January 5 Morning Edition

CBS2
— Gov. Rauner Not Optimistic About State Budget Breakthrough, Blames Madigan – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/01/04/gov-rauner-not-optimistic-about-state-budget-breakthrough-blames-madigan/
— Chicago Police Investigate Live-Streamed Torture
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/01/04/four-people-in-custody-after-alleged-kidnapping-torture-is-live-streamed/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Rauner says his pro-business, turnaround agenda would help reduce Chicago violence – Mike Flannery  (DIERSEN: What percent of those who commit crime in Chicago want to be wage earners?  I was a lowly wage earner 1964-1997.  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) look down on wage earners, b) glorify and praise entrepreneurs, c) glorify and praise elected officials, and/or d) glorify and praise those who I have sued.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/227171643-story

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— 4 held in attack broadcast on Facebook that included anti-Trump profanities – Nereida Moreno
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-trump-cursed-man-attacked-facebook-video-20170104-story.html
— Rauner’s former budget director lands new job – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rauner-former-budget-director-new-job-met-story.html
— Bias meets DNA: Students at Pennsylvania college asked to learn their ancestry – Susan Svrluga  (DIERSEN: Many, if not most of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are anti-German-American.  Then again, they are anti- everything that they cannot manipulate/dominate.  What if from the beginning I had pretended to be Swedish-American?  While all my ancestors immigrated from what is now Germany to northeast Illinois during the 1840s and 1850s, according to DNA Ancestry at http://dna.ancestry.com, my ancestry is 33% Europe West, 28% Scandinavia, 24% Great Britain, 11% Ireland, 2% Europe East, 1% Finland/Northwest Russia, and 1% Italy/Greece.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-college-class-dna-testing-20161229-story.html
— Ronald Reagan lifeguard-statue plan standing still in Dixon – Ted Gregory
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ronald-reagan-lifeguard-statue-met-20170104-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: Chicago violence mystifies a nation – Phil Kadner
http://chicago.suntimes.com/author/Phil-Kadner/
— Second mail carrier robbed on South Side in two days – Jordan Owen  (DIERSEN: My 1962 Chevy BelAir was stolen in 1973 while worked for IRS in its office at 63rd and Halsted.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/reward-offered-in-armed-robbery-of-mail-carrier-in-south-shore/

— Rahm says he ‘wasn’t bragging’ about cutting retiree health care – Fran Spielman  (DIERSEN: If my critics/opponents succeed in cutting the $16,854 health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy that I get each year as a federal retiree, they will brag about it big time.  My critics/opponents have always viciously demonized me, viciously denigrated me, and viciously condemned me as 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://chicago.suntimes.com/news/rahm-says-he-wasnt-bragging-about-cutting-retiree-health-care/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Roskam won’t say where he stood on ethics vote – Kerry Lester
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170105/news/170109541/
— Body camera debate continues for DuPage deputies – Jessica Cilella  (DIERSEN: Should Trump supporters wear body cameras to document anti-Trump threats and violence?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170104/news/170109568/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Caterpillar might end machine making at Aurora factory – CLAIRE BUSHEY  (DIERSEN: What do Rauner and Trump have to say about that?)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170104/NEWS05/170109934/caterpillar-might-end-machine-making-at-aurora-factory

 

WTTW
— Gov. Rauner on Budget: ‘I’m Flexible’ – Paris Schutz
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/01/04/gov-rauner-budget-i-m-flexible

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Race not motive behind video attack.”
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/the-latest-police-race-not-motive-behind-video-attack/article_d755ca04-9d9e-520b-a2c5-32419a79fa95.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Orthopedic Center requiring up-front payments from state workers – Dean Olsen
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170104/orthopedic-center-requiring-up-front-payments-from-state-workers
— Five state government reforms that can reinvigorate the Illinois economy – Todd Maisch
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170104/guest-column-five-state-government-reforms-that-can-reinvigorate-illinois-economy

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Abortion bill could see action during lame-duck session – Dan Petrella
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/abortion-bill-could-see-action-during-lame-duck-session/article_2f82711d-3e5f-5081-a68c-66327d576d16.html

 

PEKIN TIMES
— Remembering the Black Panthers – Bill Knight
http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20170105/knight-remembering-black-panthers

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Weak Tax Collection Could Take Illinois’ Finances From Bad To Worse – BRIAN MACKEY  (DIERSEN: I worked for IRS’s Collection Division 1971-1980 and I worked for GAO on audits of IRS 1986-1988.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/weak-tax-collection-could-take-illinois-finances-bad-worse#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS ISSUES
— A Crash Course In Economics – HANNAH MEISEL
http://nprillinois.org/post/illinois-issues-crash-course-economics#stream/0

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Bloomington Censors Council Meeting Video & Violated FOIA – John Kraft
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/01/bloomington-censors-council-meeting-video-violated-foia/

 

CAPITOL FAX
— ILGOP launches new video ad against Madigan
http://capitolfax.com/2017/01/05/ilgop-launches-new-video-ad-against-madigan/
— Rauner again strains all credulity
http://capitolfax.com/2017/01/05/rauner-again-strains-all-credulity/

 

FREE BEACON
— Rep. Hudson Introduces National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill  ‘Our Second Amendment right doesn’t disappear when we cross state lines’ – Stephen Gutowski
http://freebeacon.com/issues/rep-hudson-introduces-national-concealed-carry-reciprocity-bill/
— 2016 Smashed Previous Gun Sales Record  Feds carried out 27.5 million gun-related background checks in 2016 – Stephen Gutowski
http://freebeacon.com/issues/2016-gun-sales-record/

 

GOPUSA
— Liberal Struggle Against Reality – Walter E. Williams
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=18761?omhide=true

 

NEWSMAX
— Hillary Clinton Urged to Run for New York Mayor – John Gizzi
http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/New-York-city-mayor-Bill-de-Blasio/2017/01/04/id/766889/

 

BREITBART
— ‘Dems Own the Failed ObamaCare Disaster,’ Donald Trump Tweets – ALEX SWOYER
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/04/dems-own-the-failed-obamacare-disaster-donald-trump-tweets/

 

THE HILL
— GOP aims to rein in liberal cities – REID WILSON  (DIERSEN: How liberal is the municipality that you live in, that is, how strongly is it 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, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors?  I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that focus on making Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, and America even more liberal than they are now. They promote dependency on government, dependency on charity, LGBTQ activity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, race and gender based preference giving, age discrimination, political affiliation discrimination, booze, pot, gambling, and other vices, abolition of the First and Second Amendments, and even worse things.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/312766-gop-aims-to-rein-in-liberal-cities
— How Sessions lost in ’86 confirmation battle – LYDIA WHEELER  (DIERSEN: What battles have you lost?  If you sought a government office, a political office, or anything else, what lost battles would your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress?  For me, they would stress that I am no longer a) TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, b) Wheaton Chamber of Commerce (WCC) Government Affairs Committee member, c) Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC) webmaster, d) Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee member, e) American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Midwest Chapter board member, f) GAO employee, g) etc.  They would stress my unsuccessful bid to be a MTRCC Treasurer.  They would hint/imply/argue/shout that I caused each and every defeat that Republicans suffered in Illinois since 2000.  They would blame me for all the problems that MTRCC, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Illinois Republican Party, TAPROOT, WCC, ICRC, AAPC, GAO, etc. has had, is having, and will have. They would stress that only 137 in my precinct voted for Trump/Pence in the November 8, 2016 election. They would stress that they would viciously destroy anyone who might come to my defense.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/312668-how-sessions-lost-his-first-confirmation-battle

 

POLITICO
— Despite Rauner’s efforts, Madigan poised to be shoo-in as speaker – NATASHA KORECKI
http://www.politico.com/states/illinois/story/2017/01/despite-all-the-noise-madigan-poised-to-be-shoo-in-as-speaker-heres-why-108483

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Obama Called Inequality ‘The Defining Challenge Of Our Time.’ He Didn’t Do Much About It.  It’s a sad legacy. – Zach Carter  (DIERSEN: From what I see, under Obama, income and net worth increased more for those individuals, organizations, and companies that are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors THAN THOSE THAT ARE Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-income-inequality_us_5866836ce4b0de3a08f808dd

 

CNN
— 100 Best Jobs in America  CNNMoney/PayScale.com’s top 100 careers with big growth, great pay and satisfying work  (DIERSEN: What jobs have you had?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes LOOK DOWN on the jobs that I had auditing federal agencies 1980-1997, collecting delinquent taxes 1971-1980, pumping gasoline 1971-1972, selling tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971, working as a security guard and on an automobile assembly line in 1970, delivering mail 1966-1969, pumping gasoline, chipping slag, and cleaning golf shoes in 1966, washing dishes 1964-1966, and doing yard work and delivering newspapers 1962-1964.)
http://money.cnn.com/pf/best-jobs/index.html

 

REUTERS
— Chicago’s gang violence catches expressway drivers in crossfire – Timothy Mclaughlin  (DIERSEN: Do/did you drive Chicago expressways a lot? I drove the Dan Ryan a lot 1966-1968, first in my 1966 Pontiac Tempest Sprint, and then my 1968 Oldsmobile 442 while I was a full-time student at UIC, lived with my parents and brother in Crete, and worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office.)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-chicago-police-highway-idUSKBN14P150

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Reality Politics, Starring Donald Trump  It’s here and it can’t be canceled for four years. – Gail Collins
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/opinion/reality-politics-starring-donald-trump.html
— Why Rural America Voted for Trump – ROBERT LEONARD  (HARDCOPY SUBCAPTION: Their world is under siege – by liberals.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/opinion/why-rural-america-voted-for-trump.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Ivanka Trump Plans Move Near Obamas’ New Home – JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/us/politics/ivanka-trump-house-kalorama-washington.html
— Women and Minorities Make Slow Progress in Filling Ranks at Law Firms – ELIZABETH OLSON
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/business/dealbook/law-firm-diversity-women-minorities.html
— Why Men Don’t Want the Jobs Done Mostly by Women – Claire Cain Miller  (DIERSEN: I washed dishes part-time for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresges in Chicago Heights 1964-1966 while I attended Crete-Monee High School.  My understanding is that I was the FIRST AND ONLY WHITE AND THE FIRST AND ONLY MALE THAT HELD THAT JOB. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always used that against me. They hint/imply/argue/shout that my having that job proves that I am a complete loser and even worse things.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/upshot/why-men-dont-want-the-jobs-done-mostly-by-women.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In an editorial unethically made to look like a news article, anti-Trumps glorify and praise Mexico and glorify and praise Mexico’s citizens.
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/world/americas/mexico-donald-trump-nafta.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Without Megyn Kelly, Fox News’s prime-time lineup is a complete joke.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/01/04/without-megyn-kelly-fox-newss-prime-time-lineup-is-a-complete-joke/

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Children, parents, U.S. suffer because quality, affordable child care is lacking – Joe Davidson  (DIERSEN: Did your father earn enough money that your mother could stay at home and raise you?  My father did.  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes use that to paint my father as being filthy rich. My outstanding father fought type 1 diabetes from age 14, he was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma, he never attended college, he worked in the office of a chemical plant, he almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills, he did not buy a new car until 1967 he was 45 years old and it was a bottom of the line 2-door Chevy, and he died suddenly of heart failure in 1969.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/05/children-parents-u-s-suffer-because-quality-affordabe-child-care-is-lacking/

 

USA TODAY
— Is Mark Zuckerberg considering White House run? – Jessica Guynn  (DIERSEN: What does Zuckerberg think of those who share your demographics?  What demographics do you share with him?)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/01/04/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-political-ambitions/96161822/
— Mark Zuckerberg’s 2017 resolution: Meet more Americans – Jessica Guynn
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/01/03/mark-zuckerberg-2017-personal-challenge-resolution-travel-to-30-states/96127870/
— Trump’s election has changed Obama’s post-presidency plans – Gregory Korte
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/03/trumps-election-obama-post-presidency-plans/95892386/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Trump and Black Americans  FDR offered the hope of prosperity. Can the new president do the same? – DANIEL HENNINGER  (DIERSEN: How much blame do you get for the problems that Blacks have?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted a) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a Black in 1966, b) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job, c) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a Black in 1971, d) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted Blacks in 1972, 1973, and 1974, e) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a Black in 1980, f) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a Black in 1986, and g) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a Black could have my job and my preferred corner office.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-and-black-americans-1483575028
— Trump, ‘Lies’ and Honest Journalism  Why editors should be careful about making selective moral judgments about false statements. – GERARD BAKER
http://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lies-and-honest-journalism-1483557700
— The M.B.A. Classroom That Knows When You’re Bored  Business school gets a digital upgrade as more programs combine online components with face-to-face elements – PARMINDER BAHRA  (DIERSEN: How old is your MBA?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that my MBA is 41 years old.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/disrupting-business-school-m-b-a-classrooms-get-a-digital-upgrade-1483542001
— Digital Disruption and the Future of the M.B.A.
http://www.wsj.com/video/digital-disruption-and-the-future-of-the-mba/7BA52199-9E36-471C-AB52-BA7A4CDC0F87.html

 

BALTIMORE SUN
— The Democrats are down and out and don’t seem to know it – Perry L. Weed  (DIERSEN: Who LOOKS DOWN down on you? I should write a book about those activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in my precinct, in Wheaton’s West District, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois WHO LOOK DOWN ON ME.  I could group them as follows: those who a) have lots of religious clout, b) those who have lots of government clout, c) those who have lots of political clout, d) those who have lots of financial clout, e) those who I have sued, f) operatives for the aforesaid, and g) dupes for the aforesaid.)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-democrats-denial-20170104-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Democrats have lost their way. They no longer represent the working class or the middle class as they continue to fall behind. They have lost America’s heartland and small towns and rural areas. Look at the political power shift to the right. The Democrats have 12 fewer U.S. senators than when President Barack Obama was sworn in, 63 fewer House members and 16 fewer governors. They have the lowest number of state legislators in more than 100 years. In only six states do Democrats control both the governorship and the legislature — the lowest number in our history. Other than President Obama, Democrats have a severe messaging problem and a dearth of winning candidates; the party is a fundamental mess. Most importantly, Democrats have forgotten their roots in the economic goals of the Roosevelt New Deal and the Johnson Great Society. They have abandoned an inclusive message. They slice and dice the electorate. They are now the party of diversity, and ethnic- and racial- and gender- identity. They advocate cultural issues at the expense of jobs and other working class issues. Too many of them they look down on “the deplorables” and the poorly educated, the very ones who turned to Donald Trump for change and some glimmer of hope for themselves. This election revealed the emergence of white and other working class Americans who feel abandoned and threatened by Washington and Wall Street and the institutions and elites they represent. Some of this was nativism, e.g., a reaction to the persistent flow of illegal immigrants into the country, now augmented by new refugees from the Middle East. These white Americans feel their very identity is under attack.)

 

CIRCLEVILLE HERALD
— Democrats Need to Come Back Forward – Jack Burgess (DIERSEN: Who LOOKS DOWN down on you? I should write a book about those activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in my precinct, in Wheaton’s West District, in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois WHO LOOK DOWN ON ME.  I could group them as follows: those who a) have lots of religious clout, b) those who have lots of government clout, c) those who have lots of political clout, d) those who have lots of financial clout, e) those who I have sued, f) operatives for the aforesaid, and g) dupes for the aforesaid.)
http://www.circlevilleherald.com/comment/democrats-need-to-come-back-forward/article_b9280c40-803a-57e6-a8ce-3475f7a6c9c3.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Millions of people are still in shock over the election to the Presidency of someone with such questionable qualifications as Donald Trump, who seems intent on rolling back many of the governmental programs vital to the lives of ordinary people. For the good of the nation and their party, to come back, Democrats need to get beyond simple opposition, to proposing the improved programs and services the people need. And they must communicate better with ordinary Americans, especially in what pundits call “flyover land,” outside the coastal areas and big cities, to go forward from this defeat. . .It’s counterproductive to look down on people who voted Republican. Given the Democrats’ communication disadvantage, it’s not surprising that people voted to “make America great again”—for themselves—over candidates who seemed to promise little, except when pressured by Bernie’s supporters. Democrats have a history of losing when they don’t communicate a strong economic message. They need to go on the offensive—as in ’92 when “It’s the economy stupid” was the successful working slogan and strategy.)

 

ATLANTIC
— Being Trans, and an Immigrant, Under the Trump Administration  Many transgender Americans have only been openly trans under an Obama administration that respected their rights. That is about to change. – MEREDITH TALUSAN  (DIERSEN: Under Obama, his supporters got rid of you if you did not promote LGBTQ activity. TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois did not promote LGBTQ activity. It certainly looks like Obama’s supporters got rid of TAPROOT.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/being-trans-and-an-immigrant-under-the-trump-administration/512201/

 

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— Republicans Expected to Reduce Federal Employees’ Pensions, Outsource More Work – Eric Katz  (DIERSEN: I expect that my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes will focus on getting Trump a) to cut if not eliminate Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pensions and b) to cut if not eliminate federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies for CSRS retirees.)
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2017/01/republicans-expected-slash-feds-pensions-outsource-more-work/134333/

 

FED WEEK
— Largest Federal Pay Raise Since 2010 Set to Take Effect, with Differences  (DIERSEN: In 1997, when I was 49 years old, GAO paid me at the GS-13 Step 10 rate.  That rate is now $122,991.)
http://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/largest-federal-pay-raise-since-2010-set-take-effect-differences/
http://www.fedweek.com/pay-tables/2017-gs-pay-table-chicago-naperville-il-wi/

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Trump picks Wall Street lawyer Clayton for SEC – AP (DIERSEN: GAO audits SEC. For 9 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, I worked on audits that involved SEC.)
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/trump-picks-wall-street-lawyer-clayton-for-sec

 

FEDERAL NEWS RADIO
— Government accountability legislation gets House backing, heads to Senate – Meredith Somers
http://federalnewsradio.com/congress/2017/01/government-accountability-legislation-gets-house-backing-heads-senate/
— ‘Boomers’ fear inadequate retirement income. Is now really the right time for them to step down? – Randy Silvey
http://federalnewsradio.com/commentary/2017/01/boomers-fear-inadequate-retirement-income-now-really-right-time-step/

 

RAUMUSSEN REPORTS
— 57% of Democrats Want Trump to Succeed  (DIERSEN: Many believe that the typical Democrat south of Route 80 in Illinois is more conservative than the typical Republican north of Route 80 in Illinois.  But those downstate Democrats do not become Republicans because they see how badly conservatives are treated by those who dominate the Illinois Republican Party.  The Democrat Party exists to promote liberal principles.  The Republican party exists to promote conservative principles.)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/trump_administration/january_2017/57_of_democrats_want_trump_to_succeed

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.