July 21 Evening Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Trump’s convention pledge to nation: ‘Safety will be restored’
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-donald-trump-rnc-20160721-story.html
— Pence’s campaign role: Put out Donald Trump’s fires – Ed O’Keefe
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-mike-pence-donald-trump-20160721-story.html
— Illinois Republicans to leave Cleveland lacking unity – Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-republican-national-convention-unity-met-0722-20160721-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republican national committeeman Richard Porter stood before the state’s delegation at breakfast Thursday and proclaimed that the booing of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for refusing to endorse presidential nominee Donald Trump was a display of unity. As Porter described the chaotic convention hall scene as “fun,” Jim Fisher bolted from the hotel ballroom. “He was saying booing Ted Cruz brings us together,” said an angry Fisher, a Cruz delegate from Hudson in central Illinois. The scene was one more example of the depth of the fissures that exist in Illinois — and among Republicans nationally — as the state’s delegation prepares to head home with Trump, the controversial businessman and former reality TV star, atop its November ticket. In a week of national convention gaffes, Illinois Republicans kicked out a Trump delegate for posting racist statements on social media, saw Gov. Bruce Rauner and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk skip the event, and witnessed a Trump alternate delegate loudly opposing U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s plea to back Kirk for a second term. Support Kirk “as opposed to Tammy Duckworth?” asked Suzanne Amato of Wood Dale. “They’re basically one and the same. It’s ridiculous to me. We have to keep Mark Kirk in because he’s a true Republican? … He’s not a true Republican.” Ultimately, Republicans still on the fence over backing their presidential nominee are increasingly trying to rationalize supporting Trump in the context that voters face a “binary choice” between him and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who accepts the Democratic nomination in Philadelphia next week.)
— Republican unity? What unity after Cruz’s rogue move? – John Kass
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-republican-convention-cruz-kass-met-20160721-column.html
— Rauner email: Half of CPS teachers ‘virtually illiterate’ – Bill Ruthhart and John Chase  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, including my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government, hint/imply/argue/shout that I ams stupid and lazy.  In my defense, a) I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees, b) I earned six job-related professional certifications, and c) I earned a job-related professional license.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-cps-teachers-met-0722-20160721-story.html
— Trump’s convention pledge to nation: ‘Safety will be restored’
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-donald-trump-rnc-20160721-story.html
— Cruz refuses to be Trump’s ‘servile puppy’ after attacks on his wife, father
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-ted-cruz-attacks-donald-trump-20160721-story.html
— NBA moving All-Star Game out of Charlotte, cites LGBT law  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, under the Democrats and under the RINOs, individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries punish individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that do not promote LGBTQ activity.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/ct-nba-all-star-charlotte-lgbt-20160721-story.html
— Illinois reports job losses in June; unemployment rate drops as labor force shrinks – Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-illinois-june-unemployment-0722-biz-20160721-story.html
— Trump to cite Chicago gun violence in speech – Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-donald-trump-chicago-violence-speech-met-0722-20160721-story.html
— Giuliani says Emanuel needs to have Chicago cops’ backs – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rudy-guiliani-rahm-emanuel-cops-met-0722-20160721-story.html
— Snub of Trump revealed ‘What would Cruz do?’ – Kristen McQueary
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-ted-cruz-donald-trump-republican-convention-perspec-0722-md-20160721-story.html
— Defiant speech a win-win for Ted Cruz, Donald Trump – Eric Zorn
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-cruz-speech-trump-endorse-zorn-perspec-0722-md-20160721-column.html
— Notes from Cleveland: Party unity, well … – Charles Krauthammer
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-rnc-unity-trump-clinton-perspec-0722-jm-20160721-story.html
— Ted Cruz draws the boos, but will Donald Trump lose? – Clarence Page
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/page/ct-ted-cruz-trump-speech-page-perspec-0721-md-20160721-story.html
— Cleveland, where Donald Trump’s campaign went to die – Bloomberg
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-donald-trump-republican-convention-disaster-20160721-story.html

 

WTTW
— Former Illinois Trump Campaign Manager Kent Gray on GOP Nominee – Paris Schutz
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/07/21/former-il-trump-campaign-manager-gop-nominee

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

— Trump accepts GOP nomination: ‘I am your voice’ – Tina Sfondeles
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-accepts-gop-nomination-i-am-your-voice/
— Kinzinger slams Cruz for Trump non-endorsement – Lynn Sweet
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/kinzinger-slams-cruz-for-trump-non-endorsement-trump-on-nato/
— Half of CPS teachers ‘virtually illiterate,’ Rauner wrote in 2011 – Lauren FitzPatrick and Fran Spielman  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, including my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government, hint/imply/argue/shout that I am stupid and lazy.  In my defense, a) I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees, b) I earned six job-related professional certifications, and c) I earned a job-related professional license.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/half-of-cps-teachers-virtually-illiterate-rauner-wrote-in-2011/
— Giuliani takes shot at Chicago – Michael Sneed
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sneed-giuliani-takes-shot-at-chicago/
— Hackers access Illinois voter registration database – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/hackers-access-illinois-voter-registration-database/
— Illinois’ OpenBook site allows users to follow the money – AP
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/illinois-openbook-site-allows-users-to-follow-the-money/
— Chicagoan Thomas Kasza aims to keep GOP Convention safe ‘flawlessly’ – Lynn Sweet
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sweet-chicagoan-aims-keep-gop-convention-safe-flawlessly/
— The Disneyization of protest at the GOP Convention – Neil Steinberg
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/steinberg-cleveland-and-disneyization-protest-republican-national-convention/

 

DAILY HERALD
— Illinois Republican Chairman Tim Schneider: Booing Cruz was a sign of unity – Mike Riopell
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160721/news/160729732/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: He praised the party’s staff for coordinating the events and said it’s unclear what they’ll have planned next week during Democrats’ turn in the spotlight. “We’re going to need to rest up,” Schneider said. “Most people are not going to bed until between 2:30 or 4 o’clock in the morning and then they’re up for a breakfast at 8,” he said. “They’re going to need a vacation for a few days from this convention, and then we expect them to get right to work.”)
— Suburban Trump delegate Anthony Iosco focuses on Supreme Court picks – Mike Riopell
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160721/news/160729727/
— Police: Naperville protester’s tent fire likely arson – Marie Wilson
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160721/news/160729685/

 

ABC7
— HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES ‘TRUMP YOURSELF’ WEBSITE
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/hillary-clinton-campaign-launches-trump-yourself-website/1437325/
— IN 2011 EMAIL GOV. RAUNER CALLS HALF OF CPS TEACHERS ‘VIRTUALLY ILLITERATE’
http://abc7chicago.com/news/in-2011-email-rauner-calls-half-of-cps-teachers-virtually-illiterate/1437489/

 

NBC5
— Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Chicago Violence: Emanuel ‘Needs to Do What I Did’  From one mayor to another, Giuliani didn’t hold back on what he believes needs to be done to battle Chicago’s headline-making violence – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/rudy-giuliani-chicago-violence-rahm-emanuel-trump-387870262.html
— Major Contributor to Trump Campaign on Mission to Change Republican Party With Hugs – Carol Marin and Don Moseley
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Major-Contributor-to-Trump-Campaign-on-Mission-to-Change-Republican-Party-With-Hugs-387817591.html
— Duckworth Draws Scrutiny Over Tweet About Kirk, Trump  Duckworth reportedly made false claims about Kirk last month, accusing the senator of calling for the mass arrest of 18,000 African-Americans and supporting presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s mass deportation – Tom Schuba
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/duckworth-draws-scrutiny-over-tweet-about-kirk-387868952.html

 

CBS2
— Anger On Both Sides After Ted Cruz Snubs Donald Trump
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/07/21/anger-on-both-sides-after-ted-cruz-snubs-donald-trump/

 

FOX NEWS CHANNEL
— Hundreds of demonstrators gather on convention’s last day – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/178154615-story

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— AFSCME poll finds Rauner job rating slipping fast – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160721/BLOGS02/160729954/afscme-poll-finds-rauner-job-rating-slipping-fast

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Gary Johnson: Cruz did say to vote for Gary Johnson, didn’t he?  Johnson thinks he’ll get 15% needed to make debate stage – CNN
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/gary-johnson-cruz-did-say-to-vote-for-gary-johnson-didnt-he

 

WJBC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trump Pat Brady says “Trump can’t outsource role of president.” – Ed Stock
http://www.wjbc.com/2016/07/21/gop-strategist-trump-cant-outsource-role-of-president/

 

JOURNAL TOPICS
— Northwest Suburban Politicos Unite Around Trump At RNC – TOM ROBB
http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_6a75a6d8-4f6e-11e6-9743-4f6c9274d232.html

 

CHICAGO READER
— Before he was at Fox, Roger Ailes ran a nasty Senate campaign in Illinois – Michael Miner  (DIERSEN: Lynn Martin lived in my precinct for a while.)
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2016/07/21/before-he-was-at-fox-roger-ailes-ran-a-nasty-senate-campaign-in-illinois
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In 1988 Roger Ailes fashioned the media strategy for George H.W. Bush’s successful campaign for president, and in 1996 he became the first CEO of Fox News. Between these two historic events, he came to Illinois. His fingerprints were all over a nasty 1990 Senate race between two by-no-means-nasty people: Democratic incumbent Paul Simon and his Republican challenger, Lynn Martin, a moderate congresswoman from Rockford. Ailes thought Simon, who won by a whisker in 1984, was vulnerable: arguably too liberal for the state, and after making a run for the Democratic nomination for president in 1988, perhaps not sufficiently committed to the job, in the minds of Illinois voters.  So Ailes rode into town to see to it Illinois sent Martin to Washington.)

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— U-46 School Board member Tracy O’Neal Ellis’s racist KKK statement at meeting – John Kraft
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2016/07/u-46-school-board-member-tracy-oneal-elliss-racist-kkk-statement-at-meeting/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— BIGA: KASICH RNC ANTICS ARE JUST AS FRUSTRATING AS CRUZ’S
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/biga-kasich-rnc-antics-are-just-as-frustrating-as-cruzs.html
— TED CRUZ’S MOMENT OF TRUTH, BUT WILL THAT TRUTH SET CRUZ SUPPORTERS FREE?
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/ted-cruzs-moment-of-truth-but-will-that-truth-set-cruz-supporters-free.html
— THORNER/O’NEIL: FDR’S HANDLING OF A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT VS. OBAMA’S
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2016/07/thorneroneil-fdrs-handling-of-a-national-security-threat-vs-obamas.html
— RNC: KINZINGER MEETS SPRINGFIELD … NOT THAT ONE, THE OTHER ONE
THORNER/O’NEIL: FDR’S HANDLING OF A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT VS. OBAMA’S

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Rauner apologizes for making “unfair, untrue” comments in old e-mail
http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/21/rauner-apologizes-for-making-unfair-untrue-comments-in-old-e-mail/
— Rauner continues to dodge Trump questions
http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/21/rauner-continues-to-dodge-trump-questions/
— Report: Rauner “can’t stand Trump”
http://capitolfax.com/2016/07/21/report-rauner-cant-stand-trump/

 

PJ MEDIA
— CIA-Vetted, ‘Moderate’ Syrian Rebels Behead Palestinian Child – PATRICK POOLE
https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/2016/07/20/cia-vetted-moderate-syrian-rebels-who-received-u-s-tow-missiles-behead-palestinian-child/

 

GOPUSA
— Planned Parenthood aborted nearly 1M globally in 2015
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=12622
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO, ON COOK COUNTY, ON ILLINOIS, AND ON AMERICA TIGHTENS: Chicago: Over 2,200 shot this year, 21 of them age 13 and under
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=12805
— Cruz doubles down on bitterness, says it’s personal
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=12864

 

TOWNHALL
— GOP Rep Peter King Slams Ted Cruz: What He Did Exposes Him as a ‘Total Fraud’ – Leah Barkoukis
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2016/07/21/gop-rep-what-ted-cruz-did-exposes-him-as-a-total-fraud-n2195615

 

BILL O’REILLY
— Fear and Loathing in the Media
http://www.billoreilly.com/b/Staff-Column:%A0%A0Fear-and-Loathing-in-the-Media/978003686377519778.html

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— RNC demonstrations largely peaceful as anticipated riots fall to materialize – S.A. Miller
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/21/rnc-demonstrations-largely-peaceful-as-anticipated/
— Reince Priebus must decide whether to enforce Republican pledge  Cruz, Bush, Kasich among those refusing support – Ralph Z. Hallow
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/21/reince-priebus-must-decide-whether-to-enforce-repu/

 

NEWSMAX
— Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News, Rupert Murdoch to Take Over
http://www.newsmax.com/?ns_mail_uid=193921&ns_mail_job=1678818_07212016&s=al&dkt_nbr=dmdhpbdk

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Ted Cruz Committed Political Suicide On National TV – Richard A. Viguerie
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/23643
— Mike Pence Just Made Himself De Facto Leader Of The Conservative Movement – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/23644

 

POLITICO
— Rep. Kinzinger rethinking Trump vote after NATO proposal  ‘It’s utterly disastrous,’ the Illinois Republican says at a POLITICO event about Trump’s threat to withhold support from NATO allies. – Louis Nelson  (DIERSEN: There are more than 11 million citizens of foreign countries (mainly Mexico) in America illegally.  What if America had asked for NATO’s help in stopping that invasion?  Of course, NATO would have said no.)
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-nato-adam-kinzinger-225960

 

POLITIFACT
— U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk falsely attacks Duckworth on IRS expansion – Madeleine Doubek
http://www.politifact.com/illinois/statements/2016/jul/21/mark-kirk/congresswoman-tammy-duckworth-staunch-supporter-ir/

 

POLITICUS USA
— Ben Carson Just Said Trump’s Kids Grew Up Plagued By The ‘Disadvantage’ Of Wealth – Sean Colarossi (DIERSEN: How wealthy are/were your parents?  My disgusting critics/opponents demonized, denigrated, and condemned my parents as being wealthy to justify their demonizing, denigrating, and condemning me as being born with a silver spoon in my mouth and as always having been privileged.)
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/07/21/ben-carson-trumps-kids-grew-plagued-disadvantage-wealth.html

 

THE HILL
— Cruz faces backlash over Trump snub – Ben Kamisar
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288645-cruz-wont-say-whether-hes-voting-for-trump
— Ailes resigns as Fox News head – Joe Concha  (DIERSEN: Of Course, needless-to-say, individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors WANT AILES’ REPLACEMENT TO BE anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/288751-ailes-resigns-as-fox-news-head

 

HUFFINGTON POST
— Liberals Can Now Rejoice: Ted Cruz Is Toast – Bill Robinson
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/billrobinson/liberals-can-now-rejoice-_b_11116126.html
— Why Peter Thiel’s Support Of Trump Makes The Tech Industry Uncomfortable  Silicon Valley is slowly realizing he might really mean it. – Ben Walsh
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/peter-thiel-trump-tech-industry_us_579121a8e4b00c9876ce9bf1
— Michael Steele Rips Republican Party #SOWHITE – Soraya Shockley
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/youth-radio-youth-media-international/michael-steele-rips-repub_b_11123348.html

 

ABC NEWS
— Rauner Once Called Chicago Teachers ‘Virtually Illiterate’ – AP
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rauner-called-chicago-public-school-teachers-illiterate-40786487
— Donald Trump Gets Bipartisan Condemnation for NATO Comments – ALI ROGIN
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-bipartisan-condemnation-nato-comments/story?id=40774526

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Reince Priebus Thinks This Went Great – MARK LEIBOVICH
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/magazine/reince-priebus-thinks-this-went-great.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— How did Donald Trump’s convention speech get leaked in advance? – Callum Borchers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/21/how-did-donald-trumps-speech-get-leaked-in-advance/

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Watch evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. celebrate Trump as an ‘American patriot’
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-republican-convention-2016-trump-evangelical-leaders-jerry-falwell-jr-1469150222-htmlstory.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL

— Donald Trump Attacks Political Establishment, Promises to Fix America  ‘My message is that things have to change,’ Republican nominee to say at convention – JANET HOOK and  REBECCA BALLHAUS
http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-convention-speech-to-attack-establishment-promise-to-fix-america-1469144391

— Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News; Rupert Murdoch to Take Over  Departure follows allegations of sexual harassment by former Fox News anchor – JOE FLINT  (DIERSEN: Of Course, needless-to-say, individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that are anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors WANT AILES’ REPLACEMENT TO BE anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://www.wsj.com/articles/roger-ailes-resigns-from-fox-news-rupert-murdoch-to-take-over-1469132116
— What You Like Falls on Party Lines  Facebook ‘likes’ illustrate the personal differences between Republicans and Democrats – Natalie Andrews and Brian McGill
http://graphics.wsj.com/elections/2016/facebook-likes/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Republicans and Democrats divide on policy positions, and the ideological divisions can extend to taste in music, movies and books. An analysis of what people who “like” the presidential candidates on Facebook “like” elsewhere shows interesting ways the partisan divide can go beyond the issues. To “like” something on Facebook, a user has to deliberately click the button. Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has 9.1 million “likes” on Facebook, which has 201 million monthly active users in the U.S. Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has 4.3 million. To determine the data set used below, Facebook took that audience, removed people that liked both pages and looked at what other items the people had liked on Facebook. Below, a state-by-state look at what people who “like” the presidential candidates or members of their respective parties also “like” on Facebook.)

 

TIME
— Donald Trump Is the First Nominee Since 1960s to Have Not Spoken at a Prior Convention – Will Drabold
http://time.com/4416976/republican-convention-donald-trump-first-speech/

 

NATIONAL REVIEW
— Cruz’s stand for conservatism at the convention – Jeremy Carl
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438154/cruzs-stand-conservatism-lion-ted

 

NEW REPUBLIC
— Ted Cruz’s Betrayal of Donald Trump Was Brilliant  If his bet pays off, he’ll be the presumptive frontrunner in the 2020 primary. – BRIAN BEUTLER
https://newrepublic.com/article/135366/ted-cruzs-betrayal-donald-trump-brilliant

 

SALON
— Don’t be fooled by the GOP’s united front — there are still anti-Trump dissenters in Cleveland  Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger tells Salon that Trump’s speech tonight can’t erase all of his bigoted rhetoric – SEAN ILLING
http://www.salon.com/2016/07/21/dont_be_fooled_by_the_gops_united_front_there_are_still_anti_trump_dissenters_in_cleveland/

 

FED SMITH
— 6 College Discounts for Federal Employees in 2016 – Jason Kay  (DIERSEN: I earned a job-related bachelor’s degree and three job-related master’s degrees while I worked for the federal government.  My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates hinted/implied/argued/shouted that the courses were not job-related, did not help me carry out my duties, were taken by me to get a job in the private sector, and were a distraction.)
http://www.fedsmith.com/2016/07/21/6-college-discounts-for-federal-employees-in-2016/

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.