June 6 Morning Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— WHEATON INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE AND FIREWORKS: Please help me encourage Republican candidates on November 6, 2018 ballots in Wheaton a) to have an entry in Wheaton’s Independence Day parade and b) to help sponsor the parade. Those candidates include Peter Roskam, Bruce Rauner and Evelyn Sanguinetti, Erika Harold, Jason Helland, Darlene Senger, Jim Dodge, Mike Connelly, Chris Nybo, Amy Grant, Peter Breen, Darlene Ruscitti, Dan Cronin, James Mendrick, Paul Hinds, Gwen Henry, Grant Eckhoff, Chris Zaruba, Kevin Wiley, Jim Zay, Al Murphy, Joseph Cantore, Karen Wilson, and Jeff Mackay. The deadline for parade entries is June 11, 2018 and the cost is $180. SEE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-2018-independence-day-celebration-parade-entry-tickets-43661232923?aff=es2 This year again, for the 13th year in a row, DuPage Republicans will help sponsor the parade and the fireworks the evening before. So far, outstandingly, Illinois Republican Party leader and Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar has contributed $500 toward the $2,500 sponsorship pledge. DuPage County Republicans will get credit for sponsoring the Tunes of Glory bagpipers and the Wheaton North and South High School bands. DuPage Republicans will again have a booth at the fireworks the evening before the parade. I will again hand deliver a flyer to all the residences and businesses on the parade route that lists the sponsors and the amount that they contributed. Please urge the candidates to phone me at 630-653-0462 about sponsorship and mail a check made out to the Wheaton Park District for $100 or more to me at 915 Cove Court, Wheaton, Illinois 60189-6326. Thanks. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

 

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— JULY 4, 2017 EVENING EDITION FLASHBACK: Republicans who participated in Wheaton’s outstanding Independence Day Parade this morning were: DuPage State’s Attorney Bob Berlin; DuPage County District 4 officials Grant Eckhoff, Tim Elliott, Amy Grant, and Tim Whelan; James Mendrick for DuPage Sheriff; Frank Bibbianno for DuPage Sheriff; Karen Wilson for DuPage Judge; and the Milton Township Republican Central Committee (MTRCC). Republicans who walked with entries included Ron Almiron, Lori Carlson, Joseph Caruso, Flo Dangelo, Sal Falbo, Chris Heidorn, Pat Hinchey, Marty Keller, Larry LaVanway, Antonio Lollino, Paula McGowen, Ron Menna, David Norck, Thommen Poozhikunnel, Mary Rash, Pat Ryan, and Janet Shaw. Gary Muehlfelt drove the truck that pulled the outstanding MTRCC float. Peter Breen, Mike Connelly, and Jeanne Ives could not participate in the parade because of the Democrats. Peter Roskam participated in a different parade. This year, for the 12th year in a row, “DuPage Republicans” helped sponsor the parade and fireworks. “DuPage Republicans” was the $2,500 “Star” sponsor again sponsored the Wheaton high school bands and the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums parade entries. Because of a last minute shortage of banner carriers, I had the honor of helping carry the “Sponsored by DuPage Republicans” banner ahead of the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums. Outstandingly, again this year Tim Whelan coordinated Republican use of the “DuPage Republicans” booth at the fireworks. This year again, I delivered flyers to the residences and businesses on the parade route. The flyers listed the Republican entries in the parade and the Republicans who helped sponsor entries. Outstandingly, the flyers were printed courtesy of Alpha Graphics. This year, outstandingly, Roger Claar is a $500 contributor, Chris Nybo is a $250 contributor, Phil Suess is a $150 contributor, and Bob Berlin, Peter Breen, Mike Connelly, Grant Eckhoff, Tim Elliott, Amy Grant, Gwen Henry, Paul Hinds, Jeanne Ives, Marty Keller, Deanne Mazzochi, Paula McGowen, James Mendrick, Peter Roskam, Darlene Ruscitti, and Tim Whelan are $100 contributors. Please thank them for helping sponsor the parade and fireworks. This year was the 10th anniversary of an elephant walking behind Roskam in the parade. For that 2007 parade, I had the honor of raising $2,000 on short notice from DuPage Republicans to sponsor that elephant. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

— John Cox advances in California primary with Trump’s help – AP (DIERSEN: Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-us–california-primary-governor-20180606-story.html

— 1 day after state budget celebration, S&P says it represents ‘the status quo’ – Monique Garcia)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-morning-spin-wednesday-edition-20180605-story.html

— Ex-Gov. Blagojevich’s lawyers file for clemency days after Trump raises hopes – Jason Meisner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-blagojevich-trump-clemency-20180605-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: LGBTQ promoter Bob Barth of Chicago complains about hostility against those who engage in LGBTQ activity. However, Barth knows full-well that in Illinois, in DuPage County, in Milton Township, in Glen Ellyn, and in Wheaton, if you fail/refuse to promote LGBTQ activity, those who promote LGBTQ activity, their operatives, and their dupes do everything that they can to get rid of you.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/ct-letters-supreme-court-colorado-baker-lgbt-discrimination-20180605-story.html

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— 6th Congressional District candidate: Trump harming the US with tariffs
http://www.nwherald.com/2018/06/05/6th-congressional-district-candidate-trump-harming-the-u-s-with-tariffs/a7zsgpa/

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Springfield fire battalion chief Chad W. Bates, 44, arrested in Sherman – John Reynolds
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180605/springfield-fire-battalion-chief-arrested-in-sherman
— Blagojevich files paperwork asking Trump to commute sentence – Jason Meisner (DIERSEN: In July of 1998, my attorney, Walter T. Charlton, filed paperwork in federal court in Washington, DC, that is, a lawsuit, that asked the court to order GAO to reverse the adverse actions that it had taken against me, including its forcing me to take its early retirement “offer” in September of 1997.)
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20180605/blagojevich-files-paperwork-asking-trump-to-commute-sentence
— GOP midterm strategist asks: What does it mean to ‘approve’ of Trump? – Byron York
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180605/byron-york-gop-midterm-strategist-asks-what-does-it-mean-to-approve-of-trump

 

NPR ILLINOIS
— Does Rauner Support Trump Commuting Blagojevich’s 14-Year Sentence? – BRIAN MACKEY (DIERSEN: Does Rauner support Trump commuting my sentence? Being forced to take early retirement is a major adverse employment action. If you have been forced to take early retirement, you know how devastating it is. Constructively, since 1997, when I was 49 years old, the Democrats who run GAO have had the Civil Service Retirement System pay me $1,076,178 in today’s dollars to not come to work. Prior to that, they gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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 $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.)
http://nprillinois.org/post/does-rauner-support-trump-commuting-blagojevichs-14-year-senatence#stream/0

 

CHICAGO ARGUS
— Are we in for five months’ worth of annoying broadcast campaign ads? – Gregory Tejeda (DIERSEN: QUESTION: When voters get annoyed by campaign ads, who do they lash out at? ANSWER: Their Precinct Committeeman/Captain.)
http://chicagoargus.blogspot.com/2018/06/are-we-in-for-five-months-worth-of.html

 

CHICAGO NOW
— Will Illinois be destroyed by pension liabilities & massive taxes? Watch Berkowitz w/Kolber
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2018/06/will-il-be-destroyed-by-pension-liabilities-massive-taxes-watch-berkowitz-wkolber-cableweb/

 

NORTH COOK NEWS
— Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee member Charlene Foss-Eggemann says grassroots involvement is key to November gubernatorial win – Robert Hadley (DIERSEN: Tragically, from what I see, the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) is divided between “Group A” individuals, organizations, and companies that want to dump voters who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, and many other planks in the IRP platform and Group B individuals, organizations, and companies who support the IRP platform. Those in Group A voted for Rauner and those in Group B voted for Ives.)
https://northcooknews.com/stories/511445366-gop-committee-member-says-grassroots-involvement-is-key-to-november-gubernatorial-win
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Elected to represent Illinois’ Ninth Congressional District, Foss-Eggemann is positioning herself as a grassroots volunteer who is intent on providing a conservative voice from her district at the state level. “I will work to unify the Republican Party before we head into another tough gubernatorial election cycle,” she told the North Cook News. “I will also work toward facilitating the development of party volunteers, protecting the conservative planks of the party platform, bolstering our statewide fundraising efforts and improving the quality of our voter data.” But if she is sounding a somewhat conciliatory note, it may be because the party seems to have divided loyalties. Rauner, who won the primary by a scant 22,000-vote margin, faced opposition stirred up from “grassroots anger over [his] more liberal positions,” according to a May 19 piece in the State Journal-Register. However, that same report said that Tim Schneider, a member of Rauner’s camp, had won another term as chairman of the Illinois GOP, an indication that the party’s cracks—if there were any—are healing. “It’s important to note, however, that robust competition and debate is a cornerstone of our party’s principles,” Foss-Eggemann stated. “So I would not characterize a race as ‘division.’” But with a tough battle against Pritzker ahead, Foss-Eggemann is realistic about what it may take to keep the governor’s office in the GOP column. “We need to run with the opportunity and make the most of what we have,” she said. “We must all raise our game to make everyone feel welcome and do even more to engage and train grassroots volunteers. If we do these things, we win.”)

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— S&P: Illinois’ new budget is ‘more of the same’ – Greg Bishop
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/s-p-illinois-new-budget-is-more-of-the-same/article_0a5164e4-68e0-11e8-ab97-7b3de47dc74c.html

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Troubling SCOTUS Decision on Cake-Baker – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/troubling-scotus-decision-on-cake-baker/

 

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— PAST VERSUS PRESENT AMERICANS – Walter E. Williams (DIERSEN: How old are you? I am 69.)
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/past-versus-present-americans/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Having enjoyed my 82nd birthday, I am part of a group of about 50 million Americans who are 65 years of age or older. Those who are 90 or older were in school during the 1930s. My age cohort was in school during the 1940s. Baby boomers approaching their 70s were in school during the 1950s and early ’60s. Try this question to any one of those 50 million Americans who are 65 or older: Do you recall any discussions about the need to hire armed guards to protect students and teachers against school shootings? Do you remember school policemen patrolling the hallways? How many students were shot to death during the time you were in school? For me and those other Americans 65 or older, when we were in school, a conversation about hiring armed guards and having police patrol hallways would have been seen as lunacy. There was no reason.)

— WILL MORE BLACKS VOTE REPUBLICAN? – Star Parker
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/will-more-blacks-vote-republican/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Gavin Newsom and John Cox to Compete in California Election for Governor – Adam Nagourney and Alexander Burns (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/06/us/politics/california-primary.html
— How to Participate in Politics – Ian Prasad Philbrick and David Leonhardt (DIERSEN: What do you say to Democrats, Libertarians, and Greens who “participate in politics” by falsely claiming to be Republican? These Democrat plants, Libertarian plants, Green plants, and RINOs focus on destroying Republican individuals, Republican organizations, Republican companies, and Republican governments.)
https://www.nytimes.com/guides/year-of-living-better/how-to-participate-in-government

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Gavin Newsom, John Cox advance to showdown for governor of California – Sean Sullivan (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/live-updates/midterms/live-primary-election-results/gavin-newsom-advances-to-showdown-for-governor-of-california/
— Sucking up has always been part of Washington culture. In the Trump era, it’s a sport. – Roxanne Roberts (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents demand that I suck up to them, glorify and praise them, pander to them, and give them money. Of course, because I refuse to do that, they have their operatives and their dupes demonize me, denigrate me, condemn me, and even worse things.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/sucking-up-has-always-been-part-of-washington-culture-in-the-trump-era-its-a-sport/2018/06/05/e4728164-64e7-11e8-a69c-b944de66d9e7_story.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— It’s Newsom vs. Cox in November as Villaraigosa tumbles in governor’s race – PHIL WILLON, SEEMA MEHTA, MELANIE MASON and JACLYN COSGROVE (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-california-20180605-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Republican John Cox Secures Spot in California Governor’s Race Businessman comes in second in primary, is set to face Democrat Gavin Newsom in November election – Alejandro Lazo and Janet Hook (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/republican-john-cox-secures-spot-in-california-governors-race-1528262967
— Why Banks Are Losing the Battle for M.B.A. Talent More business-school graduates are opting for jobs in tech and consulting – Laurence Fletcher and Pat Minczeski (DIERSEN: What do you say to those who dismiss, belittle, badmouth, demonize, denigrate, and/or condemn MBA degrees and those have MBA degrees? My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes dismiss, belittle, badmouth, demonize, denigrate, and condemn me and my 1976 MBA degree from Loyola. They stress that Loyola is not an Ivy League university. They stress that I earned the degree such a long time ago. They stress that IRS did not promote me after I earned the degree. They stress that IRS never paid me more than $91,880/year in today’s dollars.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-banks-are-losing-the-battle-for-m-b-a-talent-1528277402
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For graduates of MIT Sloan School of Management, median starting salaries paid by financial-services firms jumped 25% between 2012 and 2017 to $125,000. Technology and consulting median salaries were up just 9%, to $125,000 at technology companies and $147,000 at consulting firms, over the same period. Still, the share of Sloan graduates accepting jobs at financial-services firms was cut almost in half to 14% over that time, while technology’s share nearly doubled to 32%. At five of the top 10 schools, the share of newly-minted M.B.A.s accepting jobs in finance declined by more than 5 percentage points. “Over the last 10 years you’ve had an almost complete flip between finance and technology,” said Jean Ann Schulte, director of employer relations and recruiting services at MIT Sloan. She said one factor cited by students is a workweek of 90 to 100 hours that can be typical in the banking industry. “You can have a lucrative career without those lifestyle costs,” Ms. Schulte said.)
— Universities Devise Rules for Professors Accused of Sexual Harassment Tenured faculty facing complaints can be told to keep their office doors open, meet students in public and steer clear of female colleagues – Melissa Korn (DIERSEN: I stress that despite their tremendous efforts, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have never succeeded in getting anyone to accuse me of sexual harassment. I am a prime target for sexual harassment complaints because of my demographics. I am a Trump supporter, Protestant (baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, old (born in 1949), non-poor, gun owner, 100% German Americans, draft avoider, and my ancestors have been in America since 1844.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/universities-devise-rules-for-professors-accused-of-sexual-harassment-1528277400
— FRONT PAGE: Trump Administration Puts on Hold Search for Justice Department No. 3 Early potential candidates said they weren’t interested in the position, which would oversee the Mueller probe if Rod Rosenstein were to depart – Sadie Gurman and Aruna Viswanatha (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.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-sidelines-effort-to-appoint-justice-department-no-3-1528208396

 

FORBES
— No, Illinois Hasn’t Solved Its Pension Crisis – Elizabeth Bauer
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2018/06/05/no-illinois-hasnt-solved-its-pension-crisis/#44d323a86a86

 

SACRAMENTO BEE
— Who is John Cox? Trump-backed Republican faces Newsom in California’s governor race – ALEXEI KOSEFF (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article212377084.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Cox has a long history of failed political campaigns: He ran for a suburban Chicago House seat in 2000 and the U.S. Senate in 2002 and 2004, but never made it out of the primary. He lost a 2004 race for Cook County Record of Deeds and the Illinois Republican Party chairmanship in 2005. The following year, he announced his candidacy for president, but dropped out early. Since moving to California in 2011, Cox has reinvented himself as a crusader against what he considers the legal “corruption” of money’s influence on the political process.)

 

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Republican John Cox Advances in California Primary With Trump’s Help California Republicans get a boost from John Cox’s second-place finish in the governor’s primary but can he win in November? (DIERSEN: Trump endorsed John Cox. Cox and I served together on the Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee. On July 5, 2003, Cox came with the other four announced candidates for U.S. Senate (Chirinjeev Kathuria, Andy McKenna, Jim Oberweis, and Jack Ryan) to a picnic that I arranged in the Prairie Path Park in my precinct for voters in my precinct, in Jeanne Ive’s precinct to the east, and in Debra Olson’s precinct to the west. The 200 attendees included Randy Hultgren. We can forever ask ourselves, “What if Trump had endorsed Ives?”)
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2018-06-06/republican-advances-in-california-primary-with-trumps-help

 

FED WEEK
— Timeline Uncertain on Changing Disciplinary Policies (DIERSEN: What disciplinary actions have been taken against you? My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, 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 $19,203 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, got rid of my mentor in 1975, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/timeline-uncertain-on-changing-disciplinary-policies/

 

WIX
— 8 Effective Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Website (DIERSEN: I should write a book about individuals, about organizations, about companies, about governments, and about countries that do not want me to drive traffic to their websites. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for their problems, for your problems, for my problems, and for everyone’s problems. They blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails for all the defeats that Republicans have suffered in Illinois since 2000. Many of the aforesaid blamers state that they are religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://www.wix.com/blog/2018/03/8-ways-drive-traffic-to-website/

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.