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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Josh Penry Off to Great Start as Bill Ritter Kicks Door of Opportunity Open

The big local political news for the weekend, of course, was the worst-kept secret: Republican Josh Penry officially threw his hat into the ring to run for governor in 2010. By all honest admissions, Penry's entry into the race has been well-executed and well-timed. First glimpses on the campaign trail indicate the strong delivery of a clear, consistent message: 1) incumbent Democrat Bill Ritter's misguided philosophy and lack of fiscal leadership have contributed greatly to an unfriendly economic climate and pain in the wallet for many average Coloradans, and 2) Penry's own record of effective leadership in the areas of fiscal responsibility, expanded energy options, and education reform qualifies him to take Ritter's place. If he … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Steven Crowder’s Canadian Field Trip Highlights Obama Care Problems

So you like the idea of Obama Care? You want to go in the direction of the Canadian health care system? Follow the creative and energetic Steven Crowder into the waiting rooms of Quebec clinics and doctors offices, and take a reality check. If you have 20 minutes to spare and you aren't convinced about this important issue, it's well worth your time: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Josh Penry Hits the Stump: A Promising GOP Candidate for Governor Emerges

Earlier this evening I got the opportunity briefly to attend a Josh Penry for Governor meet-and-greet session in Broomfield. The campaign is just out of the gate, and the Grand Junction native is busily plowing his way around Colorado. No doubt he's been on a hectic schedule, but Penry demonstrated a good stump speech delivery, staying on message. I am pleased to see him make no bones about the national Republican Party's failure to govern according to fiscally conservative principles, and his clear decision to run against that failing as well as against incumbent Bill Ritter's weak leadership, misguided philosophy, and misplaced priorities. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Three Days Left for You to Chime in on Colorado’s Political Temperature

Last week I introduced readers to a one-of-a-kind, in-depth survey of Colorado's political temperature co-created by El Presidente and myself. The response so far has been great, with hundreds registering their opinions on key national and state issues, as well as candidates for national and state office. Everybody else is doing it ... why not you? Don't miss your chance -- Click here to vote in the July 2009 survey of Colorado's political temperature! El Presidente has added some enticing questions to pique your interest. Don't forget: You can only take the survey one time, but you have to take it by this Friday, July 17, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. We look forward to hearing you chime in! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Initiative to Protect Secret Ballot Reminder of Michael Bennet’s Hall-of-Fame Indecision

In case you need a reminder of how much Big Labor bosses hate the secret ballot, Face The State brings a story today about a simple, newly proposed 2010 initiative and the union legal challenge facing it:Unions have challenged the language of a ballot initiative that would amend the Colorado Constitution to guarantee employees' right to a secret ballot in unionization elections. Meanwhile, legislation is pending before Congress that would remove that requirement from federal law. “The purpose for this amendment is to guarantee the fundamental right of an individual to vote by secret ballot,” said Patrick Davis, a Colorado Springs political consultant backing the measure.... The 39-word proposal reads, “The right of individuals … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

“There are more things in heaven and earth…”: Brooke Greenberg’s Story

I like to visit Fox News from time to time, because the site tends to feature some unusual stories that may or may not go unnoticed. But this one I read today really struck me as something almost too bizarre and incomprehensible for your run-of-the-mill supermarket tabloid:Brooke Greenberg continues to baffle her family and doctors. At 16-years-old, Brooke weighs 16 pounds and stands 2 feet, 6 inches tall, MyFOXChicago reported. She can’t speak, but she can express frustration and happiness. In other words, Brooke’s body and mind are that of a toddler. According to the story, the Maryland girl has her original baby teeth and the bones of a 10-year-old. All three of her sisters are normal. Doctors are "baffled" but hypothesize … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ryan Leave a Comment

UNCRC – Imminent Threat

Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, declared last week that the Obama administration is looking for ways to ratify the UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). The Obama administration's operational strategy is to appeal to peer pressure.  We are embarrassed to be the only nation besides Somalia that hasn't ratified the treaty, aren't we?  No. The mistaken focus is on the means, rather than the end.  If there are facts about how American and Somalian children are poorly treated due to the countries not ratifying this treaty, please come out with them. Otherwise, this argument doesn't explain why we should ratify this treaty.  (And by the way, ParentalRights.org explains that Somalia doesn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, liberty, National Politics, World Events

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Mark Steyn: Burst Bubbles of Big Government and Political Soap Operas

With his usual eloquence and wit, the venerable Mark Steyn on National Review Online makes a terrific point about the connection between centralized state spending & power and bizarre behavior by politicians:The real bubble is a consequence of big government. The more the citizenry expect from the state, the more our political class will depend on ever more swollen Gulf Emir–sized retinues of staffers hovering at the elbow to steer you from one corner of the fishbowl to another 24/7. “Why are politicians so weird?” a reader asked me after the Sanford press conference. But the majority of people willing to live like this will, almost by definition, be deeply weird. So big government more or less guarantees rule by creeps and misfits. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Supreme Court Rebukes Sotomayor’s Dismissive Approach to Basic Fairness

More important than the fact that Obama Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's appellate ruling simply was overturned yesterday was that her ruling was that she treated the meritorious (and ultimately victorious) claims of the New Haven fire fighters so dismissively. It seems that in Sotomayor's world race-neutral, merit-based promotion systems are scarcely even worthy of consideration as legal and legitimate. For her, a subjective standard of judicial "empathy" trumps not only basic fairness but also the need to give basic fairness any serious consideration. Below the fold is a video response from the Colorado Judicial Network: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Cultural Conservatism, General, Judiciary, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ryan Leave a Comment

The “Public Option” and the People’s Government

I (Ryan, not Ben) haven’t had too much time to write up political thoughts recently, but here are a couple musings: Nutshell argument against the "public option" being touted by President Obama in the area of health care reform: As Hugh Hewitt and Congressman John Campbell were explaining as I drove home from work on Friday, if the "public option" is cheaper to corporate and government employers (though not to taxpayers), then employers will largely switch over to it.  At this point, the government will be paying for health care, money will run out, and care will be denied.  (But smile – you will still be insured, along with all the others who can't get care!) Our Congressmen and Senators must not enact this “public … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, General, Health Care, 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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bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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