March 11, 2022

ABC7

— Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months’ probation before emotional outburst – Diane Pathieu, Leah Hope, Eric Horng, Rob Elgas
https://abc7chicago.com/jussie-smollett-sentencing-sentence-update/11638499/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Aurora panel recommends marijuana dispensary downtown – STEVE LORD
(COMMENT: To promote pot in a municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/ct-abn-aurora-marijuana-st-0311-20220310-l2qoqljd6zb3nnx24p4lqws7oa-story.html
— Jussie Smollett sentenced to 150 days in Cook County Jail beginning immediately, shouts as he is led from court – MEGAN CREPEAU and JASON MEISNER
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-jussie-smollett-sentencing-20220310-6rkydf7zt5d6hkianqp6d6js7a-story.html
— A perfect storm is destroying Chicago’s economic vitality – PAUL VALLAS
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-chicago-economy-mayor-lori-lightfoot-20220310-3m3aytyvxzaevbuc4zgfs2tkq4-story.html
— The silent shame of getting older in a youthful world: ‘We woke up one day and asked ourselves, what happened?’ – JERRY DAVICH
(COMMENT: I should write a book about age discrimination.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-shame-of-old-age-disability-st-0309-20220308-6fb64uplnbf6rodta36gmh7mtu-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— In new Hispanic 3rd Congressional District, poll shows Democratic primary wide open; Ramirez has edge over Villegas. The poll underscores how Delia Ramirez, a state representative, and Gilbert Villegas, a Chicago alderman, are blank political slates waiting to be filled in. – Lynn Sweet
(COMMENT: Justin Burau of Winfield has filed for the GOP nomination. In 2015, my critics/opponents gerrymandered my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 in Wheaton. I should write a book about them.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2022/3/10/22971706/new-hispanic-congressional-district-poll-shows-race-wide-open-ramirez-has-edge-over-villegas
— Illinois Gaming Board pulls plug on Russian sports betting following Ukraine invasion. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/3/10/22971721/illinois-sports-betting-russia-ban-ukraine-gaming-board
— Jussie Smollett sentenced to 5 months in jail for staging fake hate crime in downtown Chicago. – Matthew Hendrickson, Andy Grimm
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/3/10/22967380/jussie-smollett-sentence-empire-actor-fake-hate-crime-hoax
— CPS selective enrollment schools to accept fewer affluent students under proposed change – Sarah Karp
(COMMENT: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always demonized, denigrated, and condemned my parents as being filthy rich. They have always stressed that my father made enough money that my mother could stay home and raise my brother and me and that they sent my brother and me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest to stay with the Missouri Synod. My outstanding parents never attended college. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school. My father fought type 1 diabetes, worked in the office of a nasty chemical plant in Chicago Heights, almost always worked second jobs to pay the family’s bills, and died suddenly of heart failure in 1969 when he was 47 and I was 21. If my parents were filthy rich, why did I take jobs that my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes would never stoop to take? I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2022/3/10/22971194/cps-selective-enrollment-high-schools-whitney-young-payton-northside-lane-tech-jones-college-prep
— Search for Chicago’s next inspector general is down to two – Fran Spielman
(COMMENT: I served on the Executive Committee (EC) of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996. Almost all the other EC members were employees of federal inspector general (IG) offices. All the audits of all the federal agencies that I worked on for GAO 1980-1997 required coordination with those agency’s IG offices. I worked on audits of federal financial institution regulators for almost 9 years, on audits of IRS for 3 years, and on audits of many other federal agencies, including Railroad Retirement Board, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Immigration and Naturalization Service, General Service Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Labor, Federal Aviation Administration, Veteran Administration, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Health and Human Services, for almost 6 years. I worked on an audit of EPA IG compliance with professional standards. SEE: https://www.gao.gov/products/afmd-86-43 )
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2022/3/9/22969647/chicago-inspector-general-search-two-finalists-ferguson-witzburg-lightfoot
— COMMENT: Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters promote hatred of Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2022/3/10/22971494/donald-trump-ukraine-war-president-biden-column-mona-charen
— Lightfoot: Clock isn’t ticking on top cop – Fran Spielman
(COMMENT: The clock was always ticking on me while I worked for the Democrats who ran GAO 1980-1997, IRS 1971-1980, and Post Office 1966-1969,.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2022/3/10/22971431/chicago-violent-crime-lightfoot-brown-police-department

DAILY HERALD
— ‘We are losing good teachers and staff every single day’: Report reiterates pandemic shortages – Madhu Krishnamurthy
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20220309/we-are-losing-good-teachers-and-staff-every-single-day-report-reiterates-pandemic-shortages
— Pappas named to replace disgraced Cullerton in Senate – Maria Gardner
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20220310/pappas-named-to-replace-disgraced-cullerton-in-senate
— DuPage County Workforce Innovation Board to host webinar on finding talent April 8
(COMMENT: 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.dailyherald.com/submitted/20220310/dupage-county-workforce-innovation-board-to-host-webinar-on-finding-talent-april-8

SOUTHLAND JOURNAL
— Jim Marter Appointed to Serve as Deputy for IL-14 on GOP State Central Committee
https://thesouthlandjournal.com/jim-marter-appointed-to-serve-as-deputy-for-il-14-on-gop-state-central-committee/

FOX ILLINOIS
— Marijuana could be removed from firefighter drug testing requirements – Jordan Elder
(COMMENT: To promote pot in a municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://foxillinois.com/newsletter-daily/marijuana-could-be-removed-from-firefighter-drug-testing-requirements
— Approximately $1.5 million worth of damage to US Capitol during Jan. 6 riot, DC AG says
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/us-capitol-riot-january-6-insurrection-millions-damage-attack-police-congress-breach-washington-dc-presidential-election-results-trump-biden
— Those convicted of marijuana-related offenses to get first dibs on NY cannabis licenses
(COMMENT: To promote pot in a municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/those-convicted-of-marijuana-related-offenses-to-get-first-dibs-on-ny-cannabis-licenses

WIFR
— Rockford’s First Cannabis-Infused Bakery opens its doors – Conor Hollingsworth
(COMMENT: To promote pot in a municipality, township, county, state, or country is to destroy that municipality, township, county, state, or country.)
https://www.wifr.com/2022/03/11/rockfords-first-cannabis-infused-bakery-opens-its-doors/

MDJ ONLINE
— Incarceration rates demographics in Illinois
https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/extra/news/incarceration-rates-demographics-in-illinois/collection_91649f6e-ffe6-5a92-82c0-2843bf8ae2b5.html#1

JOHN KASS
— Smollett’s Juicy New Jailhouse Role: Martyr For the Cause
https://johnkassnews.com/lady-justice-1-jussie-smollett-0/

WILLIAM J KELLY
— Kelly to Mayor Lightfoot: Chicago has lost faith in you | Will you resign?
https://www.williamjkelly.org/news/kelly-to-mayor-lightfoot-chicago-has-lost-faith-in-you-will-you-resign

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Lisle trustee Mullen calls on colleagues to take diversity training over ‘offensive’ comment about chicken and duck
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/621600174-lisle-trustee-mullen-calls-on-colleagues-to-take-diversity-training-over-offensive-comment-about-chicken-and-duck

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Village of Lisle Paid $23K In FOIA Lawsuit Settlement – JOHN KRAFT & KIRK ALLEN
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2022/03/village-of-lisle-paid-23k-in-foia-lawsuit-settlement/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY BALLOT CROWDS UP WITH FIVE, POSSIBLY SIX TEAMS
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2022/03/gop-gubernatorial-primary-ballot-crowds-up-with-five-possibly-six-teams-.html
— ANOTHER GREAT DEPRESSION? MANY THINK IT’S LIKELY
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2022/03/another-great-depression-many-think-its-likely.html

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Biden’s inflation plan will only pour ‘fuel on the fire,’ warn fiscal hawks – Haris Alic
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/mar/10/bidens-inflation-plan-will-only-pour-fuel-fire-war/

DAILY POLITICAL WIRE
— Mayor Buttplug’s Husband Had Kids Pledge Allegiance to the Rainbow Flag – Keely Sharp
(COMMENT: To promote LGBTQ is to destroy traditional marriage and to destroy the traditional family.)
https://dailypoliticalnewswire.com/mayor-buttplugs-husband-had-kids-pledge-allegiance-to-the-rainbow-flag/

FEDERALIST
— J6 Committee Seeks To Criminalize Republican Fundraising – MOLLIE HEMINGWAY
https://thefederalist.com/2022/03/10/j6-committee-seeks-to-criminalize-republican-fundraising/

EPOCH TIMES
— Illinois Illegally Denied Elections Group Access to Voter Records, Federal Court Rules – Matthew Vadum
https://www.theepochtimes.com/illinois-illegally-denied-election-group-access-to-voter-records-federal-court-rules_4328836.html

NEW YORK TIMES
— Jussie Smollett Sentenced to Jail for False Report of a Hate Crime – Julia Jacobs and Robert Chiarito
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/arts/television/jussie-smollett-sentencing.html
— Biden Urges Americans to Blame Rising Prices on Putin. Many Do, for Now. – Katie Rogers and Michael D. Shear
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/us/politics/biden-putin-inflation.html
— U.S. Battles Russia and China on Ukraine War Disinformation – Edward Wong
(COMMENT: According to my critics/opponents, all government and political news and commentary is disinformation except for the government and political news and commentary that they put out or bless. Since 2000, they have done everything that they can a) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters and b) to stop everyone from reading those newsletters. I should write a book about my critics/opponents. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/us/politics/russia-ukraine-china-bioweapons.html

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Most Democrats Say They’d Flee, Not Fight, a Ukraine-Style Invasion. Too many Americans have forgotten the meaning of ‘home of the brave.’ – Matthew Hennessey
(COMMENT: My grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans in WWI. My uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII. My father would have fought the Germans in WWII if he had not been 4-F.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/home-of-the-brave-rip-war-poll-democrats-fight-enlist-vietnam-soldiers-invasion-ukraine-patriotism-culture-war-isolationist-military-recruitment-11646929607
— Inflation Reached 7.9% in February; Consumer Prices Are the Highest in 40 Years. Surging energy costs related to Russian invasion of Ukraine are pushing prices higher. – Gabriel T. Rubin
https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-inflation-consumer-price-index-february-2022-11646857681
— Economic Blacklist of Russia Marks New Blow for Globalization. Postwar vision of harmonious world trade was already under pressure; invasion of Ukraine risks further economic fragmentation. – Josh Zumbrun
https://www.wsj.com/articles/economic-blacklist-of-russia-marks-new-blow-for-globalization-11646940040
— Senate Passes $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill That Includes Aid for Ukraine – Siobhan Hughes and Teresa Mettela
https://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-democrats-see-ukraine-aid-speeding-passage-of-omnibus-spending-bill-11646935157
— Biden to Call for Revoking Normal Trade Relations With Russia – Yuka Hayashi and Alex Leary
https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-call-for-revoking-normal-trade-relations-with-russia-11646971099
— Government Gives Itself a Big Raise. Everything you dislike about Congress and more—in 2,727 pages. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/government-gives-itself-a-big-raise-congress-omnibus-spending-bill-democrats-republicans-biden-defense-11646939869
— It’s Joe Biden’s Inflation. He blames Vladimir Putin, but his policies and the Federal Reserve are at fault. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-joe-bidens-inflation-vladimir-putin-russia-ukraine-prices-bureau-of-labor-statistics-11646952656
— IRS Readies Hiring Binge in Bid to Clear Tax-Return Backlog. Tax agency plans to hire 5,000 workers quickly and 5,000 more by September 2023. – Richard Rubin
(COMMENT: I should write a book about those who have wasted my knowledge of IRS the most. I worked for IRS for almost 9 years 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $88,229-$99,994/year. GAO audits IRS. I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 and worked for GAO for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 Levels, currently $104,915-$136,387/year. The Democrats who ran GAO kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 (1986-1988) of those almost 18 years. In my book, I would focus on my Democrat IRS and GAO superiors and on my Republican U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, their staff members, and their political consultants.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/irs-readies-hiring-binge-in-bid-to-clear-tax-return-backlog-11646942444
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “Republicans starved the Internal Revenue Service of funding for far too long, and the taxpayer has paid the price,” said Rep. Richard Neal (D., Mass.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “But in this bill, Democrats deliver the largest funding increase to the agency in decades.” Republicans have criticized the IRS for being too slow to use pandemic-era funding it received. “The IRS is finally recognizing that this historic backlog is not due to a lack of funding, but due to its neglect in using the tools it has,” Rep. Kevin Brady (R., Texas), the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, said last week.)

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.