February 8 Evening Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Roskam speaks at Milton Township Republican Central Committee Meeting – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com
(THE ARTICLE: Congressman Peter Roskam spoke at the outstanding Milton Township Republican Central Committee meeting Wednesday evening, February 8, 2017, at the Wheaton Bowl Banquet Hall.  Attendees included Almiron, Austin, Berlin, Carlson, Cherry, Chirchirillo, Cooper, Crane, Dangelo, Eckhoff, Elliott, Falbo, Fawell, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Grant, Hinkle, Holder, Keller, Krzyzewski, LeVan, Loebach, Lofgren, Lonks, McGowen, McNeily, Mendrick, Molitor, Nathwani, Orel, Ryan, Shaw, Slinger, Thomas, Whelan, Wilson, and Zaruba.)

 

ABC7
— CHRIS KENNEDY RUNNING FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR – Charles Thomas
http://abc7chicago.com/news/chris-kennedy-running-for-illinois-governor/1743825/
— SILENCING OF WARREN OVER SESSIONS CRITICISM THROWS SENATE INTO TURMOIL – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/silencing-of-warren-throws-senate-into-turmoil/1743676/
— SENATE CONFIRMS SEN. JEFF SESSIONS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL OVER STRONG DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/senate-confirms-sen-jeff-sessions-for-attorney-general/1744950/

 

NBC5
— Trump Blames Chicago Violence on Undocumented Gang Members  “So many of the problems are caused by gang members, many of whom are not even legally in our country,” Trump told a group of police chiefs Wednesday in Washington. – Tom Schuba
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/trump-blames-chicago-violence-undocumented-gang-members-413191773.html

 

CBS2
— Claypool Hurls More Insults At Gov. Rauner Over School Budget Mess – Steve Miller
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/02/08/claypool-hurls-more-insults-at-gov-rauner-over-school-budget-mess/
— Trump Links Chicago Gang Violence, Undocumented Immigrants
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/02/08/trump-attributes-chicago-gang-violence-to-undocumented-immigrants/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Republicans lodge ethics complaint over CPS letter – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/234617833-story

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Republicans cry foul over CPS chief’s letter to parents – Juan Perez Jr.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-republican-claypool-ethics-complaint-met-20170208-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chicago’s Republican Party chairman filed an ethics complaint with the Chicago Public Schools inspector general Wednesday alleging district CEO Forrest Claypool improperly used taxpayer resources to deliver a “blatantly political letter” to parents this week. “It was misusing taxpayer money for political purposes,” Chicago Republican Chairman Chris Cleveland said during a news conference with a small group of GOP volunteers and staffers outside Inspector General Nicholas Schuler’s office. “It is not only improper; it is entirely illegal.”)
— Wake up, Illinois. You’re surrounded. – Editorial
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-right-to-work-illinois-rauner-edit-0209-20170208-story.html
— CPS, get your fiscal house in order – Troy LaRaviere
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-cps-claypool-school-funding-rauner-perspec-0209-jm-20170208-story.html
— Illinois Democrats push back against Trump on abortion
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-legis-abortion-legislation-met-20170208-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Donald Trump’s war on his own credibility.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-trump-low-approval-ratings-credibility-20170208-story.html
— Melania, Ivanka and the Trump family’s definition of public service – Timothy L. O’Brien
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-melania-trump-lawsuit-ivanka-nordstrom-profits-20170208-story.html
— Kennedy enters 2018 Illinois governor’s race ripping Rauner for causing ‘economic chaos’ – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-chris-kennedy-illinois-governor-20170208-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Senate confirms Sessions for attorney general on nearly party-line vote – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/senate-confirms-sessions-for-attorney-general/amp/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote Kennedy.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/sneed-kennedy-sees-gubernatorial-run-as-a-call-to-service/
— Republicans deliver ethics complaint over CPS Rauner letter – Lauren FitzPatrick
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/republicans-to-file-ethics-complaint-over-cps-rauner-letter/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Angry about an anti-Rauner letter that went home to Chicago Public School parents earlier this week, Chicago’s Republican Party announced an ethics complaint Wednesday against schools CEO Forrest Claypool. Chris Cleveland, head of the city’s Republican party, met with reporters Wednesday afternoon outside the office of the schools’ inspector general, where he dropped off his complaint. “It’s entirely improper to send political propaganda home with children,” said Cleveland, whose child attends Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln Park. He was surrounded by sign-waving supporters — Republican activists, not CPS parents. “Earlier this week, Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool used taxpayer resources to send a blatantly political letter home with students,” read a copy of Cleveland’s complaint to the schools’ watchdog. “Using public time and resources on such a letter should always be considered a misuse of taxpayer funds, but it is made even more egregious in light of CPS’s self-declared financial crisis.” Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner have battled over Rauner’s veto of a bill that would have sent $215 million to CPS for teacher pensions. The governor nixed the measure in December right after Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said it wasn’t tied to overall pension reform. The money is now attached to the Illinois Senate’s grand bargain package, which also now includes a statewide fix to how the state doles out money to school districts. This week, Claypool and Gov. Bruce Rauner ramped up their rhetoric, each blaming the other for CPS’ budget woes. On Monday, Claypool likened Rauner to unpopular President Donald Trump, while announcing another $69 million in mid-year cuts he’s calling spending freezes at the state’s largest school district. He gave principals letters to distribute to parents and to Local School Council members the same day he told them that half of their discretionary spending for things like school supplies would be frozen indefinitely. “Governor Rauner, just like President Trump, has decided to attack those who need the most help. Governor Rauner and President Trump regularly attack Chicago because they hope to score political points. It is shameful,” read the first line of the parents’ communique. Tuesday, Rauner fired back via an open letter penned by his education secretary Beth Purvis who told Claypool to look in the mirror. She placed the blame for the financial mess squarely on CPS’ “continued mismanagement” and calling the latest cuts “curiously timed.” She called the spending freezes “a shock to all of us,” noting that CPS’ pension payment isn’t due until June. CPS’ code of ethics does specifically prohibit political campaigning, saying that, “No Official or Employee shall use his or her official Board position to engage in Political Activity or endorse a Candidate for Elective Office” and “No Official or Employee is permitted to use Board resources to perform any Political Activity. But as long as no staffer is coerced into the activity, “Nothing in this Section prohibits Political Activities that are otherwise appropriate for an Employee to engage in as part of his or her official employment duties,” the policy reads. Inspector general Nicholas Schuler confirmed he had received the complaint and then declined to comment on it. Not all principals actually printed the letter or emailed it home. CPS wouldn’t immediately say how much district money had been spent on its distribution.)
— Chris Kennedy comes out swinging, calls Gov. Rauner ‘heartless’ – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/chris-kennedy-comes-out-swinging-calls-gov-rauner-heartless/
— Pension bill fizzles, but ‘grand bargain’ is ‘still on track’ – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/pension-bill-fails-leaders-still-sold-on-passing-grand-bargain/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage against state eliminating pay for election panel – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170208/news/170208947/
— Lisle mayor happy ‘frivolous’ four-town merger won’t be on ballot – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170208/news/170209001/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats promote Kennedy.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170208/news/170208931/
— DuPage homicides on record pace, but officials say it won’t last – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170208/news/170208948/
— Lake County Board supports plan to ask voters if they want to pick chairman – Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170208/news/170208938/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Kennedy’s in—and here’s what he has to say – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170208/BLOGS02/170209854/kennedys-in-x2014-and-heres-what-he-has-to-say
— A third of young Chicago homebuyers in 2015 were single – DENNIS RODKIN  (DIERSEN: I bought a new town home in University Park when I was single in 1972 when I was 24 years old.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20170208/CRED0701/170209850/a-third-of-young-chicago-homebuyers-in-2015-were-single
— Rauner borrows from Trump’s playbook in war with CPS – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170208/BLOGS02/170209849/rauner-cps-war-mirrors-trump-playbook

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Failed Senate budget votes won’t kill compromise, lawmakers say – Doug Finke
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170208/failed-senate-budget-votes-wont-kill-compromise-lawmakers-say
— Pence, Haley among Rauner connections to Trump administration – Bernard Schoenburg
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170208/bernard-schoenburg-pence-haley-among-rauner-connections-to-trump-administration

 

JOURNAL & TOPICS
— Proft To Speak At Wheeling Township GOP Meeting
http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_ac9b2408-ee46-11e6-be74-e39224ec6c7b.html

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Trump to judges: Even a ‘bad high school student’ would rule in my favor  ‘We want security’ – KEVIN LIPTAK
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/trump-to-judges-even-a-bad-high-school-student-would-rule-in-my-favor/652843545

 

MADISON RECORD
— John Cullerton feeds the rumor mill to deflect blame for his failures – Editorial
http://madisonrecord.com/stories/511080681-john-cullerton-feeds-the-rumor-mill-to-deflect-blame-for-his-failures

 

CBS ST. LOUIS
— As Illinois Budget Stalemate Persists, Patience Wears Thin In Springfield
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2017/02/08/as-illinois-budget-stalemate-persists-patience-wears-thin-in-springfield/

 

CHICAGOIST
— Gov. Rauner’s Office Sent A Letter Home To CPS Parents, Too – EMMA G. GALLEGOS
http://chicagoist.com/2017/02/08/dueling_cps_letters.php

 

SAGAMON SUN
— Pritzker accused of trying to ‘whitewash history,’ ties with Blagojevich – Carol Ostrow
http://sangamonsun.com/stories/511058420-pritzker-accused-of-trying-to-whitewash-history-ties-with-blagojevich

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THEY’RE BACK: DCCC, BOB CREAMER PUSH ANTI-ROSKAM AND -DAVIS PROTESTS IN ILLINOIS
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/02/dccc-pushing-anti-roskam-protests-in-illinois.html
— CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT OVER ANTI-GOP LETTER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/02/chicago-public-school-parent-files-ethics-complaint-over-anti-gop-letter.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Chicago Public Schools send 381K kids home with letter blasting Trump, GOP governor – Douglas Ernst
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/8/chicago-public-schools-send-381k-kids-home-with-le/

 

WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
— Chicago Public Schools Send Students Home With Politically Biased Letter – Jack Heretik
http://freebeacon.com/politics/chicago-public-schools-send-students-home-politically-biased-letter/

 

FOX NEWS
— Trump Rips Liberal Media: They Always Pull the ‘Racist Card’ on Conservatives
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/07/bill-oreilly-president-donald-trump-super-bowl-interview-media-voter-fraud
— Cruz Slams Warren for ‘Slanderous, Ugly’ Attack on Sessions
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/02/08/cruz-blasts-warren-slanderous-comments-about-sessions

 

DAILY CALLER
— Democrat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson : ‘Despite The Passage Of Time,’ We’re Just As Racist As We Were In 1963 – Christian Datoc  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly Democrats say that Republicans are racists, and especially Republicans who are Protestant, conservative, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.  How should Republicans react to that?)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/08/dem-senator-despite-the-passage-of-time-were-just-as-racist-as-we-were-in-1963-video/
— Chicago Schools Send Students Home With ‘Propaganda’ Letter Trashing Trump, Illinois Governor – Peter Hasson
http://dailycaller.com/2017/02/08/chicago-schools-send-students-home-with-propaganda-letter-trashing-trump-illinois-governor/

 

GOPUSA
— After Conquering the Boy Scouts, What’s Next?
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=20420
— We need extreme vetting in the judicial system, too
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=20391
— Jesse Jackson Jr. ordered to pay child support
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=20431

 

COLLEGE FIX
— The most despised minorities on campus are conservatives
http://www.thecollegefix.com/bulletin-board/student-op-ed-despised-minorities-campus-conservatives/

 

NEWS BUSTERS
— MSNBC: GOP ‘Trying to Shut Up’ One of ‘Most Influential Women in Politics Today’ – Kristine Marsh
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kristine-marsh/2017/02/08/msnbc-gop-trying-shut-one-most-influential-women-politics-today

 

BARBWIRE
— LIBERALISM AND THE END OF CIVILIZATION – DON FEDER
http://barbwire.com/2017/02/08/liberalism-end-civilization/
— WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST: REBRANDING SIN AS VIRTUE – LEE DUIGON
http://barbwire.com/2017/02/08/what-were-up-against/
— SUPER BOWLED OVER BY LIBERAL ADS – TONY PERKINS
http://barbwire.com/2017/02/08/super-bowled-over-by-liberal-ads/

 

THE BLAZE
— Democrat Rahm Emanuel says the Democratic Party won’t be back in power anytime soon
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/02/08/democrat-rahm-emanuel-says-the-democratic-party-wont-be-back-in-power-anytime-soon/
— If you find it easy to be a Christian, you probably aren’t one – Matt Walsh  (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who claim to be Christian, but do things that a Christian would not do, including promoting dependency on government and charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, illegal immigration, booze, pot, gambling, etc.?)
http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/matt-walsh-if-you-find-it-easy-to-be-a-christian-you-probably-arent-one/
— Trump Has Brought European-Style Nationalism to the U.S. – BEN SHAPIRO  (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps put foreign countries ahead of America.)
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/444687/donald-trump-nationalism-should-worry-conservatives

 

THE HILL
— Pelosi backs all-female ‘SNL’ portrayals of Trump administration – CRISTINA MARCOS
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/318520-pelosi-backs-all-female-snl-portrayals-of-trump-administration

 

POLITICO
— RFK’s son to run for Illinois governor – NATASHA KORECKI
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/chris-kennedy-rfk-son-illinois-governor-234793

 

CNN
— Trump labor nominee said 40% of his workers were once undocumented – Chris Massie and Andrew Kaczynski
http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/08/news/kfile-labor-nominee-undocumented-workers/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The CKE restaurants executive made the comments, reviewed by CNN’s KFile, while speaking about how the E-Verify system–a database that enables businesses to check the citizenship status of their prospective employees–made it easier for his company to comply with the law. The news comes after Puzder admitted in a statement Tuesday to having employed an undocumented maid for years. Puzder has long been an advocate of comprehensive immigration reform to make it easier for U.S. employers to legally hire foreign workers. He has at times cited his own fast food workers as willing to work jobs that regular Americans won’t do.)

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Senate Confirms Jeff Sessions as Attorney General  Vote elevates close Trump ally to lead Justice Department – ARUNA VISWANATHA
https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-is-poised-to-confirm-sessions-along-party-lines-1486584469
— Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch Calls Trump’s Comments on Judiciary ‘Demoralizing’  Comment made in closed-door meeting with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, confirmed by confirmation team – BETH REINHARD
https://www.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-nominee-neil-gorsuch-calls-trumps-comments-on-judiciary-demoralizing-1486591960
— President Trump Criticizes Nordstrom for Dropping Daughter’s Fashion Label  Department store decided not to buy Ivanka Trump’s spring collection – SUZANNE KAPNER
https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-trump-criticizes-nordstrom-for-dropping-ivankas-fashion-label-1486573728

 

FORBES
— Is It Legal For Donald Trump To Delete Tweets As President?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/02/08/is-it-legal-for-donald-trump-to-delete-tweets-as-president/

 

FED SMITH
— Whistleblower Wins at Appeals Court – Susan McGuire Smith
http://www.fedsmith.com/2017/02/08/whistleblower-wins-at-appeals-court/

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.