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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Tim Pawlenty: Quick Thoughts

Update: Looks like I got headfaked, like many others. Pawlenty appears to be out. Speculation is on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Kudos to Steve if this is correct. In part he writes about her:Not only is she a woman (which, like it or not, is an issue for some voters), but she also puts a fresh, future-oriented face on the McCain campaign. By upending Alaska's corrupt political class, Palin has actually produced the type of change that Barack Obama can only talk about; and her collar is far bluer than Joe Biden's ever was. Furthermore, she is arguably the only candidate who has the necessary expertise to address the single most pressing issue in this election: gas prices. As Governor of Alaska, Chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Campaign Spot, Costco, Erick Erickson, fiscal conservative, FRED PAC, Governor, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mark Sanford, Minnesota, national ticket, political climate, Red State, Republican, running mate, Sam's Club Republican, Sarah Palin, Soren Dayton, The New Conservative, The Next Right, Tim Pawlenty, vice president

2/7/2026 By Ben 14 Comments

Sarah Palin Really Captures the Attention of the Colorado Blogosphere

I must say I'm glad I initially had the wrong information about who John McCain's running mate would be. Sarah Palin was the best pick. What's everyone else saying? Well, it's rare to see such unanimous sentiment asserted. Here goes: Steven, the New Conservative, who long has been championing Palin to be McCain's running mate, now says her selection was a "bad idea" ... for the Left Michael at Best Destiny says it's brilliant political Jiu-Jitsu Bob Agard calls the selection of the Alaska Governor "sheer brilliance" Jim at Thinking Right says "Outstanding!" Kenneth Davenport, writing at Backbone America, asserts that the choice is "a political masterstroke" Rocky Mountain Right calls Sarah Palin "an excellent choice" The Denver … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: "inexperience", a watcher, Alaska, Andrew Boucher, awesome, Backbone America, backfire, bad idea, Barack Obama, Best Destiny, Bob Agard, brilliant, campaign contribution, center-right bloggers, Colorado delegates, corruption, David Harsanyi, David Thielen, Dead Governors, Democrats, Denver Post, excellent choice, Face the State, GOP National Convention, Governor, heartburn, ideological storyline, Joe Biden, John McCain, Kenneth Davenport, Lefty attacks, liberal friend, libertarian, New Conservative, out-of-touch, partisan, political Jiu-Jitsu, political masterstroke, predictable hypocrisy, reformer, Rocky Mountain Right, running mate, Sarah Palin, sheer brilliance, speech, story, strong defenses, The Daily Blogster, Thinking Right, unanimous sentiment, vice president, Western voters

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Posing as a Pundit

I will be joining a locally-televised makeshift panel of commentators on the Republican National Convention, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening live on KBDI Channel 12 from 7 to 9:30 PM. Details are on Jon Caldara's blog. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Jon Caldara, KBDI Channel 12, local television, punditry, Republican National Convention

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Could It Be True: RNC Bloggers Being Subjected to the Spanish Inquisition?

Going to the Republican National Convention as a blogger never was really an option for me this year. But my friend and colleague El Presidente is on location and filing dispatches. Hadn't heard any complaints really until I flipped over to Pajamas Media and saw this report from Rick Moran:Here on what is passing for “Bloggers Row,” there is plenty of grumbling about the accommodations supplied by our hosts. Some descriptives are not printable. Most reflect a huge disappointment with the way the GOP has shunted most of the bloggers off to the side, far from the action, dispersed throughout a gigantic “Press Filing Center” where the working media comes to hook up to the net and file their stories.... ...The dungeon that the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: bloggers, Bloggers Row, conditions, El Presidente, Michael Palin, Pajamas Media, Republican National Convention, Rick Moran, Sarah Palin, Slapstick Politics, Spanish Inquisition

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

El Presidente Headed to RNC … Reader, Can You Spare a Dime (or 2)?

El Presidente, the hard-working and creative blogger at Slapstick Politics, is heading to the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities to provide his creative brand of new media coverage from a center-right Colorado perspective. Any financial support you can give him is appreciated. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: blogger, Colorado, El Presidente, financial support, Republican National Convention, Slapstick Politics

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 3 Comments

Primary Results Roll In: It’s Mike Coffman, Joshua Sharf, Doug Lamborn

Early primary results are in ... Congratulations to Mike Coffman, the next Representative from Colorado's 6th Congressional District. He wasn't my first choice, but he will do a fine job in Congress. Wil Armstrong had a big deficit to overcome, but despite his late surge couldn't make up the difference. Congratulations also to fellow blogger Joshua Sharf, whose hard work and consistent conservative Republican message has paid off in a primary victory. As predicted, incumbent Doug Lamborn has held on in the 5th Congressional. Wish it were Jeff Crank, but there's no use looking back. On the Democrat side, upstart liberal millionaire Jared Polis holds a lead over party favorite and career pol Joan Fitz-Gerald. But this one is still … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, Democrat, Doug Lamborn, Jared Polis, Jeff Crank, Joan Fitz-Gerald, Joshua Sharf, Mike Coffman, primary election, Republican, Wil Armstrong

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Peter Blake Chronicles Amendment 49 for the Rocky Mountain News

Peter Blake yesterday wrote a great Rocky Mountain News column about one of the major initiatives on Colorado's statewide November ballot - Amendment 49:As [Jon] Caldara, head of the Independence Institute, likes to put it, government would no longer be able to act as "the bagman for political special interests."... No doubt passage of No. 49 would make it more difficult for unions to collect dues. But Caldara said that in the age of automatic bank transfers, union members can easily arrange to have dues deducted if they want. "Taxpayers don't have to be on the hook for doing the accounting, the bookkeeping and collection work for special interests and their lobbyists." Caldara maintains it's a conflict of interest for, say, school … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Amendment 49, bookkeeping, campaign contributions, clean government, Colorado, conflict of interest, Ethical Standards initiative, Independence Institute, initiative, Jon Caldara, payroll deductions, Peter Blake, Rocky Mountain News, special interests, statewide ballot, union dues

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

It’s Official: Colorado Government 100% Unionized, Thanks to Bill Ritter

It's not often I break news on this site, but just remember it was reported here first: As of today, the entirety of Colorado state government is officially unionized. Previously, the "Colorado WINS" union coalition won the right to represent six of eight occupational groups in state government - despite being outvoted by the "don't give a crap" coalition. While political junkies in Colorado await the results of candidate primary campaigns, results from mail-in ballot elections for the final two occupational groups of Colorado state government were counted and tabulated today. Via an email from the state labor department, here are the results (which should be posted here shortly):Financial Services Group: Colorado WINS was successful in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Colorado Department of Labor, Colorado Loses, Colorado state government, Colorado WINS, don't give a crap, exclusive representative, Financial Services, mail-in ballots, Mike Antonucci, occupational groups, political junkies, primary election, Professional Services, Unions

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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
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