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Home Archives for Colorado Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Yippee… Barack Obama May Get “Modest” Bounce in Polls from DNC

It's normal for a major national political convention to give its nominee a "bounce" in the polls, so it's too early to reach any conclusions. After all, the Obamessiah has yet to give his rock star speech at Invesco Field, which may cause the knees of middle America to swoon. But so far, Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has yet to pick up on the signs of major Joe(Biden)-mentum. No, wait, that's not fair ... Today's results show "hints of a modest convention bounce building for Barack Obama". Obama broke the tie with John McCain to forge a one-point national lead - still, not that compelling after last week saw the Democrat candidate with a consistent three-to-four point lead. And after three days of fawning media coverage of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, daily tracking poll, David Copperfield, Democrat candidate, Democratic National Convention, electoral votes, highway closure, Hillary Clinton, I-25, Invesco Field, Joe Biden, John McCain, modest convention bounce, national political conventions, Obamessiah, Rasmussen Reports, toss-up state, traffic jam

2/7/2026 By Ben 10 Comments

Alaska Can Have Bill Ritter … Colorado Will Take Sarah Palin Any Day

After last night's amazing speech, I'm jealous. Alaska, you can have Bill Ritter. Can we have Sarah Palin? Then I thought, in a few months she has a very good chance of being our vice-president. I'll settle for that. Interestingly, the Denver Post reports today about Gov. Ritter's lackluster speaking performance at last week's Democratic National Convention. A broken teleprompter appears to have been part of his problem. It seems Sarah Palin faced the same teleprompter problems, but went on unfazed to deliver a homerun. Could the same be said of Bill Ritter - or for that matter, Barack Obama - when they're off teleprompter? Broken teleprompter or not, I like this take from Michael at Best Destiny:But let me just leave this first … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Best Destiny, Bill Ritter, broken teleprompter, Colorado, Democratic National Convention, Denver Post, Governor, heartburn, Lefties, Michael, Republican National Convention, Sarah Palin

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado’s Amendment 49 Better Version of Idaho Clean Government Law

The latest edition of Budget & Tax News highlights an important case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court about a clean elections law from Idaho:In 2003, the Idaho Legislature passed the Voluntary Contributions Act, which banned the collection of political contributions through government payroll systems throughout the state. Nothing in the law prohibits union members from contributing to candidates by choice, and nothing in it prohibits unions from engaging in politics. Policy experts view the law favorably. Noted Ben DeGrow, an education analyst with the Independence Institute, "Governments should be focused on performing vital services for taxpayers, not on acting as a bill collector for private groups--especially groups that are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 49, Ben DeGrow, Budget & Tax News, clean government, Ethical Standards, government, Idaho, Independence Institute, lobbyists, payroll systems, policy experts, political candidates, Political contributions, special interests, U.S. Supreme Court, union members, Voluntary Contributions Act

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Hank Brown on Video: “Amendment 49 Keeps Lobbyists in Line”

Earlier I linked to the audio of former Governor Bill Owens and former U.S. Senator Hank Brown giving their endorsements of Amendment 49, Colorado's Ethical Standards initiative. Compliments of Ethical Standards Now, here is a longer version of the Hank Brown Amendment 49 radio ad set to YouTube video - "Amendment 49 keeps lobbyists in line": (Full disclosure: I also happen to work for the Independence Institute, which has provided the intellectual ammunition behind Ethical Standards.) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Amendment 49, Amendment 49 keeps lobbyists in line, Bill Owens, Colorado, endorsement, Ethical Standards initiative, Ethical Standards Now, Hank Brown, Independence Institute, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Sara Gagliardi’s Do-Nothing Record Puts a John Bodnar Sign in my Yard

Michael at Best Destiny points out the inconsequential, do-nothing record of his and my state representative Sara Gagliardi - and the representative for most of Arvada, Colorado:Among things she did NOT sponsor, she did manage to join her party voting to extend unionization into the state government (which had to be vetoed, only to reappear via Executive fiat . . .er, order); she did manage to vote against increasing academic requirements for graduation, but vote to create standards for Sex Education in the schools. So the entire track record of Sara Gagliardi's first year in office as a part of the majority was: --no academic standards --Sex Ed standards --banned smoking in casinos, which encroaches on personal rights and hurt … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: academic requirements, Arvada, Best Destiny, Colorado, do-nothing record, John Bodnar, Michael, Sara Gagliardi, sex education, smoking, state representative, unionization, yard sign

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

‘Blockers R Us’

I came across a great site that features anti-democratic tactics of Leftist organizations: blocking efforts to collect signatures, frivolous lawsuits, and other threats to free speech. Occasionally highlighted is the efforts of a group called By Any Means Necessary to try to shut down Colorado's Civil Rights Initiative. The radical fraud group ACORN is also regularly featured there. Stay tuned to this site, especially as the election approaches. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: ACORN, Amendment 46, Blockers R Us, By Any Means Necessary, Civil Rights Initiative, Colorado, fraud, Free Speech, frivolous lawsuits, Leftists

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

AG John Suthers’ Taxpayer-Friendly Brief Unlikely to Sway Political Court

Mike Saccone reports some pleasing but unsurprising news: Attorney General John Suthers has submitted a friendly brief to the Colorado Supreme Court on behalf of the people of the state, and the district court decision that upheld their rights to vote on a tax increase. But Governor Bill Ritter is probably resting easier than he should, knowing that the political High Court has every reason to favor the Democrats who appropriated them money to construct a new courtroom building. Color me cynical, and hope that I am surprised. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: amicus brief, Attorney General, Bill Ritter, Colorado Supreme Court, courtroom building, Democrats, Denver District Court, Grand Junction Sentinel, John Suthers, Mike Saccone, money, TABOR, tax increase

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Hot Air Tour to Highlight Global Warming Debate Comes to Colorado

Watching hot air balloons might never have been so much fun as this: Americans for Prosperity's Hot Air Tour is coming to Colorado, starting tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at Broomfield County Commons Park (13200 Sheridan Blvd). What am I talking about?Climate alarmists have bombarded citizens with apocalyptic scenarios and pressured them into environmental political correctness. It’s time to tell the other side of the story. Americans for Prosperity is working hard to bring you the missing half of the global warming debate. What will the impacts of reactionary legislation be for you, your family and our economy? Be among the first 50 to pre-register online for the Broomfield event tomorrow - or for events later this week in Fort … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Al Gore, Americans for Prosperity, Broomfield COunty Commons Park, climate alarmists, Colorado, Colorado Springs, Denver, energy record, environmental political correctness, Family, Fort Collins, free T-shirt, future savings, Glenwood Springs, global warming debate, Grand Junction, hot air balloon, Hot Air Tour, Jim Pfaff, Mark Udall, Pueblo

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Reasonable Solution Needed in Denver Post Lawsuit against Bill Ritter

So the Denver Post is suing Gov. Bill Ritter for access to his personal cell phone records? While I'm a strong proponent of transparency in government, it would seem this is slightly over the line. Over at The Colorado Index, a watcher writes "in defense of Bill Ritter." The typically conservative blogger is no big fan of either the Governor or the Post. A watcher especially has problems with the way the latter has responded to his quest for legal ethics reform. So what should be done? I agree with Rocky Mountain Right's assessment:Ritter should disclose any calls he made related to state business in accordance with the law even if they were on a private phone, but he should also not have to disclose every time he called his wife or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, cell phone records, Colorado, Denver Post, disclosure, lawsuit, legal ethics reform, privacy, Rocky Mountain Right, The Colorado Index, Transparency

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Primary Election Predictions

Today is Colorado's primary election. There aren't too many contested races going on, but the ones that are have rightly been described as "extraordinary" for their competitiveness. Anyway, here are my predictions for the few farthings they're worth (note that they're not all necessarily whom I'm cheering for to win): Congressional District 5, GOP: Incumbent Doug Lamborn wins narrowly, as Jeff Crank and Bentley Rayburn split the protest vote Congressional District 6, GOP: Businessman and political newcomer Wil Armstrong pulls off a surprising late comeback victory over favorite Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who goes on to mend fences with the state party leadership and prepares to run for U.S. Senate in 2010 Congressional District … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Bentley Rayburn, Colorado, Congressional candidates, Democratic Party, Doug Lamborn, Jared Polis, Jeff Crank, Joan Fitz-Gerald, Joshua Sharf, Mike Coffman, predictions, primary election, Republican Party, Rima Barakat Sinclair, state house, tight races, Wil Armstrong

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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

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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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