November 19 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Illinois COVID-19 Update: IL reports 14,612 new coronavirus cases, 168 deaths; more than 6K hospitalized – Craig Wall, Eric Horng, Michelle Gallardo
https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-covid-coronavirus-19-today-restrictions/8097967/
— Mike Madigan confidant and ex-ComEd CEO charged with bribery in lobbying scheme; speaker denies wrongdoing – Diane Pathieu and Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/madigan-denies-wrongdoing-after-confidant-ex-comed-ceo-charged/8089949/

NBC5
— More Than a Dozen Illinois House Democrats Say They Won’t Back Madigan for Speaker, Appearing to Leave Him Short of Votes Needed
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/more-than-a-dozen-illinois-house-democrats-say-they-wont-back-madigan-for-speaker-appearing-to-leave-him-short-of-votes-needed/2375940/

CBS2
— South Suburban Homeowners Have Seen Staggering Property Tax Bill Increases, Officials And Resident Want To Know Why – Dana Kozlov
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/11/19/south-suburban-homeowners-have-seen-staggering-property-tax-bill-increases-officials-and-resident-want-to-know-why/
— Pritzker Calls On Madigan To ‘Answer Every Last Question’ About ComEd Bribery Scandal After New Indictments Tied To Speaker
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/11/19/pritzker-calls-on-madigan-to-answer-every-last-question-about-comed-bribery-scandal-after-new-indictments-tied-to-speaker/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Irked Illinois governor to Speaker: End ‘political circus’- AP
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/illinois-governor-to-speaker-end-political-circus

WGN TV
— GOP lawmakers call for Madigan to step down following indictments in ComEd bribery scheme – Julian Crews
https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/gop-lawmakers-call-for-madigan-to-step-down-following-indictments-in-comed-bribery-scheme/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Political parties can caucus despite health concerns during pandemic, judges rule – TED SLOWIK
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-township-caucus-complaint-st-1120-20201119-tb4vsddha5bxbdsc6ddwnp3f6i-story.html
— Madigan says alleged ComEd scheme was ‘never made known’ to him | Lightfoot’s budget plan advances, vote could happen next week | Trump summons Michigan lawmakers to Washington
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-the-spin-madigan-pritzker-city-budget-trump-michigan-20201120-rn436rg76vgqjaszztvcbjvpoe-story.html
— What the ComEd scandal means, and what it costs – Editorial (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and even worse things.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-indictments-michael-madigan-comed-corruption-20201119-hdzr4t2awzcu5bqjnddc7wdbfi-story.html
(FROM THE EDITORIAL: When the first lid blew off the ComEd corruption case last summer, federal prosecutors and investigators, along with Internal Revenue Service officials, largely confined their case to the conduct of ComEd the company, the corporate entity, the electricity utility. They exposed how private sector patronage works in the ComEd world: hire certain firms and associates as directed, and the interests of the company writ large within the government sector will get favored treatment.)
— Madigan’s hold on speaker’s post in peril as more Democrats turn away; Pritzker says he should resign if he can’t “answer every last question” about corruption probe – JAMIE MUNKS and DAN PETRELLA
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-michael-madigan-illinois-democrats-20201119-nnfoomr55vgf7d6wjurbt7sq2e-story.html
— Illinois Democrats are finally standing up to Madigan. – Eric Zorn
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/eric-zorn/ct-column-madigan-comed-scandal-trump-zorn-20201119-vxp5jw2255dcnootts37cj7y54-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Final nail in ‘The Velvet Hammer’s’ political coffin? Madigan’s record run as speaker could be nearing an end Madigan said he has taken no bribes, adding “I take offense at any notion otherwise.” But three more Democratic House members said they would vote for “a new direction with different leadership,” a move that could deny Madigan the post he’s held for all but two years since 1983. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2020/11/19/21575357/speaker-michael-madigan-commonwealth-edison-bribery-indictment-reaction-michael-mcclain
— Pot firm tied to fading Illinois political dynasty claims it lost out after state mishandled its application Two partners say the firm is tied to controversial Republican Bill Fawell, who lost his bid for Congress this year and has supported conspiracy theories in the past. – Tom Schuba
https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/11/19/21573938/bill-scott-fawell-illinois-pot-lottery-dispensary-republican-lottery

DAILY HERALD
— In Wisconsin, long shot recount may just be prelude to court – AP
https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20201119/news/311199801/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Survival odds now tilt against Madigan Springfield insiders say the beleaguered speaker—facing allegations the governor calls “unspeakably wrong”—now has an uphill battle to retain his post as head of the Illinois House. Here are the latest signs of his unraveling fortunes. – GREG HINZ
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/survival-odds-now-tilt-against-madigan

HERALD NEWS
— Warren Dorris running for Joliet City Council – BOB OKON (DIERSEN: Questions to ask City Council candidates: If elected, would you encourage or discourage the following: reparations, BLM, LGBTQ, dependency on government, dependency on charity, abortion, mass/illegal immigration, booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, more gun controls, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination?)
https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/11/19/warren-dorris-running-for-joliet-city-council/alg4ypc/

DEKALB DAILY CHRONICLE
— State initiative launched to help Illinoisans expunge marijuana arrests, convictions New Leaf Illinois is a state-funded alliance of 20 nonprofits providing free legal representation – RAYMON TRONCOSO (DIERSEN: What if you had been a pot user? If I had been a pot user, I never would have been able to earn a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 in 1970 and job-related master’s degrees when I was 27, 31, and 48, b) job-related professional certifications when I was 30, 32, 41, 45, 47, and 48, and c) a job-related professional license when I was 32. The Post Office would not have hired me in 1966. Firestone Stores would not have hired me in 1970. Oldsmobile would not have offered me a job in 1971. IRS would not have hired me in 1971. GAO would not have hired me in 1980. Using pot shows that you have horrifically bad judgment, that you disrespect the rule of law, and even worse things.)
https://www.daily-chronicle.com/2020/11/19/state-initiative-launched-to-help-illinoisans-expunge-marijuana-arrests-convictions/atgk9po/

RIVER BENDER
— Duckworth, Durbin Help Peters Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees of Critical Protections (DIERSEN: Democrats run the federal government. They use Affirmative Action, Diversity, Inclusion, and up-or-out to not hire and to get rid of federal employees who Republican, and especially those who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/duckworth-durbin-help-peters-introduce-bill-to-block-trump-order-stripping-federal-employees-of-critical-protections-45934.cfm

ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
— Madison County shuts down vote on ‘Blue Lives Matter’ resolution following outcry – Taylor Tiamoyo Harris
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/madison-county-shuts-down-vote-on-blue-lives-matter-resolution-following-outcry/article_7576a7a4-196e-51ed-ad02-e6ba08ff5804.html

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump Administration Labels Movement To Boycott Israel ‘Anti-Semitic’ – COLIN DWYER (DIERSEN: National origin discrimination and religious discrimination are illegal, Nevertheless, my Democrat superiors in the federal government stressed to my supervisors who were Jewish a) that I was 100% German national origin, b) that I was Missouri Synod Lutheran, and c) that I had lived in Crete 1948-1972. I should write a book about the success that they had in forcing my Jewish supervisors to take adverse actions against me.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/post/trump-administration-labels-movement-boycott-israel-anti-semitic#stream/0

ORLAND PARK PATCH
— Tammy Wendt defeats Dan Patlak and the radical Left. Tammy Wendt easily defeats Dan Patlak in Cook County’s First District election for the Board of Review with a margin of 10,123 votes. – Ray Hanania (DIERSEN: What percent of those who voted for Wendt did so to punish Trump?)
https://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/tammy-wendt-defeats-dan-patlak-radical-left

CENTER SQUARE
— Rural Illinois residents voted for Trump, against progressive tax – Kevin Bessler (DIERSEN: What are your connections with farming? On my father’s side, my ancestors homesteaded a farm in Crete in 1854 and my grandmother was born on a farm in Crete. On my mother’s side, my ancestors were sharecroppers on a farm in Grant Park on the Indiana border. My mother was born on that farm. I spent many summer days there during the 1950s and early 1960s.)
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/rural-illinois-residents-voted-for-trump-against-progressive-tax/article_61748e3e-2a8c-11eb-b071-5325517c54d6.html

MCHENRY COUNTRY BLOG
— Slideshow Tribute to County Board Member Chuck Wheeler
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/slideshow-tribute-to-chuck-wheeler/
— IL-14: Jim Oberweis on Final Vote Tally and Discovery Recount
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/oberweis111920/
— Madigan Uses Sgt. Schultz Defense: “Never Made Known to Me”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/madigan-on-the-defensive-never-made-known-to-me/
— Shutting Down More of Economy
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/shutting-down-more-of-economy/
— Tom Weber on Latest Indictments
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/weber/
— Spring Grove Human Trafficking Arrests
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/human-trafficking-arrests/
— Algonquin Appoints Maggie Auger as Village Clerk
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/auger111920/
— Homeland Security Agent Indicted
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/homeland-security-agent-indicted/
— Dan Ugaste: Resign, Madigan
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/ugaste-resign-madigan/
— Northwest Herald Carriers’ Tips Taken by District Manager
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/northwest-herald-carriers-tips-taken-by-district-manager/
— Time to Run for Office for Boards that Levy Most of Your Property Taxes
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/time-to-run-for-office-for-boards-that-levy-most-of-your-property-taxes/
— The Mike Madigan Tee Shirt
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2020/11/19/message-of-the-day-a-tee-shirt-275/

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— MADIGAN’S LEGACY OF CORRUPTION WILL SURVIVE HIS DOWNFALL, UNLESS … – Joe Tabor
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/madigans-legacy-of-corruption-will-survive-his-downfall-unless/

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— THREE GOP LAWMAKERS RENEW CALL, “MADIGAN MUST GO”
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/11/three-gop-lawmakers-renew-call-madigan-must-go.html
— IL HOUSE SPEAKER RESPONDS TO FEDERAL INDICTMENTS OF MULTIPLE ALLIES
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2020/11/il-house-speaker-responds-to-federal-indictments-of-multiple-allies-.html

CAPITOL FAX
— Madigan again claims no wrongdoing, does not address new defections in statement
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/19/madigan-again-claims-no-wrongdoing-does-not-address-new-defections-in-statement/
— Durkin: “Madigan and his long list of defenders need to be removed from power” (DIERSEN: My Democrat IRS superiors removed my mentor who had promoted me in 1972, 1973, and 1974. My Democrat GAO superiors removed my mentor who had hired me in 1980, got me assigned to audits of IRS in 1986, and promoted me in 1986.)
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/18/durkin-madigan-and-his-long-list-of-defenders-need-to-be-removed-from-power/
— HDems still resisting HGOP calls to restart investigative committee
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/19/hdems-still-resisting-hgop-calls-to-restart-investigative-committee/
— 742,000 new unemployment claims nationwide – 46,526 in Illinois – State unemployment rate fell 3.6 points to 6.8 percent in October
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/19/742000-new-unemployment-claims-nationwide-46526-in-illinois-state-unemployment-rate-fell-36-points-to-68-percent-in-october/
— 14,612 new confirmed and probable cases, 168 additional deaths, 6,037 hospitalized, 1,192 in ICU, 12 percent case positivity rate, 14 percent test positivity rate
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/19/14612-new-confirmed-and-probable-cases-168-additional-deaths-6037-hospitalized-1192-in-icu-12-percent-case-positivity-rate-14-percent-test-positivity-rate/
— “It’s over for the little guy” (DIERSEN: My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes promote patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, and even worse things.)
https://capitolfax.com/2020/11/19/it%e2%80%99s-over-for-the-little-guy/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Wisconsin recount begins with a partisan fight over recount rules – Zachary Halaschak
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/wisconsin-recount-begins-with-a-partisan-fight-over-recount-rules
— Possible 2024 contenders Chris Christie and Nikki Haley raise cash for Georgia runoffs – David M. Drucker
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/possible-2024-contenders-chris-christie-and-nikki-haley-raise-cash-for-georgia-runoffs

GOPUSA
— Are Pandemic Lockdowns A Dry Run For The ‘Climate Crisis’?
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=98054
— They Want To Shut You Up – Ben Shapiro
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=98081

BREITBART
— Conservatives Funded by Big Tech Scramble to Defend Industry from Congress – ALLUM BOKHARI (DIERSEN: He who pays the piper calls the tunes. All the time and all the money needed to put together and to send out GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails and to post copies of those emails on www.gopillinois.com comes from me.)
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/11/19/conservatives-funded-by-big-tech-scramble-to-defend-industry-from-congress/

BLAZE
— National Democratic Party official suggests re-education for Trump supporters: ‘How do you deprogram 75 million people?’ Some murky territory here – Sara Taylor (DIERSEN: No matter how hard they try to make me the following, I will never be anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-married people, anti-anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Protestant, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.theblaze.com/news/national-democratic-party-official-deprogram-trump-supporters
— Masks now required inside Pennsylvania homes when members of different households gather Plus those traveling to the state must test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to arrival – DAVE URBANSKI
https://www.theblaze.com/news/masks-required-inside-pennsylvania-homes

CBN NEWS
— Bias on Campus: It’s OK to Call Trump Voters ‘Craven’, ‘Evil’, ‘Terrorists’, but Call Biden Voters ‘Anti-American’ and You’re Out – Kayla Root
https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2020/november/bias-on-campus-its-ok-to-call-trump-voters-craven-evil-terrorists-but-call-biden-voters-anti-american-and-youre-out

ONE NEWS NOW
— Wayne County situation a preview of Biden’s America? – Chad Groening
https://onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2020/11/19/wayne-county-situation-a-preview-of-bidens-america
— GOP sounding alarm, crying foul in GA recount – Billy Davis
https://onenewsnow.com/politics-govt/2020/11/18/gop-sounding-alarm-crying-foul-in-ga-recount

EPOCH TIMES
— Arizona Governor Won’t Accept Election Results Until All Lawsuits Are Settled – JACK PHILLIPS
https://www.theepochtimes.com/arizona-governor-wont-accept-election-results-until-all-lawsuits-are-settled_3585098.html

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— The Censorious Left Is Obliterating Free Speech – David Limbaugh
https://www.creators.com/read/david-limbaugh/11/20/the-censorious-left-is-obliterating-free-speech

WASHINGTON POST
— Walmart and McDonald’s have the most workers on food stamps and Medicaid, new study shows – Eli Rosenberg (DIERSEN: One reason why I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old was GAO’s claim that it was “nonpartisan.” I soon learned that claim was false. If I had been a Democrat, my Democrat GAO superiors would not have a) forced me to take a $20,157 (21%) pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer, b) kept me off audits of IRS for all but 3 of the almost 18 years that I worked for GAO, c) gotten rid of my mentor in 1987, d) given me unfair performance expectations and appraisals, e) failed/refused to promote me beyond GS-13, f) always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, and g) forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/11/18/food-stamps-medicaid-mcdonalds-walmart-bernie-sanders/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A sizable number of the recipients of federal aid programs such as Medicaid and food stamps are employed by some of the biggest and more profitable companies in the United States, chief among them Walmart and McDonald’s, according to a new report from Congress’s nonpartisan watchdog. The Government Accountability Office undertook the study at the behest of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to answer questions about the relationship between employers and the federal assistance programs. The report draws on February data from agencies in 11 states that administer Medicaid and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, or food stamps.)
— The very different view of the election from pro-Trump media – David Weigel
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/19/trailer-very-different-view-election-pro-trump-media/

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
— Teen gunman Kyle Rittenhouse used coronavirus stimulus money to buy rifle used in Wisconsin shooting – NELSON OLIVEIRA
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-kyle-rittenhouse-used-covid-stimulus-money-to-buy-rifle-kenosha-20201119-mydnun2yafhshcpgtmzr5pfxmq-story.html

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.