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Home Archives for Ben

2/7/2026 By Ben 4 Comments

NRSC Explains Norton Domain Registration, A Few Questions Remain

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is distancing itself from rumors that the national group is planning to intervene in the Colorado U.S. Senate primary on behalf of Jane Norton, reports the Denver Post this afternoon (H/T People's Press Collective): … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Replaying Discussion of Colorado Political Developments: Jeff Crank Show

For my handful of fans out there, yesterday morning I was honored to appear as a guest on the Jeff Crank Show to discuss developments in Colorado's governor's race and the U.S. Senate race. The podcast of the August 29 episode is available compliments of AM 740 KVOR in Colorado Springs. I join the show at the 12-minute mark. Thanks to Jeff and Laura for setting up the appearance -- I truly enjoyed myself! You can tune in to the Jeff Crank Show for entertaining conservative political commentary every Saturday at 8 AM local time. … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Ryan Frazier’s “New Generation of Leadership” Merits Closer Consideration

Washington Times political reporter Jennifer Harper, writing from "Inside the Beltway", takes notice of Colorado's own Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ryan Frazier as "a man to watch" (something we here at home already knew):While Republicans dither over party identity, one of their own has stepped forward and cut to the chase with a clear take on what matters and what works in a complicated political landscape. "There is a better, more responsible way. It's called the American way," Ryan Frazier tells Inside the Beltway. Frazier -- who was about the only candidate approaching a clear-cut victory in the largely murky results of recent July survey of 600 Colorado online participants -- also conducted an interview with Newsmax TV. … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Your Family (and Mine) Can’t Afford Barack Obama’s Policies

Hold on to your shirt (and your wallet), as you read new Heritage Foundation research by Brian Riedl:The Office of Management and Budget has released its annual mid-session review that updates the budget projections from this past May.[1] They show that this year, Washington will spend $30,958 per household, tax $17,576 per household, and borrow $13,392 per household. The federal government will increase spending 22 percent this year to a peacetime-record 26 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This spending is not just temporary: President Obama would permanently keep annual spending between $5,000 and $8,000 per household higher than it had been under President George W. Bush.[2] Driven by this spending, America will run its … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Obama Learned One History Lesson

Rossputin makes a great observation about the not-so-great surprise (I'm shocked!) that the Obama porkulus money is being spent at such a slow pace:The “stimulus” bill was NEVER about stimulating the economy or fixing the infrastructure that needs fixing. That’s why it’s not being spent quickly and why many infrastructure projects are being undertaken where the bridge or road is not in very bad shape but happens to be in an important Democratic district. Instead the “stimulus” bill is about stimulating the Democrats’ chances in the next election. The plan all along has been to save as much money as possible until mid-2010 and then spend like crazy, trying to buy as many votes as possible going into a mid-term election when … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

School Reform News September Highlights: Choice in Indiana, Tennessee, and Colorado

Most readers probably don't know that I am a contributing editor and regular writer for the Heartland Institute's monthly publication School Reform News. But the September issue just came out, in which I wrote two stories and was quoted in another. Without further ado here they are: For all my Hoosier friends, "Indiana Joins Growing List of School Choice States" Doesn't sound like a Volunteer thing to do, but "Tennessee Lifts Charter School Cap After U.S. Threat" From our own backyard, "Private Choice Program in Colorado Beats State Graduation Rate" Happy school reform reading! For the 3 or 4 of you who actually care, I may start this as a regular feature. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, liberty, My Life, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Complete Colorado: 200-300 Show Up to Ed Perlmutter Townhall Meeting

Update, 10:30 PM: People's Press Collective has released its first coverage (with plenty of telling photos) of the meeting in Brighton: Perlmutter "immediately went into a roped-off area of the portico, announced he’d be there for two hours, and then retreated to the even more isolated alcove with a half-dozen (apparent) constituents and bodyguards. At which point he was taunted by the non-Democrats in the crowd for being a coward for hiding in the portico — and yes, it was blatantly obvious that that is what he was doing: isolating himself in a controllable space so as to avoid having to interact with the crowd directly. While the crowd was vocal (on both sides) for the first 45 minutes or so, there were no obvious altercations, nor … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, Health Care, Labor, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Health Care Debate Leaves Obama with No Good Options, “Public” or Otherwise

Competent pro-free market voices like the Cato Institute's Michael Cannon and the editors of the Wall Street Journal (via Patient Power) have raised red flags about the so-called "co-op" idea that's moving through the Senate and being floated by the administration as a fallback from the "public option". The Journal cleverly calls the co-op idea "Fannie Med". Cannon writes:The president’s approach to health care reform hasn’t changed at all. All he has done is tried to distract attention from how dangerous and unpopular his approach really is. But that doesn't mean President Obama could use the "co-op" rhetoric to smoothly shift political gears and pull government health care over the finish line in Congress any easier than … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Josh Penry for Governor

Earlier this week I was privileged to sit down in a one-on-one meeting with state senate minority leader and Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Penry. I have to admit it's a bit surreal to be in close contact with someone running for governor who is in my age bracket -- Josh is less than a year older than I am. But the political times, they are a-changin' ... and many signs suggest the pro-liberty youth movement promises to better serve the GOP and its fiscally conservative wing in 2010. At our 40-minute enclave Penry and I discussed policy issues, most specifically education, while he afforded me the opportunity to assess his strengths and weaknesses, and offer my 2.5 cents (inflation) worth of advice. As I told Josh directly, I … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Trips to Whole Foods Now Take On a Whole New Wonderful Meaning

So I hear that some wacko Lefties are trying to boycott Whole Foods because the company's CEO wrote a widely read opinion-editorial for the Wall Street Journal explaining why Obama Care is bad medicine and offering a proven, constructive alternative. I'm proud to say that the lovely Mrs. Virtus today went shopping at Whole Foods. It wasn't the first time, and certainly not the last. We're not overboard on the natural foods thing, but with some pretty serious food allergy issues in our household, the availability of some alternatives they offer is quite convenient. Being very cost-conscious consumers, we tend to purchase different types of groceries and necessities at different stores. So it's not like we give Whole Foods a tremendous … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Health Care, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

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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

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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • Lileks
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  • NRO's The Corner
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
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Christian Commentary et al.

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  • Backbone America
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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