February 8 Evening Edition

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Praise for New ILGOP Chairman Rushes In All corners of GOP applaud the selection of Don Tracy, leader of and major donor to the anti-progressive tax and numerous successful campaigns
https://mailchi.mp/28bbae26e2b2/icymi-pritzker-admin-mia-while-over-20-of-lasalle-veterans-home-residents-die-of-covid-4743608

ABC7
— Illinois COVID Update: IL reports 1,747 new coronavirus cases, 35 deaths – Eric Horng
https://abc7chicago.com/health/il-reports-1747-new-covid-19-cases-35-deaths/10321765/

NBC5
— Trump Lawyers Blast Democrats Before Impeachment Trial, Deny He Incited Capitol Riot – Kevin Breuninger
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/trump-lawyers-blast-democrats-before-impeachment-trial-deny-he-incited-capitol-riot/2432451/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats have declared war on Republicans. Democrats see immigrants as being their soldiers in their army to get rid of Republicans once and for all.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/2/8/22272781/immigrants-activists-worry-biden-wont-end-trump-barriers

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Lightfoot vs. Sharkey on hammering out deal | Businessman Rabine to run as Republican for governor | Former CTU leader, mayoral hopeful Karen Lewis dies – LISA DONOVAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lightfoot-sharkey-ctu-near-deal-karen-lewis-dies-impeachment-spin-20210208-vd3fc73rivcbnavom2stalvvam-story.html

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote Kinzinger. 2,446,891 in Illinois voted for Trump, 193,611 in DuPage County voted for Trump, 20,080 in Milton Township voted for Trump, and 157 in my precinct voted for Trump.
https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/tom-kacich-a-winning-gop-would-take-kinzingers-medicine/article_662062a1-082b-571e-9860-183c194acaf8.html

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
— Guns, ammunition fly off shelves at South Bend area stores after ‘perfect storm’ of events – Ed Semmler and Marek Mazurek
https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/guns-ammunition-fly-off-shelves-at-south-bend-area-stores-after-perfect-storm-of-events/article_3d2c5ffe-67f2-11eb-839b-2b6a288f303b.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Fear caused by the pandemic, civil unrest and even the election of a new president has created unprecedented demand for guns and ammunition that has some shop owners concerned about their own survival. When news of the pandemic started to spread, lines started forming at stores here and across the country for guns, ammunition, bulletproof vests and other items deemed important for self-defense and survival. And civil unrest throughout most of the country only served to fan the flames as well as the election of President Joe Biden, who many fear will seek to constrict 2nd Amendment rights. “It’s been a perfect storm,” said Rebecca Bartol, owner of gun store Femme Fatale in South Bend. “People started panic buying in March and it really hasn’t let up since because of rioting, protesting and political changes.” Femme Fatale closed for a couple of months because of the pandemic and the supply shortage, but reopened in June at its old location at 1201 S. Main St. In November, it relocated to a new store at 4325 S. Michigan St. Bartol said the move had been planned for some time and was prompted by the desire to get into a bigger space and near the Ireland Road retail corridor on the south side of the city. But the shortage of inventory is more evident than ever in the bigger store with its largely barren display cases for handguns, racks for shotguns and rifles and cubicles that store ammo. Almost as fast as new inventory comes in, it is purchased by customers. “Our firearms inventory is about 10% of normal,” Bartol said between customers who were looking for hard-to-find ammunition and guns. “This is the thinnest we’ve ever been, and we’re working harder than ever to find inventory.” Federal background checks soared to nearly 39.7 million in 2020, about a 39% jump compared to the previous year and the most on record since background checks got under way in 1998, according to NCIS statistics. Bartol and other gun shop owners said that millions of those background checks were for first-time gun owners, which helps explain the shortages in addition to the factory shutdowns and slowdowns caused by the pandemic.)

NPR ILLINOIS
— Groundwork For Insurrection Was Laid Well Before Jan. 6 – STEVE INSKEEP
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/groundwork-insurrection-was-laid-well-jan-6#stream/0

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Anonymous Political Campaigns are like Cockroaches; They scatter when the light comes on – JOHN KRAFT & KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2021/02/anonymous-political-campaigns-are-like-cockroaches-they-scatter-when-the-light-comes-on/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— A DIVIDED IL GOP PICKS DOWNSTATE ATTORNEY AS NEXT CHAIRMAN
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/a-divided-il-gop-picks-downstate-attorney-as-next-chairman-.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: While the IL GOP has been following the lead of anti-conservative activists and consultants for years, the election of Tracy could indicate the growing power of downstate Republicans that deliver most of the state’s conservative, pro-Trump Republican votes – granting them more weight in the party’s decision-making. )
— CONGRESSMAN KINZINGER LAUDS JEEP’S “COMMON GROUND” SUPER BOWL AD
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2021/02/congressman-kinzinger-lauds-jeeps-common-ground-super-bowl-ad-.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Business owner, Trump supporter Gary Rabine says he will run for governor
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/08/business-owner-trump-supporter-gary-rabine-says-he-will-run-for-governor/
— HGOP responds *** House releases new proposed rules
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/08/house-releases-new-proposed-rules/
— 1,747 new confirmed and probable cases; 35 additional deaths; 2,161 hospitalized; 469 in ICU; 3.3 percent average case positivity rate; 4.1 percent average test positivity rate; 51,794 average daily doses
https://capitolfax.com/2021/02/08/1747-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-35-additional-deaths-2161-hospitalized-469-in-icu-33-percent-average-case-positivity-rate-41-percent-average-test-positivity-rate-51794-average-daily-doses/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Biden border surge prompts ‘catch-and-release’ restart in Texas – Stephen Dinan
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/8/joe-biden-border-surge-prompts-catch-and-release-r/

FOX NEWS
— Sen. Tim Scott: Putting ‘all the blame on President Trump’ for Capitol riot ‘just wrong’
https://news.yahoo.com/sen-tim-scott-putting-blame-191633162.html
— Sen. Tim Scott: Former President Trump ‘is not guilty’
https://news.yahoo.com/sen-tim-scott-former-president-190257425.html
— A Censured Liz Cheney Appears On Fox News Sunday
https://www.gopusa.com/a-censured-liz-cheney-appears-on-fox-news-sunday/

GOPUSA
— The Tyrannical Left’s Sinister Conspiracy To Silence Conservatives – David Limbaugh
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106244
— Fox News FALLOUT: Lou Dobbs Retweets ‘Fox In A Race To The Bottom’ – Bobby Eberle
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=106288

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Biden to Further Cut Down on ICE Arrests and Deportations – Eric Lendrum
https://amgreatness.com/2021/02/08/biden-to-further-cut-down-on-ice-arrests-and-deportations/

BREITBART
— John Cusack Calls NFL ‘Complete Hypocrites’ for $250M Systemic Racism Pledge While ‘Blacklisting’ Kaepernick – WARNER TODD HUSTON
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2021/02/08/john-cusack-calls-nfl-complete-hypocrites-for-250m-systemic-racism-pledge-while-blacklisting-kaepernick/

BLAZE
— Bruce Springsteen was calling for a White House ‘exorcism’ 3 months ago. He appeared in a Super Bowl ad on Sunday calling for unity: ‘To the ReUnited States of America’ – SARAH TAYLOR
https://www.theblaze.com/news/bruce-springsteen-was-calling-for-a-white-house-exorcism-3-months-ago-he-appeared-in-a-super-bowl-ad-on-sunday-calling-for-american-unity
— Maxine Waters claims she didn’t encourage violence against Trump supporters, but here’s what she said in 2018 Waters said in 2018: ‘The people are going to turn on them, they are gonna protest, they are gonna absolutely harass them’ – CHRIS ENLOE
https://www.theblaze.com/news/maxine-waters-claims-she-didnt-encourage-violence-against-trump-supporters-but-heres-what-she-said-in-2018

TOWNHALL
— Joe Biden’s Immigration Crisis Is Just Beginning – Julio Rosas
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/juliorosas/2021/02/08/joe-bidens-immigration-crisis-is-just-beginning-n2584381

NEWSMAX
— Biden’s Immigration Surrender – James Walsh
https://www.newsmax.com/jameswalsh/executive-orders-socialism/2021/02/08/id/1009043/

PJ MEDIA
— Trump’s Defense Brief Eviscerates the Democrats’ Case for Impeachment – TYLER O’NEIL
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2021/02/08/trumps-defense-brief-eviscerates-the-democrats-case-for-impeachment-n1423968

EPOCH TIMES
— Evidence Mounts that Capitol Breach Was Pre-Planned, Eroding Incitement Allegation in Trump Impeachment Trial – TOM OZIMEK
https://www.theepochtimes.com/evidence-mounts-that-capitol-breach-was-pre-planned-eroding-incitement-allegation-in-trump-impeachment-trial_3689106.html

THE HILL
— New variants threaten to reverse progress against COVID-19 – PETER SULLIVAN
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/537887-new-variants-threaten-to-reverse-progress-against-covid-19

POLITICO
— Trump lawyers rip impeachment case as ‘political theater’ The attorneys also rejected claims that Donald Trump sat on his hands during the violence. – KYLE CHENEY and ANDREW DESIDERIO
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/08/trumps-legal-team-says-impeachment-is-constitutionally-flawed-senate-cant-convict-467210

ABC NEWS
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Donald Trump’s impeachment trial looms as Republicans grapple with a leadership void.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-09/what-to-expect-from-donald-trumps-second-impeachment-trial/13131468

MSNBC
— The problem with ‘centrists’ fighting for the soul of the GOP – Steve Benen
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about past and present “centrist” leaders of Republican organizations, including the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Milton Township Republican Organization, who focus on destroying conservative Republicans, that is, who focus on destroying platform Republicans like me.)
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/problem-centrists-fighting-soul-gop-n1257059

YAHOO NEWS
— Trump impeachment: Supporters rioted ‘of their own accord’
https://news.yahoo.com/trump-impeachment-supporters-rioted-own-170053582.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Adam Kinzinger says “My fellow Republicans, convicting Trump is necessary to save America.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/08/adam-kinzinger-trump-impeachment-senate-republicans/
— Lou Dobbs is lashing out at Fox on Twitter for dropping his show. Though still under contract with Fox, the longtime host is retweeting critics of the network, including a call for viewers to switch to far-right competitors. – Jeremy Barr
https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/02/08/lou-dobbs-twitter-fox-angry/
— Fearing violence and political uncertainty, Americans are buying millions more firearms. More than 2 million guns were sold in January, an 80% jump and the third-highest monthly total on record. – Hannah Denham and Andrew Ba Tran
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/03/gun-sales-january-background-checks/
— Historian: Black Power Movement once thrived in D.C., but recent mayors have “set aside” its goal of empowering poor. – Robert McCartney
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-black-power-musgrove/2021/02/07/67c115f4-67cd-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “Want to hold Trump supporters accountable? It doesn’t have to be complicated.” How will the hate-filled Trump-hating a) Trump-haters in Illinois hold accountable the 2,446,891 in Illinois who voted for Trump, b) Trump-haters in DuPage County hold accountable the 193,611 in DuPage County who voted for Trump, c) Trump-haters in Milton Township hold accountable the 20,080 in Milton Township who voted for Trump, and d) Trump-haters in my precinct hold accountable the 157 in my precinct who voted for Trump? How strongly will the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, and Republican Precinct Committeeman Dave Diersen come to the defense of the aforesaid Trump-voters?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/08/my-pillow-david-hogg-world-series-liberals/

NEW YORK POST
— Twitter bans blogger Jim Hoft, conservative radio host Wayne Allyn Root – Natalie Musumeci
https://nypost.com/2021/02/08/twitter-bans-conservatives-jim-hoft-wayne-allyn-root/
— Mitt Romney leads the way on the pro-family GOP of the future – Gladden Pappin
https://nypost.com/2021/02/08/mitt-romney-leads-the-way-on-the-pro-family-gop-of-the-future/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Impeachment Trial Puts Trump Back on Center Stage for GOP. Senate Republicans face another public test of loyalty to the former president, with their base voters watching closely – Joshua Jamerson and Lindsay Wise
https://www.wsj.com/articles/impeachment-trial-puts-trump-back-on-center-stage-for-gop-11612793155

CLEVELAND
— The widening assault on Trump supporters and conservative thought has to end – Jean Kumler, Rocky River
https://www.cleveland.com/letters/2021/02/the-widening-assault-on-trump-supporters-and-conservative-thought-has-to-end.html

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.