May 6 Morning Edition

ABC7
— 2nd coronavirus wave: How bad will it be as lockdowns ease? – AP
https://abc7chicago.com/health/2nd-coronavirus-wave-how-bad-will-it-be-as-lockdowns-ease/6156117/
— Illinois state Representative Kam Buckner stopped by police after leaving store while wearing mask
https://abc7chicago.com/society/il-state-rep-wearing-mask-stopped-by-police-after-leaving-store/6156129/


CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Coronavirus pandemic could cause $560 million in Illinois gas tax revenue losses this year, possibly delaying some road and rail plans: report – Mary Wisniewski
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-illinois-transportation-funding-20200506-aybzvr2n7vamlgf5a7g7xjqg6i-story.html
— The Kavanaugh-Biden double standard and an appalling lack of curiosity over Michael Flynn – John Kass
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/john-kass/ct-coronavirus-journalism-kass-20200506-ofkta4jeuff4zckhhera5xchkq-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Bitter pill: Pritzker says without vaccine, treatment or immunity ‘returning to normalcy doesn’t exist’ Tempering that message even more, the governor released his “Restore Illinois” plan on the same day the state suffered its largest number of COVID-19 deaths in single day — 176 more Illinois residents lost to the coronavirus. – Tina Sfondeles, Sam Charles, and Neal Earley
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/5/21248601/pritzker-reopen-restore-illinois-vaccine-treatment-immunity-normalcy-downstate-regions
— Thankfully, Pritzker’s ‘Restore Illinois’ plan relies on science, not politics The governor is using hard-and-fast metrics to determine how to reopen Illinois in a reasonably safe way. The standards won’t please everybody, but we see nothing overtly punishing or political about them. – Editorial
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/5/21248613/restore-illinois-j-b-pritzker-coronavirus-covid-19-recovery-plan-editorial
— Front-line face-offs: Mask rule sparks threats, rebellion, shouting at store workers: ‘And we can’t do anything about it’ “My fear is that these instances will escalate into a situation where someone will get hurt,” one anonymous store manager wrote after a series of confrontations with shoppers over the mask requirement. – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/5/5/21248762/illinois-grocery-store-mask-requirement-coronavirus-retailers

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Legislators from Elmhurst, Oak Brook and Western Springs eager to meet and work on state’s coronavirus response plan – KIMBERLY FORNEK and CHUCK FIELDMAN
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/western-springs/ct-dws-local-legislators-coronavirus-comments-tl-0507-20200505-ghfaepghmrendbhnpyi752yvom-story.html
— Latino communities in Illinois see uptick in COVID-19 confirmed cases: ‘Physical distancing is a privilege’ – ELVIA MALAGÓN, HAL DARDICK, CECILIA REYES and JESSICA VILLAGOMEZ
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-spread-latino-neighborhoods-chicago-20200506-cq2cyli5sfhldjmpwtt2vvtmd4-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— Naperville delaying $24.9 million in spending to offset pandemic losses – Marie Wilson (DIERSEN: How many millions of dollars in spending are the government entities on your real estate tax bill delaying to offset pandemic losses?)
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20200506/naperville-delaying-249-million-in-spending-to-offset-pandemic-losses

WTTW
— Celebrating Milestones is Different These Days, But Life Goes On – Amanda Vinicky (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes, I am nowhere near as grateful as I should be for what I have. They hint/imply/argue/shout that I did not really earn what I have and that I do not disserve what I have. What days do you celebrate? Because of age discrimination, I do not celebrate my birthday. I would much rather celebrate the days when I got confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran (1962), bought my first Chevrolet (1964), bought a new Pontiac (1966), graduated from high school (1966), got hired by the Post Office (1966), bought my first new Oldsmobile (1967), bought my first new Dodge (1968), earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU (1970), got hired by Firestone Stores (1970), got hired by IRS (1971), bought my first new Corvette (1971), got promoted by IRS (1972, 1973, and 1974), bought a new town home in University Park (1972), bought a studio condo in the Outer Drive East (ODE) building in downtown Chicago (1974), earned an MBA from Loyola (1976), bought a one bedroom condo in the ODE building (1976), got married (1978), bought 1017 East Harrison in Wheaton (1978), passed the CPA examination on my first attempt (1979), got hired by GAO (1980), earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul (1980), passed the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt (1981), became a licensed CPA (1981), joined the Executive Committee of the Chicago Chapter of the Association Of Government Accountants (1983), had 915 Cove Court built in Wheaton (1984), got promoted by GAO (1986), bought my first new Ford (1989), earned job-related professional certifications (1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997), completed my 25th year as federal employee (1993), earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT (1997), became a Republican Precinct Committeeman (1999), became the GOPUSA Illinois Editor (2000), became a Milton Township Republican Organization Webmaster (2000 and 2008), became a director of the American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter (2001), became a member of the Steering Committee of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (2003), became a member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee (2003), became the Chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois (2005), etc.)
https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/22/celebrating-milestones-different-these-days-life-goes

PEKIN DAILY TIMES
— Peoria officials have many questions about Pritzker’s plan to reopen the state – Leslie Renken (DIERSEN: What Phase is your municipality, township, county, and region in, and who determined that?)
https://www.pekintimes.com/news/20200505/peoria-officials-have-many-questions-about-pritzkerrsquos-plan-to-reopen-state
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Pritzker has created a five-stage plan that utilizes medical metrics to determine when regions can begin to lift restrictions. Phase 2 began May 1, and the Tri-County Area is already achieving benchmarks that could potentially make it eligible to move into Phase 3, said Monica Hendrickson, administrator for the Peoria City/County Health Department. Phase 3 would allow manufacturing, retail, barbershops and salons to reopen with capacity restrictions, and gatherings of 10 or more people for any reason. . .Under the governor’s plan, the state has been divided into regions that will be considered as a whole when it comes to moving through the five phases of reopening. It appears that Peoria is in the same region as Rockford, which has been harder hit during the pandemic. The thought that Peoria’s ability to reopen could be affected by Rockford was troubling to Ardis. . . According to the governor, May 29 is the earliest any region could move into Phase 3. “If there isn’t any flexibility given for the communities that are already there, I would be very disappointed,” he said. Civic and health leaders from Peoria County and the city submitted their plan for reopening to Pritzker on Tuesday, said Ardis, who was surprised that Pritzker came out with his plan so quickly. The daily count of confirmed COVID-19 cases is at 175 for the Tri-County region, said Hendrickson. Peoria now has 112 cases, Tazewell has 50 and Woodford has 13. There has also been another death, a woman in her 90s with underlying health conditions. The Tri-County Area has now seen 8 deaths from COVID-19.)

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— What would it take to re-open DeKalb County under Gov. Pritzker’s new plan? Rep. Jeff Keicher says further details are needed regarding Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan – KELSEY RETTKE
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2020/05/05/what-would-it-take-to-re-open-dekalb-county-under-gov-pritzkers-new-plan/a2zdqzi/

HERALD & REVIEW
— Here’s what Decatur, Macon County leaders think about Pritzker’s ‘Restore Illinois’ plan – Analisa Trofimuk
https://herald-review.com/news/local/heres-what-decatur-macon-county-leaders-think-about-pritzkers-restore-illinois-plan/article_21a63b07-1b7e-53c5-aa20-9be1e370797a.html

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— ‘Restore Illinois’ gets cautious thumbs-up from Bloomington-Normal leaders – Paul Swiech, Kelsey Watznauer, SIERRA HENRY
https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/restore-illinois-gets-cautious-thumbs-up-from-bloomington-normal-leaders/article_95aff01d-9684-5bcc-afae-768ad5c7a850.html

PLATT COUNTY JOURNAL REPUBLICAN
— Rodney Davis Calls for Direct Funding for Local Governments
https://www.journal-republican.com/coronavirus/davis-calls-for-direct-funding-for-local-governments/article_4759900c-8f9c-11ea-8846-d7efd78b1d92.html

FOX ILLINOIS
— Biden pressed to choose a black woman as his running mate (DIERSEN: My superiors in the federal government were pressed by Democrat politicians to hire, retain, and promote young Democrat minorities and young Democrat females. That forced them to get rid of their employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who they had not promoted to 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.)
https://foxillinois.com/news/nation-world/biden-pressed-to-choose-a-black-woman-as-his-running-mate

NEWS CHANNEL 20
— Reaction pours in about reopening Illinois plan
https://newschannel20.com/news/local/reaction-pours-in-about-reopening-illinois-plan
— Michigan woman arraigned in killing of Family Dollar security guard over face mask – AP
https://newschannel20.com/news/coronavirus/woman-arraigned-in-killing-of-security-guard-over-virus-mask

WEEK
— “Restore Illinois” – Local leaders react to Pritzker’s phased regional plan – Kaitlin Pearson
https://week.com/2020/05/05/restore-illinois-local-leaders-react-to-pritzkers-phased-regional-plan/

KHQA
— Law enforcement respond to more calls during COVID-19 pandemic – Lynsey Whitaker
https://khqa.com/news/coronavirus/law-enforcement-respond-to-more-calls-during-covid-19-pandemic

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Festivals, Concerts Canceled Until Coronavirus Is Defeated, But Pritzker Won’t Commit To Canceling Lolla Major events that attract big crowds won’t be allowed until a vaccine is developed or new cases stop popping up, the governor said. – Stephanie Lulay
https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/05/05/festivals-concerts-and-other-big-events-canceled-until-coronavirus-is-eradicated-pritzker-says/

CHICAGO NOW
— Chicago Fed President Evans counsels patience and teamwork as we finesse a likely 20% – 40% U.S. GDP drop – Jeff Berkowitz
http://www.chicagonow.com/public-affairs-with-jeff-berkowitz/2020/05/chicago-fed-president-charles-evans-counsels-patience-and-teamwork-as-we-finesse-a-likely-20-to-40-u-s-gdp-drop/

CENTER SQUARE
— Pritzker says Illinois lawmakers must wear masks for when they return to Springfield – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/pritzker-says-illinois-lawmakers-must-wear-masks-for-when-they-return-to-springfield/article_ba0fd01e-8e31-11ea-8f96-e7c7f45be6b2.html

WIREPOINTS
— Illinois delays $1.2 billion bond issue. Will it tap new Federal Reserve program? – Ted Dabrowski
https://wirepoints.org/illinois-delays-1-2-billion-bond-issue-will-it-tap-new-federal-reserve-program-wirepoints/
— April State of Illinois Revenues Tank, Special Funds Raided – Quicktake
https://wirepoints.org/april-state-of-illinois-revenues-tank-special-funds-raided-quicktake/

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Illinois -The truth (on isolation/closure orders) shall set you free – KIRK ALLEN
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2020/05/illinois-the-truth-on-isolation-closure-orders-shall-set-you-free/

ILLINOIS FAMILY ACTION
— Progressive Scolds Suck Up to Communist China – Laurie Higgins
https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/2020/05/progressive-scolds-suck-up-to-communist-china/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— MORRIS: COUNTERING PRITZKER’S ENDLESS ‘EMERGENCY’ POWER GRAB IN COURT
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/morris-countering-pritzkers-endless-emergency-power-grab-in-court.html
— LOSING IT: 72% OF LOCKED-DOWN AMERICANS SAY THEY’LL REACH ‘BREAKING POINT’ BY MID-JUNE
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/losing-it-72-of-locked-down-americans-say-theyll-reach-breaking-point-by-mid-june.html
— DR. SCOTT ATLAS: THE DATA IS IN — STOP THE PANIC AND END THE TOTAL ISOLATION
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/dr-scott-atlas-the-data-is-in-stop-the-panic-and-end-the-total-isolation.html
— ROSSI: COVID 19 VS. FREEDOM
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/05/rossi-covid-19-vs-freedom.html

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Presidential campaigns staying virtual even as battleground states open up – David M. Drucker
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential-campaigns-staying-virtual-even-as-battleground-states-open-up

NEWSMAX
— COVID Testing — Opiate For The Masses – Milt Thomas (DIERSEN: What does the future hold for those who have tested positive COVID-19?)
https://www.newsmax.com/miltthomas/covid19-coronavirus-testing/2020/05/05/id/966098/

BREITBART
— Green New Deal, Healthcare for Illegals: Soros-Funded Groups Push Dems to Use Virus to Achieve Progressive Wish List – AARON KLEIN
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/05/green-new-deal-healthcare-for-illegals-soros-funded-groups-push-dems-to-use-virus-to-achieve-progressive-wish-list/

TOWNHALL
— CNN’s Cuomo Lecture on ‘Fools’ Easing on Social Distancing Showcases Bias Against Red States – Matt Vespa
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2020/05/06/cnns-cuomo-lecture-on-fools-easing-on-social-distancing-only-showcases-bias-against-red-states-n2568283

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— OUR DESTINY – Eric Wallace
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/latest-news/opinion/our-destiny/

DAILY CALLER
— New Democratic Organization Pays Social Media Influencers To Disagree With Trump (DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who focus on destroying “media influencers” who they cannot manipulate/dominate. 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 paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/04/trump-influencer-isis-propaganda/
— How Beijing Grooms Journalists Globally To Do The Chinese Communist Party’s Work For Them (DIERSEN: I should write a book those who focus on destroying journalists who they cannot “groom.” 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 paint themselves as being religious, conservative, and/or Republican.)
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/04/trump-influencer-isis-propaganda/
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/04/china-grooms-reporters-propoganda-communist-party-international-state-news/
— Here Are The Major US Industries And Corporations Most In Bed With China
https://dailycaller.com/2020/05/05/us-companies-china-coronavirus-patriots/

PATRIOT POST
— Gay Lawmakers Demand Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse Leave NYC – Todd Starnes (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, those who promote LGBTQ activity, that is Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs, focus on destroying those who do not promote LGBTQ activity, that is, Republicans.)
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/70432-gay-lawmakers-demand-franklin-graham-samaritans-purse-leave-nyc-2020-05-05

LIFE NEWS
— David Daleiden Will Fight Ruling Forcing Him to Pay Millions for Exposing Planned Parenthood – MICAIAH BILGER
https://www.lifenews.com/2020/05/05/david-daleiden-will-fight-ruling-forcing-him-to-pay-millions-for-exposing-planned-parenthood/

EPOCH TIMES
— Democrats Gamble Everything on Dislike of Trump and Promotion of Lockdown – Conrad Black
https://www.theepochtimes.com/democrats-gamble-everything-on-dislike-of-trump-and-promotion-of-lockdown_3339825.html
— Lawmaker to Introduce Bill to Help US Manufacturers Move Out of China – CATHY HE
https://www.theepochtimes.com/lawmaker-to-introduce-bill-to-help-us-manufacturers-move-out-of-china_3339236.html

THE HILL
— Do party platforms matter for candidates? – MARK MELLMAN (DIERSEN: Political parties exist to help elect candidates who can and will defend and advance their platform.)
https://thehill.com/opinion/mark-mellman/496281-mellman-do-party-platforms-matter-for-candidates

NEW YORK TIMES
— With New Hot Spots Emerging, No Sign of a Respite While cities like New York have seen a hopeful drop in cases, upticks in other major cities and smaller communities have offset those decreases. – Julie Bosman, Mitch Smith and Amy Harmon
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/us/coronavirus-deaths-cases-united-states.html
— What Is the Real Coronavirus Toll in Each State? – Josh Katz, Denise Lu and Margot Sanger-Katz
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/05/us/coronavirus-death-toll-us.html

WASHINGTON POST
— Americans widely oppose reopening most businesses, despite easing of restrictions in some states, Post-U. Md. poll finds – Dan Balz and Emily Guskin
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/americans-widely-oppose-reopening-most-businesses-despite-easing-of-restrictions-in-some-states-post-u-md-poll-finds/2020/05/04/495ddc3a-8e36-11ea-9e23-6914ee410a5f_story.html
— A massive drop in car sales sparks new push in Congress to aid the auto industry Since outbreak began, retailers have sold nearly 800,000 fewer vehicles than forecast, spurring some lawmakers to consider new federal incentives for buyers – Tony Romm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/06/congress-auto-industry-aid/

NEW YORK POST
— Is the coronavirus antibody test a magic bullet — or false hope? – Isabel Vincent
https://nypost.com/2020/05/02/the-coronavirus-antibody-test-magic-bullet-or-false-hope/

WNCT
— North Carolina Republican Party State Convention rescheduled due to COVID-19 – Dalisa Robles
https://www.wnct.com/news/north-carolina/north-carolina-republican-party-state-convention-rescheduled-due-to-covid-19/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Disney Takes $1.4 Billion Hit to Earnings as Coronavirus Takes Hold Theme-parks division bears the brunt, but widespread lockdowns will deepen impact on company – Erich Schwartzel
https://www.wsj.com/articles/disneys-income-falls-as-coronavirus-takes-hold-11588710935
— Welcome Back to the Office. Your Every Move Will Be Watched. Employers plan new tools to measure office interactions and track workers’ health – Konrad Putzier and Chip Cutter (DIERSEN: How has your health been? While I worked for the federal government for almost 30 years, I had better health than virtually all my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates. They did like that at all. Many hinted that if I had not avoided the draft, I would have had health problems.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lockdown-reopen-office-coronavirus-privacy-11588689725
— Sysco Paints Dire Picture for Restaurants Earnings from the food-service giant suggest that many coronavirus-related business closures won’t be temporary – Charley Grant
https://www.wsj.com/articles/table-for-none-sysco-paints-dire-picture-for-restaurants-11588696296
— Phase Out, Don’t Bail Out, the Post Office Nostalgia shouldn’t keep alive an agency that is obsolete. – Gary MacDougal (DIERSEN: I disagree.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/phase-out-dont-bail-out-the-post-office-11588719001

FORTUNE
— The pandemic makes the case for more transparent layoffs – MICHAL LEV-RAM
https://fortune.com/2020/05/06/coronavirus-layoffs-unemployment-covid-19/

MARKET WATCH
— Death tally tops 250,000; reports say internal projections show government expects surge in COVID-19 cases – Ciara Linnane
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coronavirus-update-death-tally-tops-250000-reports-say-internal-government-projections-show-big-rise-in-cases-to-come-2020-05-05

USA TODAY
— 21M job losses, 16% unemployment would reflect just part of the economic damage from the coronavirus – Paul Davidson
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/05/06/coronavirus-16-unemployment-rate-would-reflect-only-part-pain/5172238002/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, and RINOs work with foreign countries and their citizens to destroy individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/06/trump-blame-china-coronavirus-new-blame-mexico-build-wall-column/3085647001/

NEWSWEEK
— REPUBLICANS NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN DEMOCRATS TO REFUSE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE – JEFFERY MARTIN
https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-nearly-three-times-more-likely-democrats-refuse-coronavirus-vaccine-poll-1502176

FED WEEK
— GAO Finds only Partial Progress on Key Federal Workforce Issues (DIERSEN: I should write a book about how my Democrat GAO superiors wasted my career and got rid of me. They forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, gave me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, got rid of my mentor in 1987, kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, and forced me to take a $20,157 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, minority, female, and/or veteran.)
https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/gao-finds-only-partial-progress-on-key-federal-workforce-issues/

GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— FEMA Is Deploying Employees Ill-Prepared for Disaster Response, Report Finds – Eric Katz (DIERSEN: What were you prepared for? In 1980, when I transferred from IRS to GAO, I was prepared to work for GAO on audits of IRS. I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, $85,084-$96,431/year. I had passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979. I had almost completed the requirements for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul. I had earned an MBA from Loyola in 1976. But the Democrats who ran GAO refused to assign me to audits of IRS except for 3 years (1986-1988) of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO.)
https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/05/fema-deploying-employees-ill-prepared-disaster-response-report-finds/165160/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The federal government’s disaster response workforce is often unprepared and underqualified when deployed to regions in need of immediate assistance, according to a new report, which found the employees were often designated as maintaining skills they lacked in reality. The qualification issues were exacerbated by severe staffing shortfalls at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Government Accountability Office found in a new report.)

SYP STUDIOS
— Genes will decide how coronavirus will affect you seriously – Chris Rynolds
https://sypstudios.com/genes-will-decide-how-coronavirus-will-affect-you-seriously/

GM AUTHORITY
— Coronavirus could limit 2020 Chevrolet Corvette production to 2,700 cars – Kirk Bell
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1128058_coronavirus-could-limit-2020-chevrolet-corvette-production-to-2-700-cars

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.