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Home Archives for Colorado Politics

9/16/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

With Apologies to Fido, Lassie, and All of Loyal, Trustworthy, Canine-Kind

Okay, this one made me laugh. When I read the liberal wag's op-ed, I nearly fell out of my chair. Now, there's no need to glorify his work with a link or even a free Google mention - especially since, given the site, the link figures to evaporate very soon. Nevertheless, the following paragraph was written under the sub-heading "Bigoted remark":Another senior staff member of the Independence Institute, education policy analyst Ben DeGrow, offered the "analysis" on a Feb. 20 Internet broadcast of RIGHTTALK.COM, that because of [Governor Bill] Ritter’s executive order enabling state employee groups to form partnerships, a variety of unions had "been attracted to the state like opening up a can of dog food and getting your dog to come … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: analogy, Ben DeGrow, bigotry, Bill Ritter, canine-kind, corruption, dog food, education policy analyst, Executive Order, fatcat, Fido, inartful, Independence Institute, labor unions, Lassie, liberal wag, loyal, op-ed, outburst, Partnerships, pension dollars, political causes, restoration, RightTalk, secret ballots, state employee groups, trustworthy, union leaders, workers paychecks

9/16/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

In Swing State Colorado, Obama’s “don’t have the votes in Congress” Resonates

Remember a couple weeks ago, Barack Obama's infamous response to "rumors" that he plans "to take away your guns." The junior Illinois Senator said: "I believe in the Second Amendment... you have nothing to fear from an Obama administration... And by the way, here’s another thing you’ve got to understand. Even if I wanted to take it away, I couldn’t get it done. I don’t have the votes in Congress." As ABC News blogger Jake Tapper points out:That "I don't have the votes in Congress" line has ricocheted around the country… Let's take an extreme hypothetical to make a point. Can you imagine a candidate saying something egregious as: "Why, of course, I'm against legalizing the international child kidnapping trade. And by the way, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, Second Amendment Tagged With: ABC News, absurd case, anti-gun record, Barack Obama, blogger, child kidnapping, Colorado, Congress, gun rights, GunBanObama.com, I don't have the votes in Congress, Illinois Senator, international, Jake Tapper, John McCain, major challenge, National Rifle Association, rumors, Sarah Palin, Second Amendment, sex traffickers, shanghai, swing state, voting bloc

9/15/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

“My Mom is Voting for Trig’s Mom”: Scene from this AM’s Sarah Palin Rally

Over at People's Press Collective last night, El Presidente posted the picture and story of an Alaskan couple temporarily displaced to Colorado:The attached photo is from a young couple from Anchorage, Alaska; here in Denver to have their special needs baby. The mother, Megan, said a few weeks ago she spoke with Gov. Palin about special needs babies for about ten minutes. They are so excited about her that they’re now volunteers for this rally! Megan will deliver their special needs son and then he will be cared for at Denver’s Children’s Hospital. Megan had a little blue baby outfit that said, “My mom is voting for Trig’s mom!” and both Megan and her husband were proudly wearing their Palin t-shirts, which they had ordered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Arvada, camera, Colorado, Denver Children's Hospital, El Presidente, Energy, enthusiasm, expectant mother, Internet, Jeffco Fairgrounds, Libby Szabo, lipstick, local candidate, My mom is voting for Trig's mom, Peoples Press Collective, photographer, political environment, rally, refreshing, Republican politics, Sarah Palin, Slapstick Politics, soccer mom, special needs baby, state senator, T-shirts, The Daily Blogster, Westminster

9/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter’s Judicial Hubris Continues As Anti-Taxpayer Case Proceeds

Three months ago I asked the question: "What does Bill Ritter know about the Supreme Court to gamble taxpayer dollars?" Yesterday, the same sort of hubris was on display, following the oral arguments that were held before the state's highest court to hear Gov. Ritter's appeal in defense of his unconstitutional property tax hike. The Denver Post reports:Ritter's office has downplayed the need for any contingency plans in the event the high court throws out the mill-levy freeze. Evan Dreyer, a spokesman for Ritter, gave a low-key response. "This is a complex case, and it is now in the hands of the court," Dreyer said. "We appreciate that the court heard oral arguments so quickly, and we look forward to the court's decision so we can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Colorado Supreme Court, contingency plans, Denver Post, dreaming, Evan Dreyer, hubris, mill levy "freeze", partisanship, property tax hike, state constitution, statehouse, taxpayer dollars, Taxpayer's Bill of Rights

9/10/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Democrat Cary Kennedy Admits Amendment 59 is Anti-Taxpayer

In case you had any doubts about the intentions of leading Colorado Democrats in bringing forward Amendment 59, Education Week brings you the straight skinny (H/T Rocky Mountain Right):Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff praised the [National Education Association]’s state chapter as one of the “most aggressive and successful” groups assisting Democrats in their takeover Colorado’s Statehouse and governor’s mansion. State Treasurer Cary Kennedy (no relation to RFK Jr.) said that Democrats would win a ballot initiative to “drive a stake in the heart” of the state’s Taxpayers Bill of Rights [TABOR]--a conservative cost-cutting measure. Yes, the Democrats behind Amendment 59 - Andrew Romanoff and Cary Kennedy - … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 59, Andrew Romanoff, ballot initiative, Cary Kennedy, Colorado, Colorado Education Association, Democrats, Education Week, Governor, liberal interest groups, motivations, National Education Association, Rocky Mountain Right, Speaker of the House, statehouse, Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, taxpayers, teachers union, unguarded opinions

9/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bill Ritter Energy Adviser Once Held Liable for “Fraudulent Representation”

Complete Colorado has uncovered some unflattering information about one of Bill Ritter's leading energy advisers:After winning the election in November 2006, Governor Bill Ritter tapped life-long Yuma County resident Mike Bowman to be co-chair of his transitional energy team. CompleteColorado.com has obtained documents showing in 1999, a Yuma County jury held Bowman liable for almost $4 million dollars in damages due to "fraudulent representation." Copies of the relevant documents are already posted there. How long before reporters for Colorado's major newspapers and other media outlets start digging a little deeper? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Energy, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Colorado newspapers, Complete Colorado, documents, election, energy adviser, fraudulent representation, jury, liable, Mike Bowman, November 2006, transitional energy team, Yuma County

9/9/2008 By Ben 3 Comments

Hypocritical Attacks from Opponents of Amendment 49 and Amendment 54

No doubt the political season is upon us, and the hypocrisy of large special interest groups is on display. Nowhere is this more true in our state than with the political group Protect Colorado's Future. Their spokesman said in an interview last week with Channel 7:"When you have these out-of-state, or narrow corporate interests trying to divide Coloradans, it's bad for all Colorado," said Jess Knox, wearing a pin that says, "No on 47, 49 and 54." So Protect Colorado's Future wants to make a big deal out of "out-of-state" campaign funds? Well, as Face The State points out today:It’s no secret that out-of-state money is flooding Colorado from both sides. In the unions’ case, the out-of state money is coming from the pockets of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: 9News, Amendment 47, Amendment 49, Amendment 54, ballot fight, CBS4Denver, Channel 7, clean government, Colorado, deceptive advertising, Ethical Standards, Ethical Standards initiative, Face the State, hypocrisy, Independence Institute, Jess Knox, lobbyists, narrow interests, no-bid contracts, out-of-state, political season, power, privilege, Protect Colorado's Future, right-to-work, special interest groups, spokesman, Truth Test, union workers, worker freedom

9/8/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

“He’s Proud to Be a Loser”: Dave Ohmart’s Modest Profile in Courage

The Denver Post has a great feature story today about Colorado state employee Dave Ohmart, who has been challenging the union organizing power with a mixture of tenacity, fair-mindedness, and self-deprecating wit:The self-described "nonunion rep" worries that the nascent state workers union will eventually draw dues from even employees who voted against it, a specter other states have faced. It's a scenario Colorado union organizers flatly reject. Nevertheless, Ohmart in June began offering counter-points to union pitches through a group dubbed "Colorado LOSES," a jab at the three-union coalition Colorado WINS that won the right to represent all 31,000 eligible state workers last month. "I don't want someone forcing me to join … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: agency fees, apathy, coercion, Colorado, Colorado Loses, Colorado WINS, Dave Ohmart, Denver Post, fair-mindedness, government employee union, greed, honorary "loser", labor union, losers, non-state employee, nonunion rep, political ambition, poster, self-aggrandizement, self-deprecating with, state employee, tenacity, union coalition, union leaders, union organizers

9/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

School Leaders Seeking More Taxpayer Money in Presidential Election Year

In an article printed today, the Denver Post's Jeremy Meyer asks why Colorado school district leaders are pushing a massive slew of construction bond proposals on the ballot:But presidential elections produce large voter turnouts, and 90 percent of Colorado school ballot issues pass when they are on the general election ballot. "My hypothesis is the larger turnout means (districts) are reaching into a voter base that is generally less informed about local issues and more inclined to give money to schools because it sounds like it is the right thing to do," said Ben DeGrow, education-policy analyst for the Independence Institute, a free-market think tank based in Golden. On the other hand:DeGrow, however, said he thinks Colorado … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life Tagged With: Ben DeGrow, bond proposals, Colorado, Denver Post, different perspective, education policy, financial transparency, Independence Institute, Jeremy Meyer, November ballot, reporters, school construction, school district, tax increases, taxpayers, think tank

9/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

More Sarah Palin Tidbits

A source in El Paso County tells me that this Saturday's John McCain-Sarah Palin event in Colorado Springs has long since exhausted its 10,000 ticket supply and has put thousands more on waiting lists. I'm told this is bigger than President George W. Bush's appearance in Colorado Springs in 2004 - not surprisingly, as the conservative base has received its biggest jolt of inspiration since Ronald Reagan was running for President. Also, remember in last night's speech when Sarah Palin pointed out that her husband is a member of the United Steelworkers Union? Today, National Right to Work sends an open letter to Todd Palin informing him that he is inadvertently helping to fund attacks against his wife but can get some of that money back. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: Big Labor, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, forced union dues, George W. Bush, John McCain, National Right to Work, political attacks, President, rally, reform, Ronald Reagan, Sarah Palin, tickets, Todd Palin, United Steelworkers Union, waiting lists

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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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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
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