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Home Archives for 2009

Archives for 2009

10/6/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Luke Korkowski Out of U.S. Senate Race … Then There Were Seven?

Received a press release at noon local time, announcing that Luke Korkowski has withdrawn from Colorado's Republican primary for U.S. Senate. An excerpt:Unfortunately, it is time to call this campaign to a close and to wish all the best to the other Republicans in the race. We have some good and decent folks competing for the Senate position, and Colorado is lucky to have such a selection of choices. With your help, we'll see a solid conservative take office in January 2011, and I strongly encourage you to stay engaged in the race and to support your favorite candidate. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, liberty, PPC

10/6/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Restoring Some Substance to the Political Junk Food Menu at Mt. Virtus

With the nearly never-ending election cycle, those of us here in the trenches can sometimes too easily lapse into the day-to-day tussles of the news without enough time spent in more serious reflection. (Or maybe it's just those of us with small children whose attention spans are so easily distracted.) Earlier this year I wrote several more reflective essays, most of which have ended up ignored by now. But while I still plan to write about the immediate issues of the day and follow events leading up to the 2010 election, I am also interested in engaging once more in deeper discussions about the status and future of the conservative movement -- albeit, as dictated by the limits of my own time, occasionally. What (besides the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, History, liberty, My Life, PPC

10/5/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter Thanks the Independence Institute (No Pigs Seen Airborne)

More than one late-morning Denver metro area commuter nearly may have swerved out of their lane of traffic and into danger today, just from the shock of what they heard on the airwaves. What do I mean? During his monthly interview with 850 KOA's Mike Rosen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter acknowledged that the Independence Institute's recent investigation into his administration's ethical shortcoming was right on: About 2 minutes into the clip, you hear Governor Bill Ritter say: "Thank you to Jon Caldara and the Independence Institute." Hope no one crashed their vehicle as a result. As for the office where I work, we're ready to frame the statement and hang it on the wall. Still no word from Colorado Ethics Watch, though. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, My Life, PPC

10/5/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

John McCain Reshaping GOP in His Image? Jane Norton in His Shadow

As if Monday morning weren't bad enough, this Politico report (H/T Rocky Mountain Right) is a terrific way to make conservatives nauseous:Fresh from a humbling loss in last year’s presidential election, Sen. John McCain is working behind-the-scenes to reshape the Republican Party in his own center-right image.... Yeah, since this support includes ACORN friend Charlie Crist over conservative Marco Rubio in the Florida primary, "center-right" is a generous term. But beyond that, it's just plain disturbing. Whether he intends to or not, it seems to me that Senator McCain is preparing to take the GOP down the same path of irrelevance as his own failed presidential bid. But he seems determined:Erick Erickson, founder of the influential … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

10/4/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Just How Hard for Scott McInnis to Find His Way to the Governor’s Office?

Update, 10/5: At least one person has informed me they received a message with the incorrect address, followed more than a day later by a message with the correct address. As long as everyone can find the shining golden dome downtown.... Did anyone else out there get a robocall this weekend from the Scott McInnis for Governor campaign, announcing a Monday event kicking off a statewide tour? A friend who received the call told me that the voice on the message was from McInnis' wife: "Twice she stated that Scott will be speaking at the State Capitol located at 20th and Broadway." Say what? That would be only about five blocks off. I know that the early success of primary rival Josh Penry may have thrown McInnis off track a bit, but … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

10/3/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Latest, Greatest Must-See Video: Big Government Health Care PSA

Check out the latest great health care video contribution from Catholic Vote Action -- a terrific, 2-minute satirical public service announcement for Big Government. Let's add it to the pantheon of must-see YouTube videos on the current debate over Obama Care: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Health Care, liberty, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

10/2/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Friday Quick Hits: Two Coloradans Address the Perils of Obama Care

It's October, and the health care debate presses on. Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee joined Republicans to vote down the so-called "public option"; meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has adamantly come out stating that health care reform indeed will take the big step toward a government takeover. Against this backdrop of events are two great new columns you should read: My Independence Institute colleague Jessica Corry writes for Human Events on the human cost of Canadian socialized medicine Dr. Paul Hsieh eloquently explains "the real stakes" of the national health care debate in a new Denver Post piece Just two of the many Coloradans speaking up loudly and clearly for individual rights and medical sanity -- … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC, property rights

10/1/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Call Colorado Ethics Watch: Only One Ritter Cabinet “Conflict of Interest” Report

(H/T Complete Colorado) In his latest edition of Independence Investigates, my colleague Todd Shepherd reports a troubling fact about the Bill Ritter administration:Governor Ritter's office has only one "conflict of interest" report on file for the fifteen members of his cabinet, despite an executive order that requires each and every member of his cabinet to file such a disclosure. With this revelation, it's easy to say now that it hasn't been a great PR day for Ritter. Memo to the governor: Get your cabinet members to file the disclosures, or revoke the order and end the ethical pretense. Simple as that. Hey, why doesn't somebody call Colorado Ethics Watch and see if they'll file an official complaint about this apparent breach of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC

10/1/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jon Caldara Groupies of the World, Unite on October 8 at Golden Hotel

Pay attention, all you Jon Caldara groupies. Next Thursday is your big chance to schmooze with Jon and "the good folks behind our TV show Independent Thinking." A $10 donation to KBDI gets you into the Golden Hotel on October 8 from 6-9 PM for this special event. Come if you can (it won't be Friday night, so no need to be stuck in front of your TV set watching medium-brow local PBS public affairs broadcasting), and spread the word. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, liberty, My Life, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

10/1/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Stephanie Villafuerte Nomination Resurrects Voorhis Affair for Bill Ritter

From today's Denver Post:President Barack Obama has nominated Stephanie Villafuerte to be Colorado's next U.S. Attorney. Villafuerte, currently deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bill Ritter, previously served as Denver's chief deputy district attorney. She worked on Ritter's campaign and has focused on community outreach as his deputy chief of staff. [emphasis added] Remember Stephanie Villafuerte? Still scratching your head? While with Ritter's 2006 gubernatorial campaign, she worked with the Denver DA's office as they accessed the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database to go after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Cory Voorhis. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation went after Cory Voorhis for accessing the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Judiciary, liberty, National Politics, PPC

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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
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  • 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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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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