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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Announcing Straw Poll Evasion Another Strange Scott McInnis Campaign Turn

What's the deal with Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis skipping out on this month's state party candidate forum and straw poll? And then making a big deal out of it? Apparently, the strange interviews weren't enough. The candidate touting broader polls he commissioned showing his own name recognition advantage won't stand next to Josh Penry (whom I support) and Dan Maes (whom I respect) to gauge the support of the party faithful. Who does he hope is going to elect him? In search of satisfactory answers, read Westword's account of an interview with McInnis campaign spokesman Sean Duffy. If the trajectory of this race continues to any extent in the direction it's going, it's not a long matter of time before Josh … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Obama Lies about His Support for Single-Payer Government Health Care

Update II: The Heritage Foundation's Conn Carroll has identified even more lies and misinformation from yesterday's townhall meeting -- including some of the same old, same old from Obama. Update: To his credit, even Lefty David Sirota is upset that Obama is making "verifiably dishonest statements". And with his false claim of AARP support, make that two big whoppers the President told yesterday. Is there any other way to explain this than Barack Obama lied? "I have not said that I was a single-payer supporter," the president told his staged New Hampshire townhall meeting today. Ace of Spades has full video of today's comment against the backdrop of the video of Obama telling AFL-CIO supporters in 2003, "I happen to be a proponent of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, Health Care, liberty, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Decline of “Freedom Philosophy” at the Colorado Springs Gazette?

Could a rare newspaper editorial voice for liberty -- a long-time fixture on Colorado's Front Range -- be on its last legs? Sean Paige writes about news of bankruptcy at the Colorado Springs Gazette (where he used to be the editorial page editor) and the possible demise of the "Freedom Philosophy" on the newspaper's opinion pages. Like the demise of the Rocky Mountain News, this too would be a sad development for Colorado. But if it does come to pass, is new media ready to step in the gap? Paige's own Local Liberty Online is one place to start, but those are huge shoes to fill. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, Journalism, liberty, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Happy Cost of Government Day!

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) notes that today, August 12, is the official "Cost of Government Day" for 2009:Working people must toil 224 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government - a full 26 days longer than last year. In other words, in 2009 the cost of government consumes 61.34 percent of national income. We all know that the size and scope of government has been growing steadily for some time, but this report from ATR brings home just how quickly the Obama administration has accelerated the spending and debt, and what it means for families like mine. Those who want to know more should read the detailed report (PDF). … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Source: Bob Beauprez NOT Running

Update II, 6:10 PM: Within the past hour Bob Beauprez has sent out and posted an official announcement:Not every opportunity is the right one though, and having been presented with the potential to serve in the United States Senate, Claudia and I considered it very carefully. However after significant reflection, I will not be a candidate for the Senate in 2010. Recently, we started a new family business, raising buffalo on a ranch in Colorado’s mountains. I’m enjoying working with our son, Jim, who is managing the ranch, much as I worked side-by-side with my own father in the dairy business. And most personally, Claudia and I love being grandparents as well as spending more time than we’ve ever had with our grown … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

National GOP, Don’t Be the Pandering Stupid Party in Health Care Debate

I've been a member of the Stupid Party for most of my adult life. And when I say the Stupid Party, I mean the Republican Party. Has the Republican National Committee learned anything from the recent election disasters? If anything, the wrong lessons. I'm talking about today's Washington Post op-ed by RNC chairman Michael Steele that actually pits the GOP as the pandering "Party of the Entitlement Status Quo" (H/T Jon Henke). The tide has turned against Obama Care's government health care takeover, and what do we get? The Democrat-light "seniors' health care bill of rights," rather than a serious proposal that injects more freedom and portability into the debate. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Congress Out of Control: Tax Dollars Needed to Explain Joys of Broadband

Remain unconvinced that our government has way too much money to spend? Thanks to Martin Buchanan for pointing me to this article in today's Denver Post:At least six applications from Colorado, including one from the governor's office, will be submitted during the first round of the $7.2 billion federal broadband funding program. The state is asking for $3.8 million over two years. The money would be used to launch "an educational campaign on the merits of broadband and how it affects everyday activities," said John Conley, executive director of the Statewide Internet Portal Authority, which is handling the bid on behalf of the governor's office. The campaign would create six full-time positions and include a "mobile vehicle" that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Bizarre Interview Raises Questions about Scott McInnis Candidacy

I've been behind the times a bit, and am striving to catch up. The Scott McInnis teeth-and-claws interview (MP3) with Caplis & Silverman on 630 KHOW? Simply bizarre. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rolling the Obama Care “Public Option” Uphill Becoming a Harder Job

Love how the Denver Post lends a hand to Barack Obama and appointed Senator Michael Bennet in the health care debate:He acknowledged that the ire in town halls — in Colorado, and across the country — was mostly about fear of changing a system that hasn't worked for years. [emphasis added] Not "changing a system that he said hasn't worked for years," mind you. A stated opinion given cover with a straight news declaration of fact. Sigh. I'll even give them the benefit of the doubt and suspect that the phrasing was an unintentional slip that reflects the newsroom's own uninformed bias rather than some malicious attempt at partisan hackery. I know of many personal friends and acquaintances who could tell stories -- some of them rather … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Health Care, liberty, media bias, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Yes, It’s Time for Birthers to Get Over Their Deluded Obama Fantasies

Some Blog Guy over at Rocky Mountain Right writes about an apparent surge of the Birther movement in Colorado:We get it. You don't like Obama. We don't either. But please focus on stuff he's actually done instead of fantasies. Just wanted to take a moment and state that I second the motion. Anyone else with me? James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal offered a more in-depth analysis of this non-issue a few weeks ago -- I commend that to you, too. Glad to see that Mr. Bob also agrees. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

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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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