September 19, 2024

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

ABC7
— Teamsters opt to not endorse any presidential candidate
https://abc7chicago.com/teamsters-international-brotherhood-opt-not-endorse-any-presidential-candidate/15321091/

NBC5
— House rejects government funding bill linked to proof of citizenship for new voters. Speaker Johnson’s plan called for a six-month funding bill tied to Trump-backed voter ID legislation. The government will shut down on Oct. 1 if Congress fails to act.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/house-vote-stopgap-funding-bill-to-avert-partial-shutdown/3551552/
— To vote for Harris/Walz is to vote for the dissolution of the Republican Party.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/111-republican-former-officials-lawmakers-endorse-harris-over-trump/3551216/

CBS2
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly glorify and praise “Republicans” including Kinzinger who endorse Harris/Walz.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-endorsing-kamala-harris-2024/
— How much has inflation decreased the purchasing power of your income and savings?
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-inflation-cost-households-28000-biden-harris-fact-check/
— Trump wants to end the $10,000 SALT deduction cap. I have always opposed the $10,000 SALT deduction cap. Because of that cap, since 2017, my wife and I can no longer pay less federal income tax by itemizing. Itemizing lowered my federal income tax bill 1972-1977 and lowered my and my wife’s federal income tax bill 1978-2017. We have deducted real estate taxes since 1978, I deducted real estate taxes 1972-1977, and I deducted education expenses 1972-1981 and 1992-1997.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-salt-deduction-cap-10000-tax-cuts-jobs-act-reversal/

WGN9
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin reacts to one year without cash bail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpHMrpoYh_Y

FOX32
— ‘Beyond offensive’: Chicago alderman criticized for social media post about Lebanon attacks
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-alderman-criticized-social-media-post-lebanon-attacks
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “Given the fact that Chicago has one of the highest Muslim populations in the United States, and definitely the highest number of Palestinian Americans in the United States, I think it’s extremely irresponsible and childish,” Slavin added.)

WTTW
— A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. (COMMENT: Under the Democrats and under the RINOs, poverty and crime ever-increasingly increase, and therefore, the need for self-defense ever-increasingly increases.)
https://news.wttw.com/2024/09/18/gun-expert-says-illinois-assault-weapons-ban-describes-most-popular-firearms-i-m-involved

WBEZ
— Chicago’s new ‘Brown Belt’ is populated by Mexican residents who help fuel the area economy. Researchers say Mexicans are concentrated in the low-wage workforce. They make up more than half of Chicago’s construction laborers and more than 71% of the city’s landscapers.
https://www.wbez.org/race-class-communities/2024/09/18/chicagos-new-brown-belt-is-populated-by-mexican-residents-who-help-fuel-the-area-economy-report-says

WGN RADIO
— Chicago Public Schools teachers say they were told by administrators to give migrant students passing grades
https://wgnradio.com/news/chicago-public-schools-teachers-say-they-were-told-by-administrators-to-give-migrant-students-passing-grades/
— What Fed rate cut means for you (COMMENT: Borrowers want lower interest rates. Savers want higher interest rates.)
https://wgnradio.com/wintrust-business-lunch/wintrust-business-lunch-9-18-24-terry-savage-what-fed-rate-cut-means-for-you/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Secret Service scrambled after Trump’s short notice on golf outing, forgoing a scan of the course’s perimeter
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/09/17/secret-service-scrambled-after-trumps-short-notice-on-golf-outing/

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Chicago’s new ‘Brown Belt’ is populated by Mexican residents who help fuel the area economy. Researchers say Mexicans are concentrated in the low-wage workforce. They make up more than half of Chicago’s construction laborers and more than 71% of the city’s landscapers.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2024/09/18/chicagos-new-brown-belt-is-populated-by-mexican-residents-who-help-fuel-the-area-economy-report-says
— Hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-haters ever-increasingly promote more hatred against Trump.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2024/09/18/election-workers-threats-donald-trump-dangerous-rhetoric-s-e-cupp

DAILY HERALD
— Underwood, Marter have vastly different views on abortion in 14th House District race
https://www.dailyherald.com/20240917/article/underwood-marter-have-vastly-different-views-on-abortion-in-14th-house-district-race/
— FRONT PAGE: In 2009, I successfully led the effort to ban video gambling in Wheaton. In 2019, I successfully led the effort to ban the sale of pot in Wheaton. My critics/opponents promote booze, gambling, pot, and other vices.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20240918/news/a-matter-of-our-survival-naperville-restaurant-owners-ask-city-to-reconsider-gambling-ban/

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— ‘Sporting rifle’ or military grade? Day 2 of assault weapon ban trial revolves around gun design. An engineer who designed weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified the weapons in question are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/day-2-assault-weapon-ban-trial-revolves-around-design

TELEGRAPH
— 7 Illinois counties consider leaving state in 2024 election
https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/illinois-counties-secession-chicago-jersey-greene-19771209.php

PEORIA STANDARD
— LaHood calls for passage of SAVE Act ahead of November elections. This legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote, would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
https://peoriastandard.com/stories/664412127-lahood-calls-for-passage-of-save-act-ahead-of-november-elections

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Democrats ever-increasingly use Haitians to promote hatred against Trump.
https://www.news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/a-news-site-that-covers-haitian-americans-is-facing-harassment-over-its-post-debate-coverage/article_6b950a3f-4d4b-53ec-9958-6b639196c736.html

WIFR
— Democrats ever-increasingly glorify and praise the Pretrial Fairness Act.
https://www.wifr.com/2024/09/19/rockford-faith-leaders-praise-pretrial-fairness-act-reportedly-returning-140-million-illinoisans/

NPR ILLINOIS
— Trump charges Biden with improperly using “Temporary Protected Status.”
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-09-18/vance-says-haitian-migrants-with-protected-status-are-illegal-aliens-to-be-deported

— Connie Chung says booze and bawdy jokes helped her break into journalism’s boys club (COMMENT: I transferred from IRS to GAO in 1980 when I was 31 years old. I soon learned that all but one of my Chicago Office superiors were Democrats who were older, White, male, big drinkers, big smokers, and/or big spectator sports watchers and betters. Because I have always been conservative, I rejected their strong advice to join them in those activities, that is, I rejected their strong advice to join their “boys club.” Because of that, they did everything that they could to waste my career and to get rid of me. They rejected my emphasis on job-related education and professionalism. They ignored/dismissed/belittled my IRS work experience, my earning job-related master’s degrees in 1976, 1980, and 1997, my earning job-related professional certifications in 1979, 1981, 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1997, and my earning a job-related professional license in 1981. They overtly rejected my efforts to recruit them to join the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter. If their leader had not gone on extended sick leave in 1985 because of his very heavy drinking, the GAO manager who had arranged for my transfer from IRS, would never had been able to assign me to audits of IRS in 1986 or to promote to GS-13 in 1986. But their leader came back in 1987 and forced that GAO manager to retire in 1987. He then threw me off audits of IRS, gave me an extremely bad job assignment, unfair job performance expectations, and unfair job performance appraisal. He ranked me the lowest of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes. He ever-increasingly turned against me my Democrat superiors, supervisors, coworkers, and subordinates who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or who had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time. His ever-increasing adverse actions against me forced me to seek help from my Congressman Henry Hyde in 1989. If GAO had been unionized, I would have sought help from its union. But GAO did not unionize until 2007.)
https://www.nprillinois.org/2024-09-18/connie-chung-says-booze-and-bawdy-jokes-helped-her-break-into-journalisms-boys-club

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Democrats ever-increasingly glorify and praise Harris.
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/ap-voters-view-harris-more-favorably-as-she-settles-into-role-atop-democratic-ticket-ap-norc-poll/

CWB CHICAGO
— He’s the 25th person charged with killing or trying to kill someone in Chicago this year while having a felony case pending
https://cwbchicago.com/2024/09/hes-the-25th-person-charged-with-killing-or-trying-to-kill-someone-in-chicago-this-year-while-having-a-felony-case-pending.html

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
— Mexican Families Now Are The Majority Population In 15 Chicago Neighborhoods. Mexican families are moving outside of their traditional Pilsen and Little Village strongholds to make up Chicago’s new “Brown Belt.”
https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/09/17/mexican-families-now-are-the-majority-population-in-15-chicago-neighborhoods-report-shows/

CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2024/09/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-372/
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2024/09/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-165/

FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

ILLINOIS GOP
— According to records obtained from courthouses across Illinois, Third District Appellate Court candidate John Anderson has been convicted or pled guilty 25 times amid 33 run-ins with law enforcement.
https://illinois.gop/category/news/

JOHN KASS
— Deep State Democrats and the Continuing Attempts to Kill President Trump
https://johnkassnews.com/

WIREPOINTS
— Detroit’s bankruptcy offered key lessons. Chicago has ignored them all.
https://wirepoints.org/detroits-bankruptcy-offered-key-lessons-chicago-has-ignored-them-all-wirepoints/

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Multiple factors drive insurance premium increases for Illinois home, property owners
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_6cafd19e-75d5-11ef-a166-5b13a30cb725.html

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Illinois State Senate District 43 candidate Jen Monson: ‘Social Media is turning our youth into terrorists’
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/664397023-illinois-state-senate-district-43-candidate-social-media-is-turning-our-youth-into-terrorists

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Teamsters Leadership Panics, Says Union Won’t Endorse Presidential Candidate After Internal Poll Shows Members Prefer Trump in a Landslide
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2024/09/teamsters-leadership-panics-says-union-wont-endorse-presidential-candidate-after-internal-poll-shows-members-prefer-trump-in-a-landslide.html

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Assassination attempts on Trump fuel distrust of the government. The repeated attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life have deepened conservatives’ distrust of the government and the criminal justice system, including suspicions that Democrats and high-ranking officials are rooting for the assassins.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/18/assassination-attempts-on-donald-trump-fuel-distru/
— Family, staff of Harris and Walz are warning America not to vote for them. All of them can’t be wrong.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/18/family-staff-of-harris-and-walz-are-warning-americ/
— Harris, not Trump, failed to deter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/sep/18/kamala-harris-not-donald-trump-failed-to-deter-rus/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— House passes bill requiring deportation of illegal immigrants with history of sex offenses
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3158796/house-bill-passes-requiring-deportation-illegal-immigrants-history-sex-offenses/
— Biden administration’s proposed vehicle program could destroy driver freedom (COMMENT: Overwhelmingly, my critics/opponents have always been anti-car, if not anti-American nameplate car, if not anti-muscle car, if not anti-Corvette, Charger, Thunderbird, and/or Mustang.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3157541/biden-administration-vehicle-program-destroy-driver-freedom/
— How many immigrants is Pope Francis admitting in Vatican City this year?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/3156577/how-many-immigrants-pope-francis-vatican/
— What’s the difference between the IVF bills Senate Democrats and Republicans keep fighting about?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/3159119/difference-between-ivf-bills-senate-democrats-republicans-fighting/
— Connie Chung describes her career as “an Asian woman in a white male-centered world.” I would describe my almost 30 year career in the federal government as “a conservative Republican in a Democrat world.” I would describe my being a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999 as “a conservative Republican in an anti-conservative if not RINO if not anti-Republican world.”)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/supreme-court/3158998/connie-chung-supreme-court-reversal-affirmative-action-breaks-heart/
— Distinction of military, civilian firearms made during Day 2 of Illinois gun ban trial
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/3157921/distinction-of-military-civilian-firearms-made-during-day-2-of-il-gun-ban-trial/

NEW YORK POST
— Biden-Harris admin’s signature immigration programs let in 1.3 million migrants — including gang members and terror suspects
https://nypost.com/2024/09/18/us-news/how-bidens-cbp-one-program-lets-in-gang-members-terror-suspects/
— Harris mocks Trump call for mass deportation of illegal immigrants
https://nypost.com/2024/09/18/us-news/kamala-harris-mocks-trump-call-for-mass-deportation-of-illegal-immigrants-hows-that-going-to-happen/

AMAC
— Reparations: Unconstitutional And Divisive — Is Kamala Harris Backing These Giveaways?
https://amac.us/newsline/elections/reparations-unconstitutional-and-divisive-is-kamala-harris-backing-these-giveaways/

AMERICAN THINKER
— When will the media and other Democrats care about the massive damage the open borders have caused?
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/09/when_will_the_media_and_other_democrats_care_about_the_massive_damage_the_open_borders_have_caused.html

BIZ PAC REVIEW
— Reckless restart of Biden-Harris parole program riddled with fraud
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2024/09/18/gop-senator-says-reckless-restart-of-biden-harris-immigration-program-riddled-with-fraud-1488398/
— Crowd chants ‘Save the cats!’ as Trump announces Springfield visit
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2024/09/19/crowd-chants-save-the-cats-as-trump-announces-springfield-visit-1488607/

BREITBART
— Stanford Requires DEI Pledge to Enroll in Marketing Course (COMMENT: While I worked for the Democrats who ran the federal government for almost 30 years, Democrat elected officials required them a) to give preference big time to their Democrat employees and especially to those who were minority, female, younger, veteran, non-Protestant, non-German American, and/or had ancestors who had not been in America for a long time and b) to get rid of their Republican employees and especially those who were White, male, older, non-veteran, Protestant, German American, and/or had ancestors who had been in America for a long time. I should write a book about the aforesaid.)
https://www.breitbart.com/education/2024/09/18/stanford-requires-dei-pledge-to-enroll-in-marketing-course/

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY
— Illinois Right to Life urges Illinois residents to vote no on IVF question (COMMENT: If I had run against Duckworth like Roskam did in 2006, she, like my Democrat GAO superiors, would have viciously demonized me, viciously denigrated me, and viciously condemned me for my wife and I giving up trying to have children without trying IVF. My critics/ opponents, their operatives, and their dupes side with my Democrat GAO superiors and with Duckworth. According to them, if my wife and I had children, I would not have been able to pass the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979, transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980, earn a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, pass the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt or become a licensed CPA in 1981, earn job-related professional certifications in 1990, 1994, 1996, or 1997, or earned a master’s degree in finance from IIT in 1997. Further, according to them, my wife would not have been able to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul in 1986 and she would have had far less income. Further, according to them, my wife and I would not have been able to have a home built in Wheaton in 1984.)
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/259365/pro-life-group-urges-illinois-residents-to-vote-no-on-ivf-question
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Right to Life, a pro-life group active in the state, has expressed opposition to the question, noting that “in vitro fertilization is detrimental to the inherent value of life.” “All children are equal in the eyes of God and one of the most beautiful vocations in life is becoming a parent. Life in all its stages is precious, including embryos. This absolutely includes children born from in vitro fertilization (IVF),” the group said in a Sept. 14 emailed statement.  “However, it is important to recognize the IVF process can be harmful to new human lives, often commodifies children, and the procedure does not honor the sanctity of life.” The Catholic Church teaches that while couples struggling to have children can use certain fertility treatments, the use of IVF is “morally unacceptable.” This is because IVF involves the use of artificial means to achieve pregnancy outside of sex between a husband and wife — the marital act — a disassociation that the Church teaches is contrary to the dignity of both parents and children. In addition, to maximize efficiency, doctors create excess human embryos during the IVF process and routinely destroy or indefinitely freeze millions of undesired embryos. “We sincerely ask and urge you to vote NO in the advisory referendum regarding in vitro fertilization on the Illinois general election ballot,” Illinois Right to Life said.)

DAILY CALLER
— Federal Reserve Delivers What Could Be A Huge Gift To Kamala Harris Just Before Election (COMMENT: Borrowers want lower interest rates. Savers want higher interest rates.)
https://dailycaller.com/2024/09/18/federal-reserve-delivers-gift-to-kamala-harris-election/

DAILY SIGNAL
— Up to 2.7M Votes Will Be Cast by Illegal Immigrants
https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/09/18/1-5-2-7-million-illegals-vote-2024-experts/

FOX NEWS
— Speaker Johnson warns illegal immigrant voting could ‘throw an election’ as House readies spending bill vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson is holding a vote Wednesday on a spending bill coupled with the SAVE Act.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/speaker-johnson-warns-illegal-immigrant-voting-could-throw-election-house-readies-spending-bill-vote
— Arizona election database flags 100,000 voters as possible noncitizens: ‘Coding oversight’  Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state said he is ‘unwilling’ to restrict potential noncitizen voters to a federal-only ballot.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/arizona-election-database-flags-100000-voters-possible-noncitizens-coding-oversight
— Biden admin’s parole use in spotlight as it reveals eye-popping number of migrant arrivals in US
https://www.aol.com/biden-admins-parole-spotlight-reveals-080052942.html

JUDICIAL WATCH
— Judicial Watch Pursues Class Action Lawsuit against Reparations Policy – Asks Federal Court to Reject Evanston, IL, Attempt to End Lawsuit
https://www.judicialwatch.org/class-action-lawsuit-reparations/

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— “How Higher Ed Is Rebranding DEI Departments” – Our Study On How Schools Are Evading DEI Cutbacks
https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/09/how-higher-ed-is-rebranding-dei-departments-our-study-on-how-schools-are-evading-dei-cutbacks/

LIFE NEWS
— Harris is Wrong. Late-Term Abortions Happen and Sometimes the Baby’s Born Alive
https://www.lifenews.com/2024/09/18/kamala-harris-is-wrong-late-term-abortions-happen-and-sometimes-the-babys-born-alive/

NEWSMAX
— House GOP Backs Anti-sanctuary Cities Funding Bill
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/santuary-cities-federal-funding-house/2024/09/18/id/1180825/

ONE AMERICA NEWS
— Progressives Thrive on Deceit
https://www.oann.com/commentary/progressives-thrive-on-deceit/

TURNING POINT USA
— Over 530,000 Migrants Entered US Through Biden Administration’s Parole Program
https://www.tpusa.com/live/over-530000-migrants-entered-us-through-biden-administrations-parole-program-cbp-report-shows

FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES

NBC NEWS
— Trump has long blasted citizens of foreign countries who make false statements to justify coming to America and/or to stay in America.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-degrading-language-immigrants-rcna171120

NEW YORK TIMES
— Trump charges Biden with improperly using Temporary Protected Status.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/us/politics/trump-haitians.html
— Democrat and RINO leaders crow about their success in dumping their illegals on Springfield, Ohio.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/14/us/haitian-migrants-springfield-ohio.html

WASHINGTON POST
— The Trump campaign can’t quit ‘childless cat ladies’  JD Vance said it first, but Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders went there again on Kamala Harris’s lack of biological children. A liability with female voters and blended families? (COMMENT: Since the 1970s, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have used my and my wife being childless against me big time. They stress that we gave up trying to have children without trying IVF, that we did not adopt, and that we did not become foster parents. They hint/imply/argue/shout that if we had children, neither of us would have had the successes that we have had.)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/18/trump-sanders-harris-childless-cat-ladies/
— Here’s how rich each candidate is compared to the average American. Trump, Harris, Vance and Walz span a wide range of financial circumstances. Here’s where they fit on the spectrum of American wealth.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/09/19/trump-harris-net-worth-walz-vance-election-2024/

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
— As more and more and more Democrats move in, more and more and more Republicans move to the left or move out. I should write a book about the following moving to the left: Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Milton Township Republican Organization, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, and Illinois Republican Party. I would focus on how the aforesaid ever-increasingly dump conservatives like me.
https://www.usnews.com/news/elections/articles/2024-09-05/chicagos-suburbs-turn-illinois-solidly-blue

NEWSWEEK
— To elect Harris/Walz November 5, 2024, Democrat and RINO leaders have slowed down the number of illegals that they are bringing in.
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-illegal-immigrants-report-1955563

POLITICO
— Teamsters skip presidential endorsement amid apparently strong member support for Trump. The powerful labor union is deeply connected to working class voters in the Midwest and other battleground states that could be crucial to the outcome of November’s election.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/18/teamsters-no-endorsement-2024-election-00179900

INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— More Colleges Face Lawsuits on Race (COMMENT: Democrats ever-increasingly run education in America. They ever-increasingly use Affirmative Action and DEI to crank out good little Democrats. UIC accepted me when I was 17 in 1966, NIU when I was 20, Loyola when I was 23, DePaul when I was 27, and IIT when I was 43. But because of my bad demographics, I doubt that they would accept me if was 17, 20, 23, 27, or 43 today.)
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/09/19/colleges-brace-lawsuits-enforcing-affirmative-action-ban

MOPAR INSIDERS
— Dodge Launches Charger Daytona Ordering
https://moparinsiders.com/dodge-launches-charger-daytona-ordering-but-theres-a-catch/

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.