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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dick Wadhams Talks Up Ryan Frazier and Mark Hillman for U.S. Senate Race

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams recently sat down with the Colorado Statesman for an extended interview. There isn't much in the way of new information, but there is one passage worthy of comment. Namely, it's interesting to see whom Wadhams is talking up for the U.S. Senate race to challenge the newly-selected Michael Bennet: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Bob Beauprez, candidate, chairman, Colorado Statesman, Dan Caplis, Dick Wadhams, different information, elected official, excellent choice, Governor, humble opinion, interview, Josh Penry, leader, legislature, Mark Hillman, Michael Bennet, Republican Party, Rocky Mountain Right, Ryan Frazier, selected, senator, statewide candidate, straw poll, third, U.S. Senate, young

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Growing Labor Clout Puts Michael Bennet in Bind Over Card-Check Bill

The first big line in the sand this year for Colorado's selected U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and not-so-senior partner Mark Udall was the vote in favor of the massive federal spending (so-called "stimulus") bill. Next on the docket is the poorly-named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would take away employee secret ballots in workplace election and impose costly binding arbitration procedures. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Al Sharpton, Ariella Bernstein, article, bailout, ballot measures, binding arbitration, boondoggle, campaign contributions, candidates, card-check, co-sponsor, coercive, Colorado, Congress, costly, cynical, data, decline, Democratic, Denver Post, docket, EFCA, Employee Free Choice Act, employees, failing businesses, failing labor unions, federal spending, George McGovern, government, independent backbone, influential voices, John Holcomb, Karen Crummy, kowtow, Labor Department, labor leaders, line in the sand, listen, Mark Udall, members, Michael Bennet, National Institute on Money in State Politics, party line, political dynamics, poorly-named, pressure, private sector, procedures, professor, public sector, researchers, secret ballots, selected, senior partner, stagnant, state-level races, statistics, stimulus, U.S. Senator, union membership, Unions, University of Denver, vote

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Watchdogs, Face The State Launches Investigative Reporting Award

Face The State is looking for aspiring journalists and assorted government watchdogs to ply their skills for the chance to win some cool cash:From the governor’s office to the local waste water office, government must be held accountable. And why not win a cash prize while doing it? That’s why Face The State is excited to announce its monthly Investigative Reporting Award. Here’s how it works. If you spy government misdeeds that should to be exposed, roll up your sleeves, do your homework, and write it up. You could just win our monthly $400 grand prize. There will also be cash prizes for finalists. Your report should abide by basic journalistic principles relating to sourcing, verification, and libel. As we’ve learned, truth … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, General, PPC Tagged With: aspiring journalists, Brad Jones, cash prizes, cool cash, deeper look, exposed, Face the State, fiction, finalists, government misdeeds, government watchdogs, homework, idea, Investigative Reporting Award, journalistic principles, libel, lure of money, make up, Michael Roberts, skills, sourcing, truth, verification, Westword

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Jeffco GOP Unites Behind New Chair Don Ytterberg – Ready to Go Forward?

I was at the Jefferson County Republican Party Central Committee meeting this evening. Fortunately, there wasn't a lot of drama (but a wonderful deal of hot dog, chips, and bottled water for $2). Special guest speeches were made by state senate minority leader Josh Penry and Colorado GOP chairman Dick Wadhams. I was told the Arapahoe County GOP meeting was at the same time, which may have prevented us from being greeted by more ambitious politicos. Don Ytterberg was elected by acclamation to be the new chairman. Tina Francone was elected by acclamation to be the new secretary. The only contest was for vice-chair - as current vice-chair Art Onweller lost to outgoing chair Renee Nelson. God bless her, Renee has been a fantastic leader for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: accounts, ambitious politicos, Arapahoe County, Art Onweller, best of luck, bonus members, campaign, Central Committee, chairman, Colorado, commendable, Congratulations, continuity, county chair, Dick Wadhams, Don Ytterberg, drama, El Presidente, election, Facebook, fortunate, gavel, GOP chairman, guest speeches, hard-fought, helpful roundup, hopeful, incoming leader, Jefferson County, Josh Penry, Matt Knoedler, meeting, meetings, minority leader, paper balloting, Renee Nelson, Republican Party, results, secretary, Senate District 16, sentiments, special, state senate, teller committee, theme, Tina Francone, unity, vacancy committees, valuable lessons, vice-chair

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Markets Don’t Like What Obama and Dems Are Inflicting on Economy

Rossputin has the in-depth commentary on the markets' reaction to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, and points to two polls showing the American people want more tax cuts, less federal spending. Are Colorado's U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall even paying attention? Polipundit has the telling visual about Geithner's negative impact on the markets. What's so funny? I guess you had to be there. Finally, Michael at Best Destiny says it's time to start tagging this as "the Reid/Pelosi/Obama economy". I agree: they can have it. If it only didn't hurt so many of the rest of us in the process. Things do look bleak - you can't blame investors for their reactions. The President isn't the Savior. Here's a start: sign the No … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: American people, Barack Obama, Best Destiny, bleak, Colorado, economy, funny, Harry Reid, hurt, in-depth commentary, investors, less federal spending, Mark Udall, markets, Michael, Michael Bennet, Michelle Malkin, more tax cuts, Nancy Pelosi, paying attention, Polipundit, polls, President, process, reactions, Rossputin, Savior, telling visual, Timothy Geithner, Treasury secretary, U.S. Senator

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Rocky Mtn News Reports: “Panel Votes to Ban Plastic Retail Bags”

And Colorado is a step closer to once again being safe for democracy:The bag ban was the brainchild of a teacher and a group of students at Kent Denver School, who approached lawmakers with their idea. Sen. Jennifer Veiga and Rep. Joe Miklosi, both Denver Democrats, agreed to sponsor the measure. Maybe we can poll some children for the best way to balance the budget, too. And maybe Senator Veiga and Representative Miklosi could help carry all those re-usable bags into Wal-Mart (oh wait, not that evil store where people can save money....) Because we know they don't want to create a renaissance of paper bags and destroy the forests. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC, property rights Tagged With: ban, brainchild, Colorado, Democrats, Denver, destroy, evil store, forests, Jennifer Veiga, Joe Miklosi, Kent Denver School, lawmakers, paper bags, plastic bag, re-usable bags, renaissance, save money, sponsor, students, teacher, Wal-Mart

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Is Barack Obama for Transparency, Except As It Might Apply to Labor?

For all the serious disagreements I have with President Barack Obama over policy and philosophy, I have been pleased to hear him promote the idea of greater government transparency. That's something all citizens can rally behind, regardless of partisan affiliation. Only a few days into office, Obama sent out a memo to department heads about the Freedom of Information Act:A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency. As Justice Louis Brandeis wrote, "sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants."... All agencies should adopt a presumption in favor of disclosure, in order to renew their commitment to the principles embodied in FOIA, and to usher in a new era of open Government. The presumption of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: accountability, Barack Obama, Bloomberg News, burdensome, bureaucrats, Bush administration, campaign, Charles Craver, citizens, collect, comment, commitment, corporations, democracy, Democratic, disagreements, disappointing, disclosure, disinfectants, dues money, excited, financial reports, FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, funded, Generational Theft Act, George Washington University, government transparency, Harry Reid, idea, instructions, Justice Louis Brandeis, Labor Department, labor law, labor unions, memo, Nancy Pelosi, open government, openness, organizations, outfoxed, partisan affiliation, philosophy, policy, President, presumption, promote, proposed, rule changes, shoved, spend, testing ground, The Union Label, Transparency

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

March 1 at the Colorado State Capitol: Join the Rally for Personal Freedom

The newly-formed Gadsden Society of Colorado - so named for Colonel Christopher Gadsden who popularized the Revolutionary "Don't Tread On Me" flag - is hosting a "Rally for Personal Freedom" on Sunday, March 1, at the State Capitol in downtown Denver. Rising star and voice of liberty Ryan Frazier will be the keynote speaker. El Presidente has the details. Spread the word. Hope to see you there. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, property rights, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: Christopher Gadsden, Colorado, Don't Tread On Me, El Presidente, flag, Gadsden Society, personal freedom, rally, Revolutionary, Ryan Frazier, State Capitol

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Ryan Frazier Ekes Out Straw Poll Win, Weighs In on Marie Morrow Case

The Rocky Mountain Right straw poll for the Colorado GOP's 2010 U.S. Senate primary has concluded, and Aurora city councilman Ryan Frazier came out of nowhere to notch a narrow victory over former state legislative leader and current national committeeman Mark Hillman. (Bob Beauprez finished a distant third.) Either Frazier or Hillman would be an excellent candidate to represent the Republican Party next November. Speaking of Frazier, fellow RMA blogger Joshua Sharf reports on (and reprints) a letter the councilman wrote to Cherry Creek Schools superintendent Mary Chesley today, arguing for more lenient (and reasonable) treatment of Cherokee Trail High School senior Marie Morrow over the recent "zero-tolerance" expulsion outrage. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Education, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Aurora, blogger, candidate, Cherokee Trail High School, Cherry Creek Schools, city councilman, Colorado, conservative groups, diplomatic, excellent candidate, GOP, grassroots events, higher office, Joshua Sharf, leading contenders, legislative leader, lenient, letter, Marie Morrow, Mark Hillman, Mary Chesley, Mount Virtus, national committeeman, November, outrage, paving the way, primary, reasonable, reports, represent, Republican Party, Rocky Mountain Alliance, Rocky Mountain Right, Ryan Frazier, statesmanlike, straw poll, superintendent, touted, U.S. Senate, ubiquitous, zero-tolerance

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Rocky Mtn Alliance Blog Talk Radio at 8:30: Cory Gardner, Leondray Gholston

Tune in starting at 8:30 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the sure-to-be-lucky 13th edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Tonight's scheduled guests are state representative Cory Gardner, a rising legislative star to talk about transportation and other issues at the State Capitol, and Leondray Gholston, Republican activist and candidate for Colorado state GOP vice-chair perhaps most well-known for his stirring speech at last year's State Assembly. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC, transportation Tagged With: activist, Blog Talk Radio, candidate, Colorado, Cory Gardner, issues, Leondray Gholston, live broadcast, Mount Virtus, podcast, Republican, Rocky Mountain Alliance, scheduled guests, show, sidebar, state, state assembly, State Capitol, stirring speech, transportation, vice-chair, widget

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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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
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