May 15 Morning Edition

GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— Factors that discourage Illinois residents who are religious, conservative, and/or Republican from planning on attending the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee meeting in Springfield this Saturday, May 19:
– Those who want Tim Schneider reelected as IRP chairman have not asked you to attend,  

– The meeting agenda might not include a public comment period,
– The meeting room might be filled to capacity before you get there,
– It appears that the Winchester v. IRP lawsuit has not been filed and that it will not be filed,
– Ives and other IRP chairman candidate Mark Shaw supporters might not be allowed to speak,
– Possibly, the meeting will be broadcast live over the internet, and
– It appears that Tim Schneider will be reelected IRP chairman no matter what.  – Dave Diersen
https://gopillinois.com

 

WILLIAM J KELLY
— Rauner’s opponent, William J. Kelly gears up for fight for the Illinois GOP
http://www.williamjkelly.org/news/rauners-opponent-william-j-kelly-gears-up-for-fight-for-the-illinois-gop
(FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT: WHAT: William J. Kelly, independent candidate for Illinois Governor, will have a press conference on Friday to discuss the future of the post-Rauner Illinois GOP. Kelly also plans to speak at the Illinois GOP State Central Committee meeting on Saturday morning and will be broadcasting live from the State Central Committee meeting. Kelly has released the following statement: “The last four years have been difficult ones for those of us who sounded the warning bell on Bruce Rauner and that bell has finally been heard at a terrible cost: Illinois is now a sanctuary state and expanded taxpayer-funded abortion on demand is the law of the land. The blame is not Governor Rauner’s alone; he had help. I blame Rauner’s payroll conservatives at Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Opportunity Project, and Liberty Principles PAC. In 2013, when Rauner announced for Governor, his history as a liberal pro-abortion, pro-amnesty Democrat donor was already well-known. Ignoring this, a number of conservative leaders and donors heralded Rauner’s coming. Illinois Policy Institute’s John Tillman and Liberty Principles PAC’s Dan Proft were well-paid to induce conservative voters to support Rauner despite his left-wing history. A number of Illinois Tea Party leaders forced Rauner on us too, attacking anyone who opposed him. For the last four years I, too, have endured the public attacks of Rauner’s payroll conservatives. However, since Rauner’s betrayal on illegal immigration and abortion, many former Raunerites have apologized to me. We need to recruit new conservative and tea party leaders to take the place of those that let us down. I am running for Illinois Governor to reform, rebuild, and redeem the Illinois Republican Party now and for the future. Please join me.”
WHEN: Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:00 AM
WHERE: Blue Room (room 010), Illinois state capitol building, 401 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62706
CONTACT: Amy Olson 312-768-8683 or by email at williamjpkelly@gmail.com)

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— State election board director says hacking a ‘declaration of war’ – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: If Russians hacked Illinois election data to help elect Trump, they certainly failed. Trump got only 127 votes in my precinct and Clinton got 211.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-elections-board-hacking-20180515-story,amp.html
— Efforts to battle opioid crisis are ‘starting to pay off’ in Will County, officials say – Susan DeMar Lafferty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-will-heroin-summit-st-0515-story.html
— Dozens of Crete homes made from Sears kits – Jerry Shnay (DIERSEN: During the 1950s and early 1960s, I frequently visited my aunt and uncle who lived in a Sears home just four doors north of my parents’ 1926 home on Wood Street in Crete. They had introduced my father and mother to each other and they sparked my interest in cars. The homes two and three doors north of my parent’s home are also Sears homes.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-shnay-column-st-0515-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Here are some facts about Crete. The first settlers came to the area in 1836. The Will County town was incorporated in 1880 and the 2010 census listed its population as 8,227. In 2012, the Crete-Monee High School football team won a state championship. Crete also is home to more than 40 houses sold by Sears, making it the largest repository for these dwellings in the south suburbs, according to Phyllis Monks, president of the Crete Area Historical Society. Monks said residents were able to build “kit” homes because trains made frequent stops at the local depot, leaving all that was needed to build one in two boxcars.)
— In Rauner’s gun proposal, politics comes ahead of policy – Dahleen Glanton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-dahleen-glanton-rauner-assault-weapons-20180514-story.html
— Report offers solutions for Chicago region’s segregation woes – Patrick M. O’Connell (DIERSEN: What have you done to cut down your work commute time? Since my wife and I got married in 1978, we have always lived in walking distance of a commuter train station in Wheaton. I bought a one bedroom condo in 1976 and a studio condo in 1974 in downtown Chicago so that I could walk to work and to night classes. I bought a new town home in 1972 when I worked in Harvey. I asked Firestone Stores to assign me to its Chicago Heights Store in 1970 when I was living with my mother and brother in Crete.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-chicago-segregation-report-20180511-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Moore wanted to move closer to work but said he could not afford the rent at apartments on the Northwest Side or nearby suburbs that would have made his commute more manageable. And even if he could, Moore said he often felt out of place in the predominantly white neighborhoods. “It’s almost like being an alien, you know,” Moore said. “It’s like, do I belong here?” Moore, who lives in North Lawndale, eventually found work as a community organizer in a job that reduced his travel time by more than half. Moore’s hunt for affordable housing, a shorter commute and a different neighborhood are among the elements highlighted in the Metropolitan Planning Council’s new report on the Chicago region’s segregation, which offers a buffet of initiatives that take aim at entrenched racism and inequities holding back the region.)
— HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Will liberals see backlash? Few heeding old warning. – Heidi Stevens (DIERSEN: Members of Group A should expect that at some point, members of Group B will start defending themselves and fight back. Members of Group A are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time and members of Group B are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older people, rich people, gun owners, German Americans, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Members of Group B have purchased a tremendous amount of firearms and ammunition for their self-defense.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-life-stevens-monday-liberal-backlash-me-too-0514-story.html
— A full day of Rauner boasts at forum – Rick Pearson
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-elections-board-hacking-20180515-story,amp.html
— How the death penalty was abolished in Illinois
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-illinois-death-penalty-timeline-gfx-20180514-htmlstory.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats want immigrants because immigrants overwhelmingly vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/illinois-hospitality-industry-needs-the-work-ethic-immigrants-bring-to-the-job/

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Chicago Fed team proposes perhaps the dumbest ‘solution’ yet to the state’s pension crisis – MARK GLENNON
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180515/ISSUE07/180519937
— Odds leap for legal Illinois sports betting – GREG HINZ (DIERSEN: If you promote gambling, you are a) Democrat, Libertarian, and/or RINO and/or b) anti-religious, anti-conservative, and/or anti-Republican.)
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180515/BLOGS02/180519934#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-morning10&utm_campaign=ccb-morning10-20180515

 

HERALD & REVIEW
— Rauner’s top priorities sidelined in final budget talks of his first term – KIM GEIGER (DIERSEN: Rauner says that he has no social agenda, but he has signed legislation that promotes LGBTQ activity, abortion, and illegal immigration.)
https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/rauner-s-top-priorities-sidelined-in-final-budget-talks-of/article_93ae10f8-0c53-5ccd-b7e1-88d92f7bac1e.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rauner’s amendatory veto revives death-penalty debate – Ben Zigterman (DIERSEN: I should write a book about George Ryan promoters who blame me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails a) for all of George Ryan’s problems, b) for all of their problems, c) for all of your problems, d) for all of my problems, and e) for all of everyone’s problems. They all but shout that were in not for me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, George Ryan would still be the Governor of Illinois.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-05-15/rauners-amendatory-veto-revives-death-penalty-debate.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In 2000, Gov. George Ryan placed a moratorium on the death penalty because of the number of wrongful convictions.)
— Rauner taps Chicago corporate attorney Sanford “Sandy” Perl for last UI trustees vacancy – Julie Wurth
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-05-14/rauner-taps-chicago-corporate-attorney-last-ui-trustees-vacancy.html

 

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Senate unanimously confirms Belleville native Amy St. Eve to serve as federal circuit judge – KARA BERG (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, and especially those who promote patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation are overjoyed about this and will use this against me. St. Eve denied me my 7th Amendment rights in Diersen v. GAO, that is, she denied me a jury trial. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/)
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article211147019.html

 

STATELINE
— Leaders Weigh in on Governor Rauner’s Controversial Death Penalty – Jerrica Valtierra
http://www.mystateline.com/news/leaders-weigh-in-on-governor-rauner-s-controversial-death-penalty/1179440424

 

  1. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
    — DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, politicians who are anti-men hint/imply/argue/shout that most if not virtually all men abuse women and that therefore, men should be gotten rid of.
    http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/women-seize-on-their-past-abuse-to-fuel-political-ambition/article_fbeb784b-8f0f-5452-91a0-af323ae165b0.html

 

WJBD RADIO
— Leaks plague White House despite crackdown (DIERSEN: Of course, ever since I became the GOPUSA Illinois Editor in 2000, I have been demonized, denigrated, and condemned as being a leaker by Democrats and Democrat plants, by Libertarians and Libertarian plants, by Greens and Green plants, and by RINOs. Should I sue the aforesaid? I have never been a leaker.)
http://www.wjbdradio.com/politics/2018/05/14/leaks-plague-white-house-despite-crackdown

 

ILLINOIS CHANNEL
— Joe Topinka Remembers his Mother, Judy Baar Topinka with a new book, “Just Judy” (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, starting in 2000, me and my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails caused all the problems that Topinka had.)
http://www.illinoischannel.org/2018/05/14/joe-topinka-remembers-his-mother-judy-baar-topinka-with-a-new-book-just-judy/

 

CITY OF WHEATON
— New Route for Memorial Day Parade (DIERSEN: Please consider watching the parade a) in Ives’ precinct along Main Street between Roosevelt Road and Elm Street and along Elm Street between Main Street and Wheaton Avenue or b) in my precinct along Elm Street between Wheaton Avenue and Warrenville Road and along Warrenville Road between Elm Street and the Wheaton Cemetery at 1209 South Warrenville Road. Please consider watching the ceremony. It starts at 11:00 AM at the Wheaton Cemetery in my precinct.)
https://www.wheaton.il.us/civicalerts.aspx?AID=98

 

WIREPOINTS
— A note to readers: We’re getting our research spread and our viewpoint heard – Mark Glennon (DIERSEN: GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails drive lots of internet traffic to Wirepoints articles.)
http://www.wirepoints.com/a-note-to-readers-were-getting-our-research-spread-and-our-viewpoint-heard-wirepoints-original/

 

WEST COOK NEWS
— ‘It’s like being foreclosed on;’ Read Oak Park homeowners’ stunning comments on their property tax bills
https://westcooknews.com/stories/511416463-it-s-like-being-foreclosed-on-read-oak-park-homeowners-stunning-comments-on-their-property-tax-bills#new_tab

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Ives roiled by lack of a permanent legislative inspector general in Springfield – Glenn Minnis (DIERSEN: What qualifications do want an Illinois Legislative Inspector General to have? I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. I became a Forensic Accountant in 1997, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and a CPA in 1979.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511413724-ives-roiled-by-lack-of-a-permanent-legislative-inspector-general-in-springfield
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Noting that during the time the inspector general’s post went vacant at last 27 complaints of harassment in Springfield went unscrutinized, Ives added, “We only have three weeks before regular session adjourns and there has been no resolution prepared to designate a permanent legislative inspector general. Legislative leaders of both parties and members of the Legislative Ethics Commission should make this a priority.”)

 

MCHENRY TIMES
— Skillicorn embraces Trump volunteer Shane Bouvet who wants to ‘drain the swamp’ in Illinois – Marian Johns (DIERSEN: What have you done that might prompt elected officials to embrace you? I led a major effort that succeeded in getting Comcast to start carrying Fox News Channel in Wheaton and in other west suburban municipalities in 2002. I organized a picnic in my precinct that drew all five announced Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, Randy Hultgren, and other elected officials in 2003. I organized Wheaton’s 9/11 ceremonies in 2004 and 2005.)
https://mchenrytimes.com/stories/511412510-skillicorn-embraces-trump-volunteer-who-wants-to-drain-the-swamp-in-illinois

 

ILLINOIS HOMEPAGE
— Pritzker dares Rauner to sign pro-choice pledge – Mark Maxwell (DIERSEN: When will Rauner sign a pledge that he will not take any action against any of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) platform, including its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks? When will Rauner sign a pledge that he will defend and advance all the planks in the IRP platform, including its traditional family, right to life, and immigration planks?)
http://www.illinoishomepage.net/news/local-news/pritzker-dares-rauner-to-sign-pro-choice-pledge/1179558037

 

ILLINOIS NEWS NETWORK
— Southern Illinois mayor says cities across the state face insolvency from pension debt – Cole Lauterbach
https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/southern-illinois-mayor-says-cities-across-the-state-face-insolvency/article_11166cb0-5478-11e8-b37f-c7abbf681e32.html

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Opposition emerges to Rauner AV
https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/14/opposition-emerges-to-rauner-av/
— Gov. Rauner warns against name-calling, and then does just that
https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/15/gov-rauner-warns-against-name-calling-and-then-does-just-that/
— Elections director says Russia declared war on Illinois
https://capitolfax.com/2018/05/15/elections-director-says-russia-declared-war-on-illinois/

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Senate confirms two more of Trump’s judicial picks (Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve) to the 7th Circuit – Alex Swoyer (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, and especially those who promote patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and retaliation are overjoyed about this and will use this against me. St. Eve denied me my 7th Amendment rights in Diersen v. GAO, that is, she denied me a jury trial. SEE: https://gopillinois.com/documents/)
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/14/michael-scudder-amy-st-eve-trump-judges-confirmed-/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In a 90-0 vote, Michael Scudder, a Chicago-based lawyer, was cleared and Amy St. Eve, a judge for the Northern District of Illinois, was confirmed by a 91-0 vote.)

 

DAILY CALLER
— It’s Time For Common Sense Pit Bull Regulation – SCOTT GREER
http://dailycaller.com/2018/05/15/pit-bull-regulation/

 

CAMPUS REFORM
— Northeastern Illinois University philosophy professor says ‘wealth redistribution’ key to ‘sexual fulfillment’ – Celine Ryan
https://www.campusreform.org/?ID=10887

 

THE HILL
— Pompeo lifts hiring freeze at State Department – MAX GREENWOOD (DIERSEN: While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the agency was almost always under hiring and/or promotion freezes. Overwhelmingly, my GAO superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates were Democrats who a) blamed the hiring and/or promotion freezes on Republicans and b) took their anger against Republicans out on GAO’s few Republican employees including me.)
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/387719-pompeo-lifts-hiring-freeze-at-state-department

 

POLITICO
— Trump says leaks are exaggerated but vows to track down ‘traitors’ – REBECCA MORIN (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. I have never leaked anything. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have falsely hinted/implied/argued/shouted that I am a leaker. I should sue my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes.)
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/trump-leaks-traitors-white-house-586041

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Workplace Inspections Increase in Pursuit of Illegal Hirings There were 3,510 site investigations between Oct. 1 and May 4, more than all of fiscal year 2017 – Laura Meckler (DIERSEN: Ever-increasing, employers in America talk and act like they want to replace all their employees who are citizens of America with citizens of foreign countries.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/workplace-inspections-increase-in-pursuit-of-undocumented-hirings-1526336685
— CEO Pay and Performance Often Don’t Match Up The S&P 500 CEOs who received the biggest pay increases scored middling shareholder returns – Vanessa Fuhrmans (DIERSEN: While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, to make GS-13 (currently $96,403) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $113,920) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $134,000) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $164,200) by age 40, you had to a) excel at hiring, retaining, and promoting young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females and b) excel at getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make the aforesaid promotions. Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of Republicans, and especially to get rid of Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ceo-pay-and-performance-dont-match-up-1526299200
— The Issue Is Liberty, Not Gambling The Supreme Court says Congress can’t command state legislatures. (DIERSEN: If you promote gambling, you are a) Democrat, Libertarian, and/or RINO and/or b) anti-religious, anti-conservative, and/or anti-Republican.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-issue-is-liberty-not-gambling-1526338622

 

USA TODAY
— Sports-betting ruling feeds states’ gambling addiction – Editorial
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/05/14/supreme-court-sports-betting-ruling-feeds-states-gambling-addiction-editorials-debates/609179002/

 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Trump talks to Hannity on the phone nearly every night to ‘decompress’: report – JESSICA CHIA
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-talks-hannity-phone-night-report-article-1.3990081

 

PEOPLE’S WORLD
— How free is the free press in Trump’s America? – BARBARA RUSSUM (DIERSEN: If my critics/opponents could stop my Civil Service Retirement System pension, my federal health, dental, and vision insurance subsidy, my Medicare, and/or my Social Security to stop me from putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails together and sending them out, they certainly would have done that by now. So far, they, their operatives, and their dupes have ended my TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairmanship, my Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee membership, my Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster service, my Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee membership, and my American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board membership.)
https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/how-free-is-the-free-press-in-trumps-america/

(FROM THE ARTICLE: There is an old saying, “He who pays the piper calls the tune,” meaning that someone who provides the money has the right to determine what it is spent on. In journalism these days it has taken on a sinister connotation for everything from censoring school newspapers to the firing and even murder of outspoken journalists. Here in the U.S. we like to reflect on the concept of a free press as written into the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. But President Donald Trump describes journalists who offer anything but fawning coverage of him and his administration as “enemies of the people.” Another president, Richard Nixon, also once declared, “The press is the enemy.” Carl Bernstein, one of the Washington Post reporters who exposed Nixon’s Watergate scandal in the 1970s, says Trump’s rhetoric is similar to Nixon’s in that he is “trying to divide the country, and make the conduct of the press the issue, instead of the conduct of the president.” The Trump administration is trying to get the public to buy the idea that when a newspaper or television network reports anything that is at all unflattering to the president that newspaper or network is automatically displaying its bias. “In Donald Trump’s America,” said the Los Angeles Times in an editorial, “the mere act of reporting news unflattering to the president is held up as evidence of bias. Journalists are slandered. Facts that contradict Trump’s version of reality are dismissed as ‘fake news.’ Reporters and their news organizations are ‘pathetic,’ ‘very dishonest,’ ‘failing,’ and even, in one memorable turn of phrase, ‘a pile of garbage.’” While Trump aims his fire at even objective reporting that shines light on negative features of his administration, not all newspapers, television networks and other media outlets are placed on his enemies list. Some, like Fox News, shower praise on the president almost round the clock and he rewards them with frequent exclusive interviews. It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that a big difference between the networks and outlooks he likes and the ones he opposes correlates to who owns those various networks and outlets. It goes without saying that the high costs of putting out the news favors billionaires to become owners of huge chunks of print and broadcasting media and it is not always easy to keep track of who owns what. Recent headlines provide an example of how it can get confusing: “Comcast prepares all-cash bid to gate-crash Disney-Fox deal,” or “Disney Could Give Up Sky to Get Fox Assets.” Another fact is that big money doesn’t just limit itself to controlling editorial policy. At times it goes after the ability of newspapers to even continue to exist. Clarity about the nature of what goes on in a world where big money influences journalism was the aim of a May 8 Democracy Now show with Amy Goodman and Juan González. They talked about how rank and file journalists are rising up against a Wall Street hedge fund that is chewing up and spitting out newsrooms across the country. Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund, owns Digital First media, the nation’s second largest newspaper chain.)

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.