July 18 Evening Edition

ABC7
— REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION GETS CHAOTIC START IN CLEVELAND- Kathy Brock and Ben Bradley
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/republican-national-convention-kicks-off-in-cleveland/1431479/
— LIVE BLOG: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATES AND ANALYSIS
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/live-blog–republican-national-convention/1431282/

 

NBC5
— Duckworth Slams Kirk for Endorsing Petraeus, Pence  In a new campaign video released Monday, Rep. Tammy Duckworth slammed her opponent, Sen. Mark Kirk, for endorsing embattled former CIA Director David Petraeus for president.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Duckworth-Slams-Kirk-for-Endorsing-Petraeus-Pence-387322571.html
— McDonald’s, Starbucks Agree to Filter Wi-Fi Porn  The move follows a campaign from anti-pornography groups Enough is Enough and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation to demand the chains filter out pornography
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/mcdonalds-starbucks-wi-fi-porn-filter-387354751.html
— Chicago Activists Protest GOP Convention Amid Heightened Security  As the Republican National Convention gets underway Monday at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena, protesters from Chicago are demonstrating for a variety of causes despite an unprecedented police presence. – Tom Schuba and Mary Ann Ahern
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-activists-protest-gop-convention-amid-heightened-security-387336001.html

 

CBS2
— Downers Grove Teen Carl Miller Serving As GOP Alternate Delegate In Cleveland – Rob Johnson
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/07/18/chicago-teen-serving-as-gop-alternate-delegate-in-cleveland/
— Republican Dold Among Illinois No-Shows At Party Convention – Vince Gerasole
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/07/18/republican-dold-among-illinois-no-shows-at-party-convention/

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Vulgar anti-Hillary pins a big hit outside Republican National Convention – Amber Eikel
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/national/176000045-story

 

WTTW
— Delegates on Guard at GOP Convention After Baton Rouge Police Shootings – Evan Garcia
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/07/18/delegates-guard-gop-convention-after-baton-rouge-police-shootings

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Republican delegates strive for unity, but find it hard to come by – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-republican-convention-kass-0719-20160718-column.html
— Tumult breaks out on GOP convention floor after anti-Trump forces blunted
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republican-national-convention-cleveland-20160718-story.html
— Cleveland rowdy as pro-Trump, anti-Trump factions rally – Joel Achenbach
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-republican-convention-cleveland-rally-20160718-story.html
— Kasich takes backhanded shot at Trump in speech to Illinois convention delegates – Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-republican-national-convention-john-kasich-met-0719-20160718-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Monday told Illinois delegates to the Republican National Convention that the GOP should grow the party by promoting an “inclusive reform agenda” — a backhanded shot at the rival who vanquished him for the presidential nomination, Donald Trump. Kasich also urged Illinois Republicans to stand by Gov. Bruce Rauner in his battles with Democrats who control the state House and Senate, saying Rauner’s agenda will eventually leave the state “better off.” Rauner is absent from the convention. The Ohio governor’s appearance came on a tumultuous first day of the convention, which began with Trump’s top adviser, Paul Manafort, accusing Kasich of being “petulant” and “embarrassing his party in Ohio” by refusing to endorse the presumptive nominee. Kasich’s visit to the Illinois delegation was the first of several the two-term governor is making to delegates in Cleveland outside the Quicken Loans Arena convention hall, which he has pledged not to set foot in. Later this week, Kasich plans include a stop with the New Hampshire GOP convention delegation, spurring speculation that the term-limited governor is looking ahead to a presidential bid in 2020.)
— Illinois’ GOP leaders squander a chance to court Trump delegates – Kristen McQueary
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-republican-convention-illinois-delegates-trump-mcqueary-perspec-0719-jm-20160718-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Four years ago, the late Judy Baar Topinka worked the room, along with a handful of establishment Republicans all jockeying for possible gubernatorial runs: Dan Rutherford, Sen. Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard and then-U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, who resigned from Congress last year amid a federal probe of his campaign spending and mileage reimbursements. He is still awaiting word from a federal grand jury on whether charges will be brought. Schock’s resignation from Congress was a stunning fall from grace for a rising star in the party. Monday’s breakfast sure didn’t feel like the old GOP, though, and that’s a good thing. The Illinois Republican Party has struggled to be relevant for more than a decade. Here, in a room of Doug Hartmanns who probably did more legwork this election cycle than any of the leaders who decided to dis the gathering, the GOP had a chance to come to terms with the rebellion. To respect it. Instead, Illinois Republican leaders hosted a cocktail party Monday afternoon in downtown Cleveland for Kasich. No, Trump isn’t winning every heart and mind. But if Monday’s breakfast gathering showed anything, it was proof that he is motivating a stable of supporters who generally have stayed out of politics. People such as Doug Hartmann. And Christopher Hilliard of Oak Forest, also a first-time delegate, who said he connected with the Trump campaign shortly after Trump announced last summer that he was running. Hilliard said he wouldn’t be involved in the presidential race at all if not for Trump. Isn’t this what the Republican Party of Illinois needs? New blood and a motivated, growing membership? Isn’t that how you win elections? The elite within the party should have been shaking hands and getting to know the delegates. Instead, they stayed in their fluffy hotel beds and probably ordered room service, precisely the tone-deafness that got us here.)
— Illinois Republicans seek unity at first GOP convention breakfast in Cleveland – Monique Garcia and Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-republican-national-convention-breakfast-met-719-20160718-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republicans kicked off the first day of the Republican National Convention searching for unity, demonizing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as reasons to support the GOP ticket. The pep talk came as the delegation convened for the first time at a breakfast, a chance for GOP leadership to convince Donald Trump delegates that the Illinois Republican Party was firmly behind the presumptive presidential nominee. At one point, Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider asked attendees to raise their hand if it was their first time attending the Republican National Convention. When more than half of the room responded, Schneider reached for common ground. “Guess what, it’s mine too. I’m a newbie too. We need to work together. All of us together as the Illinois Republican Party. We’re not you’re enemy, we’re your friend,” Schneider said. “We’re the balance, we’re the structure, we’re the backbone of the Illinois Republican Party that’s going to help you elect your candidates along with our candidates,” Schneider said. “All people that will do a far better job than any Democrat would do.”  State Rep. John Cabello, an at-large Trump delegate who is co-chair of the delegation, also sought to assure Trump delegates that the party was behind them, saying he’s heard “rumors” to the contrary, calling them “absolutely false.” “We have all locked arms to make sure crooked Hillary is not the next president of the United States,” said Cabello, of Machesney Park near Rockford.)
— Rauner and the trouble with AFSCME’s sweetheart deal – Diana Sroka Rickert
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-illinois-unions-afscme-rauner-rickert-perspec-0719-jm-20160718-story.html
— Up financial creek, Illinois adopts native canoe as ‘official state artifact’ – Kim Janssen
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-pirogue-state-artifact-0719-chicago-inc-20160718-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Huppke demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump and his supporters.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-rnc-convention-trump-safety-huppke-20160718-story.html
— Illinois’ first lady unveils $15 million plan to renovate crumbling executive mansion – Blair Kamin
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-executive-mansion-kamin-met-0719-20160718-column.html
— Fire at Naperville homeless man’s camp might be arson: police – Bill Bird and Genevieve Bookwalter
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-naperville-huber-tent-fire-st-0720-20160718-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “The Republican Party is nominating an incompetent candidate.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-trump-republican-convention-2016-20160718-story.html
— Tumult over rules, condemnation of Clinton at GOP convention – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–gop-2016-convention-20160718-story.html
— Pro- and anti-Trump forces hold dueling rallies in Cleveland – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-us–gop-2016-cleveland-20160718-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Ohio Gov. Kasich pushes for unity, but not for Donald Trump – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ohio-gov-kasich-pushes-unity-not-donald-trump/
— Voter registration a grave task for national group – Mark Brown
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/brown-voter-registration-grave-task-national-group/
— Activists, aldermen propose immigration reform amendment – Jacob Wittich  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/activists-aldermen-propose-immigration-reform-amendment/
— Emanuel urges Chicagoans to thank cops who feel ‘almost hunted’ – Fran Spielman
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/emanuel-urges-chicagoans-to-thank-cops-who-feel-almost-hunted/
— After uproar, RNC convention bid to deny Trump nomination fizzles – Lynn Sweet
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/after-uproar-rnc-convention-bid-to-deny-trump-nomination-fizzles/
— Protests, non-voters and a linty-fresh Trump – Neil Steinberg
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/steinberg-protests-non-voters-and-a-linty-fresh-trump/
— Culture shock at the Republican National Convention – Mary Mitchell
http://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/mitchell-culture-shock-republican-national-convention/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Trump formally nominated, Illinois delegates hear from suburban Republicans – Mike Riopell
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/160719056/
— Trump delegate Mark Fratella: Illinois Republican Party is behind him – Mike Riopell
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/160719086/
— Trump wasn’t first choice for some Illinois delegates – Mike Riopell
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/160719107/
— Naperville code update could prevent housing discrimination – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/160719059/
— Tent home of Naperville ‘protester’ burns down – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/160719071/
— Republican platform tacks right on social issues – AP
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160718/news/307189819/

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— After dust-up over rules, Illinois’ GOP delegates join process of nominating Trump – MAUREEN O’REILLY
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article90433297.html

 

PEKIN DAILY TIMES
— Federal grand jury term ends without Schock Indictment – Andy Kravetz
http://www.pekintimes.com/news/20160718/federal-grand-jury-term-ends-without-schock-indictment

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Top Illinois Republicans are no-shows in Cleveland – AP
http://herald-review.com/ap/politics/top-illinois-republicans-are-no-shows-in-cleveland/article_e0f7c349-3edc-532d-a637-f16aa16ce77e.html

 

PEORIA PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois GOP seeks to unite behind Trump at party convention – TONY ARNOLD
http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/illinois-gop-seeks-unite-behind-trump-party-convention#stream/0

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Illinois political economy, the more things change, the more they stay the same: Watch IL Chamber’s Maisch w/Berkowitz
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2016/07/llinois-political-economy-the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same-watch-il-chambers-maisch-wberkowitz-cableweb/

 

CHICAGO MAGAZINE
— Rauner’s Top Campaign Guy Nick Ayers Is Now Running the Pence VP Campaign  Will Rauner warm to Trump/Pence? – Carol Felsenthal
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/July-2016/RNC-Nick-Ayers-Trump/

 

REBOOT ILLINOIS
— THE BAGGAGE THE ILLINOIS GOP DELEGATION BRINGS TO CLEVELAND – DOUG IBENDAHL
http://www.rebootillinois.com/2016/07/18/editors-picks/doug-ibendahl/the-baggage-the-illinois-gop-delegation-brings-to-cleveland/61787/

 

REPUBLICAN NEWS WATCH
— The Baggage The Illinois GOP Delegation Brings To Cleveland – DOUG IBENDAHL
http://republicannewswatch.com/wp/?p=14163
(FROM THE ARTICLE: As Republicans from across America descend on Cleveland this week for the Republican National Convention, Illinois can take pride in the diversity of its elected delegation. Donald Trump deserves most of the credit for that diversity. Kent Gray of Springfield coordinated the Illinois delegate effort for the Trump campaign and he did a fine job slating men and women from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities. The best news is Trump delegates won 39 of the 54 slots on the ballot in the March 15 Primary (three from each of Illinois’ 18 congressional districts). Ted Cruz won nine and John Kasich six. In other words, the Illinois delegation is overwhelmingly a Trump delegation. Another thing I love is the fact most of the Trump delegates are regular people – taxpayers with real jobs who pay the bills. Many are also brand new to the political process. In other words their hands are clean of Illinois GOP past misdeeds. Many got involved this year solely because of Donald Trump. Incredibly many in the media deem all of this as some kind of bad thing. Trump delegates have been openly mocked, with the Trump-hating Chicago Tribune (a/k/a tronc) patronizingly calling them “unorthodox.” The dying rag even scoured social media postings of Illinois Trump delegates hunting for embarrassing tidbits. Meanwhile anti-Trump zealot Pat Brady who proudly stands-by the advice he gave in December on Chicago radio that “You’ve got to take [Trump] out with a headshot” – is still regularly cited by media outlets as if he has a clue. Instead of serious analysis of this Republican National Convention and the Trump phenomenon, the local press is largely obsessed with rehashing stories about which do-nothing career politicians aren’t going to Cleveland. No one bothers to ask why a Convention which is centered around a do-er and a successful builder like Trump shouldn’t be grateful that some of the failed politicians from one of the worst run states in the country won’t be transporting their ineptitude across state lines. Donald Trump represents new hope for the Republican Party. He has yet to be elected to any public office but he’s already making the GOP better and more diverse here in Illinois. He’s expanding the base and is generating energy we haven’t seen in the GOP since Ronald Reagan. Of course panicky Democrats are going to call him racist and sexist. That kind of blatantly false attack was always expected in the face of Trump’s decades-long record of hiring and promoting thousands of women and minorities. Hillary and her media lapdogs know Trump’s message of making America great again and expanding economic opportunity for all is particularly attractive to African-American and Hispanic folks who remain trapped on the Liberal Plantation. Donald Trump isn’t the Republican Party’s problem. Trump’s doing his job and so are his supporters. It’s the failed GOP players who sit around in Illinois carping at Trump who have some explaining to do. It’s their selfishness and total lack of leadership for years which has made the Republican Party in Illinois a less than welcome place for minorities. Here are just a few illustrations.)

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— ILLINOIS’ RNC DELEGATES MEET UP IN CLEVELAND; CONVENTION UPROAR SHORT-LIVED
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/illinois-rnc-delegates-meet-up-in-cleveland.html
— KASICH ATTENDS ILLINOIS GOP CONVENTION DELEGATES’ MEETING
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/ohio-gov-kasich-attends-illinois-gop-delegation-meeting-.html
— FBI SAYS ORLANDO SHOOTER DID NOT TARGET CLUB BECAUSE IT WAS GAY
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/orlando-shooter-did-not-target-club-because-it-was-gay.html
— WHILE IN IRAN, NATION OF ISLAM’S FARRAKHAN PREDICTS DIRE FUTURE FOR AMERICA
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/while-in-iran-nation-of-islams-farrakhan-predicts-dire-future-for-america.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— LIVE COVERAGE *** Republican National Convention
http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/18/live-coverage-republican-national-convention/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Paul Manafort: John Kasich is ‘embarrassing’ Ohio – David Sherfinski
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/18/paul-manafort-john-kasich-embarrassing-ohio/
— Trump’s pitch to union members  The candidate is not anti-union, but pro-employee – Richard Berman
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/18/donald-trumps-pitch-to-union-members/
— Pence is salt to Trump’s pepper  The Indiana governor adds political experience that the business mogul lacks – Cal Thomas
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/18/mike-pence-has-political-experience-donald-trump-l/

 

WORLD NET DAILY
— RADICALS SEEK ‘BLACKS-ONLY’ NATION IN SOUTH  5 American states (Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia) where government ‘can no longer maintain control.’ – CHERYL CHUMLEY
http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/radicals-seek-blacks-only-nation-in-south/

 

TOWNHALL
— Live From Cleveland: Enthusiasm, Unease, Resignation, and Discord at Trump’s Convention – Guy Benson
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2016/07/18/discord-warring-factions-of-gop-lock-horns-in-cleveland-n2194163

 

DAILY CALLER
— University Of Michigan Professor: New Black-Only SEGREGATED NATION In Southern USA ‘Fairly Easy’ – Eric Owens
http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/18/university-of-michigan-professor-new-black-only-segregated-nation-in-southern-usa-fairly-easy/
— Baton Rouge Shooter Claimed Blacks ‘Superior To Whites’ In Book – Peter Hasson
http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/18/baton-rouge-shooter-claimed-blacks-superior-to-whites-in-book/
— Ladies Get Naked In Cleveland To Protest Trump Or Something – JIM TREACHER
http://dailycaller.com/2016/07/18/ladies-get-naked-in-cleveland-to-protest-trump-or-something/

 

CONSERVATIVE REVIEW
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Shame on RNC chair Reince Priebus if Trump is the nominee.”
https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2016/07/shame-on-rnc-chair-reince-priebus-if-trump-is-the-nominee

 

RED STATE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Reince Priebus Ignores Delegate Votes And Appoints Mitch McConnell Temporary Convention Chair.”
http://www.redstate.com/streiff/2016/07/18/watch-reince-priebus-ignores-delegate-votes-appoints-mitch-mcconnell-temporary-convention-chair/

 

THE HILL
— GOP passes rules vote over outcry from Trump opponents – Ben Kamisar
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/288205-gop-passes-rules-vote-over-outcry-from-trump-opponents
— Anti-Trump delegates say they will force roll call vote on rules – Ben Kamisar
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288186-anti-trump-delegates-say-they-will-force-roll-call-vote
— Ryan: Trump ‘not my kind of conservative’ – Scott Wong
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/288195-ryan-trump-not-my-kind-of-conservative

 

POLITICO
— Chaos erupts on GOP convention floor after voice vote shuts down Never Trump forces  Anti-Trump delegates wanted a roll call vote on convention rules. – Kyle Cheney
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/never-trump-delegates-have-support-needed-to-force-rules-vote-225716

 

CNN
— Convention drama: Trump campaign stops rules rebellion – Stephen Collinson, Tal Kopan and Tom LoBianco
http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/18/politics/rnc-procedural-votes-rules-committee/index.html

 

CBS NEWS
— Do we know enough about the candidates’ health?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-health-records-of-presidential-candidates/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Rancor Reigns as Bitterly Divided Republicans Begin Their Convention.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/republican-convention-donald-trump.html
— Donald Trump Portrayed as an Heir to Richard Nixon – MICHAEL BARBARO and ALEXANDER BURNS
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/donald-trump-portrayed-as-an-heir-to-richard-nixon.html
— Melania Trump: From Small-Town Slovenia to Doorstep of White House – JASON HOROWITZ
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/19/us/politics/melania-trump-slovenia.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Republican National Convention: Updates on Day 1
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics-live/liveblog/republican-national-convention-updates/
— Trump’s running mate is ‘one of the most extreme vice-presidential picks,’ Clinton says – John Wagner
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/07/18/clinton-takes-aim-at-trumps-new-running-mate-in-address-to-educators/

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Republican Chief Puts Party’s Machine in Overdrive for Trump – MONICA LANGLEY
http://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-chief-puts-partys-machine-in-overdrive-for-trump-1468856144
— Hillary Clinton Talks Racial Inequality at NAACP Conference  Calls Donald Trump a prominent voice in the ‘birther’ movement who ‘plays coy with white supremacists’ – ERICA ORDEN  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats shout at minorities a) that Republicans are racists, b) that Republicans have caused all the problems that minorities have had, c) that Republicans are causing all the problems that minorities have, and d) that Republicans will forever cause all the problems that minorities will have.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-clinton-talks-racial-inequality-at-naacp-conference-1468872201

 

FORTUNE
— Wall Street Opts to Steer Clear of Trump’s Republican Convention – Cyrus Sanati
http://fortune.com/2016/07/18/wall-street-opts-to-steer-clear-of-trumps-republican-convention/
— Pro-Trump, Anti-Trump Protesters Agree: The Other Side Has Been Brainwashed – Charlotte Alter and Sam Frizell
http://fortune.com/2016/07/18/pro-trump-anti-trump-protesters-agree-the-other-side-has-been-brainwashed/

 

USA TODAY
— In Cleveland, discomfort with idea of John Kasich 2020 run – Chrissie Thompson
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/07/18/john-kasich-2020-run/87269258/

 

CLEVELAND
— Youngest member of Illinois RNC delegation Carl Miller can’t yet vote, Cleveland impresses Chicagoans: Delegate impressions
http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/07/youngest_illinois_rnc_delegate.html

 

GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
— Aging Federal Workforce Bucks Retirement Trends, Georgia State University Public Policy Study Shows
http://news.gsu.edu/2016/07/18/aging-federal-workforce-bucks-retirement-trends-georgia-state-university-public-policy-study-shows/

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.