July 12 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Rauner stirs controversy with conservative base over same-sex wedding – Craig Wall (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, it looks like Rauner’s main strategy to get reelected is to dump individuals, dump organizations, dump companies, and dump governments that support the traditional family, right to life, and/or immigration planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform.)
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-stirs-controversy-with-conservative-base-over-same-sex-wedding/3753981/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The wedding picture, posted on Instagram, was considered a slap in the face by many social conservatives and Evangelical Christians. Many Republicans had already felt betrayed when Rauner signed HB40 to provide taxpayer funded abortions after promising he would not. “What I’m hearing through our connections and our networks throughout, people are once again saying there he goes again poking social conservatives in the eye,” said Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute David Smith. Rauner has been very supportive of LGBTQ rights as governor, most recently by participating in Pride parades in Aurora and Chicago. Many Republicans said officiating a same-sex marriage should be a non-issue for voters. “We should put aside some of our differences, because there’s so much more that we agree on, the governor, myself and also conservatives and independents throughout the state of Illinois,” said Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “Well, I would hope that voters would appreciate that Bruce is very much in favor of equality of all people,” Cozzi said. Cozzi added if the picture helps voters appreciate Rauner for his stance on equality, that’s a good thing. But for Rauner, rallying conservatives just may not be in the cards. “I don’t think there’s much he can do to win us back, to win many social conservatives back,” Smith said. The governor’s office said the wedding was a personal event, and Rauner’s campaign spokesman wondered why anyone would make a big deal of it. Rauner also officiated a same-sex wedding in December 2017.)
— Get a sneak peek at the newly-renovated Illinois Governor’s Mansion – Judy Hsu
http://abc7chicago.com/community-events/exclusive-get-a-sneak-peek-at-the-newly-renovated-governors-mansion/3754021/

 

NBC5
— VP Mike Pence to Visit Chicago Friday The vice president will speak at a fundraiser with Roskam
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/vice-president-mike-pence-rosemont-chicago-visit-protests-488022931.html

 

CBS2
— Trump Administration To Turn Away Far More Asylum Seekers At The Border Under New Guidance
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/07/12/trump-administration-to-turn-away-far-more-asylum-seekers-at-the-border-under-new-guidance/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner officiates gay wedding, social conservatives object – Morgan Greene
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-rauner-gay-wedding-20180712-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some socially conservative groups were not cheering Rauner’s role in the wedding. “This is just reminding people that he does have a social agenda, and it’s not conservative, it’s not Republican, and it’s certainly not pro-life,” said Illinois Family Institute executive director David E. Smith. “This is just another reminder of how much damage he has done to the Republican brand and its policy goals.” A Rauner spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment. The governor has largely tried to stay out of the fray of LGBTQ issues, but days before he officiated the wedding, Rauner marched in the Aurora Pride parade. Rauner has regularly drawn criticism from conservatives for supporting other progressive causes. Last year, he signed a controversial bill into law that expanded taxpayer-subsidized abortions. He won the March primary against conservative state Rep. Jeanne Ives by just 3 points.)
— Vice President Pence to speak in Rosemont Friday, when Gov. Rauner will introduce him – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-mike-pence-rosemont-20180712-story.html
— Rauner’s ‘toilet’ attack on Pritzker is a real loo-loo – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-toilet-attack-rauner-pritzker-20180713-story.html
— Rauner, Republicans reboot anti-Madigan campaign ahead of November election – Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-bruce-rauner-michael-madigan-republicans-20180712-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Kavanaugh’s record shows he’s ready to keep government power in check – Jacob Sullum (DIERSEN: My Democrat GAO superiors were “big government” types. In 1997, they were furious when I succeeded in getting the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit a) to rule that Department of Transportation (DOT) had exceeded its powers and b) to invalidate a federal regulation that DOT had put in place in 1973. See Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange at https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1385001.html.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-nominee-donald-trump-jacob-sullum/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Rauner says “Janus decision hurts black women. Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t get it.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/janus-supreme-court-gov-bruce-rauner-black-women-unions-kimberly-lightford/
— Hate crime charges filed in Puerto Rico flap — as Gutierrez blasts Trump – Mitch Dudek
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/cook-county-forest-preserve-police-patrick-connor-resign-fair-shake-puerto-rico-flag-shirt/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/text-rep-luis-gutierrezs-house-speech-on-the-forest-preserves-confrontation/
— Dems introduce bill to abolish ICE; Ryan calls it crazy – AP
https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/abolish-ice-democrats-paul-ryan-calls-idea-crazy/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump White House phenomenally successful – Mike Pence
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180712/mike-pence-op-ed-trump-white-house-phenomenally-successful

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Rauner edges a little closer to Trump camp – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180712/BLOGS02/180719931/rauner-edges-a-little-closer-to-trump-camp
(FROM THE ARTICLE: So is the GOP guv trying to send a message to conservative voters who are still miffed at his decision to sign abortion and immigration bills unpopular with some conservatives? . . . Either way, Democratic nominee J.B. Pritzker’s campaign is seizing on the Pence visit, which comes amid increasing nervousness amid big exporters and agricultural producers about looming trade wars with China, Europe and Canada. “Pence is a right-wing extremist—signing the harshest abortion laws in the country, opposing marriage equality and transgender rights, supporting shifting HIV/AIDS funds to pay for conversion therapy, and opposing Syrian refugees,” Pritzker’s campaign said in a statement. “If Mike Pence is turning to Bruce Rauner for lessons in damage control, the GOP must have given up all hope in Illinois.”)

 

WLS AM
— Conservatives blast Rauner for officiating at gay wedding – John Dempsey
http://www.wlsam.com/2018/07/12/conservatives-blast-rauner-for-officiating-at-gay-wedding/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The head of the conservative Illinois Family Institute is blasting Rauner. The group’s executive director David E. Smith tweeted “Keep poking social conservatives in the eye Bruce. You are doing a yeoman’s job of alienating the base.” Rauner angered conservatives by signing a bill to expand taxpayer funded abortions in Illinois, prompting a primary challenge from conservative State Representative Jeanne Ives. Rauner won that race by just three percentage points.)

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Pritzker defends ad attacking Rauner on border policy – DEREK BEIGH
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/elections/pritzker-defends-ad-attacking-rauner-on-border-policy/article_6a318825-c411-580a-bf10-0a53d82cd06e.html

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— The battle for the future of Illinois – David McSweeney
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/07/12/mcsweeney-the-battle-for-the-future-of-illinois/an0njxr/

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Tariffs could put end to newspaper – Editorial (DIERSEN: I pay thousands of dollars each year for full home delivery and full internet access of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Naperville Sun, Wheaton Leader, Crain’s Chicago Business, etc.)
https://herald-review.com/opinion/editorial/our-view-tariffs-could-put-end-to-newspaper/article_06d5373b-b6da-568b-952d-cddfed6e01eb.html

 

WHEATON LEADER
— Wheaton embraces inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship Activities surround event at Chicago Golf Club – ERIC SCHELKOPF (DIERSEN: The Chicago Golf Club is on the south border of my precinct. All of Wheaton’s Golf Lane is in my precinct.)
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2018/07/10/wheaton-embraces-inaugural-u-s-senior-womens-open-championship/adjbcrm/

 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS PATCH
— Mike Pence’s Rosemont Visit To Draw Protests On Both Sides The vice president will speak at a public event Friday before attending a private fundraiser for US Rep. Peter Roskam in Chicago. – Joe Vince
https://patch.com/illinois/arlingtonheights/mike-pences-rosemont-visit-draw-protests-both-sides

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Roskam Has More Money for Congressional Campaign Than Casten
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/07/12/roskam-money-congressional-campaign-casten/
— Trump Administration Child Reunification Efforts
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2018/07/12/trump-administration-child-reunification-efforts/

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— McHenry Co. Chairman Jack Franks letter to Algonquin Township is a lie – JOHN KRAFT
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2018/07/mchenry-co-chairman-jack-franks-letter-to-algonquin-township-is-a-lie/

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Rauner responds with pledge of his own – Raquel Martin (DIERSEN: What about a pledge to defend and advance the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, and the rest of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform?)
https://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/capitol-news/rauner-responds-with-pledge-of-his-own/1298946596

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Illinois groups watch for signs from Trump Supreme Court nominee on key state issues – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/justice/illinois-groups-watch-for-signs-from-trump-supreme-court-nominee/article_c0395f68-8542-11e8-894a-9b785bada2df.html
— Growing number of gun sanctuary counties in Illinois sparks concerns – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/growing-number-of-gun-sanctuary-counties-in-illinois-sparks-concerns/article_76eecfde-854a-11e8-a89d-775dd8c61f96.html

 

ILLINOIS WATCHDOG
— University of Illinois at Chicago gets more federal aid than any other Illinois school (DIERSEN: How expensive was the tuition that you paid? I could afford to attend UIC full-time 1966-1968 a) because the tuition was low, b) because I lived with my parents in Crete, and c) I worked part-time for the Park Forest Post Office. Further, I could afford a) to buy a new 1968 Oldsmobile in 1967, b) to buy a new 1969 Dodge Charger SE in 1968, c) to transfer to NIU in 1969 and pay for tuition and room and board in DeKalb 1969 and 1970, and d) to graduate debit-free from NIU in 1970 owning that 1969 Dodge Charger SE.)
https://www.watchdog.org/illinois/by-the-numbers-university-of-illinois-at-chicago-gets-more/article_2f4270a8-8079-11e8-9679-eba23f00d041.html

 

PRAIRIE STATE WIRE
— Dodge blames taxes for declining jobs, population – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511480088-dodge-blames-taxes-for-declining-jobs-population
— Dodge calls tax hikes ‘policy of last resort’ – Glenn Minnis
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511480078-dodge-calls-tax-hikes-policy-of-last-resort

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Arlington Heights: Panel of Experts on responding to Islam – Glenn Minnis
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511481162-arlington-heights-panel-of-experts-on-responding-to-islam

 

SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS NEWS
— Bailey sees abortion as defining moral issue, applauds SCOTUS nominee – Glenn Minnis
https://seillinoisnews.com/stories/511481108-bailey-sees-abortion-as-defining-moral-issue-applauds-scotus-nominee

 

CAPITOL FAX
— McCann, Pritzker respond *** Rauner criticized, praised for officiating gay marriage
https://capitolfax.com/2018/07/12/rauner-criticized-praised-for-officiating-gay-marriage/
— Rauner announces George Will to receive the Order of Lincoln
https://capitolfax.com/2018/07/12/rauner-awards-george-will-the-order-of-lincoln/

 

GOPUSA
— Thou shalt ignore word ‘illegal’ in immigration debate
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=50075
— Brett Kavanaugh incurred credit card debt buying Washington Nationals tickets (DIERSEN: What have you spent lots of money on? I have spent lots of money on real estate, new cars, tuition, and collector cars. Compared to my peers, a) I have spent far less on immediate pleasures and b) I have saved far more for my retirement. My critics/opponents, their operatives and their dupes a) stress that I avoided the draft and that my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, and we did not become foster parents and b) hint/imply/argue/shout that the federal government grossly overpaid me and that my retirement benefits are much too generous.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=50136

 

DAILY CALLER
— DEMOCRATS BURST INTO APPLAUSE FOR TRUMP-HATING WITNESS PETER STRZOK AS HE IS INVESTIGATED – Benny Johnson
http://dailycaller.com/2018/07/12/democrats-applause-peter-strozk/

 

BREITBART
— Peter Strzok Denies Bias: Trump Hatred ‘Expressed out of Deep Patriotism’ – Robert Kraychik
https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/12/peter-strzok-testimony-bias-deep-patriotism/
— Watch: Migrant Minors Escaping Texas Holding Center, Say Neighbors
https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2018/07/12/watch-migrant-minors-escaping-texas-holding-center-say-neighbors/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— FBI agent Peter Strzok angrily rejects bias claims at chaotic hearing (DIERSEN: If Diersen v. GAO had gone to trial, my Democrat superiors would have angrily defended the adverse actions that they took against me and Democrats would have applauded that. My critics/opponents side with my Democrat superiors against me.)
https://www.onenewsnow.com/ap/politics/fbi-agent-angrily-rejects-bias-claims-at-chaotic-hearing

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— How Conservatives Turned a Lemon (1964) Into Lemonade (the Future Successful Movement) – Richard A Viguerie (DIERSEN: I became a Republican in 1964 when I was 16 years old.)
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/28338

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Peter Strzok Denies Bias Affected His Work, Claims He Sent Anti-Trump Text Messages ‘Out of Deep Patriotism’ – JACK CROWE
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/peter-strzok-testifies-denies-bias-affected-work-investigation/

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— Kavanaugh’s High School Classmates Are Backing Him and Say the Senate Should, Too – ANDREW FORCIER (DIERSEN: What do your high school classmates say about you? Few of my high school classmates knew me because I spent so much time during my junior and senior years washing dishes for the minimum wage in the basement of the S.S. Kresges in Chicago Heights.)
https://ijr.com/2018/07/1109103-kavanaugh-high-school-endorsement-letter/

 

THE HILL
— FBI agent Peter Strzok defends anti-Trump texts in tense hearing (DIERSEN: If Diersen v. GAO had gone to trial, my Democrat superiors would have defended the adverse actions that they took against me and Democrats would have applauded that. My critics/opponents side with my Democrat superiors against me.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/396644-live-coverage-house-committees-grill-fbi-agent
— FBI agent Peter Strzok gets Democrat applause in contentious hearing after forceful defense of agency – MORGAN CHALFANT (DIERSEN: If Diersen v. GAO had gone to trial, my Democrat superiors would have forcefully defended the adverse actions that they took against me and Democrats would have applauded that. My critics/opponents side with my Democrat superiors against me.)
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/396693-strzok-says-allegations-of-bias-corrode-fbi

 

ABC NEWS
— Gowdy and FBI agent Strzok in angry exchange over anti-Trump texts – LUCIEN BRUGGEMAN, BENJAMIN SIEGEL MIKE LEVINE (DIERSEN: Unlike Strzok, my Democrat superiors in the federal government did not put things in writing that might get them in trouble.)
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fbi-agent-peter-strzok-testifies-anti-trump-texts/story

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Democrats divided over how to attack Kavanaugh – Sean Sullivan (DIERSEN: Who determines how to attack conservative Republicans in your precinct, in your municipality, in your township/ward, in you county, and in Illinois?)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-divided-over-how-to-attack-kavanaugh/2018/07/12/2cf4ee74-85ed-11e8-9e80-403a221946a7_story.html

 

WASHINGTON POST & U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— AP FACT CHECK: No Proof Rauner Profits off Family Separation
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-fact-check-no-proof-rauner-profits-off-family-separation/2018/07/12/298ef220-8629-11e8-9e06-4db52ac42e05_story.html
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2018-07-12/ap-fact-check-no-proof-rauner-profits-off-family-separation

 

FORBES
— How Many Workers Must Live In Poverty For McDonald’s CEO To Make $21.8 Million? – Erik Sherman (DIERSEN: If jobs that do not require a high school diploma should pay $15/hour, should jobs that require a) a high school diploma pay $25/hour, b) bachelor’s degree pay $35/hour, c) master’s degree pay $45/hour, d) professional certification pay $55/hour, and e) professional license pay $65/hour?)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2018/07/12/how-many-workers-must-live-in-poverty-for-mcdonalds-ceo-to-make-21-8-million/#23dc09ac1092

 

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Republicans Think U.S. Spends Too Much on Welfare. Democrats Disagree.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/social_issues/republicans_think_u_s_spends_too_much_on_welfare_democrats_disagree

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.