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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dems’ “No-Strike” Bait-and-Switch a Boon to Ritter

The Democrats at the State Capitol are trying to pull one over on Colorado voters in an attempt to give cover to Gov. Bill Ritter's executive order that provides for the unionization of state employees. Startled by the Attorney General's revelation that his order could not prevent strikes, Ritter quickly and publicly agreed to support the concept of a no-strike law in the state legislature brought forward by Republicans. Well, today we receive word of a bait-and-switch. After killing a bill sponsored by Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, that would provide real enforceable penalties that deter public employee strikes, the Democrats went ahead and gave mere lip service to public order and accountability:[The House Business and Labor … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Big Labor, Binding arbitration Gov. Bill Ritter, Collective Bargaining, No-strike laws, Public employee unions, Rep. Bob Gardner, Rep. Jim Riesberg

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Next Free People, Free Markets Class: Sign Up Before It’s Too Late

Coloradans: Have you always wanted to learn more about the history, the moral philosophy, and the sound economic principles that undergird our liberty through free-market capitalism? Then you'll want to sign up for the next edition of the Free People, Free Markets class, which starts this Saturday, February 16. It's not too late to sign up. From the Independence Institute website:You have a strong love of freedom. It's a natural part of being human. But too few people were taught the fundamentals of a free society. We have a wonderful seminar to offer you. It pulls together the basic principles of liberty and a free market, showing you that these cohesive fundamentals allow society to work well,and to honor the individual. The course … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General Tagged With: Free Markets, Independence Institute

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Crack Opens in the Education Reform Floodgates

With the Denver Public Schools board's unanimous approval last night of the Bruce Randolph School's request for autonomy from district red tape and union work rules, we may see a crack opening in the floodgates of education reform. Word is that a dozen other DPS schools are ready to follow in Randolph's footsteps. But everyone is awaiting the union's official response:The autonomy agreement must still be approved by the 22-member governing board of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association, expected to vote Jan. 8. DCTA President Kim Ursetta did not mention the proposal in brief remarks to the board. She has repeatedly said the union has some questions about the plan and is working with Bruce Randolph staff to get answers."Working with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bruce Randolph School, Denver Classroom Teachers Association, Denver Public Schools

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

NY Times for McCain, Republicans for Romney

The New York Times endorsed John McCain for the Republican nomination:In 2006, however, Mr. McCain stood up for the humane treatment of prisoners and for a ban on torture. We said then that he was being conned by Mr. Bush, who had no intention of following the rules. But Mr. McCain took a stand, just as he did in recognizing the threat of global warming early. He has been a staunch advocate of campaign finance reform, working with Senator Russ Feingold, among the most liberal of Democrats, on groundbreaking legislation, just as he worked with Senator Edward Kennedy on immigration reform. Why not just hang a lead weight around the McCain campaign? Well, say no more. The Old Gray Lady is for the "maverick" Arizona Senator, which gives … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, General, National Politics Tagged With: campaign finance, endorsement, global warming, John McCain, Mitt Romney, New York Times, Ted Kennedy

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Getting Beyond “Conservative”

Thought-provoking read for the day: Selwyn Duke at American Thinker questions where adhering to "conservatism" has gotten us and whether we need to re-assess our approach:I don't want to preserve the cultural status quo, I want to overthrow it. Then we can pull the statist weeds up by the roots and burn them in freedom's fire, just like our Founding Fathers did. Do you think they were conservatives? Conservatives don't start revolutions; they simply make sure their shackles are made no heavier. Political victory rests on cultural victory, and changing the culture starts with changing our mentality. We have only two choices: We can be revolutionary. Or we can be wrong. Read the whole thing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: American Thinker, Conservatism, Founding Fathers

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rebutting Huckabee Redux

Rossputin has reposted a comment I left in response to some incoherent pro-Huckabee remarks made on his site. Here's how I concluded:I'm writing to implore GOP primary voters to think seriously about their decisions. If you're going to support Huckabee, fine, but only if you at least got there by coming to grips with his record and having given some thought to a couple broad questions: 1) What would his foreign and domestic policy prescriptions really mean for our country? and 2) What are the odds he could actually win a general election? Writing as a Baptist born-again Christian, let me remind you we are electing a President, not a pastor. Go ahead, and read the whole thing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Mike Huckabee, Rossputin

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Super Tuesday Post

Today is Super Tuesday and Caucus Day in Colorado. And that's why I find it surprising that my local blogging colleague Steven appears to be planning to sit out the Presidential vote:Politics as usual does not cut it for me. I need a candidate with true compassion, true conscience, true understanding, and the ability to reason. No candidate for President has demonstrated all these things that I can see. Not that these characteristics comprise anywhere near a complete resume for our nation's highest office. And trying to compare Hugh's show last night to push-polling? Not only absurd - I wouldn't say the MSM is push-polling for McCain - but sounds desperate, too, a lot like Huckabee's rhetoric of late. He's run as good a race as anyone … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Best Destiny, Colorado Caucus, New Conservative, predictions, presidential primary, Republicans, Slapstick Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 6 Comments

Who Fits the Bill as McCain’s VP?

In his column today, Quin Hilyer at American Spectator lays out a blueprint (and a very good one at that) of the qualifications for John McCain's ideal running mate. By the time you near the end of the article, you may be wondering if there is anyone who matches all of the specifications. Hilyer concludes:So there you have it: McCain needs a solidly "full-spectrum" conservative, reformist, youngish, cool, well-rounded, brainy, all-media-respected, articulate, telegenic, border-state/constituency-challenging, non-party-weakening, executive-experienced, running mate who can handle the presidency at a moment's notice. Good luck to McCain in finding such a candidate. The good news, amazingly enough, is that there are several potential … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: American Spectator, John McCain, Quin Hilyer, vice presidential candidate

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Not about the Rebel Yell

Fellow blogger Snaggle-Tooth Jones has leveled a misguided attack:This here's a YouTube video showin' a 1938 reunion of Confederate and Yankee soldiers on the field of Gettysburg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1byof4IAHk Now, here's a litte question for Ben DeGrow and the othah no-account neocons (and damn fool libruls) who 'r vexed over All Things Confederate: why do ye suppose these men cud get together in such a spirit of civility, if not chivalry? I'd like to hear from ye in my commints box, Ben DeGrow. Why d' ye 'spose U.S. Grant happily tolerated the playin' of "Dixie" at this here event? Or why do ye 'spose that Grant was so magnanimous at Lee's surrender at Appomattox? Or why Lee defended Grant when one of his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, History Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, Appomattox, Civil War, Lost Cause, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Caucus Confusion

Given the timing and popularity of this year's Presidential race, combined with the almost arcane political caucus process in this state, news like this is hardly surprising:State GOP chair Dick Wadhams reported this afternoon that the party had been beseiged with phone calls today, most from people trying to determine where they can caucus. One last time, the story provides helpful reminders for those looking to get involved this evening:Wadams [sic] said the party was expecting "very big attendance," at its caucuses which, as a reminder dear reader, begin at 7 p.m. Caucuses are run by political parties, not counties, but the good news is voters still have time to get to the right place. All Colorado caucuses are tonight. Those … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado Caucus, Democrats, presidential primary, Republicans

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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
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  • 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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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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