November 21 Evening Edition

ABC7
— Mayor Lightfoot, City announce recreational marijuana awareness campaign: Cannabis Facts Chicago (DIERSEN: Pot brings down everyone and everything around it.)
https://abc7chicago.com/education/cannabis-facts-chicago-mayor-city-launch-recreational-weed-awareness-campaign/5710762/
(FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT: The City is encouraging residents considering consuming cannabis to review these health and safety tips:
– Protect your brain – Studies have shown that cannabis use in young people can impair brain development.
– Know your dose – Cannabis now comes in many different forms and is much more potent than in the past.
– Avoid frequent use – Daily cannabis use, particularly in high doses, can impair your memory.
– Don’t consume if pregnant or breastfeeding – There is no safe amount of cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding, regardless of how you consume it.
– Don’t drive while high – Driving while under the influence of cannabis is not just dangerous to yourself and others, it’s also illegal.
– Keep it safe – Ensure that the only person using your cannabis is you.)
— Mother of Naperville student targeted in racist Craigslist ad speaks out – Leah Hope and Alexis McAdams
https://abc7chicago.com/society/mother-of-naperville-student-targeted-in-racist-craigslist-ad-speaks-out/5711483/

NBC5
— Wisconsin Poll Shows 40 Percent Support for Removing Trump Republicans in the battleground state are rallying around the president, the poll’s organizers say
https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/wisconsin-poll-shows-only-40-percent-support-for-removing-trump-565254462.html

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Bill to decriminalize marijuana at federal level passes divided U.S. House committee
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bill-to-decriminalize-marijuana-at-federal-level-passes-divided-u-s-house-committee
— 5th Illinois resident dies from vaping as national death toll rises to 47
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/5th-illinois-resident-dies-from-vaping-as-national-death-toll-rises-to-47

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Plan emerges to bring horse racing and casino gambling to Balmoral Park in Crete after Gov. J.B. Pritzker quashes Tinley Park racino – Dan Petrella (DIERSEN: My ancestors used to own the farm land on which Balmoral Park was built. My ancestors have lived in Crete since 1854. My great grandfather and then my grandfather operated Crete’s only hardware store at the northeast corner of Main and Exchange Streets until the 1950s. My parents and I lived in an apartment above it 1948-1954. My brother continues to live in a house in Crete that my grandfather had built in 1926 on land that his grandfather bought in 1864.) 
https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-gambling-expansion-balmoral-park-20191121-i3iyhllzwbezdks6rj4b3sepcy-story.html
https://www.courant.com/ct-illinois-gambling-expansion-balmoral-park-20191121-i3iyhllzwbezdks6rj4b3sepcy-story.html
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Illinois will grow 1 million pounds of marijuana in 2025, ranking it among the top 5 pot-producing states, study says – Ally Marotti
https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/illinois/ct-biz-illinois-marijuana-production-20191121-775bhlfldjaevejpcgjf24mndi-story.html
— Reaction to Trump impeachment testimony depends on one’s political views – TED SLOWIK
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-slowik-impeachment-testimony-reaction-st-1122-20191121-iagvek5bafab7dffgybag2nhmq-story.html
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: Sexual misconduct in Chicago Public Schools continues amid federal oversight: ‘What can we do to prevent this?’ – Hannah Leone
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-chicago-public-schools-sexual-abuse-investigations-update-20191122-3mccxmsd5rh2filslmkrkhorbe-story.html
— Mother, daughters, doctors. Affirmative action at Harvard makes a generational ripple in improving black health care. – UCHE BLACKSTOCK (DIERSEN: I was the first of my ancestors to earn a college degree. Neither of my outstanding parents attended college. My father was the first of his ancestors to earn a high school diploma. My mother never attended high school.) 
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-black-doctors-harvard-20191121-2a27fldrhbbxtky2zeojv2hqqq-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— AS THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S STRANGLEHOLD ON CHICAGO TIGHTENS: McDonald’s accused of allowing ‘epidemic of violence’ at its Chicago restaurants A lawsuit was filed Thursday by 17 workers at 13 Chicago restaurants, including the showcase at McDonald’s corporate headquarters in the West Loop. – Fran Spielman 
https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2019/11/21/20976315/mcdonalds-workers-sue-violence-chicago-restaurants-design
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs want amnesty for illegals who take bad jobs. Have you ever taken a bad job? According to my critics/opponents, all the jobs that I had were bad jobs that they would never stoop to take. I did yard work and delivered newspapers 1962-1964; washed dishes 1964-1966; cleaned golf shoes, chipped slag, and pumped gasoline in 1966; delivered mail 1966-1969; worked on an automobile assembly line and as a security guard in 1970; sold tires, automotive services, and major appliances 1970-1971; pumped gasoline 1971-1972; collected delinquent taxes 1971-1980; and audited federal agencies 1980-1997. 
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2019/11/21/20976316/undocumented-immigrants-migrant-workers-farmers-farm-workforce-modernization-act-marlen-garcia
— Housing protection advances for those with past convictions — prompting congratulations, concerns The committee seal of approval could signal a conclusion to a months-long back and forth between property owners and housing advocates. – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/11/20/20974968/cook-county-anti-housing-discrimination-rules-criminal-history-fair-ordinance
— CPS watchdog fielding 3 complaints of adult sex misconduct per school day Nearly 5 percent of CPS security guards have faced complaints, the CPS inspector general said. – Nader Issa
https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2019/11/20/20973101/cps-sexual-misconduct-inspector-general-complaints-abuse
— War of succession? Pritzker asks replacement process scrutiny as ward bosses’ pick seeks Arroyo seat “I want to make sure that the people of the district get represented properly,” the governor said. “There’s no air of corruption around the person who gets appointed.” – Tina Sfondeles 
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/11/20/20974886/pritzker-ethics-task-force-arroyo-house-vacancies-corruption-federal-investigation

WGN RADIO
— National Marijuana Initiative Coordinator Ed Shemelya joins John Williams to explain the danger of recreational marijuana legalization, its potency and the contrasts between marijuana and alcohol.
https://wgnradio.com/2019/11/21/national-marijuana-initiative-police-officers-are-going-to-have-to-go-back-to-doing-fundamental-police-work/

WAND
— Using ‘OK, Boomer’ at work could get you fired (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government were smart enough to not engage in name calling. But they focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $98,198) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $116,040) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $136,495) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (SES) (currently $165,500) by age 40. In the military, GS-13 is equivalent to Major, GS-14 is equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel, GS-15 is equivalent to Colonel, and SES is equivalent to Brigadier General.)
https://www.wandtv.com/news/using-ok-boomer-at-work-could-get-you-fired/article_94159c5c-0c65-11ea-bc38-03f71ebc0195.html

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— IL-14: Discernment on Lauren Underwood’s Five Point Plan to Reduce Drug Prices
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/11/21/il-14-discernment-on-lauren-underwoods-five-point-plan-to-reduce-drug-prices/ 
— IL-14: Release of “Ted Gradel on Life” Video
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/11/20/il-14-release-of-ted-gradel-on-life-video/
— Don Brewer Running for Judge
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2019/11/21/don-brewer-running-for-judge/

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Yes, Chick-fil-A’s Decision Hurts – Christine Misner 
https://illinoisfamily.org/marriage/yes-chick-fil-as-decision-hurt/

CAPITOL FAX
— ILGOP fires both barrels at no-chance Dem prison chaplain
https://capitolfax.com/2019/11/21/ilgop-fires-both-barrels-at-no-chance-dem-prison-chaplain/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Faith-based groups sue to deny locals a say in refugee resettlement – Stephen Dinan 
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/21/faith-based-groups-sue-deny-locals-say-refugee-res/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Debate uproar as Biden stumbles, saying ‘only African American woman’ (Carol Moseley Braun) elected to Senate supports him – Jon Brown
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/debate-uproar-as-biden-stumbles-saying-only-black-woman-elected-to-senate-supports-him

GOPUSA
— ‘Woke math’ adds up to radicalized students
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=79916

DAILY CALLER
— WH Press Sec Stephanie Grisham: Democrats’ Impeachment Inquiry Motivated By ‘Sick Hatred’ For Trump – AMBER ATHEY
https://dailycaller.com/2019/11/21/white-house-stephanie-grisham-democrats-sick-hatred-trump/

TOWNHALL
— Biden To Booker: Cory, I’m Just as Black as You – Matt Vespa (DIERSEN: From what I see, being called a racist today in America is like being called a Jew in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. Those who are called racists should sue their accusers.)
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2019/11/21/biden-tries-to-say-hes-just-as-black-as-cory-booker-n2556844

HUMAN EVENTS
— The Real Purpose Behind the Immigration Debate. How progressive framing of the immigration issue exposes their true vision for America. – Patrick Garry (DIERSEN: Democrats want immigrants because immigrants vote for Democrats. RINOs want immigrants because RINOs want cheap labor.)
https://humanevents.com/2019/11/21/the-real-purpose-behind-the-immigration-debate/

NEW AMERICAN
— 10-plus Percent of DACA Recipients Arrested, Illegal-alien Smuggler Collared at Border Had DACA Privilege – R. Cort Kirkwood
https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/34100-10-plus-percent-of-daca-recipients-arrested-illegal-alien-smuggler-collared-at-border-had-daca-privilege

COLLEGE FIX
— Students told they’re ‘genocide beneficiaries’ at panel on Native American issues – ALEXANDER PEASE (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, Democrats make it clear that if you are a member of any of the following groups, the longer that your ancestors have been in America, the more that Democrats want to get rid of you: Trump supporter, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, non-poor, gun owner, German American, and/or draft avoider.) 
https://www.thecollegefix.com/students-told-theyre-genocide-beneficiaries-at-panel-on-native-american-issues/

THE HILL
— West Virginia public library removes LGBTQ children’s book from shelves – OWEN DAUGHERTY
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/471509-west-virginia-public-library-removes-lgbtq-childrens-book-from

CBS NEWS
— Hardliners gain key posts at Trump’s citizenship and immigration services agency – CAMILO MONTOYA-GALVEZ
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-immigration-policy-posts-hardliners-including-officials-who-worked-for-a-hate-group-gain-key-positions/

NEW YORK TIMES
— Why We’re Impeaching Our Student Body President Over Trump Jr. The president’s son spoke at the University of Florida for a $50,000 fee. We dug deeper. – Zachariah Chou
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/opinion/donald-trump-jr-university-of-florida.html

NEW YORK POST
— Trump’s impeachment opposed by more independents: poll – Bob Fredericks
https://nypost.com/2019/11/21/trumps-impeachment-opposed-by-more-independents-poll/

FORBES
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: Cannabis Boot Camps Target Equity For Illinois, Michigan And Beyond – Janet Burns (DIERSEN: Pot brings down everyone and everything around it.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janetwburns/2019/11/21/cannabis-boot-camps-target-equity-for-illinois-michigan-and-beyond/
— All The President’s Men: Office Politics At Taxpayer Expense – Keith Flamer
https://www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2019/11/21/all-the-presidents-men-office-politics-at-taxpayer-expense/#6b23472c5912

CASPER STAR TRIBUNE
— Inside the Wyoming GOP, critics are silenced as party leadership turns increasingly to the right – Nick Reynolds
https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/inside-the-wyoming-gop-critics-are-silenced-as-party-leadership/article_5580eefb-3b44-5bfd-8410-ab6c0592f343.html

RASMUSSEN REPORTS
— Voters Fear Violence From Trump’s Foes More Than His Supporters
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/november_2019/voters_fear_violence_from_trump_s_foes_more_than_his_supporters

WIKIPEDIA
— Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DIERSEN: My Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates in the federal government focused on getting rid of federal employees who were Republican, White, male, and/or non-veteran who did not make GS-13 (currently $98,198) by age 25, GS-14 (currently $116,040) by age 30, GS-15 (currently $136,495) by age 35, and Senior Executive Service (SES) (currently $165,500) by age 40. In the military, GS-13 is equivalent to Major, GS-14 is equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel, GS-15 is equivalent to Colonel, and SES is equivalent to Brigadier General.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Officer_Personnel_Management_Act

(FROM THE POSTING: DOPMA created stable and predictable career paths, institutionalized relatively short careers compared to private industry, and mandated the military adopt an “up or out” personnel management strategy (requiring officers who failed selection for promotion to be removed from the service). Although DOPMA accomplished many of its intended goals, many provisions and consequences of the legislation remain controversial. . .The DOPMA “system” generally provides two opportunities to advance to the next rank. Officers typically will go before selection boards in cohorts based on the year they were commissioned. The majority of officers are promoted “in zone” (or “primary zone”); officers not selected will go before the next board (“above zone”), typically held a year later. Officers who are not selected “above zone” (twice fail promotion) are required to separate from the service, retire if eligible, or by exception may continue to serve until retirement in their current grade (but will never again be considered for promotion). At the discretion of the services a small number of promotions may go to exceptional officers (“below zone”) who are promoted one or two years ahead of their cohort. Congress desired “due course” officers (those selected in the primary zone) to be promoted within set windows based on time served in the current grade and cumulative years of service. While not specified in DOPMA, Department of Defense policy established targets for selection to the next grade, as a percentage from the surviving cohort. Desired promotion rates and reporting requirements of service board results are regularly published by DoD. Current promotion guidelines are as follows:)

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.