January 6 Morning Edition

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Sooner or later, if not already, anti-Trumps will blame Trump and blame those who voted for Trump for what Jordan Hill, Brittany Covington, Tesfaye Cooper, and Tanishia Covington did.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170105/discuss/170109451/
— FRONT PAGE: Is Chicago gang violence seeping into the suburbs? – Charles Keeshan and Susan Sarkauskas (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who hate Republicans, but nevertheless hypocritically move into Republican areas to take advantage of the prosperity and the safety that Republican values bring?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170106/news/170109405/
— FRONT PAGE: Why do youths post videos of bad behavior online? – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170105/news/170109434/
— West Chicago mayoral candidate knocked off ballot – Jessica Cilella
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170105/news/170109458/
 — Mondelez, one of Trump’s corporate punching bags, slips back into obscurity – Craig Giammona  (DIERSEN: Who/what are the punching bags for those who have the most religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170106/business/170109389/
— Global migration threatens a global disaster – Georgie Anne Geyer  (DIERSEN: Those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries THAT WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME TO AMERICA ILLEGALLY, TO STAY IN AMERICA ILLEGALLY, AND TO BRING OTHERS TO AMERICA ILLEGALLY.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170106/discuss/170109512/

— U of Illinois employees to get 2 percent mid-year raises – AP  (DIERSEN: 2017 will be another year in which the federal COLA is far less than inflation.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170105/news/301059893/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Illinois Senate leaders talk budget in face of major obstacles – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-cullerton-radogno-budget-talks-met-story.html
— Trump blasts Arnold Schwarzenegger for ‘Apprentice’ ratings in Friday morning tweets
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-trump-schwarzenegger-apprentice-ratings-20170106-story.html
— Chicago political gurus team up to help more women run for office – Heidi Stevens (DIERSEN: Does this “Chicago political gurus team” agree with my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who hint/imply/argue/shout a) that instead of me, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012 should have been a woman, b) that instead of me, the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011 should have been a woman, c) that instead of me, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004 should have been a woman, d) that instead of me, the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007 should have been a woman, e) that instead of me, the American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004 should have been a woman, f) that instead of me, the Post Office should have hired a woman in 1966, g) that the Post Office should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a woman could have my job, h) that instead of me, IRS should have hired a woman in 1971, i) that instead of me, IRS should have promoted women in 1972, 1973, and 1974, j) that instead of me, GAO should have hired a woman in 1980, k) that instead of me, GAO should have promoted a woman in 1986, and l) that GAO should gotten rid of me much sooner than it did so that a woman could have my job and my preferred corner office?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-getting-more-women-to-run-for-office-balancing-0105-20170105-column.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Just a matter of time before a robot eyes your job – Mark Gilbert  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that they, that anyone who they manipulate/dominate, and/or that a robot could put together and send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails much faster than I do.  However, since 2000, all my many direct competitors have failed or are failing.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-ford-motors-mexico-jobs-robots-trump-20170105-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Obama never shook his faculty lounge arrogance  This is in line with the standoffish relations Obama has had with members of Congress, even with Democrats. – Michael Barone  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are extremely arrogant.  I should write a book about them.  They would love it.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/opinion-obama-never-shook-his-faculty-lounge-arrogance/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump promotes those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/opinion-mr-trump-we-are-not-the-enemy/
— Facts, not emotions, define a hate crime – Editorial
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/editorial-facts-not-emotions-define-a-hate-crime/
— Are you shunning Trump to hurt him or to help you? – Neil Steinberg  (DIERSEN: Who shuns you?  I should write a book about those in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who shun me. They a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, c) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, d) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, e) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, f) are operatives for the aforesaid, and/or g) are dupes for the aforesaid and/or they 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, anti-draft avoiders, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/steinberg-are-you-shunning-trump-to-hurt-him-or-to-help-you/

 

WBEZ
— What’s That Building? Trump Tower
https://www.wbez.org/shows/morning-shift/whats-that-building-trump-tower/634a821f-b8d2-4389-b53a-e38bd402bec0

 

JOURNAL STANDARD
— Unions have helped Americans thrive – Chuck and Pat Wemstrom  (DIERSEN: What does Gettleman think of you? In 2000, when Diersen v. GAO (
https://gopillinois.com/documents/) was transferred from Washington, DC to Chicago, it was assigned to Gettleman.  In open court, Gettleman made it very clear that he despised if not hated me and my claims against GAO.)
http://www.journalstandard.com/opinion/20170105/their-view-unions-have-helped-americans-thrive
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Scott Reeder, in a recent column, praised the actions of Mark Janus, “just an ordinary Joe,” who, with two other Illinois state employees, is continuing with litigation challenging “fair share” fees that non-union members pay to unions. The fees do not support political candidates but help pay for the collective bargaining that benefits all employees. Reeder gives the impression that Janus is a hero of the common people, fighting the big bad union for his individual rights: a Don Quixote battling the huge, anti-human windmills of the AFL-CIO. The truth is that Janus is part of a powerful, concerted effort to destroy unions. The original lawsuit was filed, in fact, by Gov. Bruce Rauner. In May U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman dismissed Rauner’s action, deciding, correctly, that Rauner had no standing to sue. We don’t know why the governor of Illinois is instigating lawsuits against unions. One would think he’d have better things to do, such as governing the state and learning how to get along with a legislature duly elected by the people. Reeder quotes conservative Supreme Court justices, declaring everything a union does is political.)

 

SOUTHERN
— Bringing back the bacon: Southern Illinois’ congressmen push for return of earmarks – MOLLY PARKER  (DIERSEN: What bacon do you want for your precinct, for your municipality, for your township/ward, for your county, and for Illinois?)
http://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/bringing-back-the-bacon-southern-illinois-congressmen-push-for-return/article_f41d4e9d-0928-5015-a8a4-9acc5b94e3cb.html

 

KFVS12
— Gov. Rauner to sign bill about teacher hiring process in Carbondale on Friday – Nichole Cartmell  (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job.  IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.  The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/34198821/gov-rauner-to-sign-bill-about-teacher-hiring-process-in-carbondale-on-friday

 

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— ILLINOIS LOST 150,000 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM 2000-2014  Misplaced priorities in education funding have driven students out of the state and skyrocketed tuition costs. – Madelyn Harwood
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-lost-150000-university-students-from-2000-2014/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THORNER: FORCES BUILD TO ASSURE TRUMP FILLS SUPREME COURT VACANCY WITH PRO-LIFE JUDGE
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/01/thorner-forces-build-to-assure-trump-fills-supreme-court-vacancy-with-pro-life-judge.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Slaughter to replace Rep. Monique Davis
http://capitolfax.com/2017/01/05/slaughter-to-replace-rep-monique-davis/

 

DAILY CALLER
— After Obama’s Betrayal, Trump Is Chicago’s Only Hope – William J. Kelly
http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/03/after-obamas-betrayal-trump-is-chicagos-only-hope/

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— HERE ARE SIX BLACK REPUBLICANS THAT TRUMP SHOULD PUT IN CABINET POSITIONS – Raynard Jackson  (DIERSEN: What does Trump owe your precinct, your municipality, your township/ward, your county, and Illinois?  Because so many voted for Clinton in my precinct, in Wheaton, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois, Trump owes the aforesaid ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.)
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/here-are-six-black-republicans-that-trump-should-put-in-cabinet-positions/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: President-elect Donald Trump owes the Black community absolutely nothing. Let me repeat that: HE OWES US NOTHING! Blacks gave Trump just 8 percent of their vote and Hillary Clinton won 88 percent; Clinton’s share of Black voters was considerably lower than Obama’s 93 percent in 2008 and 96 percent in 2012. Trump has said that he will make things a lot better for Blacks and that he wants to be president of all of America. Trump won the election and “to the victor belong the spoils,” but if he’s serious about making things better for Blacks, he’s going to need the expertise and wealth of experience of Black Republicans during his transition to the White House and in his administration.)

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— The ‘most transparent’ president in history issues record number of ‘midnight’ regulations –  Dave Boyer
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/5/obama-issuing-record-number-midnight-regulations/

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Establishment GOP Seizes Most Important Job In Trump White House – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/24852

 

BREITBART
— CNN’s Don Lemon on Chicago Torture Video: ‘I Don’t Think It Was Evil’ – KATIE MCHUGH
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/05/cnns-don-lemon-on-chicago-torture-video-i-dont-think-it-was-evil/

 

BLAZE
— Rand Paul savagely takes down new Republican budget that adds trillions in debt – Brandon Morse
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/01/05/watch-rand-paul-savagely-takes-down-new-republican-budget-that-ads-trillions-in-debt/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: Chicago Is Breaking – DAVID FRENCH
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/443589/black-thugs-torture-white-disabled-man-speak-truth-leftists

 

THE HILL
— Trump plan for Mexico to pay for wall hasn’t changed – NIKITA VLADIMIROV
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/312986-conway-trump-plan-for-mexico-to-pay-for-wall-hasnt-changed
— Trump: Mexico will pay US back for ‘Great Wall’ – TRISTAN LEJEUNE
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news-other-administration/312972-trump-mexico-will-pay-us-back-for-great
— Trump, GOP crafting border wall plan – MARK HENSCH
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/312966-trump-gop-crafting-border-wall-plan-report
— Trump orders ambassadors to leave posts by inauguration – JESSIE HELLMANN
http://origin-nyi.thehill.com/homenews/news/312965-report-trump-orders-ambassadors-to-leave-posts-by-inauguration
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Biden says to Trump: “It’s time to grow up.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/312944-biden-to-trump-its-time-to-grow-up
— Schwarzenegger fires back at Trump: I hope you’ll work as hard for Americans as you did for ratings – NEETZAN ZIMMERMAN
http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/312994-schwarzenegger-fires-back-at-trump-i-hope-youll-work-as-hard

 

CNN
— Conway: Stop trying to ‘delegitimize’ Trump victory – Eugene Scott  (DIERSEN: Who are the leading delegitimizers in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in your county, and in Illinois?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes focus on delegitimizing everyone and everything that they cannot manipulate/dominate.)
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/politics/kellyanne-conway-cuomo-russia/

 

ABC NEWS
— Chicago Police Describe Chronology of Alleged Hate Crime – AP
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-police-race-motive-video-attack-44570046

 

MSNBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Trump, easily distracted, picks proxy fight with Ohio’s Kasich.”
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-easily-distracted-picks-proxy-fight-ohios-kasich

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH COLOR PICTURE: 4 Black Suspects Charged in Videotaped Beating of White Teenager in Chicago – MITCH SMITH and MONICA DAVEY
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/chicago-racially-charged-attack-video.html
— The Home Buying Decision  Choosing where you rest your head is a story of falling in love and knowing yourself. – David Brooks  (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who hate Republicans, but nevertheless hypocritically buy homes in Republican areas to take advantage of the prosperity and the safety that Republican values bring?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/opinion/the-home-buying-decision.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— One administration, two styles: Trump the brawler and Pence the cajoler – Ashley Parker and Robert Costa  (DIERSEN: What style do your critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have?  Many, if not most, if not virtually all of my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes paint themselves as being nasty, powerful, vicious, moral relativists, and disciples of Saul Alinsky.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/one-administration-two-styles-trump-the-brawler-and-pence-the-cajoler/2017/01/05/65e93554-d370-11e6-945a-76f69a399dd5_story.html

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Here’s what Donald Trump should do if he’s serious about restoring good-paying jobs to the working class – Ginger Adams Otis  (DIERSEN:  Are/were you overpaid?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I was 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://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-restore-good-paying-jobs-article-1.2937170

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Haters Gonna Hate  A Chicago case exposes the divisiveness of the hate-crime obsession. – Editorial
http://www.wsj.com/articles/haters-gonna-hate-1483662667
— VERY SAD: Developers Build on Home Rental Success With Whole Communities  Property firms see continued demand for single-family homes from millennials, aging boomers who don’t want to buy – CHRIS KIRKHAM  (DIERSEN: I have owned real estate since I was 24 years old in 1972.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/developers-build-on-home-rental-success-with-whole-communities-1483632000

 

BLOOMBERG
— Bill Gross Says Trump Targeting Companies Reminiscent of Mussolini – Margaret Collins
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-06/gross-says-trump-targeting-companies-reminiscent-of-mussolini

 

DENVER POST
— House GOP revives rule that could allow cutting federal worker salaries to $1 – Jenna Portnoy and Lisa Rein  (DIERSEN: What about Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pensions and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies for federal retirees?  If they have not done so already, will my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout at my Congressman Peter Roskam a) that I caused all of his problems and b) that he should cut my CSRS pension and my health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies to $1?)
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/05/house-gop-rule-cutting-federal-worker-salaries-to-1/

 

USA TODAY
— Jesse Jackson to Uber: Release diversity data – Jessica Guynn  (DIERSEN: All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government, my superiors were under tremendous pressure from Democrat politicians to hire, to retain, and to promote Democrats, and especially Democrats who were minority, female, and/or younger.  It is called Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion, but it really is political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and age discrimination.)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/01/05/jesse-jackson-uber-diversity-data/96173986/
— Women’s march an ‘entry point’ for a new activist wave – Heidi M. Przybyla  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, members of the following groups promote hatred of Trump and hatred of those who voted for him: 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.)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/05/womens-march-searches-themes-amid-concern-trump-gop-congress/96199000/
— New status anxiety fuels Trump derangement: Trump didn’t just beat the gentry liberals, after all. He also humiliated them. – Glenn Harlan Reynolds
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/01/05/gentry-liberals-trump-college-campuses-elite-glenn-reynolds-column/96155458/

 

EXPRESS NEWS
— House ethics office derives power from public embarrassment – Gilbert GarciaJa  (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors made sure that GAO employees knew that they forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, did not promote me beyond GS-13, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take an $18,459 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  My Democrat IRS superiors made sure that IRS employees knew that they did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims.  My Democrat Post Office superiors made sure that Post Office employees knew that they forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests.  Their message was we waste the careers of, and we get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/gilbert_garcia/article/House-ethics-office-derives-power-from-public-10838544.php
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The Office of Congressional Ethics isn’t allowed to subpoena anyone, doesn’t have the power to hold hearings and can’t recommend sanctions. Its only real juice comes from the power to embarrass, to shame unethical members of the U.S. House (and deter future ethical lapses) by investigating allegations of corruption and submitting reports to the chronically worthless House Ethics Committee. It’s a power that former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, decried back in 2008 when the office was created. Bachmann, through a spokesman, predicted that the OCE would prolong “the game of gotcha politics” and create an “unaccountable board of gossips and partisans that can sling mud.” It’s a power that motivated House Republicans — in a closed-door Monday vote — to approve a rules package that would have gutted the OCE, before they reversed course in the face of a public backlash. Bachmann saw negatives in all the positive aspects of the OCE. The office’s best virtue — that it’s independent of Congress — made it “unaccountable” in her eyes. Its willingness to dig into complaints the House Ethics Committee sweeps under the rug made it a “board of gossips.” Bachmann ultimately found herself on the receiving end of an OCE investigation into issues related to her 2012 presidential campaign, including the use of campaign funds to promote her autobiography and the improper mixing of funds between her campaign and her political action committee. The OCE referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, which dragged its feet for a year, allowing Bachmann to leave office with no repercussions. You could argue, however, that the ongoing embarrassment of the ethics probe persuaded Bachmann to not seek re-election. The political shorthand on the OCE is that it’s a Democratic creation despised by Republicans. There’s some truth in that, because 159 Republicans — compared to only 23 Democrats — voted against its formation in 2008. But the bigger truth is that House members, regardless of party, have viewed the six-member panel largely through the prism of their own experiences with it.)

 

FEDERAL TIMES
— Federal employee unions wary of Holman Rule reemergence – Carten Cordell (DIERSEN: What about Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pensions and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies for federal retirees?  If they have not done so already, will my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout at my Congressman Peter Roskam a) that I caused all of his problems and b) that he should cut my CSRS pension and my health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies to $1?)
http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/federal-employee-union-wary-of-holman-rule-reemergence

 

INSIDE HIGHER ED
— Growth in Numbers of Older Student Loan Borrowers – Andrew Kreighbaum  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would stress that a) I paid for my 1976 MBA from Loyola with money that I earned working for IRS and for Firestone Stores, b) I paid for my 1980 master’s degree in accounting from DePaul with money that I earned working for IRS and for GAO, and c) I paid for my 1997 master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT with money that I earned working for GAO.)
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/01/06/growth-numbers-older-student-loan-borrowers

 

DAILY KOS
— GOP goes nuclear on federal workers: instating potential to slash annual salaries to $1 – Kerry Eleveld  (DIERSEN: What about Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) pensions and health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies for federal retirees?  If they have not done so already, will my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes shout at my Congressman Peter Roskam a) that I caused all of his problems and b) that he should cut my CSRS pension and my health, dental, and vision insurance subsidies to $1?)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/5/1617368/-GOP-goes-nuclear-on-federal-workers-instating-the-ability-to-slash-annual-salaries-to-1

 

LGBT WEEKLY
— Thank You, President Obama – STAMPP CORBIN  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats and under the RINOs, you are viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned IF YOU DO NOT PROMOTE LGBT ACTIVITY.)
http://lgbtweekly.com/2017/01/05/thank-you-president-obama/

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.