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Home Archives for PPC

4/22/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Democrat Numbers Show Door Wide Open for Challenge to Michael Bennet

The results are out: newly selected U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is not doing so great. That's the message from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling (PPP) -- which commissioned the survey. Politico says Bennet is "off to a slow start". And apparently dissatisfied with the results, the Democrat Dead Governors' blog for the first time features a front-page critique of PPP as "notorious" for its unreliability. From the few previous mentions on their site, PPP polling substantiated Mark Udall's lead in last year's Senate race -- Obama, too. Now, though, we just can't trust them. It's not as if the results are spectacular for the Republican field looking to challenge Michael Bennet. The public is simply not in any way engaged with the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: 2010, appointee, Barack Obama, challenge, conservative, credible, Dead Governors blog, dissatisfied, engaged, escape, front-page critique, GOP, governments, indecisive, independent voters, levers, Mark Udall, mentions, message, Michael Bennet, newly-selected, notorious, opponent, performance, Politico, Public Policy Polling, Republican field, responsibility, results, Ritter, slow start, spectacular, substantiated, survey, thrilled, U.S. Senator, unreliability, voters, Washington DC, wide open

4/22/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

How Many Coloradans Know about Michael Bennet – and Which Republican Should Challenge Him?

Politics West points out a newly-released survey from a Democratic polling firm finds that support among Coloradans for both Barack Obama and "senior" U.S. Senator Mark Udall is slipping. The Public Policy Polling firm is slated to release results today for newly selected Senator Michael Bennet, up for re-election in 2010. What I'll be looking for first is not the favorable-unfavorable rating but the percentage of Colorado voters who know enough about Bennet even to form an opinion, and whether they ironically might view the man as indecisive. Face The State also has an online poll to see your preference for a Republican opponent for Bennet: Bob Beauprez, Ken Buck, Dan Caplis, Ryan Frazier, or (the write-in campaign for) Cleve … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bob Beauprez, challenger, Cleve Tidwell, Coloradans, Colorado, Dan Caplis, Democratic, Face the State, favorable, indecisive, Ken Buck, Mark Udall, Michael Bennet, newly-selected, online poll, opinion, percentage, Politics West, polling firm, reelection, Republican, resulted, Ryan Frazier, survey, U.S. Senator, unfavorable, write-in campaign

4/20/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Is Democrat Jack Pommer Just Screwing Up a Lot of Paperwork Again?

Face The State has the details about the Boulder Democrat:On the April 16 report, [state representative Jack] Pommer lists campaign contributions from registered lobbyists and special interest groups made on February 5. The date is significant, as it falls exactly a month into the legislative session. Under Colorado campaign finance law, it is illegal for lobbyists or special interest groups that lobby to give or solicit money for the campaigns of state office-holders while the legislature is in session. "The way the law reads, it says lobbyists shall not give," said Rich Coolidge, spokesman for the Secretary of State. "The burden falls on the lobbyist." Lobbyist contributions came from Jane Urschel of the Colorado Association of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, PPC Tagged With: basic details, bookkeeper, Boulder, Boulder Valley Education Association, burden, campaign contributions, campaign finance law, Colorado Association of School Boards, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado Professional Firefighters, consultant, delinquent fines, Democrat, details, ethics, extraordinary, Face the State, flagrant violation, Jack Pommer, Jane Urschel, judgment, legislative session, lobbyists, office-holders, problems, qualified, Qwest, Rich Coolidge, Secretary of State, solicit, special interest groups, spokesman, Thomas Shilling

4/20/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

HB 1342 Hearing Tuesday: Democrats’ Latest Attempt to Bypass TABOR

We have heard Democrats in the state legislature talk out loud about exploiting a partisan Colorado Supreme Court overreach to violate the state constitution and repeal tax credits without a vote of the people. Via an emergency update from the Republican Study Committee, the Democrats' first real attempt to test their theory comes up for a hearing tomorrow: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC Tagged With: adjournment, Colorado Supreme Court, Democrats, Dennis Apuan, emergency update, exploiting, HB 1342, hearing, illicit, overreach, partisan, repeal, Republican Study Committee, state constitution, state legislature, tax credits, tax revenue, test, theory, tobacco, violate, vote of the people

4/20/2009 By Ben 7 Comments

Posting “a think on Cleve Tidwell”

So yesterday I receive this verbatim email message from a mysterious "Victorila Rasheem" (all errors of spelling and syntax preserved):I think taht your website should do a think on Cleve Tidwell. Most say that he has the support of most if not all of the major donors in the state. Also much of the grassroots is excited for him and is backing him to be the senator for colorado. I do not know if Dick Wadhams found him or not but if he did it was a good find because he is a good candidaet and wiill win. He is a very good speaker and will be at most events when he is senator because he will represent people in Colorado. Also, he has not spoken with the press so whatever you might hear if anything is probably just their way of trying to create … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: actual effect, bizarre, blogger, campaign contribution, claims, Cleve Tidwell, coincidence, Colorado, coloradovoterinthesenaterace@gmail.com, comment, disavow, drop a line, email message, errors, far-fetched, hopes, insult, intelligence, meaningless, motive, mystery, Nigerian benefactor, post office box, publicly, quasi-candidacy, random, scheme, spam, spelling, state legislature, supporters, syntax, tactics, testify, tracking down, undermine, Victorila Rasheem

4/17/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ryan Frazier Fires Up Crowd at Colorado Tax Day Tea Party

El Presidente has posted video of the Denver Tax Day Tea Party, but the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel has the video coverage of Colorado's largest Western Slope gathering. The apparent highlight of the event was the rousing speech of Ryan Frazier, who also announced a formal step toward a U.S. Senate campaign (watch the video below the fold): … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: American League Central, automotive bailouts, beloved team, campaign, Colorado, Denver, Detroit, Detroit Tigers, dismal, economic doldrums, El Presidente, event, first place, football, formal step, gathering, Grand Junction, Grand Junction Sentinel, highlight, performance, persistent, rousing speech, Ryan Frazier, Tax Day Tea Party, U.S. Senate, video coverage, wayward path

4/17/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Chance for Denver Tax Day Tea Party Protestors to Clarify the Record

Update, 9:40 AM: Rossputin has a more thorough and comprehensive debunking of the ProgressNow nonsense. It's simply a must-read. Also, Joshua explains the "astroturfing" myth and why the Left is pushing it. Here's a shock: the local Soros-funded Lefty media hack is completely misrepresenting the Tax Day Tea Party here in Denver and as a nationwide movement. What else would you expect? Mike Huttner has to earn his keep from the sugar daddy somehow. The vapid silliness coming from ProgressNow includes: Selectively finding the few offensive signs of the common sense-challenged out of thousands to paint the crowd with a broad brush of ignorance and hatred (here's a video that helps give lie to this tactic) Parroting discredited CNN … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC Tagged With: astroturf, clarification, CNN, common sense, corporate, courteous, Denver, George Soros, grassroots, hatred, ignorance, Lefty, media hack, Mike Huttner, misrepresenting, movement, nationwide, offensive signs, partisan attack, Peoples Press Collective, press release, ProgressNow, public figure, response, silliness, spoke, stereotype, sugar daddy, talking points, Tax Day Tea Party, transparent, vapid, video

4/16/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Months Later, Michael Bennet Still Vacillating Over Union Card-Check Bill

More than two months ago I noted that the union card-check bill had put newly selected U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in a bind. Three weeks ago I observed that Bennet might be finding relief in the fading prospects of the legislation. But Big Labor proponents haven't backed down, and business leaders are in the fight for the duration. So where does that leave Michael Bennet? As indecisive as ever, reports the Denver Post:"The issue is an important issue. We have lots of important issues," he said. "I'm in a much better position to be helpful to a constructive conversation by not having taken a position on the existing language in the legislation than I would be if I had." I wasn't sure what to expect when Governor Bill Ritter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, liberty, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: ambitious, backed down, Big Labor, bill, Bill Ritter, bind, business leaders, candidate, card-check, challenge, Denver Post, duration, fading prospects, fight, fundraising, Governor, indecisive, issues, legislation, Michael Bennet, newly-selected, proponents, relief, Ryan Frazier, talented, U.S. Senator, union, vacillation, vacuousness

4/16/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Good News, Bad News Today at Colorado State Capitol

This morning, good news comes from the Colorado State Capitol: the state house approved House Bill 1288 (PDF), the Colorado Taxpayer Transparency Act, by the overwhelming margin of 61-4. This legislation will create a detailed online searchable database of state government revenues and expenditures. The bad news? Among the four (all Democrats) voting against open government are my own representative Sara Gagliardi and Gwyn Green, also from Jefferson County. Rest assured, I will do my part to make it known their No votes will not be forgotten. And I will be watching how the senate votes, as well. In other bad news, Senate Bill 180 (PDF) squeaked past the finish line in the state senate, 18-17. This union-backed bill is bad for a host … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, liberty, PPC Tagged With: bad news, bill, Bill Ritter, Colorado, consequences, costly, Democrats, desk, difference, elections, expenditures, fail, finish line, good news, good sense, Governor, Gwyn Green, House, House Bill 1288, intrusive, Jefferson County, Jim Isgar, Joyce Foster, legislation, measure, Moe Keller, not forgotten, online searchable database, open government, pass, positive note, rest assured, revenues, Sara Gagliardi, Senate, Senate Bill 180, Senate District 26, signature, State Capitol, state government, Taxpayer Transparency Act, union-backed, votes

4/16/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Tax Day Tea Party, Colorado

Update VI, 4/16: Here are some pictures taken by Jimmie H. Butler at yesterday's rally in Colorado Springs. Re-posted with permission: Update V, 4/16: My brother-in-law has a great set of photos from yesterday's Denver event. Slapstick Politics has begun to post video from the well-attended festivities at the West Steps of the Capitol. Rossputin has some "Post-Tea Party Thoughts" that includes photos, video, and an interactive poll question. Here is a great site that is tallying attendance reports from Tea Party events all across the country. I've already notified the site operator with a few reports from Colorado locations he hadn't yet received. Update IV, 10:00 PM: Over at Free Colorado, Ari has a good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, liberty, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: advice, After the Tea Party, blogger, budget, Colorado, compelling, concerned, constituents, debate, Democrats, details, disturbances, doorstep, El Presidente, follow-up, Getting Connected in Colorado, lawmakers, Lefty, legislative calendar, links, majority, mourn, Night Twister, Pinnacol, printable, pro-liberty activist, protest, rally, Randomridge, reasons, resource, Rocky Mountain Alliance, state house, Tax Day, taxpayers, Tea Party, theft

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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

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