May 12 Morning Edition

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— FOP blasts second memo in a month seeking minimum number of stops – Frank Main and Fran Spielman  (DIERSEN: All during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government, my superiors always acted like they had been given quotas a) for retaining and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) for getting rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/fop-blasts-second-memo-in-a-month-seeking-minimum-number-of-stops/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For the second time in a month, a Chicago Police supervisor is coming under fire for sending a memo that appears to set an illegal quota for cops to make stops. In a recent note to his sergeants, a lieutenant in the Jefferson Park District on the Northwest Side praised his officers for outperforming last year’s activity by 30 percent, but asked the sergeants to focus on those cops “not contributing their fair share, meaning they’re not meeting the agreed upon ‘one good stop per documentation per day worked.’ ”)
— Trump tweets: Too busy for staff to be perfectly accurate  (DIERSEN: I do not have any staff. Please forgive typos in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. The more time that I spend preventing/detecting typos, the later that the emails go out.)
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/trump-tweets-too-busy-for-staff-to-be-perfectly-accurate/amp/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Emanuel tells radio host he’s ‘never, ever’ golfed – Bill Ruthhart  (DIERSEN: My outstanding parents golfed. Because golfing is expensive and time consuming, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes use that to paint me as having been born with a silver spoon in my mouth and that I have always been privileged.  My summer jobs during 1966 included cleaning golf shoes at the Flossmoor Country Club.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-golf-20170512-story.html
— Business schools push back against annual rankings – Robert Channick  (DIERSEN: From what school(s) did you earn your degree(s)? I earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU in 1970, an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always stressed that none of the aforesaid schools are Ivy League.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-business-school-ranking-revolt-0512-biz-20170511-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps say “Mexicans were afraid Trump would bring disaster. So far, his bark is worse than his bite.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-mexico-trump-2017-story.html
— 5 votes short, Kim concedes defeat in Mundelein mayoral race – Rick Kambic
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-mun-holly-kim-concedes-mundelein-mayoral-election-tl-0518-20170510-story.html
— Naperville not immune when it comes to college loan debt – Suzanne Baker
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-student-debt-st-0512-20170511-story.html
— Trump tweets fired FBI director ‘better hope that there are no tapes’ of conversations – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-comey-tapes-20170512-story.html
— Sessions orders return to tough drug war policies that trigger mandatory minimum sentences – Joseph Tanfan
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-jeff-sessions-mandatory-minimum-sentences-20170512-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Don’t give Trump a pass when he’s wrong – and he’s wrong on Comey – Joe Walsh
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20170512/walsh-donx2019t-give-trump-a-pass-when-hex2019s-wrong—and-hex2019s-wrong-on-comey
— We want ‘right’ but we need ‘acceptable’ on budget – Editorial
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20170511/editorial-we-want-x2018rightx2019-but-we-need-x2018acceptablex2019-on-budget
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of those who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170512/district-204-celebrates-15-years-of-advancing-diversity-excellence

 

NBC5
— Chicago Bear Kevin White’s Vehicle Among Series of Carjackings in Chicago   The luxury vehicle theft was one of several reported in numerous parts of the city over the last month in which thieves use “bumper tapping” to steal vehicles
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/grizzly-detail/Chicago-Bear-Kevin-Whites-Car-Among-Series-of-Carjackings-in-Chicago-Source-422082683.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Rauner, Rahm trade jabs at new factory set to open in 18 months – Mike Flannery
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/254135097-story

 

DNA INFO
— Englewood High School ‘Dream Students’ Headed For Harvard, MIT, Stanford – Andrea V. Watson  (DIERSEN: While I have four college degrees (NIU, Loyola, DePaul, & IIT), my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes stress that none of them are from Ivy League schools.)
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170511/englewood/lindbloms-dream-students-headed-for-harvard-mit-stanford

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Secretary of state official under investigation owes $144,000 to SIUE – GEORGE PAWLACZYK AND BETH HUNDSDORFER
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article150000957.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Fresh thinking will fix Illinois – Radogno and Durkin  (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, fresh thinking, that is, getting rid of me, would fix the Milton Township Republican Central Committee, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants, GAO, IRS, etc.)
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20170511/radogno-and-durkin-fresh-thinking-will-fix-illinois

 

NORTHWEST HERALD
— Protesters continue die-in at U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren’s office in McHenry – NATE LINHART
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/05/11/protesters-continue-die-in-at-u-s-rep-randy-hultgrens-office-in-mchenry/aw5xeb8/

 

STATELINE
— Democratic lawmakers decry Trump’s voter fraud panel – ELIZABETH LANDERS
http://www.mystateline.com/news/politics/trump-to-launch-voter-fraud-panel/711667581

 

ILLINOIS HOME PAGE
— Rauner pushes massive Medicaid overhaul  Millions could be forced to change doctors – Mark Maxwell
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/rauner-pushes-massive-medicaid-overhaul/712131104

 

WIREPOINTS
— Why Won’t Illinois Political Reporters Ask Meaningful Questions? – Mark Glennon  (DIERSEN: When a political reporter like me asks a politician a question that he/she does not like, that politician has their operatives and their dupes strike back viciously.  However, it is extremely difficult for politicians to strike back at political reporters who are protected by powerful employers like ABC7, NBC5, CBS2, Fox News Chicago, WGN, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald, Crain’s Chicago Business, Springfield State Journal Register, etc. However, because I AM NOT PROTECTED BY ANYONE, it is extremely easy for politicians to have their operatives and their dupes strike back at me. I am no longer the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman. I am no longer a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member. I am no longer the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster. I am no longer an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member. I am no longer an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member.  I should write a book about politicians in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois a) who have had their operatives and their dupes strike back at me viciously and b) who threaten to strike back at me even more viciously if I ask any questions. Operatives and dupes for politicians almost succeeded, but failed, in keeping me out of Roskam’s press conference Thursday evening, May 4, 2017, at Sanguinetti’s fundraiser at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton.)
http://www.wirepoints.com/why-wont-illinois-political-reporters-ask-meaningful-questions-wp-original/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: It really wouldn’t be that hard to change the narrative in Illinois from fictional to real. If reporters would simply ask they’d receive, or if they didn’t receive they could expose the politicians who have no answers. But they don’t ask. Political reporting on the state and local fiscal crises in Illinois remains like classical theater: part tragedy, part farce and entirely fiction. Try Googling “Rauner and Madigan,” Rauner and Rahm” or anything similar. Most of what you’ll find is little more than a stenographer’s report on name-calling and spin. Headlines like these predominate: “Rauner says Emanuel is ‘biggest disappointment of his time as governor.’ “Emanuel calls governor ’emperor without clothes.’” “Rauner calls Madigan ‘disingenuous.’” “Madigan accuses Rauner of ‘trying to change history.’” “Rahm and Rauner’s personal war of words.” “Rauner, Madigan offer new buzzword on impasse.” “Rauner, Emanuel Take Credit For Job Project, Blame Each For School Funding.” Who gives a damn? Where are headlines like, “A side-by-side comparison of Rauner’s and Madigan’s five-year revenue and spending hopes”? Or, “Rahm explains why actual financial statements show huge city losses while his budgets show balance.” Or, “Candidates for governor specify how much new revenue Illinois needs.” You won’t find them because no reporter asks what’s needed, so Illinoisans go blindly to the polls. Reporters could start with Governor Rauner. His biggest failure is not laying out a credible, long term plan to put the state on a sustainable path. Shame on him for not offering one, but shame on reporters for not insisting on one. The same certainly goes for Rauner’s critics. Next would be every other candidate for governor. Ask them how much revenue would come from a progressive income tax and how much more top brackets would pay. Ask how much new revenue they think the state needs to raise. Those things are key because honest answers would expose with certainty that survivable tax increases won’t be sufficient. Ask Rahm what Chicago’s pension contributions will be in five years under the can-kicking legislation he has sought, and how the city would pay them. That’s when full contributions would kick in. And ask them all why none of them is talking about a solution for the $130 billion in unfunded pensions and $50 billion in unfunded healthcare liabilities for retirees (which would not be reduced materially under any proposals now floating around). Answers to those questions and similar ones are critical to the death spiral we’re in, yet nobody has a clue to the answers. The politicians will duck the questions, but the press must get insistent — they have to demand specifics and rip the face off anybody who offers only the usual, bland generalities. Part of the problem is that political reporters are, well, political reporters. They cover politics — who is saying what about whom, so-and-so’s new ad, who’s up in the polls, how much money they’ve raised, etc. Those are important matters, but they shouldn’t entirely crowd out the most basic policy questions. They’re not all bad, but rays of light are few. Chicago Sun-Times reporters cover Chicago financial issues well. The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board is among the few who understand the depth of the problems we face. The Bond Buyer gets the facts right, though it’s written for the narrow-minded municipal bond industry. Another election season is underway. Will challengers for governor be asked in three different debates whether they would live in the Governor’s mansion, as Rauner was asked last in the last cycle? Will putting ketchup on hotdogs again make the headlines? Will name-calling and spin fill the news? Reporters must be more than stenographers writing down what politicians say, or we’ll sink further into darkness. Ask the questions. It’s really not that hard.)

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— ACFI Survey: Americans Are At Odds Concerning Morals in the Nation – Tami Jackson
https://illinoisfamily.org/faith/acfi-survey-americans-odds-concerning-morals-nation/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Durbin: Rosenstein was ‘duped’ into writing reason for Comey’s firing – Sally Persons (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes a) avoid putting in writing things that would incriminate them and b) destroy things that incriminate them.)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/12/dick-durbin-rod-rosenstein-was-duped-writing-reaso/

 

INDEPENDENT JOURNAL REVIEW
— ‘If People Knew What Was Happening in Mexico, They’d Have Called for a Wall a Long Time Ago’: Intelligence Source – JUSTEN CHARTERS
http://ijr.com/2017/05/868081-5-deadliest-countries-in-the-world/?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=morning-newsletter&utm_medium=owned

 

DAILY CALLER
— Attack the flack: Beltway Reporters Go On A Rampage Against Sarah Huckabee Sanders – Betsy Rothstein  (DIERSEN: I should write a book about “Republican” activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. in Wheaton, in Glen Ellyn, in Milton Township, in DuPage County, and in Illinois who viciously demonize me, who viciously denigrate me, and who viciously condemn me to curry favor with Democrat reporters.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/11/beltway-reporters-go-on-the-attack-against-white-house-deputy-press-sec-sarah-huckabee-sanders/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump Shifts Rationale for Firing Comey, Calling Him a ‘Showboat’ – PETER BAKER and MICHAEL D. SHEAR
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/trump-comey-showboat-fbi.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: In a Private Dinner, Trump Demanded Loyalty. Comey Demurred. – MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT  (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents demand loyalty.  My critics/opponents viciously destroy individuals, organization, companies, governments, etc. that are not loyal to them.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/trump-comey-firing.html
— A Chicago Neighborhood Faces a New Fear: Assault-Style Rifles – MITCH SMITH
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/guns-chicago-violence-rifles.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps paint everyone involved law enforcement as being racists.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/opinion/driving-while-black.html
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Resentful of Criticism, Conservatives Dig In in Defense of the President- Jeremy Peters  (DIERSEN: Have you considered writing a book about your critics?  I should write a book about my critics.  They extremely critical not only of me.  They are extremely of everything but themselves.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/for-trump-supporters-the-real-outrage-is-the-lefts-uproar-over-comey.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Lawmakers reach deal on legislation to make it easier to fire VA employees – Lisa Rein (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always promoted patronage. Because I have always been a Republican, were it not for federal civil service protections, a) the Post Office would NOT have hired me in 1966 or let me work there for almost 3 years, b) IRS would NOT have hired me in 1971 or let me work there for almost 9 years, c) IRS would NOT have promoted me in 1972, 1973, or 1974, d) GAO would NOT have hired me in 1980 or let me work there for almost 18 years, and e) GAO would NOT have promoted me in 1986.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/lawmakers-reach-deal-on-legislation-to-make-it-easier-to-fire-va-employees/2017/05/11/6473d4e8-3664-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Trump Says He Planned Comey Firing – Michael C. Bender, Del Quentin Wilber and Rebecca Ballhaus  (DIERSEN: Of course, my Democrat GAO superiors planned their forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” on September 30, 1997 when I was 49 years old.  Before September of 1997, they falsely led me to believe that they would let me work at least until the regular retirement age of 55 for non-veteran White male GAO employees.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-planned-firing-of-james-comey-before-aides-letter-1494552044
— Why James Comey Had to Go – Kimberley A. Strassel  (DIERSEN: In September of 1997, I was a 49-year-old GAO employee being paid $122,991/year in today’s dollars. QUESTION: Why did I have to go? ANSWER: Since 1988, I had been an active member in a class action lawsuit that charged GAO with reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.  I had always complained about patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation.  I was an old (49) non-veteran White male who had always been a conservative Republican. Employees in the office who were liberal, Democrat, minority, female, and/or younger talked and acted like they would leave GAO if GAO did not rid of its employees who were conservative, Republican, White, male, and/or older. Diersen could and would be used as an “example” to send a “message” to everyone a) that GAO gives tremendous preference to its employees who are liberal, Democrat, minority, female, younger, and/or veteran and b) that GAO does everything that it can to not hire and to get rid of its employees who are conservative, Republican, White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-james-comey-had-to-go-1494542297
— Number of Illegal Cuban Immigrants Caught by Coast Guard Drops to Zero in April  Coast Guard commandant cites effects of Trump, Obama policies on immigration – Ben Kesling
https://www.wsj.com/articles/number-of-illegal-cuban-immigrants-caught-by-coast-guard-drops-to-zero-in-april-1494495006
— Germany Debates How to Spend Its Overflowing Coffers – Andrea Thomas
https://www.wsj.com/articles/with-tax-revenues-high-german-politicians-debate-how-to-spend-the-money-1494508516

 

USA TODAY
— Trump: I planned to fire Comey regardless of Justice Department recommendation – David Jackson (DIERSEN: Of course, my Democrat GAO superiors planned their forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” on September 30, 1997 when I was 49 years old.  Before September of 1997, they falsely led me to believe that they would let me work at least until the regular retirement age of 55 for non-veteran White male GAO employees.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/11/donald-trump-nbc-news-lester-holt/101554166/
— OUTSTANDING: More states follow Trump’s assault on ‘sanctuary cities’ – Alan Gomez (DIERSEN: When will Rauner end sanctuary cities in Illinois?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/05/11/states-crack-down-on-sanctuary-cities-president-trump/101516080/
— Fox’s bill for Roger Ailes settlements is now $45 million – Mike Snider
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/05/10/foxs-bill-roger-ailes-settlements-now-45-million/101515930/
— FRONT PAGE: DISGUSTING: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: ID-check vending machines aim for convenient cannabis – Zlati Meyer
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/05/11/vending-machines-sell-booze-pot/101514340/

 

FORTUNE
— James Comey’s Severance Package May Be a Lot Less Than You Thought – Lucinda Shen (DIERSEN: Constructively, my Democrat GAO superiors have had me on reduced pay administrative leave since September 30, 1997.  So far, in today’s dollars, that has cost me $1,412,820 ($10,250/mo. salary minus $4,238/mo. pension times 235 months equals $1,412,820).)
http://fortune.com/2017/05/11/james-comey-severance-package/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: On the silver screen, members of the intelligence community are rolling in the dough. Think James Bond and his multi-thousand dollar watches, fitted suits, and Aston Martins. But for former FBI director James Corey, the reality is a little less explosive. Comey was set to earn $172,100 of his base salary in 2017, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He may have also been eligible to earn an additional $15,000 based on his performance in 2017. But then President Donald Trump fired Comey Tuesday night—and now Comey is looking at a severance package rather than his full annual salary. When CEOs running a company are dismissed, they are often given a severance package representing a big chunk, if not more, of their annual pay. For instance, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer earned $27 million in 2016 in stock, options, and cash. And after Verizon completes its purchase of Yahoo, Mayer will be out with a hefty additional $23 million as her golden parachute. If Comey were any other federal employee, he would receive a severance close to about $32,254 for his 3 years, 8 months, and 7 days of service at the FBI, and his 56 years and 7 months of age, according to the OPM website. But since Comey is a presidential appointee—his severance is, well, zero, according to the OPM. Not that the lack of severance would leave Comey financially unstable: At the time of his nomination in 2013, Comey’s net worth was estimated at more than $11 million, according to CNN. This was thanks in part to his cushy job at the world’s biggest hedge fund, Bridgewater, where he worked prior to joining the FBI. Comey is also not exactly leaving the FBI in disgrace. Hedge fund managers and politicians have come to his defense, while those on both sides of the aisle are questioning Trump’s rational for firing Comey. The attorney general’s office said the decision was due to Comey’s handling of the Hillary Clinton emails case, but critics are questioning whether or not Comey’s investigation regarding Russia’s influence on the U.S. election had something to do with it. Prior to Comey, the Trump administration abruptly dismissed Preet Bharara, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Sally Yates, former acting Attorney General; and Angella Reid, the former White house chief usher.)

 

THE BEAST
— Trump Threatens to End Press Briefings For Good  (DIERSEN: What do you say to “Republican” activists, candidates, elected officials, party leaders, major donors, political consultants, etc. who pander to the Democrat news media, but a) who do NOT want me to know anything about their events or their other activities, b) who do NOT want me to promote their events or their other activities, c) who do NOT want me to attend or report on their events or other activities, and/or d) who blame me for all of their problems, for all of your problems, for all of my problems, and/or for all of everyone’s problems?)
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/05/12/trump-my-surrogates-are-wrong-sometimes

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.