February 28 Morning Edition

DAILY HERALD
— Endorsement: Almiron for Republicans in primary for DuPage County recorder
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200228/endorsement-almiron-for-republicans-in-primary-for-dupage-county-recorder
(FROM THE ENDORSEMENT: It’s easy to understand why both candidates for the Republican nomination for DuPage County recorder consider the position a perfect fit for their credentials. Ron Almiron, an attorney from Wheaton, has a long and deep history of service in local projects, service agencies, school and community boards and even more recently treasurer and CFO for the Wheaton Mosquito Abatement District. Babette Holder Youngberg, a communications professional from Wheaton, boasts a long history in real estate and property management that is specifically relevant to the duties of this office. Both candidates speak knowledgeably and think creatively about a role that demands a disciplined combination of attention to detail and customer service. Choosing between them is no simple matter for voters. The distinction for us comes down to depth of community involvement and level of detail in the vision for the office. Almiron’s diverse range of community, school and government activities gives him a slightly more refined sense for operating a government office, and he approaches the role with compelling intensity. Whoever ultimately wins the election in November, there is a possibility he or she will not serve long. If voters approve a consolidation measure in the General Election, the elected recorder’s position will be eliminated and the duties folded into other county offices. Youngberg and Almiron argue that the public is best served by an elected recorder but both agree to work cooperatively toward a smooth transition if voters decide to eliminate the office. Republican voters can’t go wrong with either candidate in this primary. Our choice is Almiron.)
— Endorsement: Grogan for Republicans for DuPage County auditor
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200228/endorsement-grogan-for-republicans-for-dupage-county-auditor
(FROM THE ENDORSEMENT: In nearly 12 years as DuPage County auditor, Bob Grogan has produced an impressive reputation for transparency, efficiency and competence. With justifiable pride, the Downers Grove Republican points to various state firsts he has implemented — including the first county checkbook online, the first transparency portal and the first auditor hotline. He has served as the president of the Association of Illinois County Auditors and notes that he knows how “to ask the awkward questions” that an auditor must raise when working with county officials to fix errors, find wrongdoing or just make things work better. His challenger for the party’s nomination in the March 17 primary is retired bank officer Jeffrey Mack, of Downers Grove. Mack has an appropriate financial background for auditor and a reasonable familiarity with the duties of the office. His strongest argument, however, is that he could bring a “fresh set of eyes” to the operation. That’s not an irrelevant point, but Mack doesn’t build on it by demonstrating why a new perspective alone would justify replacing an auditor with Grogan’s record and credentials. Grogan is Republicans’ strongest alternative for the November ballot, and he gets our endorsement.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DuPage County Board to spend $32,600 on study analyzing the benefits of eliminating the recorder’s office – ALICIA FABBRE
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-dupage-recorders-office-study-st-0228-20200226-oi5c4eel45hntew5ze4xpv4nzu-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers use medial pot to push recreational pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/illinois/ct-illinois-marijuana-home-grow-20200228-2uzeysxfwnanpormf67dvmpvw4-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Pritzker yanks three Racing Board members from the saddle over campaign contributions Leaders of the regulatory agency are barred from political activity under the state’s new gambling expansion law. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/2/27/21156913/illinois-racing-board-pritzker-brincat-resign-sronce-ramirez
— The rest of the nation is rooting for an Illinois progressive income tax Other states know a progressive tax would be one more self-inflicted blow to the economy of Illinois, certain to drive dollars, jobs and families into their waiting arms. – Todd Maisch
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/27/21156157/illinois-graduated-income-tax-progressive-chamber-commerce-todd-maisch

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago’s largest employers 2020 As always, the public sector dominates the top five in our annual ranking. See who else made the list. – KASEY HARIMAN 
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-list/chicagos-largest-employers-2020
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: The damaging divide Long-standing racial and ethnic disparities in Chicago are growing ever wider, and researchers say the cost will be borne by everybody, regardless of color.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-racial-gaps/forum-self-defeating-divide

CBS2
— Chicago Conventions Affected By Coronavirus Concerns – Vince Gerasole
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/02/27/chicago-conventions-affected-by-coronavirus-concerns/

WLS AM
— Democratic donors struggle for a solution as Bernie Sanders hurtles toward a potential nomination
https://www.wlsam.com/news/democratic-donors-struggle-for-a-solution-as-bernie-sanders-hurtles-toward-a-potential-nomination/

WBEZ
— Alderman Says ‘Army of Italians’ To Protest Switch From Columbus To Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Sarah Karp
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/alderman-says-army-of-italians-to-protest-switch-from-columbus-to-indigenous-peoples-day/171322f9-5acf-42aa-a0ac-83021880b84e

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Which Democrat will Southern Illinois choose to challenge Trump? Voters weigh in. – KELSEY LANDIS (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who vote for the candidate who promises to use government a) to take the most income, assets, and opportunities away from those who do NOT share their demographics (for example, Republican, White, male, older, non-poor, Protestant, German American, and/or non-recent immigrant) and b) to give most income, assets, and opportunities to those who share their demographics (for example, Democrat, minority, female, younger, poor, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or recent immigrant)?) 
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/election/article240695806.html

ILLINOIS TIMES
— Blagojevich emerges from prison unchanged – Rich Miller
https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/blagojevich-emerges-from-prision-unchanged/Content?oid=11867986

FOX MILWAUKEE
— BBB: Scammers using phony political fundraising calls to trick Americans into donating
https://fox6now.com/2020/02/27/bbb-scammers-using-phony-political-fundraising-calls-to-trick-americans-into-donating/

WQAD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.wqad.com/article/news/hickey-brothers-pushes-for-marijuana-lounge/526-b2d6c286-d257-42c7-a75e-30acae9860cd

ROBERT FEDER
— Before he became ‘Mayor Pete,’ Buttigieg worked as NBC 5 investigative intern (DIERSEN: Were you an intern? GAO audits IRS. When I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old, my Democrat GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinated did not want me to transfer, but failing that, they wanted me to transfer as a GS-4 Step 1 (currently $34,610/year) intern, that is, to suffer a $61,821/year (64%) pay cut in today’s dollars. They painted what GAO Analysts do as being a unique “trade or occupation.” They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, or veteran. They viciously demonized, denigrated, and condemned the fact a) that I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $85,084-$96,431/year, b) that much of what IRS Revenue Officers do is similar to what GAO Analysts do, c) that I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, d) that I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and e) that I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. They were furious that I transferred with me almost 12 years of federal seniority, 30 days of unused vacation days, and 130 unused sick days.)
https://www.robertfeder.com/2020/02/28/became-mayor-pete-buttigieg-worked-nbc-5-investigative-intern/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Chicago Sun-Times Legislative Questionnaire
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/28/chicago-sun-times-legislative-questionnaire/ 
— TP Mathews Defends McHenry Township Trustees Anderson, Verr and Rakestraw
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/28/tp-mathews-defends-mchenry-township-trustees-anderson-verr-and-rakestraw/ 
— Marijuana Grow Facility Meeting in Harvard
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/28/marijuana-grow-meeting-in-harvard/

CAPITOL FAX
— Pritzker over Rauner, 130-10
https://capitolfax.com/2020/02/28/pritzker-over-rauner-130-10/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Dems’ presidential wannabes pander to Sanders and the crazy leftists Democrats are surrendering control of their party – David Keene
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/feb/27/democratic-presidential-wannabes-pander-to-bernie-/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: It should be illegal to encourage illegal activity.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/in-united-states-v-sineneng-smith-supreme-court-should-stand-up-for-the-right-to-encourage-illegal-immigration

GOPUSA
— Bernie Sanders’ Brand Of Socialism Is Communism
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=85437
— Media Peddles Coronavirus Panic, Indulges In Trump Bashing
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=85435

AMERICAN THINKER
— Bernie to Biden: The Democrat candidate spectrum is a mess – Josh Kantrow
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2020/02/bernie_to_biden_the_democrat_candidate_spectrum_is_a_mess.html

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Sanders Hates The Country He Seeks To Lead’: Tucker Breaks Down Bernie’s ‘Radical Open Borders Policy’ – SCOTT MOREFIELD
https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/27/tucker-carlson-bernie-sanders-immigration/

DAILY WIRE
— Democrats Lie About Coronavirus To Attack Trump. Their Policies Could Make Fighting Pandemics More Difficult. – Ryan Saavedra
https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-lie-about-coronavirus-to-attack-trump-their-policies-could-make-fighting-disease-more-difficult

FEDERALIST
— Refusing To Attend AIPAC Underscores Bernie’s Reliance On People Who Hate Jews By hypocritically labeling the AIPAC lobby a source of bigotry, the Democratic front-runner helps boosts his supporters’ efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state. – Jonathan S. Tobin
https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/27/refusing-to-attend-aipac-underscores-bernies-reliance-on-people-who-hate-jews/

THE HILL
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: To defeat Trump, Trump-haters will do everything that they can to destroy America’s economy.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/485078-republicans-growing-nervous-about-2020-economy
— Sanders, socialism emerge as top targets at CPAC – JULIA MANCHESTER AND TAL AXELROD
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/485063-sanders-socialism-emerge-as-top-targets-at-cpac
— White House chief of staff claims press covering coronavirus to take Trump down – MORGAN CHALFANT
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/485114-white-house-chief-of-staff-claims-press-covering-coronavirus-to-take

POLITICO
— GOP scramble is on to succeed Donald Trump in 2024 From Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo to Nikki Haley and Ted Cruz, the cast of potential White House hopefuls is out in force at CPAC. – ALEX ISENSTADT
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/28/2024-republicans-trump-cpac-117991

NEW YORK TIMES
— How Bloomberg Outspent His Rivals, and Sanders Outraised Them All – Sarah Almukhtar, Thomas Kaplan, K.K. Rebecca Lai and Rachel Shorey (DIERSEN: What motivates you to give money to candidates? For me, it includes the candidate’s record of defending and advancing the Republican Party platform, including its traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. For me, it includes their record of opposing the promotion of dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation for opposing promotion of the aforesaid.)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/02/21/us/politics/democratic-fundraising-numbers-february.html
— FRONT PAGE: Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders Interviews with dozens of Democratic Party officials, including 93 superdelegates, found overwhelming opposition to handing Mr. Sanders the nomination if he fell short of a majority of delegates. – Lisa Lerer and Reid J. Epstein
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/democratic-superdelegates.html
— Pelosi, Trying to Save House Majority, Fends Off Angst Over Sanders At a closed-door meeting, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged Democrats to “keep our eye on the ball” and mocked President Trump’s skin color: “The ball has an orange face.” – Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Nicholas Fandos
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/us/politics/pelosi-sanders-democrats.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/business/economy/immigration-economy-mulvaney-trump.html
— Most Coronavirus Cases Are Mild. That’s Good and Bad News. More than 80 percent of confirmed coronavirus cases are not severe, according to a large Chinese study. But mild symptoms could also make the epidemic harder to contain. – Vivian Wang
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/world/asia/coronavirus-treament-recovery.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Bernie Sanders’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Socialism It’s his disdain for his country. That’s the lesson Democrats should draw from Corbyn’s catastrophe. – Joseph C. Sternberg
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bernie-sanderss-biggest-problem-isnt-socialism-11582827748
— Whistleblower Says Federal Employees Flown From Coronavirus Sites Didn’t Follow Safety Protocols Employees weren’t tested for virus before leaving California quarantine sites on commercial flights, complaint says – Stephanie Armour and Natalie Andrews
https://www.wsj.com/articles/whistleblower-says-federal-employees-flown-from-coronavirus-sites-didnt-follow-safety-protocols-11582840144
— Some Southern Democrats Say Sanders Nomination Would Hurt Down-Ballot Candidates Party leaders in Carolinas, Florida worry about a democratic socialist as the Democratic nominee – Valerie Bauerlein
https://www.wsj.com/articles/some-southern-democrats-say-sanders-nomination-would-hurt-down-ballot-candidates-11582885802
— A Big Question in Retirement Planning: How Long Will I Live? How to factor lifespan and health—two big wild cards—into financial planning – Anne Tergesen (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who talk and/or act like they want to die young? They drink lots of booze, gamble lots of money, smoke lots of pot, etc. They certainly do not save for their retirement.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-big-question-in-retirement-planning-how-long-will-i-live-11582803000

EXAMINER ENTERPRISE
— Lawmakers push back against effort to reduce qualifications for agency heads – Carmen Forman (DIERSEN: If I had not had a high school diploma, the Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. If I had not had a bachelor’s degree in management, Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970, Oldsmobile would not have offered me a job in 1971, and IRS would not have hired me in 1971. If I had not been taking graduate business courses, IRS might not have promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. If I had not earned an MBA and passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, GAO would not have hired me in 1980. If I had not earned a master’s degree in accounting and passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, GAO would not have promoted me in 1986. If I had not been taking graduate finance courses and earned a master’s degree in finance, GAO would have succeeded in forcing me to retire earlier than it did.) 
https://www.examiner-enterprise.com/entertainment/20200227/lawmakers-push-back-against-effort-to-reduce-qualifications-for-agency-heads

FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK
— Virginia lawmaker asks presidential candidates for plans to reinvigorate federal service – Eric White (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors in the federal government reinvigorated their employees who were Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran by getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2020/02/virginia-lawmaker-asks-presidential-candidates-for-plans-to-reinvigorate-federal-service/

GAO
— FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET REQUEST
https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-429T
(FROM THE WEBSITE: The majority of the people at GAO who are engaged in mission work are analysts. Analysts review federal agency programs and operations and federal activities in all areas. Working on audits in certain areas (such as Information Technology or Financial Management) may require specific experience or qualifications. Typically, an analyst works as part of a team and uses methodological, research, documenting, writing, and presenting skills.)

BBC
— Are you a ‘cultural fit’ for your job? – Chris Baraniuk (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. According to them, the more of the following that you are, the more of a cultural fit that you are: Democrat, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, non-conservative, and if your ancestors have not been in America for a long time.) 
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200227-are-you-a-cultural-fit-for-your-job-machines-can-now-tell

CHARTERED MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
— PROMOTING POTENTIAL OVER EXPERIENCE – Rachel Willcox (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. According to them, federal employees who are Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran have potential only if they make 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. Extremely few federal employees make the aforesaid promotion deadlines.) 
https://www.managers.org.uk/insights/news/2020/february/promoting-potential-over-experience

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.