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Home Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

10/9/2008 By Ben 4 Comments

Like Thomas Sowell, I Wonder: Do Facts Matter to American Voters?

The always astute, insightful, and persuasive Thomas Sowell has an especially good column about the national election before us. It's titled "Do Facts Matter?" If you only read one column this week, please make it this one. And spread the word. I'm only left to wonder if there are enough rational voters left in the center of American politics. Every two to four years, it seems like there is a little bit less rationality than before. But if the current trend continues, it would be a big step forward in my opinion. Some seem to want to choose Barack Obama as the next "flavor of the month" -- the President of the United States is like an ice cream cone or a cup of coffee. If only the rest of us had such trivial consequences to face from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Movie Reviews, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous, Second Amendment Tagged With: column, Do Facts Matter, national election, rational voters, Thomas Sowell

10/8/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Ultra-Rich Colorado Lefties Will Pay You Money to “Educate the Idiots”

Apparently the Lefties are willing to pay quite a bit for you to help them campaign here in Colorado. I got this email recently:Get Paid To Ensure A Progressive Majority In The Colorado Legislature Earn $500 For 4 Days Walk Precincts And Drop Literature For The Colorado Citizens’ Coalition Saturday, November 1st- Election Day Tuesday, November 4th The Colorado Citizens’ Coalition is the group dedicated to using grassroots organizing to educate voters about the progressive candidates for State House and State Senate. To get involved contact Final Four Director Cory [N] at [PHONE #] or [EMAIL] Join the Colorado Citizens’ Coalition for the Final Four Days to make a difference this election cycle. We are recruiting a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: "Educate the Idiots", 527s, attorney, bookkeeper, campaign, Colorado, Colorado Citizens Coalition, Colorado Democracy Alliance, cozy relationship, Julie Wells, labor unions, Lefties, liberal funders, Mark Grueskin, paperwork, Pat Stryker, Progressive Majority, Rutt Bridges, Secretary of State, Tim Gill

10/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Joshua Sharf Confronts Opponent about “Educate the Idiots” Campaign

Now that the whistleblower has come forward to verify the authenticity of the Left-wing Colorado Democracy Alliance documents, including its "Educate the Idiots" campaign, here's a video of Republican state house candidate (and longtime blogger) Joshua Sharf posing the issue to Democrat opponent Lois Court at a recent televised forum: And if you want to know more about what issues distinguish the two candidates, here's a glimpse at their closing statements: It's an uphill battle for Joshua to win this race in a majority-Democrat district, but he is making an impression as an aggressive and articulate candidate for rock-solid conservative Republican principles. Party leaders should take notice. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: "Educate the Idiots", aggressive, articulate, authenticity, candidate, closing statements, Colorado Democracy Alliance, conservative principles, Democrat, distinct views, documents, Joshua Sharf, Left-wing, Lois Court, party leaders, Republican, spokesman, state house, televised forum, whistleblower, YouTube

10/7/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Live Blogging the Presidential Townhall Debate

Head on over to Slapstick Politics for a live blog of the debate - already underway - including myself and a few others. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics

10/6/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

“Real” Public School Teacher Speaks Out for Colorado Amendment 49

The Rocky Mountain News today takes a closer look at Protect Colorado's Future and its use of "real" people in advertisements to foist its deceptive messages on the public:Firefighter Joel Heinemann says he would rather run into a burning building than face a movie camera. Yet it's his face Coloradans are seeing in television ads and home flyers urging a "no" vote on Amendments 47, 49 and 54. Heinemann is a "messenger," one of about a dozen firefighters, police officers, nurses and teachers who volunteered to enter the political limelight to speak against three ballot initiatives they believe are anti-union. Of course, it's also important to note that Joel Heinemann is president of the Littleton firefighters union, and that Denver … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: "real" people, advertisements, Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, anti-union, body armor, Boulder Daily Camera, burning building, Coloradans, deceptive messages, Denver, Denver Post, deputy sheriff, endorsements, episode, Ethical Standards, firefighter, firefighters union, Fraternal Order of Police, host, Independence Institute, Independent Thinking, Jeff Shaw, Jefferson County, Joel Heinemann, Jon Caldara, law enforcement, Littleton, lobbying, Michael Alcorn, movie camera, opposition, politically active groups, President, Protect Colorado's Future, public school teacher, public servants, Rocky Mountain News, safety equipment, safety issues, scare tactics, teacher, television ads, unethical business, union contract, YouTube

10/6/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ben’s Guide to the Colorado Ballot 2008 Now Updated with Illustration

If you have yet to visit my page with information and recommendations on the long list of initiatives and referenda on Colorado's 2008 ballot, now is the time to stop by. After all, thanks to the clever and capable stylings of Colorado cartoonist Ben Hummel, the page is now illustrated! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: 2008, ballot, Ben Hummel, cartoonist, Colorado, illustrated, information, initiatives, recommendations, referenda

10/4/2008 By Ben 4 Comments

Backroom Deal Sheds Light on Colorado Labor Union Leader Priorities

Much ado has been made out of the 11th-hour deal that pulled four labor union-sponsored initiatives from the Colorado ballot. As opined by the editors of the Rocky Mountain News:On Thursday, labor peace was restored in Colorado. At least until the 2009 legislature convenes. The announcement that two labor-backed groups would remove Amendments 53, 55, 56 and 57 from the November ballot - and in return business groups would fund a joint business-labor campaign to defeat Amendments 47, 49 and 54 - is a positive development. The state's economic health was in the crosshairs of the labor measures, a couple of which probably had a good shot at passage. There's no doubt that the "economic health" and well-being of Colorado families and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: "bread-and-butter" initiatives, 11th-hour, Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 53, Amendment 54, Amendment 55, Amendment 56, Amendment 57, business groups, business-labor deal, coercive, coffers, Colorado ballot, Colorado businesses, Colorado families, Colorado voters, cynical ploy, dues collection, economic health, editors, fees, fool, government payroll systems, labor peace, negotiating chips, non-negotiable, November ballot, political extortion, priorities, rhetoric, Rocky Mountain News, smoke-filled backroom, special interests, union leaders, union members, welfare, workers, working class

10/4/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Time to “Educate the Idiots” about the Authenticity of CoDA Documents?

A controversy is brewing over the authenticity of the Colorado Democracy Alliance (CoDA) documents, specifically the memo discussing their plan to "Educate the Idiots". Ironically, the satire blog by the same name has all the scoop on the controversy - here and here. Can't wait for Sunday's story in the Denver Post. It looks to me like the Lefties in CoDA are scrambling hard to cover up. We'll see. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: "Educate the Idiots", Colorado Democracy Alliance, controversy, Denver Post, documents, Lefties, satire blog, scoop, Sunday story

10/3/2008 By Ben 3 Comments

“Experienced” Joe Biden is All Confused about the Office He Is Running For

Apparently, "experienced" Joe Biden doesn't know much about the high office of vice president he is running to fill. My first-year law school friend Tyler at Constructively Reasonable has the details (and as Tyler points out, so do the legal minds at the Volokh Conspiracy). So does the Washington Times. A man who has been in the U.S. Senate for 35 years could be so ignorant about how our federal government works? What if it had been Sarah Palin who had made the gaffe? You can imagine the mainstream media reports would be swift, harsh, and unforgiving. But since it's Slow Joe Biden at the Wilmington, Delaware Home Depot, representing their favored Democratic Party ticket, for the most part there's been nothing but the sounds of crickets … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: CNN, Constructively Reasonable, David Gergen, Delaware, Democrats, experienced, extremely well informed, favored ticket, gaffe, high office, Home Depot, Joe Biden, law school, legal minds, mainstream media, Sarah Palin, Tyler, U.S. Constitution, U.S. Senate, vice president, Volokh Conspiracy, Washington Times

10/3/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

I’m On KBDI Channel 12 Tonight to Discuss Colorado Amendment 49

Update: A trusted reader says you can also watch on Channel 23 in Colorado Springs. Update: I added a link to Michael's blog. Please tune in tonight at 7:30 PM to KBDI 12 (in the Denver metro area) for an important episode of Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. Guests Jefferson County teacher Michael Alcorn and I will discuss what Amendment 49, the Ethical Standards initiative, does, and the effects it has (and doesn't have) on teachers and other public employees. For those of you heading out to theaters to catch the premiere of An American Carol, please don't forget to set your TiVo or VCR to record. But in case you forget, the episode is scheduled to re-air next Tuesday, October 7, at 5:00 PM on KBDI. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Amendment 49, An American Carol, Ethical Standards initiative, Independent Thinking, Jefferson County, Jon Caldara, KBDI Channel 12, Michael Alcorn, premiere, public employees, record, teacher, teachers, TiVo, VCR

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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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