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 Archives for 2008

Archives for 2008

5/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Mark Hillman for National Committeeman

Mark Hillman is speaking from the podium right now, articulating so well his deep-abiding principles of limited government and personal freedom. He has a lot of Republican heavy hitters behind him, and appears to be the favorite over Leondray Gholston (who also gave a strong, inspiring speech) and Sen. Dave Schultheis (who is about to make his appearance). My earlier endorsement of Mark Hillman is here. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

5/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Seven Signs This Isn’t the 2004 Republican State Convention

From the GOP Convention in Broomfield... 1. Bill Owens seconded the nomination of Bob Schaffer for U.S. Senate. 2. The event is running on time. Amen! 3. The George W. Bush video on the big screen was dead-time filler, and almost no one was paying attention. 4. No signs that any cases of sunburn or heat stroke are imminent. 5. The name Barack Obama not only means something to attendees, it serves as the primary foil for many of the speechmakers on the stump. 6. I received a flyer advertising a Bob Schaffer fundraiser sponsored by Pete Coors. 7. Bloggers are given seats (and Wi-Fi) at the Convention press table. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

5/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Wayne Allard Honored, Tom Tancredo Gives Red Meat to GOP Faithful

From the GOP Convention in Broomfield... After Dick Wadhams' opening remarks, the unity theme kicked off with a video tribute to retiring U.S. Senator Wayne Allard, followed by words from Allard's wife Joan and Senator Allard himself. If the crowd was slowly coming to life before, retiring Rep. Tom Tancredo's soundbite speech - which strikes themes of energy independence, secure borders (the mere mention of "Cory Voorhis" electrifies the crowd), and American greatness, with several quips about Barack Obama thrown in for good measure - gets the energy rising. On a down note, turnout at the GOP Convention is not exactly stellar (but a quorum has been achieved). More to come, as I need to get my alternate credentials updated to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Broomfield, Dick Wadhams, GOP Convention, Joan Allard, Wayne Allard

5/31/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Legal Victory for Taxpayers a Resounding Theme for Colorado GOP

From the GOP Convention in Broomfield... The Rocky Mountain News reports on yesterday's taxpayer victory in the courtroom:A law expected to raise $1.7 billion for Colorado schools over the next 11 years is unconstitutional because it gives the state more tax revenue without required approval from voters, a judge ruled Friday. Latest estimates are actually $3.8 billion, not $1.7 billion, but the news is good just the same. In his introductory remarks, state party chair Dick Wadhams' mention of the court ruling against Gov. Bill Ritter's tax hike earned perhaps the biggest applause from the Republican faithful gathered here at the Broomfield Event Center. If you don't think this is going to be a major GOP campaign theme heading into … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, Broomfield Event Center, Colorado Republican Convention, Denver District Court, Dick Wadhams, Property Tax Increase, Rocky Mountain News

5/30/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Blogging the GOP Convention

FYI to readers: I will be blogging from the proceedings at tomorrow's Colorado Republican State Convention in Broomfield. Among other activities, the GOP will nominate Bob Schaffer as the candidate for U.S. Senate, adopt a state platform, and entertain a guest speech from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Other confirmed bloggers: Slapstick Politics and Night Twister. Stay tuned. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Broomfield, Colorado Republican Party, live blogging, Mitt Romney, Night Twister, Republican State Convention, Slapstick Politics

5/30/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

“Have you been waiting to give up your money…?”

From my friends at the Evergreen Freedom Foundation ... Wouldn't you like to see that during the break of your favorite television program? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Labor, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: Evergreen Freedom Foundation, union agency fees, YouTube

5/29/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Sign the Petition to Tell Congress to Increase Domestic Energy Production

Conservatives have been behind the curve on mobilizing activism on the Net, but as Patrick Ruffini points out at The Next Right, there's a new opportunity to change the trend. I invite you to add your name to Newt Gingrich's petition to increase domestic energy production - at "Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less." It's a commonsense issue that is catching like wildfire. Sign the petition and spread the word. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: activism, common sense, conservatives, domestic energy production, Newt Gingrich, online petition, Patrick Ruffini, The Next Right

5/29/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rogue Denver Teacher Bloggers: Is It The Beginning of Something New?

Nowhere in Colorado is rank-and-file teacher dissent with the union so apparent as in the heart of Denver - for a multitude of reasons that cannot begin to be explored in this brief post. But an increasingly strained contract debate with the school board (Barack Obama alluded to it in his speech yesterday) - after the board offered a substantial raise as part of a progressive compensation system. Now a new splinter teachers group with an online presence has emerged in Denver (H/T Alan Gottlieb). It would be great to see these teachers continue posting on the blog they started. Interestingly, the local union president hasn't posted anything to her blog since this splinter group has emerged. The National Education Association, to which … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: blogging, Denver Classroom Teachers Association, Denver Public Schools, National Education Association, public education

5/27/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Grand Rapids School Board Pulls Plug on Union Payroll Deductions

I have family that live near Grand Rapids, Michigan. And when it comes to teachers unions, you might say my research interests and writings have not exactly put me very high on their Christmas card list. Take these two things together, and I found this story from last Friday rather interesting:In Grand Rapids, the school board today took a no-confidence vote in the leadership of the district's teachers union. The board also said it will no longer deduct and transmit dues for teachers' paychecks, effective May 30, the next pay period. Ladies and gentlemen, for the uninitiated, please understand that union leaders surely view this action by the Grand Rapids school board as equivalent to a nuclear weapon detonation. Ending automatic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: banking transactions, convenience, credit card transactions, Education Intelligence Agency, Grand Rapids Education Association, Mike Antonucci, paperwork, payroll dues deduction, teachers union

5/27/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Denver Teacher Sick-Out … An Action Not Exactly “For the Children”

Some Denver schools are suffering today because unionized teachers organized a sickout, reports the Rocky Mountain News (H/T Complete Colorado):Not a single classroom teacher showed up for work today at Academia Ana Maria Sandoval in northwest Denver, forcing the principal to scramble to cover classrooms. All 16 classroom teachers plus a music teacher and the librarian called in sick, said Principal Debra Lucero Kraft. "I didn't have any warning," Kraft said. "I don't know what the goal is so I can't really speak to whether or not that accomplished their goal ... but certainly I'm not sure if leaving your students without a teacher is a way to address contract negotiations." Substitute teachers were found for all but five classes … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, Boulder Valley Schools, Complete Colorado, Denver Public Schools, Rocky Mountain News, sick-out, teachers

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • …
  • 68
  • 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