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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Okay, Barack Obama and I agree on “Team of Rivals” … So What?

For those who believe I have nothing good to say about our President-elect Barack Obama. He at least has some good taste in contemporary historical literature:It so happens that Obama and New York Sen. Clinton share a reverence for "Team of Rivals," Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about how Lincoln brought foes into his fold. Clinton listed it during the campaign as the last book she had read. Obama, clearly a student of Lincoln, spoke of it several times. Now past could be prologue. Obama is considering Clinton for secretary of state or another senior position, meeting John McCain on Monday to see how his Republican presidential rival might help him in the Senate, and sizing up one-time opponents in both parties for potential … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, History, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, appointments, Barack Obama, breathless comparisons, Cabinet, Democrat, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Hillary Clinton, historical literature, Joe Biden, President-elect, presidential rival, Team of Rivals

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #11: Loyal Friends Over Long Distances

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Don't worry. The purpose of this post is not to attempt to seek a definition of "Friendship" or to categorize the different varieties and permutations of friends I have, as Joseph Epstein sought to do. Instead, I just wanted to briefly and publicly state my gratitude for the friends I have gained … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, My Life Tagged With: college, conversation, deep kinship, definition, edify, email, enhance, friends, friendship, gratitude, high school, humorous, Iron sharpens iron, Joseph Epstein, letter, life, long distances, loyal, omission, permutations, phone, Proverbs, separations, serious, short list, spices and flavors, thankfulness, varieties

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Reminder: Debut of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Tonight

Reminder: Tonight at 9 PM local Mountain time is the inaugural broadcast of the Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio show. Joshua Sharf has the details on the show's first guest - Seeme Hasan. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, broadcast, guest, image, Joshua Sharf, Rocky Mountain Alliance, Seeme Hasan

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What Does It Really Take To Be Colorado’s Next Secretary of State?

Via Face The State, judging by the plethora of applicants for Colorado's Secretary of State job, perhaps I should have sent in a resume myself. I've never taught yoga, played lacrosse, or met Ross Perot, but what the heck? You can cast your own vote for which one of the 20 applicants is most deserving of Bill Ritter's appointment as the next Secretary of State. Too bad for you and me. We missed our chance at statewide office after yesterday's deadline. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: applicants, appointment, Bill Ritter, Colorado, deadline, Face the State, lacrosse, resume, Ross Perot, Secretary of State, statewide office, vote, yoga

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

House Education Appointments Uninspiring: What Will Storyline Be?

Last week I pondered in a Denver Post op-ed what the effect might be of the statehouse Democrats elevating pro-public school choice Rep. Terrance Carroll to Speaker of the House:Carroll is set to appoint fellow Democrats to the House Education Committee. In recent years, the committee, largely stacked with handpicked union favorites, has killed or watered down many K-12 education bills deemed unacceptable by the union. CEA may lose some of its leverage to bottle up education reform in committee. Well, yesterday came the revelation of the House Education Committee assignments. Michael Merrifield retains the chair, with Judy Solano as the vice-chair. Overall, the membership of the committee appears to move scarcely a whit in the direction … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Carole Murray, Colorado Education Association, commentary, Democrat, Democrats, Denver Post, education reform, House Education Committee, Judy Solano, legislative session, majority Democrats, Mark Waller, Michael Merrifield, newly-elected legislators, op-ed, parental empowerment, passing judgment, public school choice, Randy Baumgardner, Republicans, revelation, school accountability, school choice, solutions, Speaker of the House, statehouse, story lines, Terrance Carroll, union favorites

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What I’m Thankful for #13: Thoughtful Surprises

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. This is an easier kind of surprise to write about than "the surprises God sends my way". And it's quite a surprise that I'm even writing about it. Yesterday, out of the blue and completely unexpected, a co-worker gave me a very thoughtful gift: a baseball autographed by future Hall-of-Fame relief pitcher … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Baseball, Branch Rickey Award, co-worker, Denver Rotary, Detroit Tigers, free agent, generosity, Hall-of-Fame, Mrs. Virtus, relief pitcher, surprises, thankfulness, thoughtful, Trevor Hoffman

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Colorado GOP Should Heed Kafer and Hillman, Not Parker and Huckabee

This week's two prime examples of self-serving guns on the Right pointing inward? On the one hand, Kathleen Parker caricaturing and lambasting me and millions of evangelical Christians:To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh. Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party.... It isn't that culture doesn't matter. It does. But preaching to the choir produces no converts. And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: annoying, armband religion, Beltway cocktailk parties, caricaturing, Colorado, culture, demagogic, economic populism, evangelical Christians, Faux-Cons, fiscal conservative, former presidential candidate, GOP coalition, gripe, humility, influential voices, Jon Henke, Kathleen Parker, Krista Kafer, lambasting, leaders, Liberalism, libertarianism, Mark Hillman, Mike Huckabee, political action, political wilderness, preaching to the choir, privacy, publish, religious faith, Republican Party, reservation, Right, right-wing, Ron Paul, self-serving guns, shifting demographics, shut up, social conservatives, tax increase, Time magazine

2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #14: Blessings (and Responsibilities) of Children

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. There is a divide between parenthood and non-parenthood that you don't really get until after it's thrust upon you. It seems to be one of those well-known secrets of the generations that doesn't completely make sense to try to explain to the uninitiated. But I will weakly try to tag it as a unique … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Education, General, My Life Tagged With: all bets are off, blessed, burden, combination, conveniences, curious wonder, definition, effective parents, generations, glimpses, hassle, hopes, imagination, individuals, investment, learning, Mrs. Virtus, natural fallen state, newcomer, novice, our own kingdoms, parenthood, patience, plans, positive fruit, prayers, priorities, Psalm 127, reference, reminder, Scriptures, secrets, tears, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, time, tremendous responsibility, understanding, uninitiated, womb

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #15: Cinnamon

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Did you think every entry in this series was going to be utterly serious? Well, first of all, you probably haven't been paying attention. But even if you have, there should be little doubt left. I am very thankful for cinnamon - the tastiest, most succulent, appetizing flavor. Can I get an Amen? Think of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: cinnamon, cinnamon doughnuts, cinnamon log, cinnamon rolls, natural stimulant, serious, tasty, thankfulness

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #3: Modern Medicine

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I love to study history, which makes me all the more grateful to live in the times we do. No epoch in human history has been without its share of troubles of various kinds - and ours is no exception - but I feel profoundly blessed by the advent and continual development of modern medicine. Why? Because … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, Health Care, My Life Tagged With: allergist, bad protoplasm, blessed, common grace, complaining, medical problems, modern medicine, pediatrician, thankful, Western Civilization

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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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Completing the Blogroll

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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