Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

Ben on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Ben
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Writer / Editor For Hire
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
    • Colorado Ballot 2012
  • Archives
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • The Westfield Gardener
Home 2008 Archives for April 2008

Archives for April 2008

4/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

What are Colorado Dems Hiding?

Based on stories like this one at Colorado Senate News today, it's all but apparent that Colorado Democrats have no real interest in open, transparent government:A Republican staffer was ejected from a Senate Democrat caucus meeting today at an eatery near the Capitol, raising concerns by Republican leaders that the ruling party might be debating public policy in private--a violation of state law. By law, when two or more members of the General Assembly meet to discuss legislative business--regardless of the location--other members of the public cannot be refused entry. There are no exceptions for members of an opposing political party or the news media. The meeting had been announced on the Senate floor today by Democrat Sen. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Colorado Senate News, Democrat Party, law-breaking, open government, State board of education

4/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Meeting Erick Erickson and a Little Colorado Blogging Reciprocation

Not so long ago, when I attended Samsphere in Chicago, I made quite a few new good blogging acquaintances. Most of them I only became aware of their blog through the Sam Adams Alliance's introduction of the list of participants. But one of a few who I already knew by reputation was Erick Erickson, the managing editor at RedState - one of the most well-trafficked and successful conservative websites around. I was glad for the opportunity to meet Erick and to discover that he wasn't a self-absorbed self-promoter, but rather a very down-to-earth guy with a passion for building the conservative, limited government cause. He talked to the crew about applying the spirit of servant leadership to blogging, and it's something he clearly believes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Erick Erickson, Joshua Sharf, Red State, Rima Barakat Sinclair, Samsphere

4/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

State School Board Should Stop Hiding from Public Vote on Tax Hike

The latest update in the saga of Gov. Bill Ritter's "school" property tax hike ... The State Board of Education, one of two defendants in a lawsuit from taxpayers who say they should have been asked first under the requirements of the state constitution, is hiding from public view:When deciding whether to fight or effectively bow out of a lawsuit challenging a politically volatile property tax freeze, the state's education board opted for secret meetings instead of a public vote, records show. E-mails obtained Monday by The Denver Post reveal internal turmoil between a cadre of Republican members, who argue that the governor-backed freeze is unconstitutional, and the panel's Republican chairwoman, who has blocked attempts at public … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Gov. Bill Ritter, Pamela Jo Suckla, property tax hike, State board of education, Transparency

4/7/2008 By Ben 4 Comments

Wil Armstrong for Congress

Having accepted an invitation, today I met with Wil Armstrong - Republican candidate for Colorado's 6th Congressional District. Nationally-known Congressman Tom Tancredo has stepped down after five terms in office, and four candidates are vying to replace him for the safe Republican seat. The other candidates are Secretary of State Mike Coffman, State Senator Ted Harvey, and State Senator Steve Ward. Unlike the other three, Wil Armstrong has never held elected office. But in a time when many Republican voters are frustrated with the fiscal irresponsibility of their own elected officials and are clamoring for change, he considers the lack of experience a strength. Instead, Armstrong has been a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: 6th Congressional District, endorsement, Mike Coffman, Steve Ward, Ted Harvey, Tom Tancredo, Wil Armstrong

4/7/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Maybe Hillary IS That Unpopular

Does anyone remember Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko? Or is news like this just a sign that the Democratic Party - and America in general - really, truly is sick of the Clintons once and for all?A new national Democratic primary poll from Diageo/Hotline (.pdf) (March 28-31, 342 Dem RV, MoE +/- 5.3%) shows Obama leading Clinton by 12 points, after the two had remained close in similar polls in previous months. On negative campaigning, 42% felt Clinton had unfairly attacked Obama, while 22% felt Obama had atttacked Clinton unfairly. Per his usual excellent output, Mark Steyn has the most eloquently biting pre-mortem on the Clinton campaign, saying it looks like "last call for Hillary":It's 3 a.m., and your children are safe and asleep. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Democrat primary, Hillary Clinton, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, voter apathy

4/6/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Global Warming Takes a Holiday

News like this has got to be a bit of a bummer for the likes of Ted Turner and the Eco-Elites: They soon may be looking for another excuse to impose their De-population policies on you and your family. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, General Tagged With: Eco-theology, global warming, Ted Turner

4/6/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Nope. Sorry.

I don't want to talk about the Detroit Tigers ... or the Colorado Rockies. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Baseball

4/4/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Momentum for Joshua Sharf Campaign

Updates on Joshua Sharf's primary challenge to Rima Barakat Sinclair in House District 6 ... Rocky Mountain News editor Vince Carroll unpacks Barakat Sinclair's claims that she is a "centrist":You might wonder about our judgment, but you cannot doubt where Barakat Sinclair stands on the Israeli-Palestinian debate: with the hard-edged anti-Israel fringe. She has made too many similar claims regarding the Israelis' alleged policies of "systematic indiscriminate murder" to brush them off as an aberration. "Sinclair describes herself as a centrist," her campaign Web site tells us. Except on the one issue she cares most about, it seems. (H/T Michael at Best Destiny, who also issued his official endorsement of Joshua) Joshua's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events Tagged With: Best Destiny, Israel, Joshua Sharf, Little Green Footballs, Rima Barakat Sinclair, Rocky Mountain News, View from a Height, Vince Carroll

4/4/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Harsanyi: Choice Key to Overcoming Union Obstacle to Dropout Problem

In today's Denver Post column, David Harsanyi brings attention to the new America's Promise Alliance (APA) report on the dropout "crisis." Knowing the report will fuel the cry for more money to solve the problem, Harsanyi explains:Teachers unions place culpability for education woes on a lack of funding and "cuts." This is a myth. Obviously, schools could always benefit from an infusion of cash but, in most of the failing systems, funding per pupil is at an all-time high. According to a study by the right-of-center Hoover Institution, in 1982 per-pupil spending was $5,930 and rose 60 percent by 2000 to $9,230 in inflation-adjusted dollars (in high-population districts, the number is far higher). In Utah, a recent school-reform … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: America's Promise Alliance, David Harsanyi, Denver Post, dropout rate, Gov. Bill Ritter, school choice, teachers union

4/4/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

For All the Latest on Colorado’s Bob Schaffer-Mark Udall Senate Race

For the latest in Colorado's U.S. Senate race between Republican Bob Schaffer and Democrat Mark Udall, head on over to Schaffer v Udall, a blog project on which I collaborate. Why is this a great time to visit if you have never been, or haven't in awhile? Just in the last day, you'll find posts up on these intriguing topics: - How a Democrat attack ad on Bob Schaffer is backfiring - Terrific analysis by my colleague El Presidente showing the problems with the "latest" poll in the race - Udall's ongoing difficult dilemma as a superdelegate - Udall's questionable earmarks ethics and his questionable pledge to swear off earmarks (temporarily) If you're interested in Colorado politics or the 2008 campaign for the U.S. Senate, you'll … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Democrats, earmarks, Mark Udall, polls, Schaffer v Udall, superdelegate

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • Next Page »

Inside

  • About Ben
  • Archives
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
    • Colorado Ballot 2012
    • Colorado Ballot 2014
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
  • Mount Virtus?
  • Passion and Purpose:
    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
  • The Westfield Gardener
  • What I’m Thankful For
  • 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

  • Colorado Senate News
  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
  • Loveland Politics
  • The Colorado Observer

National News and Politics

  • Drudge Report
  • Hot Air
  • National Review
  • Politico
  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
  • TownHall
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Weekly Standard
  • World Magazine

Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • 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
  • Professor Bainbridge
  • Right Thinking
  • Right Wing News
  • Right Wing Nuthouse
  • Shot in the Dark
  • Talking Points Memo
  • Virginia Postrel
  • Volokh Conspiracy

Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
  • Sharper Iron

Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
  • Colorado Republican Study Committee
  • Dennis Prager
  • Denver Metro Young Republicans
  • Free Republic
  • Heritage Foundation
  • Jefferson County Republican Party
  • Mackinac Center for Public Policy
  • Mark Steyn
  • Michael Medved
  • Rush Limbaugh

Colorado Blogs

  • American Kestrel
  • Bob Agard
  • Colorado Charter Schools
  • Colorado Peak Politics
  • Colorado Pols
  • Colorado Right
  • Conservative Libertarian Outpost
  • Coyote Gulch
  • Ed Is Watching
  • Free Colorado
  • Jeff Crank Show
  • Mark Hillman
  • Patient Power
  • PirateBallerina
  • Protein Wisdom
  • Reagan Girl
  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 1.0 (Archive)
  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0 (Archive)
  • Rossputin
  • Stop the ACLU Blog
  • The Spot (Denver Post)
  • We Stand Firm

Other Sites

  • Technorati
  • Word Press

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

Copyright © 2025 RSS Feed · WordPress · Log in