You know the main difference between Tiber Septim/Talos and Ulfric? Tiber was at least honest about his reasons.

I used to think pretty highly of Balgruuf until one of Resident_Within's stories made me re-evaluate him.

Specifically, everything he does - everything - is simply a means to keep himself in power. He's a coward and is interested in nothing so long as it keeps him on the Throne of Whiterun.

After that revelation, I've never been able to take him seriously.

Was he? We know very little about what Septim thought, we only have 2nd hand accounts. And what does it matter if Ulfric wants the throne? His reasons for controlling Skyrim are no more or less noble than that of the Empire. But you want to know something? At least Ulfric won't let the Thalmor kidnap, torture and kill citizens with legal support. And he wouldn't have the power to do as the Empire did in the Great War and completely screw over the Redguards, first by withdrawing the armies from their homeland(where the Dominion had invaded) and then by abandoning them to fight the Dominion alone, just because the Redguards wouldn't give up most of their lands on the sacrificial altar of Cyrodiil.

You tell me exactly how Ulfric is worse than the government that did that.

A fool who thinks he has swag.

Do you mind linking this story if you can find it please?

Keep in mind that these RP stories add more than the actual dialogue.

But essentially, Balgruuf refuses to deal with Ulfric until the Dragon threat is dealt with.

The people who worship talos or have been vocal about the thalmor that have gone missing or kidnapped fom tbeir homes wouod say otherwise. Also the only peraon on stormcloaks side who threatens that isn't even a stormcloaks anymore as they were discharged because of injuries. Tullius even tells his soldiers to hush and be quite about the kidnapping of one families son

Back on topic, the jarls not a bad dude, I like him. But he played politics wrong and gets burnt.

the only time I see any hint of a petty rivalry is if I am doing the Civil War. Other than that, no mention or hint of it at all. Seems strange, don't you think?

Ulfric wants Skyrim free, and says so, and he's not honest? The only dishonesty I see is people claiming he wants power for its own sake with nothing but headcanon to back it.

The ones dishonest are the ones not admitting that real life bias is influencing them, and if it were a redguard, people wouldn't be singing the same tune.

He raised terrible children.

Ulfric is a puppet from the Thalmor. Thalmor wants Skyrim to be in a Civil War so it is much easier for them to take it over since Skyrim will be much weaker after the civil war.