October 27 Evening Edition

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— CHICAGO GOP CHAIRMAN CHRIS CLEVELAND STANDS UP TO RAUNER’S BULLYING TACTICS (FROM THE ARTICLE: It’s past time for the state central committee to step in and right the ship. First, I ask that you prevail upon Bruce Rauner to stop the petty retribution. This is the Republican Party, not the mob, and it’s time for them to grow up. Second, I ask that you consider separating the state party apparatus from the Rauner campaign.)
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/10/chicago-gop-chairman-stands-up-to-rauners-bullying-tactics.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Chris Cleveland, chairman of the Chicago GOP and a conservative leader in the party, wrote to the IL GOP’s State Central Committee this week, expressing the frustrations the conservative base is having with the party’s direction and Governor Rauner’s bullying tactics within the party ranks. “State Central Committee member, I’m writing to alert you to a problem with the Rauner campaign’s use of state party resources, and to problems within the state party generally. A few days ago, a Chicago GOP staffer was informed that he could no longer use a desk within state party headquarters. We had put him there a few days a week so we could coordinate our activities with the state party. In the past, the city GOP has frequently supplied volunteers for state party-backed candidates. The reason they offered was a press report that I was under consideration as Rep. Jeanne Ives running mate. (Jeanne and I have talked, but as of this moment she has not yet made a final decision, and she has a number of very good candidates to choose from.) Subsequently, the state party cut off our GOPDataCenter access. Consider what has happened here: the Rauner campaign has ordered the state party to cut off an elected, regular Republican organization, based purely on the rumor that the head of the organization *might* be working with a candidate in a primary against him. To the best of my knowledge, the state central committee has neither endorsed nor slated Bruce Rauner. And given the widespread doubt within the Republican Party over his policy choices and his ability to execute, it seems to me that some dissent is warranted. But whether you love him or hate him, this behavior is abusive, and the state central committee should not stand for it. Our difficulties with the state party go beyond this recent behavior. It has long been the position of senior staffers in the state party that the Chicago GOP should not be running candidates in the city. The theory is that this just “activates” the other side and reminds them that there is an election. We in the Chicago GOP have rejected this position, and believe that a vigorous attack in the belly of the beast has many benefits. While the Chicago GOP is a small organization, and Chicago is often derided as a Democratic bastion, the number of Republican voters here is not small. We cover 7.5% of the Republican voters in the state, more than any county except Cook and DuPage, with 20,000 more voters than the next largest county, Lake. You ignore this constituency at your peril. Four years ago, we ran candidates across the city for the purpose of generating enthusiasm and volunteers for phone calls and door knocks. In close coordination with the Rauner campaign, we flooded their offices with volunteers and executed 363,000 voter contacts, 263,000 of which were door knocks. We were able to raise Rauner’s vote in Chicago to 20.63%, just a hair above the magic 20% threshold. And he won. If Rauner is on the ballot this fall, this won’t happen. Not because we wouldn’t want to; we’re loyal Republicans and Rauner over Pritzker would be an easy choice. It won’t happen because the state party has consistently undermined our efforts to recruit here, and because there is zero enthusiasm for this governor. Even prior to HB 40, we couldn’t get people to sign his petition. It’s past time for the state central committee to step in and right the ship. First, I ask that you prevail upon Bruce Rauner to stop the petty retribution. This is the Republican Party, not the mob, and it’s time for them to grow up. Second, I ask that you consider separating the state party apparatus from the Rauner campaign. They are acting as one and the same, but our party is bigger than Bruce, and we have broader concerns than his personal well-being. Notably, we need to take back the House, and we have two very viable candidates for state rep in Chicago, both of whom *might actually win*. A party must support such activities. I am open to discussing this matter with any of you individually. Chris Cleveland Chairman, Chicago Republican Party)
— GOP COULD WIN 9 DEM HOUSE SEATS IN 2018, GRAB MADIGAN’S MAJORITY – Nancy Thorner
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/10/thorner-gop-could-win-9-dem-house-seats-in-2018-grab-madigans-majority.html
— COMBAT VETERAN RAFAEL HIM RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE IN THE 54TH DISTRICT
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/10/combat-veteran-running-for-state-senate-in-the-54th-district.html

ABC7
— Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announces run for attorney general – AP
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/former-gov-pat-quinn-announces-run-for-attorney-general/2575759/
— Rauner ‘deeply troubled’ by accounts of sexual harassment in Springfield – Craig Wall
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/rauner-deeply-troubled-by-accounts-of-sexual-harassment-in-springfield/2575811/

NBC5
— Illinois Governor’s Race ‘Leaning Democratic’ According to New Ranking – James Neveau
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/governor-rauner-classified-as-vulnerable-according-to-new-ranking-453672463.html
— Former Governor Pat Quinn Running for Attorney General
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/former-governor-pat-quinn-running-for-attorney-general-453712053.html

CBS2
— Gov. Rauner Calls For Zero Tolerance Against Sex Harassment – Derrick Blakley
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/10/27/gov-rauner-calls-for-zero-tolerance-on-sex-harassment/
— Rauner ‘Deeply, Deeply Troubled’ By Letter Detailing Sexual Harassment In Springfield – Craig Dellimore
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/10/27/bruce-rauner-open-letter-sexual-harassment-springfield/
— Ex-Gov. Pat Quinn To Run For Illinois Attorney General
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/10/27/ex-gov-pat-quinn-to-run-for-illinois-attorney-general/

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announces run for attorney general – AP
http://www.fox32chicago.com/politics/former-illinois-gov-pat-quinn-announces-run-for-attorney-general

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Rauner calls transparency bill ‘political manipulation,’ angering GOP – Tina Sfondeles
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/rauner-calls-transparency-bill-political-manipulation-angering-gop/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Many lawmakers saw those comments as a sour grapes response to the override, which passed with a 112-0 vote on Wednesday. It was also seen as a strange comment as the governor continues to try to gain back the support of Republican lawmakers after many criticized him for signing a bill to expand taxpayer-funding of abortions. The override was one of nearly a dozen the Illinois House delivered to the governor this week. He did score a major victory, however, in the failed override of a bill that would have prohibited local municipalities from enacting “right-to-work” zones. State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said he was happy to co-sponsor the debt transparency legislation and asked Republican colleagues to unanimously support the override. “It was the right thing to do. #thatsleadership,” Skillicorn tweeted. Others had stronger words for the governor’s backlash. “This is another example of failed Governor Rauner’s alternate reality,” State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, said. “The governor lost 112-0 on the override — no Republicans voted against the override.” McSweeney said the measure will allow lawmakers and the public to know just how much the state owes, including $2.8 billion in unappropriated bills, which was detailed in a bond offering submitted by the governor’s office and the state’s budget office. “The real question is what did the governor know about the hidden bills and when did he know it?” McSweeney said. Mendoza’s office said the unanimous vote shows the measure represented good policy. “That vote — 112-0 — every single Republican voting with every single Democrat, that ends the discussion over whether this is good policy or politics,” Mendoza spokesman Abdon Pallasch said. “Madigan did not hypnotize [Republicans] David McSweeney and Jeanne Ives to vote for the bill? No. it’s just good policy and the legislators could see which side was telling the truth on this one.” The governor, though, said he is a “strong advocate for transparency” while bringing up a months old feud with Mendoza about IT upgrades.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote voter fraud.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/dick-durbin-tammy-duckworth-illinois-quit-crosscheck-kris-kobach/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Republicans say “The Grand Old Party is at a crossroads as Americans suffer.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/republican-party-crossroads-as-americans-suffer-lincoln-gop/
— Ex-Gov. Pat Quinn to run for state attorney general – Michael Sneed
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/ex-illinois-governor-pat-quinn-run-attorney-general/
— Black economic virtue flows one way: out of our community – John Fountain
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/racism-discrimination-businesses-black-communities-fountain/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: QUESTION: Which individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries promote divisiveness? ANSWER: Those that 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 longer than their ancestors.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/trump-nixon-jackson-american-divisiveness-kadner/
— Tensions simmer between African-Americans and Latinos – LAURA WASHINGTON – Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/latinos-blacks-tension-laura-washington/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Ives will probably challenge Rauner – Scott Reeder
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-reeder-column-st-1029-20171027-story.html
— Ex-Gov. Pat Quinn looks at possible attorney general bid
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-pat-quinn-attorney-general-20171027-story.html
— Lake County is a ‘role model’ for progressive drug treatment programs, says lieutenant governor – Jim Newton
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-state-officials-opioid-crisis-visit-st-1028-20171027-story.html
— All of the women who have accused Trump of sexual harassment are lying, White House says – John Wagner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-sexual-harassment–20171027-story.html
— ‘It’s been worse’ for liberties under Trump, ACLU official says – Rafael Guerrero
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ecn-ecc-aclu-visit-st-1029-20171027-story.html

DAILY HERALD
— State officials visit Lake County to learn about substance abuse programs – Russell Lissau
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171027/state-officials-visit-lake-county-to-learn-about-substance-abuse-programs
— Survey aims to find causes of Naperville students’ stress
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171027/survey-aims-to-find-causes-of-naperville-students-stress

BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT
— Why would a sane billionaire spend his fortune to lead the Illinois asylum? – Editorial
http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article181237511.html

NPR ILLINOIS
— Women Are Speaking Up About Harassment And Abuse, But Why Now? – ELIZABETH BLAIR
http://nprillinois.org/post/women-are-speaking-about-harassment-and-abuse-why-now#stream/0

ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
— Illinois politicians will continue to hail a progressive income tax as a quick fix to the state’s poor spending habits. Don’t be tricked. – Austin Berg
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/the-illinois-tax-trick-thats-years-in-the-making/

CAPITOL FAX
— “This is the Republican Party, not the mob”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/this-is-the-republican-party-not-the-mob/
— Because… Madigan!
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/because-madigan-40/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rep. Jeanne Ives was asked this week what she’d do if she was elected governor… “So, what would I do differently? That’s a good question. First of all I’d ask everybody to turn out. You have to completely turn out, uh, turnover the Democrat legislature. You must get rid of Mike Madigan. He is stopping all the good economic policies that would come to fruition.” Which leads us to this kinda tongue in cheek oppo dump… Jeanne Ives: Secret Democrat? . . . Proft Ally Jeanne Ives Has Raised 24 Percent Of Her Campaign Funds From Donors Who Also Gave To Madigan Jeanne Ives Has Raised $288,943.11 Since First Running For Office In 2011. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17) $68,012 – 24 Percent – Of Ives’ Fundraising Has Come From Donors Who Also Contributed To Friends Of Michael J. Madigan. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17) Proft Called Out Durkin For Receiving Money From A Union That Also Gave To Ives . . . Ives Received A $1,000 Contribution From The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee On September 5, 2017. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17) Ives Has Received $5,900 Since 2013 From The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management Political Action Committee. (Illinois Board of Elections, Accessed 10/26/17) The contributions are compiled here.)
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats promote voter fraud.
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/duckworth-durbin-demand-state-exit-crosscheck/
— Dem AG candidate claims “all voting machines have been penetrated by the Russians in Illinois”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/dem-ag-candidate-claims-all-voting-machines-have-been-penetrated-by-the-russians-in-illinois/
— Rauner travels to Israel next week
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/rauner-travels-to-israel-next-week/
— General Assembly’s inspector general post still vacant
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/gas-inspector-general-post-still-vacant/
— Facebook and Twitter roll out changes to fend off regulation
https://capitolfax.com/2017/10/27/facebook-and-twitter-roll-out-changes-to-fend-off-regulation/

GOPUSA
— Gun Control: An opportunity for the NFL to become even more unpopular
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=32472

BREITBART
— Poll: Majority of White People Believe Whites Also Face Discrimination – WARNER TODD HUSTON (DIERSEN: Democrats use Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion to get rid of Republicans, and especially Republicans who are White, male, older, and/or non-veteran.)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/26/poll-majority-white-people-believe-whites-also-face-discrimination/

DAILY CALLER
— Washington Post Article Calls For Amendment To ‘Ban The Incitement Of Bigotry’ The Washington Post published an article Thursday that called for a constitutional amendment to ban inequality and racist speech. – Justin Caruso (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps promote hatred of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/27/wapo-article-calls-for-amendment-to-ban-the-incitement-of-bigotry/

TOWNHALL
— GAO Will Soon Investigate Trump’s Voter Fraud Commission – Leah Barkoukis
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2017/10/27/trumps-voter-fraud-commission-is-going-to-be-investigated-n2401237

ABC NEWS
— GOP faith ambassador quits, complains of priorities of RNC – AP
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gop-faith-ambassador-quits-complains-priorities-rnc-50772425

WASHINGTON POST
— Illinois college Republicans say free speech limited to ‘0.0013 percent’ of campus in federal lawsuit – Justin Wm. Moyer
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2017/10/26/illinois-college-republicans-say-free-speech-limited-to-0-0013-percent-of-campus-in-federal-lawsuit/

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— Former Illinois Governor Announces Run for Attorney General Former Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn is joining a crowded field attempting to become the state’s next attorney general. – AP
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/illinois/articles/2017-10-27/former-illinois-governor-announces-run-for-attorney-general

BLOOMBERG
— Cities Fall Short on Preparing for Disaster Meanwhile, U.S. companies are going all in to prepare for the effects of climate change. – Nathaniel Bullard
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-10-27/cities-fall-short-on-preparing-for-disaster

BUSINESS INSIDER
— Americans are already showing signs of maxing out on debt – Pedro Nicolaci da Costa (DIERSEN: My wife and I have never come anywhere close to “maxing out on debt.” My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes hint/imply/argue/shout that is because I avoided the draft, the federal government grossly overpaid me, my wife and I gave up trying to have children, we did not adopt, we did not become foster parents, my federal retirement benefits are much too generous, and I do not give lots of money to a church like they do. Our supporters would stress that my wife and I always saved a lot of our income for our retirement.)
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-consumer-debt-is-a-problem-for-the-poor-2017-10

NEW REPUBLIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps call Trump and his supporters White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
https://newrepublic.com/article/145534/disdain-black-women-doesnt-stop-donald-trump

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.