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Home Archives for Ben

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bad Bill of the Decade Nominee: The So-Called Employee Free Choice Act

With Barack Obama as President and a growing Senate Democratic majority that seems to tick up with each passing day, it looks like the union bosses may get their disastrous and poorly-named Employee Free Choice Act after all. Here is the latest video offering (compliments of the Employee Freedom Action Committee) to remind everyone what we very well could be in store for: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, creative, Democratic majority, Employee Free Choice Act, Employee Freedom Action Committee, President, Senate, union bosses, video, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #8: A Liberal Arts College Education

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. If my mission in life were to go forth and make as much money as possible, I'd have to be considered a fool and a failure by now (some think the same of me, anyway). One of my first missteps would have been choosing to be a history major at a small liberal arts college of somewhat unique renown. But I have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, My Life Tagged With: answers, cafeteria, debates, discussions, dorms, dull, grateful, Hillsdale College, history major, humble, lectures, liberal arts education, life, lifelong learning, listless moments, mission, money, professors, questions, scholarships, thankfulness, the beautiful, the good, the true, thirst for knowledge

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Founders’ Night 2008: Michelle Malkin Charges Colorado’s Freedom-Fighters

Update: The Daily Blogster and Face The State have more. Last night, at the Independence Institute's 24th Annual Founders' Night Dinner, conservatives and libertarians didn't waste much time moping. Sure, Mike Rosen's election commentary was a bit more sobering than usual. But with Jon Caldara as emcee - and receiving recognition for 10 years as Independence Institute president, a tenure he hopes to continue with his self-professed "lack of marketable skills" - it was hard to get too down. Fred Holden, longtime hard-working and outspoken advocate for liberty and author of Total Power of ONE in America, won the Vern Bickel Award for Grassroots Leadership. This was certainly a well-deserved honor. The inspiring and energetic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: advocate, Beltway, blogosphere, Colorado, Colorado bloggers, community, conservatives, David D'Evelyn Award, dinner, educational opportunity, El Presidente, election commentary, entrepreneur, first-generation American, Founders Night, Fred Holden, freedom-fighters, Grassroots Leadership, highest honor, Independence Institute, Jon Caldara, Joshua Sharf, keynote speaker, libertarians, liberty, Michelle Malkin, Mike Rosen, Mr. Bob, President, principles of liberty, resident, Rossputin, Seeme Hasan, sobering, Total Power of One in America, Vern Bickel Award, warm welcome

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Get Out and Vote, Colorado GOP

If you haven't voted yet and still have a question about any of Colorado's statewide ballot measures, please check out my voter guide. Not sure what to do about judges? This is the best set of suggestions I've seen (and when in doubt, vote No). But whatever you do, please get out and vote! AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL COLORADO REPUBLICAN VOTERS From the Colorado Coalition of Conservative Bloggers As you know, Colorado has been labeled a "swing" state in this year's elections, and will be one of the states that will determine the direction of our nation for the next four or eight years. Historically, the voters in Colorado elected Republican candidates, largely because of the higher numbers of registered Republican voters. This Republican … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, conservative bloggers, judges, Republican voters, statewide ballot, voter guide

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

An Election Day Prayer

For my fellow Christians:1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Christians, Election Day, prayer

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #2: Freedom of Worship

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Human beings are hard-wired to worship. What we choose to worship is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment decision. There's an ongoing battle in human hearts for whom or what will receive our worship. Ultimately, no human government or other authority can dictate or regulate this most fundamental form of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Constitution, First Amendment, free exercise of religion, freedom of worship, religious liberties, thankful

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Few Things to Look for in Election Results in Colorado and Nationwide

Are you interested in tracking the election results as they come in tomorrow evening? Rocky Mountain Right has the essential guide for tracking the performance of Barack Obama and John McCain here in Colorado, with the four key counties to watch. Nationally, for the Presidential race, all eyes should be on Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes - so astutely says Erick Erickson at Red State and Jim Geraghty's pseudonymous mentor Obi-Wan (who also has loads of other great information). After Pennsylvania, Colorado & Nevada here in the West will be bellwethers. If Pennsylvania is where it's at, the McCain-Palin team had better continue hounding this theme: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, bellwethers, coal production, Colorado, election results, electoral votes, Erick Erickson, Jim Geraghty, John McCain, key counties, mentor, Nevada, Obi-Wan, Pennsylvania, performance, Red State, Republicans, Rocky Mountain Right

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

U.S. Supremes Hear Idaho Case One Day Before Amendment 49 Vote

The day before Colorado voters go to the polls (or at least the few that haven't cast ballots already) to decide Amendment 49 - the Ethical Standards initiative concerning the use of government payroll systems - the U.S. Supreme Court today heard oral arguments (PDF) in Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Association (H/T Liberty Live). What's the connection? The Ysursa case is reviewing a law known as the Idaho Voluntary Contributions Act. As I pointed out many weeks ago, Amendment 49 is a better version of this clean government payroll law. I previously discussed this issue with Mike Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation on an iVoices podcast: It likely will be several months before our nation's highest court renders a verdict … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: Amendment 49, clean government, Colorado, deceptive, Ethical Standards, government payroll systems, Idaho, illegal, Liberty Live, local governments, multi-million dollar, onslaught, oral arguments, PAC collections, polls, U.S. Supreme Court, verdict, Voluntary Contributions Act, voters, Ysursa v Pocatello Education Association

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rehashing Obama’s Equivocations

Mary Katherine Ham's excellent video reminds us in just a few short minutes why Barack Obama's long string of equivocations on issues great and small adds up to a lack of leadership. Let me also pass on American Princess' warning to her readers: "Prepare to vomit." … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, property rights, Second Amendment, World Events Tagged With: American Princess, Barack Obama, equivocations, leadership, Mary Katherine Ham, video, vomit, warning, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Sarah Palin is Cleared in Troopergate

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's reputation is salvaged from scurrilous charges in a faux scandal (H/T Fort Hard Knox). Given its 11th hour release, you can just about guarantee the media establishment will bury her exoneration. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: candidate, faux scandal, media establishment, Republican, Sarah Palin, Troopergate, vice presidential

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Inside

  • About Ben
  • Archives
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
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    • Colorado Ballot 2014
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • The Westfield Gardener
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • Writer / Editor For Hire

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

Colorado News

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  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
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National News and Politics

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  • National Review
  • Politico
  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
  • TownHall
  • Wall Street Journal
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Michelle Malkin
  • NRO's The Corner
  • Power Line
  • Red State

Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
  • Eduwonk
  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
  • Mike Anderson
  • Mullings
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  • Right Thinking
  • Right Wing News
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  • Shot in the Dark
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  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
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Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
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  • Dennis Prager
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Colorado Blogs

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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