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Home Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

8/1/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

100 Degrees for the “100-Year” State? Maybe the Heat’s Getting to Me

Triple digit temperatures in the Denver metro area today ... Is it the weather's way of celebrating the 132nd birthday of the great state of Colorado? What do I mean, you say? No less than 100 degrees for the "100-Year" (Centennial) state. At least it's something to interesting to ponder while guzzling the water, wiping away the sweat, and struggling to stay out of the heat. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: 100 degrees, Centennial State, Colorado, Denver metro area, heat

8/1/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Despite Ambiguities, Plan to Clean Up No-Bid Contracts Merits Support

The Rocky Mountain News reports about another citizens' initiative that may be on its way for Colorado voters to decide this November:Backers of a proposal to bar no-bid government contractors from contributing to political candidates submitted more than 125,000 signatures to the state Wednesday.... Colorado state government granted more than $386 million in contracts without taking competitive bids over the past year, said Tom Lucero, campaign chairman of Clean Government Colorado. This practice drives up the price of services, and current law that lets these contractors pad the campaign accounts of officials who may award the contracts creates tremendous cynicism among voters, said Lucero, a University of Colorado regent. Like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 27, Amendment 41, Amendment 49, campaign finance law, citizens initiative, clean government, Clean Government Colorado, Collective Bargaining, competitive bids, corruption, Ethics in Government, government employee unions, no-bid government contracts, November 2008 ballot, Rocky Mountain News, taxpayers, Tom Lucero, well-financed opposition

7/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Turn That Thermostat Up: Remedial Education in Bill Ritter’s Climate Plan

From the Examiner:Saving energy may not be so easy after all. A television commercial featuring Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter was meant to show viewers how easy it is to save energy, but it showed Ritter using more, not less. The original, which aired for weeks, showed Ritter turning a thermostat down from 72 degrees to 68. But during the summer, that means the air conditioner would work harder - and use more energy. I would need to see this commercial to believe it. Apparently, some remedial education is needed as part of Gov. Ritter's "Climate Action Plan". Bill Ritter would have known he couldn't turn his thermostat down to 68 if Barack Obama had been on his shoulder: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bill Ritter, Climate Action Plan, remedial education, the Examiner, TV commercial

7/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Union Leaders Push Economy-Busting Initiatives to Make Election Interesting

Face The State reports that Big Labor interests are about ready to turn in their signatures on four ballot initiatives that would bust Colorado's economy. You know, it's union leaders' way of protesting Amendment 47, aka Right-to-Work, which would prevent the forced collection of union fees from non-members. Setting aside the Presidential race and even the U.S. Senate showdown between Bob Schaffer and Boulder liberal Mark Udall, this may be a very interesting election season in Colorado yet. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, ballot initiatives, Big Labor, Bob Schaffer, coercive unionism, Colorado, economy, election, Face the State, Mark Udall, Presidential election, right-to-work, signatures, U.S. Senat campaign

7/30/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Jeff Crank for Congress

Admittedly I haven't followed the Republican primary in Colorado's 5th Congressional District too closely. But I have paid enough attention to know that Jeff Crank is the candidate most worthy of support. A friend e-mailed me to say that, given the positive effect of my endorsement on Wil Armstrong's candidacy, I also ought to come forward and publicly endorse Jeff Crank, too. Some of the reasons are the same - the need for fresh, outside business experience and leadership in the halls of Congress. But Crank also has a clear and principled stand against earmarks and pork (of the costly government variety), and would stand up for taxpayers not only with his words and his votes, but also with his actions. I am proud to officially … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: 5th Congressional District, business experience, earmarks, Jeff Crank, leadership, pork, Republican primary, Wil Armstrong

7/30/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Time for Ted Stevens To Go

News came yesterday that Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is indicted. If Republicans should have learned anything from the 2006 election, it's to purge the pork and corruption from their ranks. This story reminds us that neither major party has anything approaching a monopoly on sleazy politicians, but also gives the GOP an opportunity to distinguish itself by valuing integrity over seniority. Speaking of seniority, no Republican has served longer. It's time for that tenure to come to an end. At The Next Right, Patrick Ruffini wisely calls for Ted Stevens to step down, but points out he can't do so until after Alaska's August 26 primary. Of course, actual guilt or innocence has yet to be determined in the Stevens case. But politically … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, corruption, GOP, indictment, Patrick Ruffini, pork, primary election, Ted Stevens, The Next Right, U.S. Senator

7/29/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

The Only Place Democrats Want to Drill Is Your Wallet

From the Tennessee Republican Party, this is a great idea: Could the Colorado GOP follow suit? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado GOP, Democrats, Drill, Picture, Republican Party, taxes, Tennessee

7/29/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Endorsements Likely Key Factor in Lifting Wil Armstrong into Close Race

I've written very little about the 6th Congressional District primary since my endorsement of Wil Armstrong nearly four months ago. Since then, many prominent Republicans have followed suit with their public endorsements, including Senator Wayne Allard, former Governor Bill Owens, Attorney General John Suthers, former state senate leader Mark Hillman, former Secretary of State Gigi Dennis, and even former Massachusetts governor and possible vice-presidential candidate Mitt Romney. For the longest time, Secretary of State Mike Coffman has been viewed as the prohibitive frontrunner in this four-way race, which also features state senators Ted Harvey and Steve Ward. But then today comes interesting news from the campaign - also reported at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: 6th Congressional District, Bill Owens, campaign, dead heat, endorsements, frontrunner, Gigi Dennis, John Suthers, Mark Hillman, Mike Coffman, Mitt Romney, name recognition, poll, primary election, Republicans, Secretary of State, Steve Ward, Ted Harvey, Wayne Allard, Wil Armstrong

7/25/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Mt. Virtus Update

A significant and very exciting change came to the Virtus household yesterday. Needless to say, blogging will be sporadic, at best, for awhile. More important things are going on! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life

7/24/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Majority of Coloradans Don’t Think Bill Ritter is Doing a Terrible Job

The times sure have changed for Gov. Bill Ritter. Back in September 2007, two separate polls placed the governor's approval ratings -- in one case, those who believed he was doing an "excellent" or "good" job -- around 70 percent:Ritter's spokesman said the governor has earned his high approval ratings by taking on renewable energy, transportation, health care and education. "I think the kind of partisan attacks that have come from a few state house Republicans don't resonate, because the issues that people care about are the issues that Gov. Ritter is addressing," Evan Dreyer said. This week, it's Bill Ritter's sinking poll numbers that are in the headlines. From today's Denver Post (including a chance to express your own view in an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: agenda, approval rating, Bill Ritter, Colorado, Denver Post, Evan Dreyer, fair, leadership, polls, poor, report card

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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
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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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