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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Amendment 47 Moves Past Frivolous Legal Attacks to Make Public Case

A common and repeated tactic of the Left this year has been to throw frivolous legal challenges at ballot initiatives they don't like in an effort to keep Coloradans from deciding the issues themselves. Well, last Thursday the Denver Business Journal reported that a judge has tossed out legal complaints against one certain initiative:A Denver District Court judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit from opponents of Amendment 47, the so-called “right-to-work” ballot initiative that would bar labor unions from collecting mandatory dues in workplaces that engage in collective bargaining. Incidentally, the same publication endorsed Amendment 47 only days before (subscription required). Meanwhile, Fred Barnes at the Weekly Standard has an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 47, ballot initiatives, Big Labor, Collective Bargaining, Colorado, Denver Business Journal, Denver District Court, economic growth, economy-busting initiatives, Election Day, endorsement, forced unionism, Fred Barnes, frivolous lawsuits, Jonathan Coors, judge, legal complaints, mandatory union fees, right-to-work, signatures, union leaders, Weekly Standard, workplace freedom

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Live-Blogging First Campaign Debate between Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall

Today I'm taking a few personal hours from work to go cover the first debate of Colorado's 2008 U.S. Senate campaign. Hopefully, El Presidente and I will be live-blogging the event between Bob Schaffer and Mark Udall over at the Schaffer v Udall blog. Doors open to the public at 9:30 AM local time, with the debate scheduled to take place from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Colorado, debate, El Presidente, live blogging, Mark Udall, Schaffer v Udall, U.S. Senate

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Mt. Virtus Update

A significant and very exciting change came to the Virtus household yesterday. Needless to say, blogging will be sporadic, at best, for awhile. More important things are going on! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Endorsements Likely Key Factor in Lifting Wil Armstrong into Close Race

I've written very little about the 6th Congressional District primary since my endorsement of Wil Armstrong nearly four months ago. Since then, many prominent Republicans have followed suit with their public endorsements, including Senator Wayne Allard, former Governor Bill Owens, Attorney General John Suthers, former state senate leader Mark Hillman, former Secretary of State Gigi Dennis, and even former Massachusetts governor and possible vice-presidential candidate Mitt Romney. For the longest time, Secretary of State Mike Coffman has been viewed as the prohibitive frontrunner in this four-way race, which also features state senators Ted Harvey and Steve Ward. But then today comes interesting news from the campaign - also reported at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: 6th Congressional District, Bill Owens, campaign, dead heat, endorsements, frontrunner, Gigi Dennis, John Suthers, Mark Hillman, Mike Coffman, Mitt Romney, name recognition, poll, primary election, Republicans, Secretary of State, Steve Ward, Ted Harvey, Wayne Allard, Wil Armstrong

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Time for Ted Stevens To Go

News came yesterday that Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is indicted. If Republicans should have learned anything from the 2006 election, it's to purge the pork and corruption from their ranks. This story reminds us that neither major party has anything approaching a monopoly on sleazy politicians, but also gives the GOP an opportunity to distinguish itself by valuing integrity over seniority. Speaking of seniority, no Republican has served longer. It's time for that tenure to come to an end. At The Next Right, Patrick Ruffini wisely calls for Ted Stevens to step down, but points out he can't do so until after Alaska's August 26 primary. Of course, actual guilt or innocence has yet to be determined in the Stevens case. But politically … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, corruption, GOP, indictment, Patrick Ruffini, pork, primary election, Ted Stevens, The Next Right, U.S. Senator

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Call the President for a Special Session of Congress to Address Energy Problem

Update: You can sign an online "Don't Go" petition that has a similar sentiment. After seeing the Congress adjourned, Nancy Pelosi shut off the lights, kicked out the reporters, and fled from the issue of the nation's domestic energy supply. But under his Constitutional authority, the President can call a special session of Congress to force our elected officials to remove the burdensome restrictions that keep the United States dependent on foreign oil and people paying $4 a gallon for gas. Call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111 Monday to Friday between 9 AM - 5 PM Eastern (7 AM - 3 PM Colorado time), and respectfully urge the President to call a special session of Congress. Liberal Democrat elites in Congress like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Congress, Constitutional, domestic energy supply, foreign oil, gasoline prices, Harry Reid, Ken Salazar, Mark Udall, Nancy Pelosi, President Bush, special session, United States, White House

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

100 Degrees for the “100-Year” State? Maybe the Heat’s Getting to Me

Triple digit temperatures in the Denver metro area today ... Is it the weather's way of celebrating the 132nd birthday of the great state of Colorado? What do I mean, you say? No less than 100 degrees for the "100-Year" (Centennial) state. At least it's something to interesting to ponder while guzzling the water, wiping away the sweat, and struggling to stay out of the heat. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: 100 degrees, Centennial State, Colorado, Denver metro area, heat

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Recall Vince Chowdhury

A few weeks ago I passed on the story of Vince Chowdhury, the Jefferson County school board member and Democratic legislative candidate accused - later convicted - on domestic violence charges. As reported in yesterday's Denver Post, Vince Chowdhury has suspended - but apparently not officially withdrawn - his candidacy for the state house. At the same time, Chowdhury "has not made a decision about his status on the Jefferson County school board." The story introduces readers to a new grassroots site created by three Jefferson County women with a pretty clear message: RecallVince.com. The only thing missing from the site? An online petition form where taxpaying Jeffco residents like myself can sign and join the call for Vince … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Democrat, domestic violence, Jeffco Public Schools, recall election, RecallVince.com, schools, state house candidate, taxpayers, Vince Chowdhury

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Democrat Gwyn Green, Poster Child for Economic Illiteracy, Strikes Again

Liberal Democrat Rep. Gwyn Green, whose state house district covers part of Denver's western suburbs, is a poster child for economic illiteracy. This fact has only been reconfirmed today by a Face The State report on her ill-informed but zealous refusal to attend a party sponsored by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association:"I see no point in attending the COGA Conference," she wrote. "Your announcement does not indicate any desire to moderate the ungodly profits the oil and gas companies are reaping at the costs for [sic] consumers." Of course, the report goes on to explain her fallacy:According to the American Petroleum Institute, statistics through the first quarter of 2008 show that, on average, only 7.4 percent of each dollar paid at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Energy, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: American Petroleum Institute, Bill Owens, brain-gouging, COGA Conference, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, consumers, Democrat, economic illiteracy, Face the State, gasoline stations, Gwyn Green, House Bill 1251, price-gouging, Republicans, Rocky Mountain News, Vince Carroll

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Phil Gramm’s Foot-in-Mouth Problem vs. Barack Obama’s Ongoing Elitism

Did you hear what Phil Gramm - former U.S. Senator, McCain for President economic adviser - said? If you're reading this blog, it's almost impossible to have missed it. (Hey - don't whine at me if you haven't heard what Gramm said!) It's become so bad that less than 24 hours into the story the big media is referencing the extent of its own coverage:Remarks by former Sen. Phil Gramm (R), a top economic advisor to Sen. John McCain, are drawing heavy negative attention for the candidate in the latest media cycle. 1996 was a long time ago - it was the first Presidential election in which I was eligible to vote. Yesterday helped to remind me why the Phil Gramm campaign never left the ground. The man is an economic whiz and one of the most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Democrats, double standards, economic elitism, foot-in-mouth disease, John McCain, Phil Gramm, recession, U.S. News and World Report

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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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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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