then-americans-responded-in-force/
AMERICAN THINKER
— Just How Bad Is Tom Perez? – Monica Showalter
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/02/just_how_bad_is_tom_perez.html
WORLD NET DAILY
— 2 TOPICS TRUMP OVERLOOKED AT CPAC – Chuck Norris
http://www.wnd.com/2017/02/2-topics-trump-overlooked-at-cpac/
PJ MEDIA
— Straw Poll Shows CPAC Really Was TPAC … Trump PAC – TYLER O’NEIL
https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/02/25/straw-poll-shows-cpac-really-was-tpac-trump-pac/
DAILY CALLER
— Poll: More Than Half Of The Country Thinks The Media Is Too Tough On President Trump – Kaitlan Collins
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/26/poll-more-than-half-of-the-country-thinks-the-media-is-too-tough-on-president-trump/
OBSERVER
— Media Ignores Disturbing Alliance Between ‘Progressives’ and Anti-Semites What good is a free press if they’re just as agenda-driven as the politicians they’re supposed to keep honest and accountable? – Paul Miller
http://observer.com/2017/02/jan-schakowsky-alliance-progressives-anti-semites-rasmea-odeh/
THE HILL
— Perez fires back at Trump: ‘Our unity as a party is our greatest strength and his worst nightmare’ – REBECCA SAVRANSKY (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the Democrat Party is united against individuals, against organizations, against companies, against governments, and against countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/321227-perez-responds-to-trump-tweet-our-unity-as-a-party-is-our-greatest
HUFFINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Trump’s Unprecedented War on the First Amendment Has Gone Nuclear. Trump and his administration have launched an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech and of the press. Are individual Twitter users next?”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trumps-unprecedented-war-on-the-first-amendment-has_us_58b26916e4b0658fc20f9672
ABC NEWS
— President Trump, first lady host governors for dinner at White House – JORDYN PHELPS
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-lady-host-governors-dinner-white-house/story?id=45753442
NBC NEWS
— Trump Attacks New York Times Oscars Ad Before It Airs – JANE C. TIMM
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/watch-new-york-times-oscars-ad-trump-attacked-it-aired-n725821
NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump’s Soft Spot for Dreamers Alienates Immigration Hard-Liners – JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and JENNIFER STEINHAUER (DIERSEN: Question: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries use children as cannon fodder? ANSWER: Those that are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/26/us/politics/daca-dreamers-immigration-trump.html
— Trump Embraces ‘Enemy of the People,’ a Phrase With a Fraught History – ANDREW HIGGINS (DIERSEN: If you want the Democrats and Democrat plants, Libertarians and Libertarian plants, Greens and Green plants, and/or RINOs to like you, you must be anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/26/world/europe/trump-enemy-of-the-people-stalin.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Advocates warn ‘dreamers’ to lie low as Trump ramps up deportation plans – David Nakamura
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/advocates-warn-dreamers-to-lie-low-as-trump-ramps-up-deportation-plans/2017/02/26/4483abaa-f1fd-11e6-b9c9-e83fce42fb61_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “The White House’s big ‘fake news’ cop-out.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/26/fake-news-is-a-potent-political-strategy-its-also-a-cop-out/
LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Trump supporters rally against ‘Hollywood elites’ ahead of the Oscars – Brittny Mejia
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pro-trump-oscars-rally-20170226-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump asks “Do Trump supporters care about Reagan?”
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mcmanus-cpac-gop-division-20170226-story.html
NEWSWEEK
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “TRUMP’S BUSINESS BACKGROUND DIDN’T PREPARE HIM FOR PRESIDENCY.” (DIERSEN: What did your work prepare you for? GAO audits IRS. In 1980, after working for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $79,563-$90,173, I transferred from IRS to GAO. Because I was a Republican, because I was NOT a minority, because I was NOT a female, because I was old (31), and because I was NOT a veteran, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates shouted that what I did for IRS did NOT prepare me for GAO work. They ignored/belittled my GS-12 IRS Special Procedures Staff position description that I worked under 1976-1980. They ignored/belittled the GS-12 IRS Revenue Officer position description that I worked under 1974-1976. They ignored/belittled that had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. They ignored/belittled the fact that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They ignored/belittled the fact that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. To transfer, the Democrats who ran GAO forced me to take an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars, that is, a downgrade from GS-12 Step 5, currently $90,173, to GS-9 Step 10, currently $71,326.)
http://www.newsweek.com/trump-business-background-no-preparation-presidency-560161
NPR
— Across The Divide, Identity Politics Unites The Base At Both CPAC And DNC – DOMENICO MONTANARO (DIERSEN: Democrats are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/26/517366995/across-the-divide-identity-politics-unites-the-base-at-both-cpac-and-dnc
SALON
— Trump’s punishment of the press is a gift to his supporters — and a hint of his re-election strategy Sean Spicer’s ban on major news outlets is chilling — and is a big wet kiss to Trump’s base, with an eye on 2020 – BOB CESCA (DIERSEN: Should I write a book about those who “punish” me and why the “punish” me? They would love it.)
http://www.salon.com/2017/02/26/trumps-punishment-of-the-press-is-a-gift-to-his-supporters-and-a-hint-of-his-re-election-strategy/
NPR & DIVERSE EDUCATION
— For Black College Prospects, Belonging And Safety Often Top Ivy Prestige – DENENE MILLNER (DIERSEN: What colleges(s) did you attend? I attended UIC 1966-1968, NIU 1969-1971, Loyola 1972-1976, DePaul 1976-1980, Roosevelt 1980-1981, and IIT 1992-1997. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that instead of me, those colleges should have accepted minorities, females, and/or veterans.)
http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/02/26/516468502/for-black-college-prospects-belonging-and-safety-often-top-ivy-prestige
http://diverseeducation.com/article/93109/
WORKERS WORLD
– U.S. women plan for international women’s strike – Sue Davis (DIERSEN: What percent of anti-Trump women hate those who are Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. From what I see, the percentages are very high.)
http://www.workers.org/2017/02/26/u-s-women-plan-for-international-womens-strike/#.WLMkxjsrKM8
