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Home Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

3/24/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Colorado Confidential Accuses U.S. Military Personnel of “Murder”?

Today Colorado Confidential published a story by Kate Bernuth about a controversy developing at a small private Denver school. It starts as a typical foray into agenda journalism for the heavily Left-leaning site:At a tiny international school in southeast Denver, a conflict is playing out that reflects, in a microcosm, the wider divisions in American society as the nation enters the sixth year of a bloody, unpopular war. A display of photographs and a statement by the Iranian artist in the halls of Colorado International School has caused a dust-up between administrators and an outraged parent who accuses the school of spreading "anti-American propaganda." Every month at this language-immersion school of 44 students, most of whom are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, World Events Tagged With: Colorado Confidential, Colorado International School, Face the State, Farhad Vakili Tabar, Iraq War, Jason Salzman, moral equivalence, Rocky Mountain News

3/22/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

“Democrat” Label Featured Less in Scandal Reporting: More Proof

Any fair-minded and honest observer of political events knows that neither major party has cornered the market on scandals. Public officials elected both as Republicans and Democrats have been exposed for various types of corruption, malfeasance, and other prominent moral failings. So why are major media outlets so unbalanced in their presentation? Sure, anytime there is a salacious scandal or other revelation that results in the resignation of a big-city mayor, governor, or member of Congress, the news has to talk about it. But there has been a clear and measurable tendency on the media's part to ignore the party label far more when the story is about a Democrat. More proof emerges today: My Independence Institute colleague David … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Congress, David Kopel, Detroit, Eliot Spitzer, Gene Kinsey, Harry Potter, Kwame Kilpatrick, Mark Foley, Newsbusters, Political scandals, Rocky Mountain News

3/21/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Good Friday

Serious reflections for Good Friday (all passages from the New American Standard Bible): Romans 5:6-9 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. I Peter 2:21-24 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General Tagged With: crucifixion, Good Friday

3/20/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Putting Iraq in Perspective

Today's lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal puts our five-year-long war in Iraq in perspective - surveying where we've come from, where we are today, and what the near future portends. The editorial, which deserves perusal from beginning to end, concludes:In our March 18, 2003 editorial on the eve of Iraq's liberation, we supported the war while noting that "toppling Saddam is a long-term undertaking" and "the U.S. has never been good at nation-building." We wish we had been wrong on both counts, but our view has always been that nations shouldn't begin wars they don't intend to win. And newspapers don't endorse wars only to walk away when the fighting gets difficult. The U.S. sacrifice in Iraq has been honorable, our soldiers have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: Gen. David Petraeus, Iraq, Michelle Malkin, Slapstick Politics, Vets for Freedom Heroes Tour, Wall Street Journal

3/20/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Benigno on Governor’s Reform

My close Independence Institute colleague Pam Benigno was interviewed by Denver's Channel 7 for a story aired last night about Gov. Bill Ritter's sweeping new education reform plan. You can go here to read the story and watch the video. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, My Life Tagged With: Channel 7, Gov. Bill Ritter, Independence Institute, Pam Benigno

3/20/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bracketology

When it comes to March Madness, the truth is I never learn. No matter whether I follow the season closely or guess at random, my picks are always mediocre at best. Yet each year I come back to the NCAA Tournament Brackets like a sheep to the slaughter. This year is no different. I filled out two different brackets on ESPN, made picks on Facebook's CBS and Sports Illustrated applications, and even decided to accept the McCain Basketball Brackets challenge. We're only a couple hours away from the first game tipping off. How long before my brackets implode in failure? It's just one more piece of the fun and entertainment of March Madness. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Bracketology, ESPN, Facebook, John McCain, March Madness

3/20/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Passion Week: Thursday

Today we remember the Last Supper and Christ's betrayal. Though there are many passages to choose from, in particular I am reminded of the Savior's ultimate example of service and his incomparably fervent prayer (both from the New American Standard Bible): John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Luke 22:41-44 And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General Tagged With: Passion Week

3/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Obama Train Slowing Down?

Earlier today I pointed out the troubles Barack Obama is having with skeptics on the political Left who even after his "courageous speech" say he's still in trouble. Well, if early signs like a large-scale Internet poll mean anything, these critics have a strong point. John Hinderaker at Power Line notes an AOL Hot Seat poll that shows an overwhelming percentage of Americans don't think Obama solved "his Jeremiah Wright problem with his speech yesterday." By a margin of 68 to 26 percent. This might be (wait, just might be) the lead weight around Obama's campaign. If this is true, it's because more people are seeing what Jonah Goldberg saw:For all the wonderful rhetoric and tantalizing promise of Obama and his speech, there’s not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Democratic presidential primary, Hillary Clinton, Jeremiah Wright, Jonah Goldberg, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Powerline

3/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ohio Can Have Hillary and Terrelle – Colorado Is Just Fine, Thank You

Jim Geraghty looks at the Rasmussen poll data (showing McCain and Obama tied at 46, but McCain clobbering Hillary 52-38) and muses:We've seen Obama running ahead of Hillary in some states, but an 11 or 12 point difference? What's got him so popular there, and her so unpopular? Does Obama come across as a mountain state kind of guy? Is he related to John Elway or something? I don't have a good answer to that question, but many hypotheses abound. Coloradans don't like the old-style Eastern politics that Hillary Clinton represents. Colorado swing voters are more open to vapid liberal platitudes than cynical ones. Frankly, it beats me. Hillary polls terribly unpopular here and would have virtually no chance to win the Centennial State in a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Barack Obama, Colorado, Democratic presidential primary, Hillary Clinton, Jim Geraghty, John McCain, Ohio, Terrelle Pryor

3/19/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

“What is the relationship of property rights and liberty in general?”

The Independence Institute is producing more Web video content. You've seen the more entertaining side - now here's a 3-minute educational clip by Dr. Paul Prentice about property rights (via The Caldara Blog): Well, somebody had to ask the question to get it going: "What is the relationship of property rights and liberty in general?" Hey, you don't know how long I spent memorizing that line. Method acting - it's called method acting. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, My Life Tagged With: Dr. Paul Prentice, Independence Institute, property rights

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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

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