May 29 Morning Edition

ABC7
— George Floyd death: Minneapolis police station torched amid protest – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/minneapolis-police-station-torched-amid-george-floyd-protest/6218926/
— CNN reporter arrested on live TV after George Floyd protests in Minneapolis
https://abc7chicago.com/cnn-reporter-arrested-on-live-tv-after-george-floyd-protests/6218970/

NBC5
— Minneapolis Protests Spread to Other Cities Across the US Thursday night’s demonstration came as protesters across the country, in cities including Los Angeles, Denver, New York and Memphis, turned out in alliance with demonstrators in Minneapolis, where George Floyd became the latest black man to die in police custody – AP
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/minneapolis-protests-spread-to-other-cities-across-the-us/2279999/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Minneapolis protests in response to the death of George Floyd spread to other cities across the US – AP
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-minneapolis-george-floyd-protests-spread-20200529-kb6vlqslxzcxdfvac4so3ptin4-story.html
— U. of I. study says Illinois can expect more than half-million full-time job losses, tens of billions of dollars in production and income due to pandemic – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-economic-impact-u-of-i-study-20200529-ys7xws77bnefhghqwnjp3axk4a-story.html
— Sens. Durbin and Duckworth defend House Democrats’ $3 trillion pandemic stimulus package, urge end to Senate GOP opposition – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-durbin-duckworth-town-hall-20200529-gggbvqjvn5dvzhbu5rug4tef3y-story.html
— Trump extends National Guard deployments after outcry over benefits – RICK PEARSON
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-trump-national-guard-20200529-s2ovy7gqbvanxhdnnuamwxil6y-story.html
— Angry protesters in Minneapolis enter police precinct, ransack it and set fires in the 3rd night of violent demonstrations following death of George Floyd – TIM SULLIVAN AND AMY FORLITI
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-minneapolis-protests-looting-20200528-u5sy4flhgbg5rh4fgfm56sj3h4-story.html
— Law firm Jenner & Block is sued for $3.8 million in unpaid rent, in first big Chicago office space leasing lawsuit of COVID-19 pandemic – Ryan Ori
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/ryan-ori/ct-biz-coronavirus-lawsuit-jenner-and-block-rent-payments-ryan-ori-20200529-7brsyzldfza6vpaovltco65wpa-story.html
— Back to work? What to expect on your next commute – Editorial (DIERSEN: I rode METRA to/from Wheaton and a) my IRS job in the Loop 1978-1980, b) night/weekend Becker CPA Review courses in the Loop 1978-1979, c) night/weekend classes at DePaul in the Loop 1978-1980, d) my GAO job in the Loop 1980-1997, e) night/weekend classes at Roosevelt in the Loop 1980-1981, and f) night/weekend classes at IIT 1992-1997.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-editorial-coronavirus-cta-metra-mass-transit-future-20200528-t3wqcja4azfknex3ryohxd6n7e-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Pot pushers push pot. If you want to destroy an individual, organization, company, government, or country, you push pot on that individual, organization, company, government, or country.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/28/21273769/chicago-downtown-pot-dispensary-river-north-sunnyside-recreational-weed

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage sheriff: Crime increases in unincorporated areas – Robert Sanchez
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200528/dupage-sheriff-crime-increases-in-unincorporated-areas-as-residents-stay-home

WBEZ
— Coronavirus In Illinois: Nearly Half Of COVID-19 Deaths Were In Long-Term Care Facilities
https://www.wbez.org/stories/coronavirus-in-illinois-nearly-half-of-covid-19-deaths-were-in-long-term-care-facilities/b9d4bbde-4bde-48e1-810b-5cc7df506ca0

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Latest budget looks like work of drunkards – Scott Reeder
https://www.daily-journal.com/opinion/columnists/scott-reeder-latest-budget-looks-like-work-of-drunkards/article_5a7e1c72-9f3a-11ea-b51e-97f7e8f0cf6e.html

SOUTHERN
— Illinois GOP lawmakers (Bryant, Marron, Meier, and Stephens) want audit of state employment agency – BEN ORNER (DIERSEN: I worked for GAO on audits of federal agencies for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-10 levels, currently $101,176-$131,532/year. 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, 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 served on Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter for 13 years.)
https://thesouthern.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-gop-lawmakers-want-audit-of-state-employment-agency/article_3ffb15be-d075-584b-a723-cc11f000eb4a.html

SUBURBAN LIFE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump administration must be held accountable for COVID-19 failures.”
https://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2020/05/28/foster-trump-administration-must-be-held-accountable-for-covid-19-failures/aushbb3/

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— McSweeney mulls lawsuit over ‘defamatory’ Blagojevich video – Mark Maxwell
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/top-stories/mcsweeney-mulls-lawsuit-over-defamatory-blagojevich-video/

NPR ILLINOIS
— U Of I Faculty Group Opposes Fall Campus Reopening – LEE V. GAINES
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/u-i-faculty-group-opposes-fall-campus-reopening#stream/0

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— UIHLEIN BACK WITH A CAUSE – Shia Kapos
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2020/05/29/pritzker-greenlights-churches-uihlein-back-with-a-cause-phase-3-is-real-489369
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Look who’s back. Dick Uihlein, the Republican megadonor known for putting his money behind far-right candidates, just gave $5,000 to state Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), who earlier this month filed a temporary restraining order against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order, saying it was hurting small business owners. The governor has maintained it’s a matter of safety to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Uihlein and his wife, Liz, are taking a stand against the stay-at-home orders. Last month, Liz Uihlein sent a memo to employees at Uline, the couple’s shipping-supply company, urging them to support a petition calling for the recall of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for violating their constitutional right to work during the coronavirus pandemic. The Uihleins have a history of supporting deeply conservative issues: pro-gun, anti-transgender rights, and pro-Roy Moore (the former Alabama U.S. Senate candidate accused of sexual misconduct with young girls). They were big donors in high-profile races in 2018 only to see their candidates lose, POLITICO’s Natasha Korecki wrote at the time. The Uihleins have since pulled back on — but not ended — their political giving. Along with donating to Cabello, their Americas PAC pumped more than $800,000 into funding two Senate races: Republican John James in Michigan and Sen. Joni Ernst in Iowa.)

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker Wilts Hours Before United States Supreme Court Review, Double-Talks About-Face on Churches – Mark Glennon
https://wirepoints.org/pritzker-wilts-hours-before-united-states-supreme-court-review-double-talks-about-face-on-churches-wirepoints/
— Illinois government jobs protected, private sector jobs decimated during COVID-19 shutdown – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner (DIERSEN: GAO jobs held by Republicans, Whites, males, and/or non-veterans who had not made GS-13 (currently $101,176) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $119,559) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $140,634) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (currently $170,800) by age 40 were not protected during the 1980s and 1990s when politicians cut the agency’s budgets.)
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-government-jobs-protected-private-sector-decimated-during-covid-19-shutdown-wirepoints/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Gov. Pritzker removes restrictions on Churches on eve of responding to the U.S. Supreme Court – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/gov-pritzker-removes-restrictions-on-churches-on-eve-of-responding-to-the-u-s-supreme-court/
— Almost six years later, Illinois’ AG determines college violated FOIA – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/almost-six-years-later-illinois-ag-determines-college-violated-foia/
— Gov Pritzker’s response to the U.S. Supreme Court on the Churches’ Emergency Motion – JOHN KRAFT
https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/gov-pritzkers-response-to-the-u-s-supreme-court-on-the-churches-emergency-motion/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— WHY ILLINOIS STATE LAWMAKERS ARE STILL IN LINE FOR AN $1,800 PAY RAISE – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/why-illinois-state-lawmakers-are-still-in-line-for-an-1800-pay-raise/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Gov. Pritzker Backs Down Before The U.S. Supreme Court – David E. Smith
https://illinoisfamily.org/religious/gov-pritzker-backs-down-before-the-u-s-supreme-court/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— FORMER ILLINOIS STATE SENATOR ABOUT COVID-19: “IT’S A LIE TO PRETEND THAT GOVERNMENT CAN PROTECT YOU”
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/former-illinois-state-senator-about-covid-19-its-a-lie-to-pretend-that-government-can-protect-you.html
— ROSSI: HARD FACTS ON THE TRAGIC AND UNNECESSARY COVID 19 SHUTDOWN
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rossi-hard-facts-on-the-tragic-and-unnecessary-covid-19-shutdown.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Madigan issues new guidance to members, staff
https://capitolfax.com/2020/05/29/madigan-issues-new-guidance-to-members-staff/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— NYC City Council passes bill banning ‘dehumanizing’ word ‘alien’ in local laws – Andrew Mark Miller (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats side with foreign countries and with their citizens against America and against its citizens.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/nyc-city-council-passes-bill-banning-dehumanizing-word-alien-in-local-laws
— Trump’s social media regulations would silence conservatives and give legacy media all the power – Tiana Lowe
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/trumps-social-media-regulations-would-silence-conservatives-and-give-legacy-media-all-the-power
— ‘Shut it down as far as I’m concerned’: Trump expresses willingness to shutter social media companies – Madison Dibble (DIERSEN: What percent of those who use social media 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-draft avoiders, anti-German Americans, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/shut-it-down-as-far-as-im-concerned-trump-expresses-willingness-to-shutter-social-media-companies

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Trump Executive Order Strikes At The Heart Of Social Media’s Leftist Censorship – George Rasley
http://www.conservativehq.com/node/32603

HOT AIR
— Conservatives Pan Kushner Plan To Shrink GOP Platform – PHILIP WEGMANN (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes reject some, most, if not all of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform and the Republican Party platform. Most commonly, they reject the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes focus on destroying individuals and destroying organizations that support the aforesaid planks.)
https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2020/05/conservatives-pan-kushner-plan-shrink-gop-platform/

NEWSMAX
— GOP Congressman Pushes Bill to Keep Stimulus Aid Away From Illegal Immigrants – Tauren Dyson
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/illegalimmigrant-stimulus-gopcongressman/2020/05/28/id/969531/

PATRIOT POST
— Trump Defends Free Speech – Gary Bauer (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents what to abolish the First Amendment. My critics/opponents paint themselves as being arbitrators of the truth. According to them, all government and political news and commentary is false except for the government and political news and commentary that they put out or bless. I should write a book about my critics/opponents.)
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/70991-trump-defends-free-speech-2020-05-29
— Trump Takes on Social-Media Censorship The president will sign an executive order aimed at preventing leftist speech suppression. – Thomas Gallatin
https://patriotpost.us/articles/70976-trump-takes-on-social-media-censorship-2020-05-28

EPOCH TIMES
— Trump’s Order Pushes Social Media to Cease ‘Unfair’ Speech Restrictions – BOWEN XIAO AND PETR SVAB (DIERSEN: Of course, my critics/opponents want to restrict me and to restrict my GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails. I should write a book about the adverse actions that my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have taken against me since 2000.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/trumps-order-pushes-social-media-to-cease-unfair-speech-restrictions_3368730.html

THE HILL
— Minneapolis erupts for third night as protests spread, Trump vows retaliation – MIKE LILLIS AND OLIVIA BEAVERS
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/500097-minneapolis-erupts-for-third-night-as-protests-spread-trump-vows-retaliation

POLITICO
— Zuckerberg, Dorsey spar over Twitter’s flagging of Trump’s tweets – QUINT FORGEY (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents paint themselves as being arbitrators of the truth. According to them, all government and political news and commentary is false except for the government and political news and commentary that they put out or bless. I should write a book about my critics/opponents.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/28/zuckerberg-dorsey-spar-over-twitters-flagging-of-trumps-tweets-286881
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued Wednesday that private companies should not be the “arbiter of truth” online, implicitly rebuking fellow tech titan Jack Dorsey after the Twitter CEO flagged a pair of President Donald Trump’s posts with fact-check warnings that provoked the White House’s ire.)

CNN
— CNN team arrested by Minnesota police on live television
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/george-floyd-protest-updates-05-28-20/h_4ed08403663fa4ed3518221d0f2a1552

ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Mail-in voting could turn Election Day into Election Week
https://www.examiner.org/mail-in-voting-could-turn-election-day-into-election-week/

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump-haters hint/imply/argue/shout that Trump-hatred justifies arson
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/us/george-floyd-minneapolis-protests.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A Trump-hater says “Trump’s Looting Remarks Escalate Growing Crisis in Minneapolis. The president’s tweets prompted Twitter to append them with a note saying the posts were glorifying violence.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/us/politics/trump-looting-shooting.html
— Defying Trump, Twitter Doubles Down on Labeling Tweets Twitter continued fact-checking posts even as President Trump threatened to limit protections for social media companies. – Kate Conger and Mike Isaac
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/technology/trump-twitter-fact-check.html

USA TODAY
— Trump wants a crackdown on Twitter, Facebook, but the law protects them. Is that a good thing? – Nathan Bomey
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/05/28/trump-executive-order-social-media-twitter-facebook-fact-checking/5274719002/
— Ready to quit because you’re scared of the coronavirus? Some things you need to know – Charisse Jones (DIERSEN: What percent of employees will demand that their employer get rid of its employees who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes? What percent of members of organizations will demand that their organization get rid of its members who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes?)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/29/can-you-still-get-unemployment-if-you-quit-because-coronavirus/5258438002/
— To reopen economy, Congress must redefine rules for business liability in coronavirus era The goal should be not to focus on liability as an end, but as the means for society to reset expectations for conduct in the new COVID-19 economy. – Adam J. White
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/29/coronavirus-era-congress-must-redefine-rules-business-liability-column/5258965002/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURES: George Floyd video adds to trauma: ‘When is the last time you saw a white person killed online?’ Analysis: African Americans face harmful mental health effects every time high-profile incidents of racism and police brutality go viral, especially when little changes in the aftermath. – Alia E. Dastagir
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/28/george-floyd-ahmaud-arbery-covid-emotional-toll-hits-black-families/5270216002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Social Media Measure seeks to limit the broad legal protection that federal law provides online platforms – John D. McKinnon and Rebecca Ballhaus
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-to-sign-executive-order-targeting-social-media-11590681930
— The Twitter Fairness Doctrine Trying to enforce online ‘neutrality’ is a fool’s errand. Users can make up their own minds. – Editorial
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-twitter-fairness-doctrine-11590708199
— Police Station on Fire in Minneapolis Amid Protests Over George Floyd Death Footage shows a police precinct burning in Minneapolis after it was taken over by protesters late Thursday. Demonstrations over the death of George Floyd in police custody have spread to other cities.
https://www.wsj.com/video/police-station-on-fire-in-minneapolis-amid-protests-over-george-floyd-death/47BE2D2D-CD78-49E3-A373-06209DDABDE4.html
— Twitter’s Labels for Trump Tweets Show Platforms’ Split Over Political Speech Facebook said claim that prompted Twitter action complied with its rules – Deepa Seetharaman (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want the Illinois Republican Party (IRP), DuPage County Republican Central Committee (DCRCC), and Milton Township Republican Organization (MTRO) to stop me from sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails, and failing that, to stop everyone from reading those emails. I should write a book about my critics/opponents and the success that they have had in getting the IRP, DCRCC, MTRO, TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, Illinois, DuPage County, Milton Township, Wheaton, etc. to do what they want.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitters-labels-for-trump-tweets-show-platforms-split-over-political-speech-11590621829
— America’s Churches Weigh Coronavirus Danger Against the Need to Worship – Ian Lovett and Rebecca Elliott (DIERSEN: One could compare and contrast what churches have done to hold meetings with what political organizations have done to hold meetings.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/americas-churches-weigh-coronavirus-danger-against-the-need-to-worship-11590663601
— Tweet Responsibly: A Guide to Twitter in 2020 Between increased discussion of pandemics and politics, Twitter has turned into a messy place. Here are the tools and policies to know about upon entering. – Joanna Stern
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tweet-responsibly-a-guide-to-twitter-in-2020-11590694801
— The Covid Political Earthquake Subsidies will soon end. Americans will then feel the economic pain—and revolt. – Josh Holmes
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-covid-political-earthquake-11590706829
— Ballot-Collection Battles, Split by Partisanship, Move Through Courts Democrats argue third-party collection helps vulnerable voters; Republicans say it is unnecessary and invites fraud – Brent Kendall and Alexa Corse
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ballot-collection-battles-split-by-partisanship-move-through-courts-11590755212

FORBES
— Perks Members Of Congress Give To Themselves – The Selfie Report – Adam Andrzejewski
https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamandrzejewski/2020/05/29/perks-members-of-congress-give-to-themselves–the-selfie-report/

BLOOMBERG LAW
— Twitter Spat With Trump Escalates After Social Media Rule Signed
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/trump-signs-social-media-order-amid-questions-over-what-it-does

SMALL BIZ TRENDS
— 10 Qualities That Make Content Get Shared – And Why You Should Care – Jayson DeMers (DIERSEN: The articles that you share say more about you than anything that you can say about yourself. Since 2000, I have used GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to share articles of interest to Illinois Republicans. Since 2004, those emails have included links to more than 368,800 articles. Since 2000, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have viciously demonized, viciously denigrated, and viciously condemned a) my decisions to include links to articles in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and b) my comments on those articles. Most commonly, they do not want links in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails to articles that promote the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, illegal drugs, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks in the Illinois Republican Party and Republican Party platforms.)
https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/05/what-makes-content-shareable.html

JD SUPRA
— COVID-19: U.S. Employment Considerations for Returning to Work (DIERSEN: What percent of employees will demand that their employer get rid of its employees who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes, before they will come back? What percent of members of organizations will demand that their organization get rid of its members who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes, before they will come back?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/covid-19-u-s-employment-considerations-44141/
— Can Employees Refuse to Return to Work Because of COVID-19? (DIERSEN: What percent of employees will demand that their employer get rid of its employees who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes, before they will come back? What percent of members of organizations will demand that their organization get rid of its members who are old, obese, and/or have health problems, including diabetes, before they will come back?)
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/can-employees-refuse-to-return-to-work-95395/
— Inoculating Against The Coming Spread Of Employee Lawsuits Related To COVID-19
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/inoculating-against-the-coming-spread-14081/
— To Test Or Not to Test: Taking Temperatures, Virus Testing, And Antibody Testing For COVID-19
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/to-test-or-not-to-test-taking-52299/

MS MAGAZINE
— When to Quit: Lessons from Those Serving Our Government Today – ELIZABETH SHACKELFORD (DIERSEN: When have you decided that it was not worth the effort to stay? I am no longer a TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member, Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster, Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member, GAO employee, IRS employee, Firestone Stores employee, Post Office employee, etc. I should write a book about the past and present leaders, members, and employees of the aforesaid who expended to most effort to get rid of me. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois. I would focus on those who falsely paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican to give them standing to destroy individuals, organizations, and governments that are religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://msmagazine.com/2020/05/29/when-to-quit-lessons-from-those-serving-our-government-today/

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.