September 30 Morning Edition

FOX NEWS CHICAGO
— Those who are pro-life feel betrayed by Rauner after signing of abortion bill – Mike Flannery  (DIERSEN: From what I see, any candidate who runs against Rauner or against any Rauner-backed candidate in the Republican primary next year will be called a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/those-who-are-pro-life-feel-betrayed-by-rauner-after-signing-of-abortion-bill
(FROM THE ARTICLE: “The governor has no path to victory. Bruce Rauner is done. He cannot win,” said State. Rep. Peter Breen. He’s the Republican floor leader in the Illinois House and he’s now leading a revolt of social conservatives against the party’s governor. It’s political fallout from Bruce Rauner’s surprise decision to sign into law an abortion rights bill he previously promised to veto. But the governor’s Republican critics are now offering other reasons to reject him. Lombard’s State Rep. Peter Breen claims that only after Gov. Rauner was excluded from the face-to-face bargaining did other Republicans finally achieve the most basic agreements with democrats in the state capitol. “When you look at everything from the budget negotiations and a range of other issues, he is at the point now where he can no longer be in the room where they are negotiating agreements with the general assembly,” Breen said. An outspoken pro-life Republican, Breen insists his unhappiness with Gov. Rauner’s leadership goes far beyond the abortion issue. Some party activists were stunned by Rauner’s decision to sign the so-called “Trust Act.” They complain it made Illinois a sanctuary state by prohibiting local law enforcement from working in some cases with U.S. immigration and customs agents.  Others are offended by Rauner’s public posture on President Trump. “He won’t say President Trump’s name.  Won’t even acknowledge his existence,” said State Rep. David McSweeney. A former state party chairman, though, says Rauner’s unorthodox approach has worked for other Republicans in heavily Democratic Illinois. “We see what model actually works in this state with Jim Edgar, who was three terms who was pro-choice. Judy Baar Topinka, Mark Kirk. I know a lot of the people on the right get angry with that. But we’ve gotta be realistic about the state we live in,” Pat Brady said. Those leading this Republican revolt against Gov. Rauner know they face a tight timetable and time is not on their side. They need to find a candidate for governor, a running mate for Lt. Governor and collect thousands of signatures by Dec. 4th.  Not to mention raising the several million dollars needed to run a credible campaign. Although Gov. Rauner has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election, allies are collecting signatures on his nominating petitions.)

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— ALL OF THE FRONT PAGE: Abortion bill fallout no picnic for ‘Benedict Rauner’ – Mitchell Armentrout
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/abortion-bill-fallout-no-picnic-for-benedict-rauner/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Professional wrestler Donald Trump dupes the easily fooled.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/lyons-professional-wrestler-donald-trump-dupes-the-easily-fooled/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trumps at DePaul encourage people to come to America illegally, to stay in America illegally, and to bring others to America illegally.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/new-play-at-depaul-puts-immigration-in-spotlight-for-young-audiences/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: An anti-Trump says “Far Right hijacked Kaepernick’s protest message.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/grambling-president-says-far-right-hijacked-kaepernick-protest-message/
— Obama Foundation searching for “diversity consultant” – Lynn Sweet  (DIERSEN: To promote diversity is to get rid of those who 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://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/obama-foundation-searching-for-diversity-consultant/
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Michael Alter, CEO of the Chicago Sky, sides with individuals, organizations, companies, governments, and countries that 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.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sky-owner-alter-big-fan-of-taketheknee-other-pro-team-owners-mum/

 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Rauner’s left turns on abortion, immigration put his political base in doubt – Rick Pearson (DIERSEN: From what I see, any candidate who runs against Rauner or against any Rauner-backed candidate in the Republican primary next year will be called a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-bruce-rauner-abortion-bill-fallout-met-1001-20170930-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Rauner used his money and power to rebuild the Illinois Republican Party and ensure loyalty to him. Still, it’s unclear now whether Rauner’s wealth will be able to keep rank-and-file Republicans in line. Writing “big campaign checks,” Breen contended, is “the only unique feature left in Rauner’s favor” and something that may make others reluctant to criticize the governor. That means “we’re going to have to find alternate sources of funding,” he said.)
— How to lure college students back to Illinois – Editorial (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, having a degree from an Illinois college is to have a degree from a college that is 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://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-college-rauner-tuition-illinois-20170925-story.html
— ‘Take this job and shove it?’ Not so fast. – Editorial  (DIERSEN: During September of 1997, my Democrat GAO superiors, their operatives, and their dupes made it very clear to me that if I did not take their early retirement “offer,” they would kill me figuratively if not literally.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-lottery-winners-quit-jobs-20170929-story.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Many of us dream of having enough money to shrug off the workaday chains and embrace freedom. (Or so we’re told.) Wanczyk, the Repsels, and other lottery winners face similar choices: Splurge or invest? Keep working or quit? We imagine many readers just took a nanosecond to make their choice. They may be shocked to learn what researchers have found: Most American winners have kept working after winning the lottery. Some started their own businesses, or scaled back to part time. Most often they haven’t changed employers. From the Department of Timeless Quotations: “Certainly, money is important, but there are a lot of other aspects to work that play a big role: relationships, achievement needs that people have, status needs outside of money,” Bowling Green State University psychology professor Scott Highhouse told The Christian Science Monitor back in 2004.)
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG COLOR PICTURE: DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-American high schools encourage, if not force, their students to disrespect America.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-high-school-anthem-protests-met-20170929-story.html

 

DAILY HERALD
— Salary a sticking point in West Chicago Dist. 94 contract talks – Katlyn Smith  (DIERSEN: Are/were you accused of being overpaid?  My critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have always accused me of being overpaid. In my defense, I earned a) a job-related bachelor’s degree when I was 21 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.dailyherald.com/news/20170929/salary-a-sticking-point-in-west-chicago-dist-94-contract-talks

 

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Behind Rauner’s HB40 signing: The GOP’s broken tax promise? – RICH MILLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170929/NEWS02/170929832/behind-rauners-hb40-signing-the-gops-broken-tax-promise
— Illinois has a choice to make about fracking—and Rauner is making the wrong one – STEPHEN NICKELS
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170929/OPINION/170929831/fracking-is-something-illinois-residents-do-not-want

 

WGN RADIO
— Human Rights Campaign member talks on Trump’s administration saying employers can fire gays – J RAINES  (DIERSEN: From what I see, ever-increasingly, employers promote LGBTQ activity, and if you do not promote LGBTQ activity, they will not hire you or they will fire you.)
http://wgnradio.com/2017/09/30/human-rights-campaign-member-talks-on-trumps-admini-saying-employers-can-fire-gays/

 

WBEZ
— Illinois Republicans Split Over Abandoning Rauner After Abortion Bill – Tony Arnold (DIERSEN: From what I see, any candidate who runs against Rauner in the Republican primary will be called a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-updates/illinois-republicans-split-over-abandoning-rauner-after-abortion-bill/e6e2ffb5-5397-4029-91d9-7a8b5237550b
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Illinois Republicans are split as to whether they should abandon Governor Bruce Rauner after he signed bill into law on Thursday that expands Medicaid to cover abortions. GOP State Senator Dan McConchie says Rauner’s signature underscores grave concerns Republicans have with him as their party’s nominee in next year’s election. He says a Republican primary challenger is very likely. But Rauner heavily funds the Illinois Republican Party — and the chairman of the state party says there’s no daylight between Rauner and the party.)

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Rauner’s credibility problem – Rich Miller (DIERSEN: In Illinois, if you claim to be Republican, the more that you do again the Illinois Republican Party platform, the more that you destroy your credibility with Republicans.)
http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/columnists/capitol-fax-rauner-s-credibility-problem/article_01875032-68f6-5caa-adb2-66044220cff3.html

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Rep. Davis pitches GOP tax bill
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2017-09-29/rep-davis-pitches-gop-tax-bill.html

 

BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Anti-Trumps frustrated with Davis in DACA meeting.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/national/government-and-politics/residents-frustrated-with-davis-in-daca-meeting/article_a52cb848-eeb7-56a6-b665-3cdb92932abc.html

 

LASALLE NEWS TRIBUNE
— Planned Parenthood applauds abortion law; Rezin and Lt. Gov. disapprove – Craig Sterrett
http://www.newstrib.com/free/planned-parenthood-applauds-abortion-law-rezin-and-lt-gov-disapprove/article_b864316a-a509-11e7-9dc8-636cd38be813.html

 

WMAY
— Lawmakers Talking Primary GOP Challenge To Rauner In 2018
http://www.wmay.com/2017/09/29/lawmakers-talking-primary-gop-challenge-to-rauner-in-2018/

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS PROUD
— State Department orders non-essential diplomats, families out of Cuba  Cuban government denies involvement in attack – ELISE LABOTT AND PATRICK OPPMANN
http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/state-department-orders-nonessential-diplomats-families-out-of-cuba/821070566

 

AURORA HERALD
— Rauner Betrays Base on Abortion – Backlash Intensifies
http://www.auroraherald.com/2017/09/29/rauner-betrays-base-on-abortion-backlash-intensifies/

 

NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY TELEVISION
— Marijuana Legalization Talk Held at Neuqua Valley (DIERSEN: If you promote pot, you promote destruction.)
https://www.nctv17.com/news/marijuana-legalization-talk-held-at-neuqua-valley-high-school/

 

WIRE POINTS
— This face (Diana Rauner) will appear prominently in the books about Rauner’s (and perhaps Illinois’) last gasp – Mark Glennon
http://www.wirepoints.com/this-face-will-appear-prominently-in-the-books-about-rauners-and-perhaps-illinois-last-gasp/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Just a short and simple prediction, offered for now without the factual backup that exists: The overbearing role of Diana Rauner, a liberal Democrat, in her husband’s administration will come to be recognized as a primary reason for his failure. And since Bruce Rauner was perhaps Illinois’ last hope, she’ll have a place in the history books.)

 

MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Kass Compares Rauner to “Burnt Toast”
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/09/29/kass-compares-rauner-to-burnt-toast/
— Barb Wheeler “On Verge of Tears” at Rauner’s Signing Pro-Abortion Bill, Pam Althoff Opposed to Taxpayer Funding
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/09/29/barb-wheeler-near-tears-at-rauners-signing-pro-abortion-bill/

 

DUPAGE POLICY JOURNAL
— Breen pulls support for Rauner after abortion expansion decision – Karen Kidd
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511231809-breen-pulls-support-for-rauner-after-abortion-expansion-decision
— Ives rejects Rauner after signing of abortion expansion measure – Glenn Minnis  (DIERSEN: Who rejects you? The following reject me: those who 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 and/or those who a) reject planks in the Republican Party platform and/or the Illinois Republican Party platform and work against those like me who support those planks, b) reject the Milton Township Republican Central Committee resolution against video gambling and work against those like me who support that resolution, c) focus on destroying those like me who they cannot manipulate/dominate, d) were defendants in lawsuits that I have filed, and/or e) are operatives or dupes for the aforesaid.)
https://dupagepolicyjournal.com/stories/511232711-ives-rejects-rauner-after-signing-of-abortion-expansion-measure

 

ILLINOIS OPPORTUNITY PROJECT
— Illinois Opportunity Project Condemns Governor Rauner’s Decision To Force Taxpayers To Fund Abortions At Any Time, For Any Reason
http://illinoisopportunity.org/illinois-opportunity-project-condemns-governor-rauners-decision-to-force-taxpayers-to-fund-abortions-at-any-time-for-any-reason/

 

GOPUSA
— Here comes the NFL boycott
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=30996

 

LIFE SITE NEWS
— Illinois governor breaks promise, supports bill forcing taxpayers to fund abortions – Peter LaBarbera
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/illinois-governor-breaks-promise-supports-bill-forcing-taxpayers-to-fu

 

AMERICAN THINKER
— The Free Lunch Slide into Socialism – Peter Skurkiss
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/09/the_free_lunch_slide_into_socialism.html

 

BREITBART
— VP Mike Pence to Be Keynote Speaker at Pro-Amnesty Koch Brothers’ Retreat – JOHN BINDER  (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will the leaders of the Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and Green parties issue a joint press release stating that they are going 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 those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time?)
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/09/29/vp-mike-pence-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-pro-amnesty-koch-brothers-retreat/

 

BLAZE
— HS girls soccer players take a knee for national anthem, say they were later sent racist messages – Dave Urbanski  (DIERSEN: How soon, if not already, will anti-Trump employers refuse to hire those who refuse to “take a knee?”)
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/09/29/hs-girls-soccer-players-take-a-knee-for-national-anthem-say-they-were-later-sent-racist-messages/

 

ONE NEWS NOW
— IL governor ‘done’ after signing abortion bill  Illinois is poised to become a “dumping ground” for abortions, warns a pro-life activist, after the state’s Republican governor signed a controversial abortion bill. – Charlie Butts
https://www.onenewsnow.com/pro-life/2017/09/29/il-governor-done-after-signing-abortion-bill

 

NEWSMAX
— Schumer, Pelosi: ‘Dreamers Are as American as Apple Pie’ – Theodore Bunker (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at Dreamers and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Obviously, Democrats plan on using Dreamers to destroy Republicans, and especially to destroy Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.newsmax.com/Politics/schumer-pelosi-daca-dreamers/2017/09/29/id/816662/

 

FREE BEACON
— DOJ Files Lawsuit Accusing Company of Discriminating Against American Workers  Sessions: ‘Where there is a job available, U.S. workers should have a chance at it before we bring in workers from abroad’ – Elizabeth Harrington  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, anti-Trump employers make it clear that they want to replace all their employees who are citizens of America with citizens of foreign countries.)
http://freebeacon.com/issues/doj-files-lawsuit-accusing-company-discriminating-american-workers/
— Rubio Renews Call for Trump Admin to Expel Cubans From U.S.  Senator questions logic of keeping ‘regime embassy’ the same after yanking Americans out of Havana over mystery attacks – Susan Crabtree
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/rubio-renews-call-for-trump-admin-to-expel-cubans-from-u-s/
–Facebook Execs Were in Close Proximity to Clinton’s Campaign Despite Claiming No Bias  Zuckerberg denies claims of bias after Trump said social media company was against him – Joe Schoffstall  (DIERSEN: Ever-increasingly, companies act as arms of the Democrat Party.)
http://freebeacon.com/politics/facebook-execs-close-proximity-clintons-campaign-despite-claiming-no-bias/
— Women’s March Organizers Accused of Anti-Semitism to Visit College Campuses Next Month  Speakers have ‘history of anti-Zionist comments and celebration of self-proclaimed anti-Semites’ – Rachel Frommer
http://freebeacon.com/culture/womens-march-organizers-accused-of-anti-semitism-to-visit-college-campuses-next-month/

 

TOWNHALL
— Illinois Rep Peter Breen Fumes Over Abortion Law: Employees Became ‘Incompetent’ Under Governor – Cortney O’Brien
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2017/09/29/illinois-legislator-trashes-governors-radical-abortion-agenda-n2388676

 

LIFE NEWS
— Planned Parenthood Applauds Illinois Gov. Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Abortions Throughout Pregnancy – MICAIAH BILGER
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/09/29/planned-parenthood-applauds-illinois-gov-forcing-taxpayers-to-fund-abortions-throughout-pregnancy/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— Can the Supreme Court Fix American Politics? – Editorial (DIERSEN: I should write an article about how and why my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 in Wheaton was gerrymandered in 2015.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/opinion/gerrymandering-supreme-court.html
— Cost of Contact in Sports Is Estimated at Over 600,000 Injuries a Year – GINA KOLATA  (DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, those who engage in contact sports should pay lots more for health care insurance, just like those who abuse their bodies with booze, smoking, pot and other illegal drugs, too much food, lack of exercise, etc. should pay lots more for health care insurance.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/29/health/sports-injuries-football-yale.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— With or without Trump, GOP insurgency plans for a civil war in 2018 midterms – Robert Costa
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/with-or-without-trump-gop-insurgency-plans-for-a-civil-war-in-2018-midterms/2017/09/29/11fecb6c-a47a-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html

 

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Pennsylvania Company to Pay Record Fine for Illegally Hiring Immigrants  Asplundh Tree Expert pleads guilty for employing those who didn’t have authorization to work in the U.S. – Alicia A. Caldwell
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pennsylvania-company-to-pay-record-fine-for-illegally-hiring-immigrants-1506713490
— Gerrymandering, a Tradition as Old as the Republic, Faces a Reckoning  Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday on whether contorted voting maps drawn by both parties to cement power have finally gone too far – Brent Kendall  (DIERSEN: I should write an article about how and why my DuPage County Milton Township Precinct 9 in Wheaton was gerrymandered in 2015.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/gerrymandering-a-tradition-as-old-as-the-republic-faces-a-reckoning-1506698255
— A Big Tax Question: What Happens to the Medical-Expense Deduction?  Millions of Americans use the deduction, but the Trump administration has proposed repealing it – Laura Saunders  (DIERSEN: As you get older, your medical expenses increase dramatically.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-big-tax-question-what-happens-to-the-medical-expense-deduction-1506721870
— Cheap Sex and the Decline of Marriage  Why is marriage in retreat among young Americans? Because it is now much easier for men to find sexual satisfaction outside marriage, argues Mark Regnerus (DIERSEN: To destroy marriage, Democrats promote LGBTQ activity, promiscuity, abortion, and even worse things.  To destroy marriage, Libertarians promote prostitution.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheap-sex-and-the-decline-of-marriage-1506690454
— Trump Bullies the NFL Because It’s Easy  The president is disdained for low cunning, but low cunning beats no cunning. – Holman W. Jenkins, Jr.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-bullies-the-nfl-because-its-easy-1506723966

 

USA TODAY
— Trump signs order cutting refugee quota to lowest level since 1980 – Gregory Korte  (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at refugees that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/29/trump-set-cut-refugee-quota-lowest-level-since-1980/713463001/
— U.S. warns Americans against visiting Cuba, cuts embassy staff – Doug Stanglin  (DIERSEN: Anti-Trumps side with Cuba against America.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/09/29/u-s-warns-americans-against-visiting-cuba-cuts-embassy-staff/716121001/

 

NEWSWEEK
— EVEN REPUBLICANS WANT DREAMERS TO STAY IN AMERICA AND BE CITIZENS, NEW POLL SHOWS – GREG PRICE  (DIERSEN: Democrats shout at Dreamers and at everyone else that Republicans are White supremacists, Nazis, KKK members, haters, racists, sexists, bigots, and even worse things. Obviously, Democrats plan on using Dreamers to destroy Republicans, and especially to destroy Republicans who are Trump supporters, Protestant, conservative, White, male, older, rich, gun owners, German American, draft avoiders, and those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
http://www.newsweek.com/dreamers-republicans-america-citizens-674335

 

FORBES
— How Are Seniors Redefining Retirement? – Neale Godfrey (DIERSEN: I should write a book about forced early retirement. 20 years ago today, the day after my 49th birthday, my Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer.” For the last 20 years, my nasty, rude, crude, vicious, threatening critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have hinted/implied/argued that my Democrat GAO superiors did that not just because I was not just a “bad” employee, but because I am a White supremacist, Nazi, KKK member, hater, racist, sexist, bigot, and even worse things.)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nealegodfrey/2017/09/30/seniors-redefining-retirement/#7eec5e0d7f85

 

DAILY KOS
— After Gov. Bruce Rauner signs (taxpayer money for abortion) law, furious Illinois conservatives threaten primary – Jeff Singer
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1702773

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.