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Home Archives for My Life

1/19/2010 By Ben 2 Comments

Please Consider Supporting My Friend Libby Szabo for House District 27

I'm excited to be able to share the news that conservative Republican Libby Szabo -- one of my favorite people -- has announced she is running to be my next state representative. She will be a formidable challenger to incumbent Democrat and Ritter disciple Sara Gagliardi in a very winnable race. Below the fold is a copy of Libby's press release announcing her campaign: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, PPC, property rights

1/14/2010 By Ben 2 Comments

Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

Everybody knows about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, so I don't need to recount If you can find it in your heart and the means to provide, will you please join me and thousands of other generous Americans in giving to one of the worthy organizations out there that provide urgent relief? Two of the causes I recommend: World Vision provides "life-saving relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents — to children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti." Project C.U.R.E. delivers "much-needed medical relief." And, of course, please keep the victims, rescue workers and families in your prayers. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, liberty, My Life, World Events

1/12/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado GOP Leaders Show Serious Face Entering Legislative Session

Yesterday evening the Colorado Republican legislative staff hosted a blogger round (or square as the case may be) table discussion on some of the looming issues on the eve of the legislative session. Topics of discussion ranged from public employee pensions to medical marijuana to government transparency. Rather than provide a recap, I'll point you to the thoughts of liberal blogger David Thielen -- whom I finally met in person and sat next to during the discussion. Though he was outnumbered about 15 to 1, Thielen held his own and was treated well. His Colorado Pols essay reviewing the event was honest, fair-minded and lighthearted -- which: … [Read more...]

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

1/12/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

Avatar Movie Might Do Some Eternal Good in Spite of Itself

A friend brought my attention to this story on CNN about people who have watched the blockbuster movie Avatar developing depression:James Cameron's completely immersive spectacle "Avatar" may have been a little too real for some fans who say they have experienced depression and suicidal thoughts after seeing the film because they long to enjoy the beauty of the alien world Pandora. My first and only reaction was to recollect one of my favorite quotes:If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world. - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Profound but true. A realization that marks one of the first steps on a fallen soul's journey into the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, liberty, Movie Reviews, My Life

1/7/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

2010: Time to Take the New Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature

This post will stick to the top until January 15. Please scroll down for newer postings. Okay, you political junkies out there: Come on, admit it. You've missed the Survey of Colorado's Political Temperature since we announced the last results in November. Well, the survey is back and better than ever -- with fewer, better-organized issue statements, as well as the opportunity to predict head-to-head general election matchups in all the different Colorado races. You only have until next Friday, January 15, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time to get it done. You know you can't resist. What are you waiting for? Click here to take the January survey The best news of all is that with the 2010 election year upon us, the Survey of … [Read more...]

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

1/4/2010 By Ben 2 Comments

Recent Plights of Penry and McDaniels Give Me a Little Pause about 33

There's no stopping the forward press of time. I'm not so sure about turning 33 today, but at least my name isn't Josh. A few months ago the combination of age and name seemed so charmed. They were a pair of Colorado wunderkinds: one 33-year-old Josh making strides towards one of Colorado's most powerful positions, the other 33-year-old Josh newly occupying the other. Josh Penry was making giant strides toward the Republican nomination for governor. Then one day in November the plug suddenly was pulled on his campaign. Now he isn't even running for re-election to his own state senate seat in 2010. What's going on? But he's on Cloud Nine compared to Josh McDaniels, who yesterday felt the bitter sting of missing the playoffs in his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Commemorative, General, liberty, My Life, PPC, Sports and Leisure

12/23/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Kevin Miller’s National Freedom Initiative: A Reincarnation of Frank Meyer’s Fusionism?

In his latest offering, former state legislative leader Mark Hillman praises the "freedom nationally, virtue locally" National Freedom Initiative of Colorado's own Kevin Miller -- not the first time it has crossed my path. It was last year about this time I wrestled a lot with the role social conservatism should play, and something that never strays too far from my mind. Therefore, I'm very intrigued by this initiative -- which, of course, is not altogether new, but rather a very sensible clarification and reformulation for our current political context. The opportunity definitely is there: To educate many social conservatives on the vital and wholly compatible value of liberty and limited government To build a strong bridge between … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, History, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

12/22/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Little Holiday Cheer: PJTV’s Crowder Examines Detroit Blight Up Close

Three days 'till Christmas, this will give you some holiday cheer. PJTV's Steven Crowder takes an up close & personal look at Detroit, the once proud Motor City a mere hollow shell of what it once was (H/T Red State). The recent Clint Eastwood flick Gran Torino gave you a glimpse of what Detroit has become. But Crowder goes even deeper into the hollowed-out blight, pervasive poverty and unemployment, and the worst schools in America in his didactic tale concerning the fruit of decades of welfare state policy, Big Labor cronyism, and corrupt city government: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, liberty, My Life, PPC

12/21/2009 By Ben 8 Comments

Erick Erickson: Lean Not on “Beltway Wisdom” in GOP Senate Primary

For having an outside perspective, Red State editor Erick Erickson makes one of the most insightful observations about Colorado's Republican Senate primary:Why exactly must we support Jane Norton in Colorado instead of Ken Buck? I’m not saying I am or am not, but why must I? Lots of people think we must because the same guys in Washington who said Charlie Crist was our best hope in Florida say she is in Colorado.... ...Ken Buck has a very real shot and Norton is about to suffer some very serious high dollar blows about her support for suspending TABOR a while back. We need not go with the inside the beltway wisdom just because the beltway wisdom wants us to go with Norton. We should watch, study, observe, and see where things are heading … [Read more...]

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

12/19/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Harry Reid Has 60 Votes for Obama Care? Now It’s Time to Speak Out!

Harry Reid says he has 60 votes to pass the Obama Care monstrosity -- Is he telling the truth? We'll see. But if it wasn't a given before, then passing this bill means Colorado will spend most of 2010 preparing to say "good-bye" to the short-lived disastrous Senate term of Michael Bennet. As Red State reports, three key procedural votes remain: Early Monday morning to end debate on a "manager's package" of amendments (383 pages being read and live-blogged by RMA's Don Johnson, if you want to see some of what's being shoved down our throats) Tuesday to end debate on Reid's health care proposal as amended by the "manager's package" Wednesday for final passage of Obama Care in the U.S. Senate So speak up. Go here to take action and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, property rights

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Inside

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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  • Writer / Editor For Hire

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

Colorado News

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National News and Politics

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  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Michelle Malkin
  • NRO's The Corner
  • Power Line
  • Red State

Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
  • Eduwonk
  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
  • Mike Anderson
  • Mullings
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  • Right Wing News
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  • Shot in the Dark
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  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
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Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
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  • Dennis Prager
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Colorado Blogs

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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