February 7 Evening Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Anti-billionaire Bernie has billionaire Bloomberg to worry about Sanders, campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday: “We are in a moment where billionaires control not only our economy but our political life.” – Lynn Sweet 
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/2/7/21128772/bernie-sanders-billionaire-bloomberg-democratic-presidential-primary-new-hampshire

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push medical pot to push recreational pot.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/illinois/ct-illinois-medical-marijuana-priority-20200207-qikkgccwxffurnm3jopled2fae-story.html
— South suburban officials stress regional unity to advance legislative agenda – TED SLOWIK
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-ssmma-legislative-priorities-st-0209-20200207-c7644naoqjbfbpmyzzjuhkv3hq-story.html
— Cook taxpayers — How the Pritzker Tax would increase your already alarming SALT dosage – Editorial (DIERSEN: Trump should increase the $10,000 SALT cap to $20,000 for married filing jointly.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-illinois-exodus-jb-pritzker-salt-state-and-local-taxes-20200207-3jxijtwfo5e4vibu4257fs6fru-story.html
— Wake up, Democrats, Trump is spinning his way to a second term – Clarence Page
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/clarence-page/ct-column-trump-sotu-iowa-caucuses-page-20200207-upfjhzhnlbciziahtph6rqgif4-story.html

DAILY HERALD & WBEZ
— 6th Congressional District: Survey question: What do you want these three to be talking about so you can make an informed vote as they compete for your vote? (DIERSEN: Questions to ask candidates: If elected, how would the following help you carry out your duties: a) your education, b) your political experience and work experience, c) your professional certifications and licenses, and d) length of time that you have lived in your municipality, township, county, and Illinois? What have you done and what will you do if elected to: a) discourage the sale and use of pot, b) discourage gambling, c) discourage the sale and drinking of booze, d) promote traditional marriage and the traditional family, e) promote homeownership, f) discourage abortion, g) discourage mass/illegal immigration, h) discourage diminution of First and Second Amendment rights, i) discourage patronage and political affiliation discrimination, j) discourage reverse discrimination, k) discourage age discrimination, l) encourage people to save for their retirement, m) discourage dependency on government, and n) discourage dependency on charity?) 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IL6thDistrict

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/marijuanacannabis/illinois-tripled-weed-jobs-last-year

ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR & STATELINE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot.
https://www.rrstar.com/news/20200207/second-rockford-marijuana-dispensary-opens-to-recreational-users
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/second-marijuana-dispensary-means-additional-tax-dollars-for-rockford/

EFFINGHAM DAILY NEWS
— Fair map won’t happen with current Illinois Supreme Court – Jim Nowlan
https://www.effinghamdailynews.com/opinion/columns/jim-nowlan-guest-columnist-fair-map-won-t-happen-with/article_346a0c42-49f1-11ea-8263-03276efa41d0.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— As Trump celebrates acquittal, Democrats maintain impeachment was still worth it – Stephen Loiaconi (DIERSEN: I did not celebrate GAO ruling in my favor in Diersen v. IRS ( https://www.gao.gov/products/463866 ), but my Democrat IRS superiors would maintain that it was worth it for them because it ended my IRS career.) 
https://foxillinois.com/news/connect-to-congress/as-trump-celebrates-acquittal-democrats-maintain-impeachment-was-still-worth-it

MEDILL REPORTS
— SIX CANDIDATES COMPETE IN 12TH DISTRICT PRIMARY AS COMMITTEE PLANS APPOINTMENT – Joel Jacobs (DIERSEN: What if the Daily Herald had reported like this on the candidates who sought appointment to fill Wheaton’s North and West District City Council vacancies?)
https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/six-candidates-compete-in-12th-district-primary-as-committee-plans-appointment/

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Piece Attacking Jim Oberweis Hits Mail Boxes Financed by Greg Baise-run SuperPac
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/07/piece-attacking-jim-oberweis-hits-mail-boxes/ 
— Gradel Mails Second Piece, Goes after Two Illinois and Two Congressional Democrats
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/07/gradel-mails-second-piece-goes-after-two-illinois-and-two-congressional-democrats/ 
— State’sm Attorney Patrick Kenneally Participates in Human Trafficking Sting
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/07/patrick-kenneally-participates-in-human-trafficking-sting/ 
— Joe Walsh Folds His Presidential Challenge to Donald Trump
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/02/07/joe-walsh-folds-his-presidential-challenge-to-donald-trump/

CAPITOL FAX
— Request denied
https://capitolfax.com/2020/02/07/request-denied-2/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Dear Mr. Miller: This email is to acknowledge the receipt of and to respond to your FOIA request dated February 3, 2020. In that request, you ask the Secretary of State to provide you with the following documents: “Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, I am requesting the list of people who are currently banned from entering the Illinois Statehouse and/or the Statehouse complex. An electronic copy can be delivered as a reply to this email or separately to capitolfax@gmail.com.” I have been directed to deny your request.)

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Trump: Pelosi broke the law by ripping up State of Union speech – Dave Boyer (DIERSEN: Just kidding, but do my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who read my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to get information to use against me print the emails out so they can rip them up?)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/feb/7/trump-nancy-pelosi-broke-law-ripping-his-state-uni/
— Warren blames ‘legacy’ of U.S. racism for conditions that caused campaign staff to quit – Douglas Ernst 
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/feb/7/elizabeth-warren-blames-legacy-of-us-racism-for-co/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Elizabeth Warren’s new campaign racism scandal is just as hypocritical as you’d expect – Brad Polumbo
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/elizabeth-warrens-new-nevada-campaign-racism-scandal-just-as-hypocritical-as-youd-expect
— House Democrats pass bill allowing illegal immigrants to seek damages from employers – Andrew Mark Miller (DIERSEN: Will this discourage employers from hiring illegals?)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house-democrats-pass-bill-allowing-illegal-immigrants-to-seek-damages-from-employers-abolish-state-right-to-work-laws

DAILY CALLER
— ‘Looking Down At People’: Longtime Democratic Strategist Issues Warning To His Party – WILLIAM DAVIS (DIERSEN: All my critics/opponents, all their operatives, and all their dupes look down not only on me, they look down on everyone. I should write a book about my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican. They do everything that they can to destroy the Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party.)
https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/07/james-carville-media-lsu-democrats/
— ‘The Most Radical Piece of Immigration Legislation’: Experts, GOP React To Democratic ‘New Way Forward’ Bill – JASON HOPKINS
https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/07/gop-experts-new-way-forward-immigration/

GOPUSA
— Andrew Yang blames Facebook for ‘disintegration’ of democracy, proposes making fake political ads illegal (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents have always demanded that I “take responsibility” for what others have posted on their websites, that is, that I should NOT include links in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to articles unless my critics/opponents wrote those articles or bless those articles. I should write a book about my critics/opponents. Rather than attacking the authors of articles that they do not like, my critics/opponents attack me. My critics/opponents treat me like they know that no one will come to my defense. My critics/opponents see many examples in which those who could and should have come to my defense, including Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) leaders, but did not. My critics/opponent stress that I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, MTRO webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, etc. My critics/opponents stress those who could and should have come to my defense, but did not.) 
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=84372
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The fact that they don’t take responsibility for the truth of political ads on their network is beyond me,” said Mr. Yang.)

TOWNHALL
— New Way Forward Act: Democrats Push ‘Most Radical Legislation Proposed’ in US…And It’s Being Largely Ignored – Leah Barkoukis
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2020/02/07/new-way-forward-act-n2560930

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Are Trump’s fans as tired of winning as Democrats are of losing? – Jeffrey A. Rendall
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/31897-assault-america-day-401-are-trump%E2%80%99s-fans-tired-winning-democrats-are-losing

CANADA FREE PRESS
— Trump confronts Democrats on sanctuary states, counties and cities – David Singer 
https://canadafreepress.com/article/trump-confronts-democrats-on-sanctuary-states-counties-and-cities

CNN
— Can a news organization avoid a discrimination claim by arguing that it was exercising its First Amendment right to choose who writes the news? Court Decides That CNN Producer’s Discrimination Claims Are Not “Fake News” (DIERSEN: Since 1997, when I was 49 years old, and the Democrats who ran GAO succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer,” mainstream news organizations could have offered me jobs, but of course, they have not. They have not offered me jobs because I am conservative, Republican, White, male, old, draft avoider, Protestant, 100% German American, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844.) 
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/court-decides-that-cnn-producer-s-74376/

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater promotes hatred against Trump and against Whites.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/07/trumps-state-union-speech-was-white-supremacist-vision-america/
— Trump lambastes his critics as he moves to target perceived enemies over impeachment – Josh Dawsey, Robert Costa and Greg Miller
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lambastes-his-critics-as-he-considers-how-else-to-target-his-perceived-enemies-over-impeachment/2020/02/06/571003a0-4924-11ea-9475-535736e48788_story.html
— Trump fires Gordon Sondland, the second impeachment witness to be removed from his post Friday – John Wagner and Reis Thebault
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2020/02/07/8e7668a6-4998-11ea-bdbf-1dfb23249293_story.html

FEDERAL TIMES
— Lawmakers are looking at ways to cut fed pay – Jessie Bur (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized me, denigrated me, and condemned me as being overpaid. I worked for the Post Office when I was 18-20 years old, IRS when I was 22-31 years, and GAO when I was 31-49 years old. 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 32. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes make it clear that they would never stoop to take a federal job.) 
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/pay-benefits/2020/02/07/republican-study-proposes-comprehensive-cuts-to-feds-pay-and-benefits/

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— 47% of Users Under 40 Say Social Media Influences Their Politics
https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2020/47_of_users_under_40_say_social_media_influences_their_politics

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.