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Mount Virtus?

Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

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Colorado Ballot Reviews

Sometimes the choices are daunting or confusing, sometimes they're as clear as a Mile High view.

Writer / Editor For Hire

If I had five more writers just like him, I think my job would be the easiest in journalism....

10/26/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

I’m Not Ready to Delve into the 2010 Election for Colorado Governor

I'm really not ready to talk about the race for governor in 2010. Yes, I believe Bill Ritter is a vulnerable incumbent, and the Republicans have a real shot if they play it right. I agree with Rocky Mountain Right: Tom Tancredo isn't the answer. And I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude about John Elway. As of today, here's my leading choice. But let's finish this Election strong first, and think about 2010 later. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: 2010, Bill Ritter, election, Governor, incumbent, John Elway, Mark Hillman, Republicans, Rocky Mountain Right, Tom Tancredo

10/26/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

My Young Free Market Friends Showcase New Online Political Activism

The Saturday edition of the Rocky Mountain News featured the proverbial quadrennial story about the energized youth vote. Do we have reason to believe that more young voters will cast their ballots this year? I don't know. But one of my young free market friends astutely suggests that the state of the economy has re-engaged many of them:Wesley Dickinson, a 30-year-old Denver engineer, thinks the economy is forcing people near his age to confront politics more so than at any time since the 1970s economic downturn created a generation of Reagan Republicans. Since then, people have been able to live relatively comfortably and didn't care so much about what the government did; that no longer is true, he said. "They haven't had to worry … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: activism, Amanda Teresi, ballots, blog, campaign event, co-workers, computer, Denver, donate money, economy, engineer, free market, friends, Independence Institute, Justin Longo, Liberty on the Rocks, politics, Presidential debate, Reagan Republicans, Rocky Mountain News, technology, Web monkey, Wesley Dickinson, youth vote

10/24/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Buescher “Favored”? Deceptive Attacks on Cancer Survivor Say Maybe Not

Today the Rocky Mountain News highlights the hottest state legislative race on Colorado's Western Slope, as Republican challenger Laura Bradford faces down Democrat incumbent Bernie Buescher in HD55:"I think her chances are great," said Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, who was among Republicans who stopped in Grand Junction while on an RV tour of the state. "One thing she said was, 'Gov. Ritter will not be whispering in my ear what to do.' People loved that." Buescher, however, says he doesn't hew that closely to Gov. Bill Ritter. "They're going after me on some issues, but it seems to me the fundamental attack is that I'm too close to the administration," he said. "The fact is I pushed the administration as much as any Democrat in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, Labor Tagged With: 527 groups, administration, Alida Messinger, attack ads, Bernie Buescher, Bill Ritter, billionaire, campaign finance reform, cancer screenings, cancer survivor, challenger, Colorado, Colorado Democracy Alliance, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Values, Cory Gardner, Democrat, desperate, Gene Kinsey, Grand Junction, HD55, headline, Health Care, health insurance, incumbent, John Bodnar, John McCain, K-12 employees, Laura Bradford, Mesa County, negative advertising, property tax hike, reports, Republican, Rockefeller heir, Rocky Mountain News, Secretary of State, state legislative races, Tim Gill, union, Western Slope

10/24/2008 By Ben 11 Comments

“I am Joe”

Perhaps the best and most timely ad the McCain-Palin campaign has put out: Just be careful where you go with that McCain bumper sticker, lest you get attacked by a deranged Barack Obama supporter. (Update:This particular incident turns out to have been a cruel hoax. I share Jim Geraghty's sentiments. Meanwhile, the death threats keep rolling in.) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: assault, bumper sticker, campaign ad, McCain-Palin, YouTube

10/23/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Barack Obama’s Taxpayer Trick or Treat for Union Bosses, Welfare, ACORN

(Compliments of ALG Feature Syndicate) If there's one thing undecided voters need to weigh in the waning days of this presidential campaign, it indeed is Barack Obama's desire to give taxpayer-funded goodies to union bosses, the welfare state, and ACORN. Meanwhile, Obama's campaign continues to raise questions about the integrity of his online fundraising process. The bare minimum security opens the door to all kinds of potential fraud and federal campaign violations. An experiment by PowerLine readers highlights the extent of the problem. (Update: < em>HotAir has tons of mounting evidence.) Yes, you have correctly sensed a theme developing.... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: ACORN, Americans for Limited Government, Barack Obama, election, federal campaign violations, goodies, online fundraising, potential fraud, presidential campaign, security, taxpayers, undecided voters, union bosses, welfare state

10/23/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Barack Obama Would Play Jimmy Hoffa by Getting Union Bad Guys Off

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards reported its 900th conviction of union leaders for criminal activity. From the press release:During the month, OLMS obtained three convictions, seven indictments and court orders of restitution totaling more than $80,000. The office’s totals for fiscal year 2008 (which ended on Sept. 30, 2008) are 102 convictions and 130 indictments, with restitution of more than $3.2 million. The bulk of the cases involved the embezzlement of union funds. “The triple-digit numbers of indictments and convictions obtained by OLMS in the 2008 fiscal year demonstrates that criminal activity in unions is still a major problem. This problem points to the critical role … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: bad seeds, Barack Obama, Big Labor, Bill Ritter, Colorado, conviction, corruption, criminal activity, Don Todd, embezzlement, endorsement, federal agencies, forgery, Governor, indictments, Jimmy Hoffa, Office of Labor-Management Standards, oversight, restitution, rollback, Teamsters, theft, U.S. Department of Labor, union funds, union leaders, Wall Street Journal, workers

10/23/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Ballot Guide 2008 Updated

While early and mail-in voting continues, I once again have made a couple small updates to Ben's Colorado Ballot Guide 2008 - including a new link. Check it out, and share the word with any voters still uninformed or undecided about the 14 issues on the statewide ballot. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Colorado, early voting, mail-in ballots, statewide initiatives

10/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Parents for School Choice Backs Libby Szabo, Holly Hansen, Shawn Mitchell

Denise at Colorado Charters has shared information on three candidates officially backed by Parents for School Choice, a group that puts its support into races that make a real difference on behalf of charter school families. In other words, these three candidates are strong supporters of charter schools, while their opponents have an anti-charter school record: Libby Szabo, Holly Hansen, and Shawn Mitchell. Speaking of Shawn, here's a creative video highlighting his record and candidacy: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: candidates, charter schools, Colorado Charters, Denise, Holly Hansen, Libby Szabo, opponents, Parents for School Choice, Shawn Mitchell, video

10/22/2008 By Ben 7 Comments

Teachers Union Twists Facts to Cover for Anti-Amendment 49 Violation

Joanne Kelley reports on the Rocky Mountain News Stump blog:Supporters of Amendment 49 filed a campaign finance complaint over $2,800 of "in-kind" contributions a teachers union committee made to a group fighting the ballot measure. The complaint alleges the Colorado Springs Education Association's issue committee made contributions to a group created to address statewide ballot issues when the teachers' committee was created to promote issues in its own district. "I find it disturbing to see the teachers union funnel resources earmarked for local education issues into a fight against statewide political issues they don't happen to like," said Colorado Springs resident and former school board candidate Reginald Perry, who was named on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Amendment 49, campaign finance complaint, Colorado Education Association, Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs Education Association, Deborah Fallin, different, Ethical Standards, in-kind contribution, Joanne Kelley, local education issues, Protect Colorado's Future, purpose, Reginald Perry, reports, Rocky Mountain News, School District 11, Secretary of State, Stump, teachers union

10/22/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Slapstick Politics Covers Colorado: Still Very Much in Play for McCain-Palin

Update: Gene Kinsey provides photos and first-hand reporting of Sarah Palin's Monday rally in Grand Junction. Short on time for in-depth blogging this morning, I'd point you to Slapstick Politics' coverage of unfolding national campaign events here in our fair state: Colorado "Gone" For John McCain Despite Appearances By Sarah Palin? Battleground Colorado: Sarah Palin Interview; "First Dude" A Rockstar; Biden "Blitz" John McCain Concedes Colorado By Campaigning in Denver, Durango On Friday Don't buy the lies from the Left or the media hype. The race isn't over in Colorado. Mid-October polling in this state traditionally tilts slightly to the Democratic side. It did for Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. Last time I checked, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Al Gore, Centennial State, Colorado, Denver, Durango, First Dude, Joe Biden, John Kerry, John McCain, Lefty lies, media hype, national campaign events, national election, polling, Sarah Palin, Slapstick Politics

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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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Other Sites

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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