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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Barack Obama: Question of Human Life “Above My Pay Grade”

Not only is Barack Obama's record on human life atrocious and frightening, but he seems utterly unable to give a clear, honest, or reasonable answer on the topic: "Above my pay grade"? So the buck stops where? More Americans need to wake up to the hollowness of the Barack Obama candidacy, and to think seriously about what kind of leader they want. Perhaps Barack Obama is genuinely confused about when human life begins and should be protected. After all, in some cases his confusion seems to extend beyond the point of birth (Scott Johnson at Powerline has more). No matter how he tries to dress it up, it's hard to deny that Obama is in the pocket of the abortion absolutist lobby. Meanwhile, one Red State diarist is just thankful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: "above my pay grade", abortion, abortion absolutist lobby, agnostic, Barack Obama, Born Alive Infants Protection Act, evangelicals, forum, hollow candidacy, human life, irresponsible leadership, John McCain, megachurch pastor, Powerline, Red State, Rick Warren, Scott Johnson, William Lobdell, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Jeff Crank for Congress

Admittedly I haven't followed the Republican primary in Colorado's 5th Congressional District too closely. But I have paid enough attention to know that Jeff Crank is the candidate most worthy of support. A friend e-mailed me to say that, given the positive effect of my endorsement on Wil Armstrong's candidacy, I also ought to come forward and publicly endorse Jeff Crank, too. Some of the reasons are the same - the need for fresh, outside business experience and leadership in the halls of Congress. But Crank also has a clear and principled stand against earmarks and pork (of the costly government variety), and would stand up for taxpayers not only with his words and his votes, but also with his actions. I am proud to officially … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: 5th Congressional District, business experience, earmarks, Jeff Crank, leadership, pork, Republican primary, Wil Armstrong

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Union Members and Fee Payers Foot Bill for Leaders’ DNC Invesco Suites

From Bloomberg.com (H/T Mike Antonucci):Seven unions, including the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, have stepped in to help pay for the Democratic National Convention in Denver after the host committee announced in June it was $10 million short of its fundraising goals. The host committee, as a private organization, can accept unlimited corporate, union and individual contributions. And while presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee are refusing contributions from registered lobbyists, the ban doesn't apply to the convention. Mike Antonucci also cites a Los Angeles Times piece that indicates donors can get "stadium skyboxes" to watch the Obamessiah's big … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor, National Politics, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: agency fees, American Federation of Teachers, Barack Obama, Bloomberg, Democratic National Committee, Democratic National Convention, Democrats, Denver, executive suites, fatcat, fundraising, host committee, Invesco Field, labor bosses, labor unions, Los Angeles Times, Mike Antonucci, National Education Association, Obamessiah, registered lobbyists, stadium skyboxes, teacher unions, union members

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Union Leaders Push Economy-Busting Initiatives to Make Election Interesting

Face The State reports that Big Labor interests are about ready to turn in their signatures on four ballot initiatives that would bust Colorado's economy. You know, it's union leaders' way of protesting Amendment 47, aka Right-to-Work, which would prevent the forced collection of union fees from non-members. Setting aside the Presidential race and even the U.S. Senate showdown between Bob Schaffer and Boulder liberal Mark Udall, this may be a very interesting election season in Colorado yet. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, ballot initiatives, Big Labor, Bob Schaffer, coercive unionism, Colorado, economy, election, Face the State, Mark Udall, Presidential election, right-to-work, signatures, U.S. Senat campaign

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

Turn That Thermostat Up: Remedial Education in Bill Ritter’s Climate Plan

From the Examiner:Saving energy may not be so easy after all. A television commercial featuring Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter was meant to show viewers how easy it is to save energy, but it showed Ritter using more, not less. The original, which aired for weeks, showed Ritter turning a thermostat down from 72 degrees to 68. But during the summer, that means the air conditioner would work harder - and use more energy. I would need to see this commercial to believe it. Apparently, some remedial education is needed as part of Gov. Ritter's "Climate Action Plan". Bill Ritter would have known he couldn't turn his thermostat down to 68 if Barack Obama had been on his shoulder: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bill Ritter, Climate Action Plan, remedial education, the Examiner, TV commercial

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 Leave a Comment

Despite Ambiguities, Plan to Clean Up No-Bid Contracts Merits Support

The Rocky Mountain News reports about another citizens' initiative that may be on its way for Colorado voters to decide this November:Backers of a proposal to bar no-bid government contractors from contributing to political candidates submitted more than 125,000 signatures to the state Wednesday.... Colorado state government granted more than $386 million in contracts without taking competitive bids over the past year, said Tom Lucero, campaign chairman of Clean Government Colorado. This practice drives up the price of services, and current law that lets these contractors pad the campaign accounts of officials who may award the contracts creates tremendous cynicism among voters, said Lucero, a University of Colorado regent. Like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 27, Amendment 41, Amendment 49, campaign finance law, citizens initiative, clean government, Clean Government Colorado, Collective Bargaining, competitive bids, corruption, Ethics in Government, government employee unions, no-bid government contracts, November 2008 ballot, Rocky Mountain News, taxpayers, Tom Lucero, well-financed opposition

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’s Initiative Deadline Today

In Colorado, today is the last day initiative proponents can hand over their signatures to the Secretary of State to certify measures on November's statewide ballot. By the end of the day, we should have a fairly clear idea of how crowded the ballot will be -- though we have to await the roughly two-week certification process. Currently, the ballot contains: Amendment 46, the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative Amendment 47, the Right-to-Work Amendment Amendment 48, the Personhood Amendment Amendment 49, the Ethical Standards Initiative Another measure to clean up the government contracting process turned in more than 120,000 signatures a few days ago, and figures to make the ballot, too - likely as Amendment 50. Last week we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 46, Amendment 47, Amendment 48, Amendment 49, Big Labor, citizens initiative, Colorado, Colorado Civil Rights initiative, conservatives, crowded ballot, deadline, Denver Post, economy-busting initiatives, Ethical Standards, Jessica Corry, Personhood Initiative, right-to-work, Secretary of State, statewide ballot

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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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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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