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Home Archives for Ben

2/7/2026 By Ben 12 Comments

Scott McInnis Endorses Mark Hurlbert … I Back Conservative Tim Leonard

How often do you hear of a gubernatorial candidate in a contested primary endorsing another candidate in a state senate primary? Oh, I haven't done any exhaustive research. But it can't happen too often. What advantage can be gained? I only ask having heard about this: … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

7th CD Update: Fundraising “Loser” Ed Perlmutter, Lang Sias Rakes in $30K

A quick follow-up to my recent posting on the campaign reports from candidates in Colorado's 7th Congressional District. Most notably, Republican frontrunner Ryan Frazier outraised incumbent Democrat Ed Perlmutter, despite the fact that Perlmutter gained nearly half his money from various special interest PACs. For this distinction, The Hill rates Perlmutter as one of Congress's fundraising losers, noting that Frazier's "$219,000-to-$215,000 advantage in the fourth quarter was slight, but it serves as notice that a district that began as an afterthought could see a race." Meanwhile, Lang Sias has filed his report: He raised $30,914. To be fair, Sias wasn't in the race for the entire October-December reporting period (his first … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

A Good Week for Jimmy Lakey: GOP Three-Way Race in Colorado’s 7th CD?

It's been a big week so far for GOP 7th Congressional candidate Jimmy Lakey. On Sunday he won a plurality of votes from viewers of the North Denver candidate forum. Then today, word broke on the liberal Colorado Pols blog that Tom Tancredo is endorsing Lakey -- though no confirmation as of yet has been published by the candidate himself. Finally, Jimmy Lakey was introduced to a national audience in a one-segment appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show. In general, Lakey came across well on the interview, though the format was too tight to be very informative to the general listener. My gripe is with the interviewer, and reminded me of why I had stopped listening to Hugh's drive-time program for many weeks. Tom Lucero isn't the only (or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

All But One Colo. Democrat State Senator Enable Passage of Tax Hikes

Nine days ago I pointed out the number of vulnerable Colorado state house Democrats who voted to push through the "Dirty Dozen" tax hikes. Today it was the state senate's turn. Based on my recent projections, much of the voting activity makes sense. Take a quick look at today's Senate Journal, and what do you see? All Senate Republicans unanimously voted against each and every one of the tax hikes. Hooray for them. Too bad the Democrats have the majority and were able to pass all nine bills with either 18 (the bare minimum) or 19 votes. One Democrat running in a vulnerable seat voted No on all nine tax hike bills, giving her a singular distinction among the entire house and senate majority caucus: Sen. Gail Schwarz. You think this is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, liberty, PPC, property rights

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

On TV at 8:30 PM Tonight to Discuss Public School Financial Transparency

Tonight (Friday) at 8:30 PM on Denver's KBDI Channel 12, you can watch me make a guest appearance on Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. The topic? Jefferson County Public Schools' new, front-of-the-pack financial transparency website. For more -- including my podcast interview with fellow guest, Jeffco CFO Lorie Gillis, and my new paper on the topic of school financial transparency -- please visit Ed Is Watching. The lonely Friday crowd can make your popcorn in plenty of time for tonight's 8:30 showing. For everyone else, get your TiVos/recorders ready or watch the episode re-air on Monday, 1:30 PM, on KBDI. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Fiscal Policy, liberty, My Life, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

February Survey: Time to Help Us Take Colorado’s Political Temperature

This post will stick to the top until February 12. Please scroll down for newer postings. Time flies, so here comes another edition of the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. The deadline is next Friday, February 12, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. What are you waiting for? Click here to take the February survey The February edition has even fewer issue statements, but introduces some interesting new items: Polling questions and head-to-head matchup on the 3rd Congressional race to challenge Rep. John Salazar Questions about your plans to participate in the upcoming caucus and assembly process Detailed question about your sources of local political news and information Throughout the 2010 election year, the Survey … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Health Care Summit Does Nothing for Vulnerable Congressman John Salazar

Say what you will about yesterday's Health Care Summit. Obama and the Democrat leadership didn't make the case for expanded government control of medicine and didn't move the ball politically in any way to help ram through the Obama Care monstrosity. In Colorado, that has to be especially unsettling for 3rd District Congressman John Salazar. Dick Morris has listed Salazar as one of 30 House Democrats who voted for Obama Care the first time but are "vulnerable" and "frightened of the voter backlash." And now the Summit has given him no political cover. The more he hears from unhappy constituents, the more likely he is to come to his senses and try to save his own hide politically. Meanwhile, don't forget there are two fine Republican … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 4 Comments

Ken Buck Wins Senate Primary Backing from Red State’s Erick Erickson

An interesting development in Colorado's Republican U.S. Senate primary: Ken Buck has won the full-spirited backing of influential Red State master blogger Erick Erickson -- who among other accomplishments has helped fuel Florida's Marco Rubio rise from upstart to frontrunner over Charlie Crist. Can Erick help do the same for Ken Buck here in Colorado? Perhaps. The Weld County DA has a lot of catching up to do on the fundraising front. Is Buck (or someone else) the grassroots candidate? You help decide by casting your vote before tomorrow (Friday) at 5:00 PM on the latest survey of Colorado's political temperature. … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Colorado’s Michael Bennet and Mark Udall Vote to Boost My Children’s Debt

Thanks to Americans for Limited Government, brings our attention to something you may have missed, namely a key vote in the U.S. Senate last Thursday:It was also on this day that the Senate voted 60-39 to increase the national debt ceiling by another $1.9 trillion to $14.294 trillion. It is the largest debt ceiling increase in U.S. history — in human history, in fact — totaling even more than the projected federal budget deficit for 2010, which CBO states will be an eye-popping $1.35 trillion.... The vote was straight down party lines, with Senate Democrats enabling the Barack Obama administration to continue the federal spending spree, putting my children and grandchildren deeper in debt. Yes, that means the Appointed One Michael … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colo. Senate GOP Unveils Alternative to Tax Hikes without Further K-12 Cuts

Within the past hour Colorado Senate Republicans have unveiled a sensible, taxpayer-friendly alternative to the Democrats' efforts to ram through the "dirty dozen" tax hikes. From the press release:Republicans in the Colorado Senate today unveiled a proposal to reduce government spending as an alternative to the Democrats’ plan to raise taxes on the businesses and citizens of Colorado. “Democrats keep saying that in order to balance the budget ‘everything is on the table,’” said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. “Republicans want to make sure that a reduction in government spending is on the table and thoroughly debated before we raise taxes.” The GOP proposal includes a 0.25 percent reduction in state payroll spending for the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, liberty, PPC

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Inside

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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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

Colorado News

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National News and Politics

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  • Reason
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • 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 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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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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