September 29 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— GOP backers abandon Rauner after broken promise on abortion – John Kass  (DIERSEN: What are your connections with State Representative Jeanne Ives? She and I are both DuPage County Milton Township Republican Precinct Committeemen in Wheaton. Her precinct is immediately to the east of mine.  Because of gerrymandering in 2015, my precinct now includes about 100 homes and 200 voters from her old precinct. Our precincts used to share the same polling place.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-bruce-rauner-abortion-john-kass-20170928-column.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Some Republicans are already trying to save what’s left of the GOP by finding other conservative candidates to run against Rauner. Among the names being mentioned: state Rep. Jeanne Ives, of Wheaton, a conservative and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Mentioned as a running mate is outgoing state Sen. Kyle McCarter, of downstate Lebanon. Others are in the mix. Still, these are political questions and there’s more to this than maneuvering.)
— FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PICTURE: Putting an end to hazing takes more than written policies, experts say – John Keilman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-hazing-culture-prevention-met-20170928-story.html
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD IN NAPERVILLE SUN WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: HARDCOPY ARTICLE TITLE: Free to take a knee  Area schools express no issues with practice as NFL anthem debate stirs emotions among local vets, fans- Suzanne Baker (DIERSEN: How much disrespect of America do the students in high schools near you show?)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-trump-nfl-football-reactions-st-0929-20170928-story.html
— How Rauner signing abortion bill drew attention away from court victory
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-abortion-20170929-story.html
— State allows educators to bypass some exams, courses for teacher licensing – Diane Rado  (DIERSEN: Since the 1960s, to help it meet its Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Inclusion quotas, goals, and targets, the federal government has lowered many of its hiring, retention, and promotion standards and made them much more subjective. While I worked for the Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, my work experience, my education, my professional certifications, and my professional license meant less and less and less. I earned 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.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-teacher-certification-illinois-met-20170924-story.html
— OUTRAGEOUS: After officer files lawsuit against Black Lives Matter, judge rules social movement can’t be sued – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-black-lives-matter-lawsuit-20170928-story.html
— Democratic candidate Chris Kennedy declares he’d be ‘feminist’ governor of Illinois – Rick Pearson  (DIERSEN: What do you say to males, to Whites, to older people, to rich people, and/or to German Americans who paint themselves as being anti-male, anti-White, anti-older people, anti-rich people, and/or anti-German American to curry favor with anti-males, anti-Whites, anti-older people, anti-rich people, and/or anti-German Americans? What do you say to those who falsely claim to be conservative and/or Republican to give themselves standing to work against those who are conservative and/or Republican.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chris-kennedy-feminist-governor-met-0929-20170928-story.html
— Fox News adds Wheaton native Sandra Smith as co-anchor of ‘America’s Newsroom’ – Tracy Swartz
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chicagoinc/ct-ent-fox-news-sandra-smith-20170929-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Jonathan Toews: Anthem controversy has clouded the protest’s meaning – Mark Lazerus (DIERSEN: Anti-American individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries have the right to protest America, but Americans have the right to boycott those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jonathan-toews-anthem-controversy-has-clouded-the-protests-meaning/

 

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage sheriff ready to cut costs to balance budget – Robert Sanchez
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170928/dupage-sheriff-ready-to-cut-costs-to-balance-budget
— Jewish leaders address rise of anti-Semitism as Yom Kippur arrives – Eric Peterson  (DIERSEN: Democrats are moral relativists who believe that their end justifies their means. They are disciples of Saul Alinsky. Virtually all during the almost 30 years that I worked for the federal government 1966-1969 and 1971-1997, one or more of my superiors were Jewish. To turn them against me, my Democrat superiors, my Democrat supervisors, my Democrat coworkers, and my Democrat subordinate stressed to them that I am 100% German national origin, that I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, that Crete was my hometown, and that I was a draft avoider. They would not have done that if I had been a Democrat, a minority, a female, or a veteran. In my defense, I stressed that all my ancestors immigrated during the 1840s and 1850s, that my grandfather on my father’s side fought the Germans during WWI, that my uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans during WWII, and that my father would have fought the Germans during WWII if he had not been 4-F. Sadly, one or more of my Jewish superiors helped the federal government take many adverse actions against me. My Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire in 1997 when I was 49 years old, always ranked me in the bottom half of my coworkers for pay-for-performance purposes, did not promote me beyond GS-13, 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 an $18,847 pay cut in today’s dollars to transfer from IRS to GAO in 1980.  My Democrat IRS superiors did not promote me beyond GS-12, disallowed my education deductions in 1978, and disallowed my partial day per diem claims in 1974. My Democrat Post Office superiors forced me resign in 1969 and disallowed my sick leave requests in 1969 and 1968.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170929/jewish-leaders-address-rise-of-anti-semitism-as-yom-kippur-arrives
— All-year reunion to connect Lisle High grads for school’s 60th anniversary – Ann Piccininni  (DIERSEN: From what high school did graduate from and when? I graduated from Crete-Monee High School in 1966. What do the current students, teachers, and administrators at your high school think of those who share your demographics?  Sadly, from what I see of Crete-Monee High School, they do not view those who share my demographics positively.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170928/all-year-reunion-to-connect-lisle-high-grads-for-schools-60th-anniversary
— Car stolen from DuPage County complex parking garage – Justin Kmitch
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20170929/car-stolen-from-dupage-county-complex-parking-garage

 

ABC7
— Packers, Bears, fans, lock arms during national anthem before NFL game – AP (DIERSEN: Anti-American individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries have the right to protest America, but Americans have the right to boycott those individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries.)
http://abc7chicago.com/sports/packers-bears-fans-lock-arms-during-national-anthem/2467394/

 

NBC5
— Governor Endorsement Battle Rages On (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, constructively, Rauner seeks endorsements from those who might cross over and vote for him in the March 20, 2018 Republican Party primary.  But they would never vote for him in the November 6, 2018 general election.)
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/endorsement-battle-illinois-governor-448567753.html

 

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— ICE arrests nearly 450 illegal immigrants in sanctuary city raids  (DIERSEN: How many illegals are the anti-Trumps harboring in Illinois, in your county, in your township/ward, in your municipality, and in your precinct?  Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps a) glorify and praise illegals and b) demonize, denigrate, and condemn Americans, and especially Americans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps say the aforesaid are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/dont-miss/ice-arrests-nearly-450-illegal-immigrants-in-sanctuary-city-raids

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Reaction to the signing of House Bill 40 into law
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170928/reaction-to-signing-of-house-bill-40-into-law
— The SJ-R Podcast: Student outmigration
http://www.sj-r.com/news/20170928/sj-r-podcast-student-outmigration

 

NORTHWEST HERALD & TIME
— Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner agrees to allow Medicaid for abortions – AP
http://www.nwherald.com/2017/09/29/illinois-gov-bruce-rauner-agrees-to-allow-medicaid-for-abortions/aj8w63z/
http://time.com/4962269/illinois-abortion-medicaid-rauner/

 

WAND
— Rauner signs controversial abortion bill
http://www.wandtv.com/story/36478167/rauner-signs-controversial-abortion-bill

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— Packers and Bears stand, link arms before NFL game – DARRAN SIMON
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/national/green-bay-packers-players-some-fans-lock-arms-in-unity/820713861

 

WILL COUNTY GAZETTE
— Petitions for Connelly re-election available – Brent Zell
https://willcountygazette.com/stories/511230357-petitions-for-connelly-re-election-available

 

JEANNE IVES
— Rep. Ives statement on HB 40
http://www.jeanneives.org/2017/09/rep-ives-statement-on-hb-40.html

 

JOHN CAVALETTO
— Rep. Cavaletto Statement on Governor Rauner Signing Abortion Bill (HB 40)
http://www.johncavaletto.org/2017/09/rep-cavaletto-statement-on-governor.html

 

BILL MITCHELL
— Mitchell statement on Gov. Rauner’s decision to sign HB 40
http://www.repmitchell.com/2017/09/mitchell-statement-on-gov-rauners.html

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— McSweeney Says Rauner “a Failed Governor Who Lied to the People”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/09/28/mcsweeney-says-rauner-a-failed-governor-who-lied-to-the-people/
— Steve Reick Says Governor “Spat” in Our Eye
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/09/28/steve-reick-says-governor-spat-in-our-eye/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Critics say HB 40 likely to increase number of abortions over 1,599 on record for DuPage County in 2015
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511231778-critics-say-hb-40-likely-to-increase-number-of-abortions-over-1-599-on-record-for-dupage-county-in-2015

 

CONCERNED CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
— What a Disappointment!!!  Once again Governor Rauner disappoints! On Good Friday his office announced that he would veto HB 40, which publicly funds abortions, adds abortion to the Illinois insurance plan for employees, and keeps abortion until live birth the law of the land in Illinois even if Roe v. Wade is overturned! This is a drastic change to longstanding Illinois policy! For years Illinois has not paid for abortions through tax-payer funding except for the life of the mother. Illinois citizens have never had to pay for abortions through the state employee health care plans. Surveys clearly show that 70-80% of Illinois citizens do not belief taxpayers should fund abortions. This legislation will require Illinois taxpayers somewhere around $20 million to pay to end the lives of thousands of innocent unborn children. By signing HB 40, Governor Rauner has gone completely against the Illinois Republican Party platform. Please continue to pray for Illinois, our governor, our legislators. Our solid pro-life and pro-family legislators are under great pressure. Thank you for your continued prayers during discouraging times like this. The work must continue. Thank you for your support! We remain in His Service! – Rev. Bob Vanden Bosch
http://ccaministries.org/

 

ILLINOIS LEAKS
— Atlanta Library filed false Tax Exemption Certificate – John Kraft
http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2017/09/atlanta-library-filed-false-tax-exemption-certificate/

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— PODCAST: School Board Member’s Adolescent Statement About American Flag
https://illinoisfamily.org/podcast/podcast-school-board-members-adolescent-statement-american-flag/
— As Evidence of Election Fraud Emerges, the Media Wants to Keep You in the Dark – Hans von Spakovsky
https://illinoisfamily.org/media/evidence-election-fraud-emerges-media-wants-keep-dark/

 

ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE
— Illinois Right to Life Denounces Rauner Action on HB40  Governor’s Broken Promise Draws Ire from Pro-Life Community – Tom Ciesielka
http://illinoisrighttolife.org/governor-rauner-goes-against-his-promises-and-announces-he-will-sign-hb40/

 

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— IL FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN: DISAPPOINTED WITH GOV RAUNER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/09/il-federation-of-republican-women-disappointed-with-gov-rauner.html
— GOP AG CANDIDATE ERIKA HAROLD: “THERE REMAINS MUCH WITH WHICH WE AGREE” WITH GOV RAUNER
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2017/09/gop-ag-candidate-erika-harold-there-remains-much-with-which-we-agree-with-gov-rauner.html

 

POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Unpacking RAUNER’s explosive ABORTION decision – Natasha Korecki
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/illinois-playbook
(FROM THE ARTICLE: But who will step forward? Several possible GOP candidates tell us their hesitation isn’t a fear of facing Rauner, but a fear of the general election. They say the mid-term could be a Democratic year and if there’s real anti-Trump sentiment, it could spell doom for any Republican running statewide in Illinois. Names floating around, state Rep. Jeanne Ives, state Sen. Kyle McCarter, state Sen. Sam McCann, Dan Proft.)

 

CAPITOL FAX
— Will Rauner get a primary opponent?
https://capitolfax.com/2017/09/29/will-rauner-get-a-primary-opponent/
— Will Rauner run again?
https://capitolfax.com/2017/09/29/will-rauner-run-again/
— Rauner’s HB40 coverage roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2017/09/29/rauners-hb40-coverage-roundup/
— Cardinal Cupich on Gov. Rauner: “He did break his word”
https://capitolfax.com/2017/09/29/cardinal-cupich-on-gov-rauner-he-did-break-his-word/

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— Illinois Governor Rauner shows his true colors – Matt C. Abbott (DIERSEN: One could argue that Rauner showed his true colors when he signed the sanctuary state bill.)
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2017/09/illinois_governor_rauner_shows_his_true_colors.html

 

GOPUSA
— School District U46 Board Member: American Flag ‘Means Nothing More Than Toilet Paper’
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=31001
— Networks slammed for scant coverage of fan reaction during NFL protests
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=30977
— Ginsburg tosses gender card: Sexism gave Trump win  (DIERSEN: Clinton supporters shout at everyone that Trump and his supporters are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=30959
— California, the sanctuary state: Abridging justice
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=30972

 

DAILY CALLER
— Are The Kneelers Protesting America? Just Ask Kaepernick – Scott Greer  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, the kneelers make it clear that they are anti-Trump, anti-Protestant, anti-conservative, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-rich people, anti-gun owners, anti-German Americans, anti-draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America longer than their ancestors.)
http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/28/are-the-kneelers-protesting-america-just-ask-kaepernick/

 

CONSERVATIVE HQ
— Outsiders vs. Insiders: Are conservatives destined for Reagan vs. Ford part two in 2020? – Jeffrey A. Rendall (DIERSEN: Overwhelmingly, operatives and dupes who work for my critics/opponents paint themselves as being insiders.)
http://www.conservativehq.com/article/26543-outsiders-vs-insiders-are-conservatives-destined-reagan-vs-ford-part-two-2020

 

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Chicago-area school board member defends likening American flag to ‘toilet paper’ – Jessica Chasmar
http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/28/chicago-area-school-board-member-defends-calling-a/

 

FOX NEWS
— Deep State? 78 Obama Appointees ‘Burrowed’ in Government, GAO Report Says – Paulina Dedaj (DIERSEN: Have inside connections gotten you jobs? For me, the answer is NO. GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/09/28/deep-state-78-obama-appointees-burrowed-government-report-says
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/28/deep-state-78-obama-appointees-burrowed-in-govt-report-says.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The process of burrowing is not an uncommon for administrations on the way out. President George W. Bush had at least 26 conversions approved in his final year in office. Obama was warned in his final year against assigning political appointees to career jobs and was asked by Republicans to implement a hiring freeze to avoid keeping workers who opposed President Donald Trump’s policies. “Not only is ‘burrowing in’ unfair to applicants without an inside connection, it further contributes to the possibility that federal workers may attempt to undermine the policies of the new president,” Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., wrote to Obama, McClatchyDC reported.)
— Republican Tax Plan Quickly Hits First Hurdle – Richard Rubin and Siobhan Hughes (DIERSEN: I have deducted real estate taxes since 1972 and my wife I since 1978.)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/09/28/republican-tax-plan-quickly-hits-first-hurdle.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: A day after announcing their ambitious tax plan, Republicans debated scaling back one of their largest and most controversial proposals to pay for lower tax rates: repeal of the individual deduction for state and local taxes.)

 

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE
— UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA: WHITEWASHING ANTI-ISRAEL TERRORISM – Sara Dogan
http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/268006/university-north-carolina-whitewashing-anti-israel-sara-dogan

 

CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN NEWS
— THE END OF ESCAPISM – Kent Kellar
http://conservativerepublicannews.com/2017/09/29/the-end-of-escapism/

 

THE HILL
— Anti-abortion groups fuming over GOP failure to defund Planned Parenthood – JESSIE HELLMANN
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/352985-anti-abortion-groups-fuming-over-gop-failure-to-defund-planned-parenthood
— Dem addiction to Trump attacks gives party cause for concern – AMIE PARNES
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/352989-dem-addiction-to-trump-attacks-gives-party-cause-for-concern

 

CNN
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps make it clear that they want to replace citizens of America with citizens of foreign countries.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/29/opinions/congress-must-get-together-on-dream-act-schumer-pelosi/index.html

 

MSN
— Republicans Blast Rauner For Signing Abortion-Rights Bill  Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner may have alienated members of his own party with his support of House Bill 40. CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov reports.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/republicans-blast-rauner-for-signing-abortion-rights-bill/vp-AAsASVP

 

REUTERS
— Trump plays left and right in drive to protect ‘Dreamers’ – Richard Cowan, Jeff Mason  (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps shout at Dreamers and at everyone else that Trump and his supporters are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, and even worse things to get Trump to give Dreamers preference over Americans.)
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/trump-plays-left-and-right-in-drive-to-protect-dreamers-idUSKCN1C4071

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Illinois Governor Signs Abortion Bill, Angering Fellow Republicans – MITCH SMITH
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/us/illinois-bruce-rauner-abortion.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Of course, anti-Trumps use Facebook to get rid of individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, Republican, American, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders (except Bill Clinton), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/business/media/facebook-advertising-week.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/technology/facebook-ads.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps shout at refugees that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/opinion/refugee-resettlement-trump.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump demonizes, denigrates, and condemns Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/opinion/trumps-deadly-narcissism.html
— U.S. to Collect Social Media Data on All Immigrants Entering Country – RON NIXONS
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/us/politics/immigrants-social-media-trump.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— Why the GOP tax plan’s big boost in the standard deduction won’t be a windfall for some average Americans – Jim Puzzanghera (DIERSEN: I have deducted real estate taxes since 1972 and my wife I since 1978.)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trump-taxes-standard-deduction-20170928-story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— How to Break Free of Washington’s Conventional Wisdom  In the age of Donald Trump, groupthink has driven so many to get so much so wrong – Gerald F. Seib
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-break-free-of-washingtons-conventional-wisdom-1506695995

 

ATLANTIC
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: If you do not promote Islam, anti-Trumps do everything that they can to get rid of you.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/the-muted-gop-response-to-roy-moores-anti-muslim-prejudice/541461/

 

WINDY CITY TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: What groups are you a member of? Sooner or later, if not already, if those groups do not promote LGBTQ activity, those who promote LGBTQ activity will destroy those groups and destroy their members.  How soon, if not already, will those who promote LGBTQ activity take credit for destroying TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois, Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Illinois Center Right Coalition, American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter, etc.?
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Hate-group-Alliance-Defending-Freedom-center-of-anti-LGBTQ-industry/60559.html

 

HERALD NET
— The new reality of old age in America: delayed retirement  People are living longer, more expensive lives, often without much of a safety net. –  Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan
http://www.heraldnet.com/nation-world/the-new-reality-of-old-age-in-america-delayed-retirement/

 

ZILLOW
— FOR SALE: 517 West Park Avenue, Wheaton – $439,000
https://www.zillow.com/wheaton-il/1_fs/X1-SS1apc9gppw622z_3o1g1_sse/4447731_zpid/

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.