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

12/8/2008 By Ben 5 Comments

Corleone-Like Cronyism Another Reason to Shun Huckabee’s Leadership

Regular readers of this blog know I'm no fan of Mike Huckabee. If you need a refresher: Huckabee surge is bad news for serious, coherent conservatives Why not Huckabee? The slime Colorado GOP should heed Kafer and Hillman, not Parker and Huckabee Today, Dr. Jay Greene brought my attention to a story from Arkansas that further highlights the problem. Mike Huckabee's populist themes, identity politics, and underhanded tactics are complemented by his dedication to old-fashioned Southern cronyism. Conservatism and the movement it represents appear to be little more than tools in Huckabee's political toolbox. Or, as Jay Greene puts it:The Huck’s indifference to ideas and obsession with building his personal political network, make … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: Arkansas, civil service, coherent, conservative movement, cronyism, Don Corleone, identity politics, Jay Greene, leader, Mike Huckabee, old-fashioned, personal political network, political toolbox, populist, problem, refresher, Republican Party, standard-bearer, successful, television career, underhanded tactics

12/8/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Stevens, Jefferson Down: Very Small but Promising Signs of Health

First, corrupt Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was narrowly taken out in his umpteenth re-election bid. More recently, corrupt Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson was ousted in Saturday's run-off election. Let me say these are both very small but genuinely promising signs for the health of the Republic - as it were. A first-generation Vietnamese-American lawyer and political novice, Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, defeated lifetime pol and Democrat incumbent Jefferson in a heavily Democratic district. Michelle Malkin has more. Cheery thoughts for a Monday in December, in which the world of politics further drifts into the background, though hopefully not beneath too much snow here on Colorado's Front Range. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Anh Cao, corruption, December, Democratic district, drifting, lawyer, Louisiana, Michelle Malkin, Monday, ousted, political novice, promising signs, re-election bid, Republic, Republican, run-off election, senator, small signs, snow, Ted Stevens, Vietnamese-American, William Jefferson

12/7/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

What I Want to See for the United States, Conservatism, and the GOP

Looking ahead to 2010 and beyond, this is what I want to see in the United States of America: A biblical, spiritual revival ... something for which I pray to God The revitalization of conservatism (a shared value in the Founders' "constrained vision") in American public life ... something of which I seek to persuade others A Republican Party more informed by conservative, limited government principles ... also something of which I seek to persuade others A governing Republican Party majority ...something for which I volunteer and vote Where incompatibilities between the above priorities can be proven with a reasonable degree of likelihood, the higher priority wins. (And no, I can't think of any situation where voting for or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, History, My Life Tagged With: 2010, aborition, agenda, belittle, biblical, boundaries, broader principles, clarification, Colorado, common opponent, compatible, Conservatism, conservative coalition, Constitution, constrained vision, debate, demonize, disagreements, discrepancy, educate, effective, electoral success, eschewed, exhaustive, falter, federal legislation, fidelity, fiscally conservative, Founders, governing majority, healthy, History, hollow badge, incompabitilities, incremental, lasting changes, limited government, Mark Hillman, national level, nostalgia, obsess, persuade, political illusion, political sphere, pragmatic issues, pray, pre-emption, principled humility, principles, priorities, productive conversation, promises, public life, purity, Reagan Republican, reasonable degree, religious aspiration, religious speech, Republican Party, respectful, restrictions, revitalization, revival, Right, Ronald Reagan, school choice, slash-and-burn politics, smile, social conservatism, social moderates, socialism, strong dose, taxpayer funding, tested, thoughts, throw under the bus, unaffiliated voter, United States, United States of America, vocal minority, volunteer, vote

12/6/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Obama Voters, CNN and Network TV Viewers More Poorly Informed

John Ziegler is to be commended for his post-election polling work. At first we learned how ridiculously ill-informed Obama voters were, leading us to some conclusions about how Obama got elected. Ziegler took upon himself a challenge that the misguided critics on the Left - who (all too predictably) attacked the questioners rather than deal with the substance of the findings - would not do. He commissioned a second poll with even more telling results (H/T Granite Grok): … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bill Ayers, challenge, CNN, commended, commissioned, conclusions, critics, education reform, elected, findings, FoxNews, Granite Grok, ill-informed, John McCain, John Ziegler, Left, media, misguided response, MSNBC, national newspapers, network news, Obama voters, polling, questioners, real factor, Republicans, results, Sarah Palin, talk radio

12/6/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

GOP Leader Mark Hillman Speaks Reason to the Conservative Coalition

Former Republican legislative leader Mark Hillman once again shows why he deserves a leading position in Colorado's GOP, by speaking reason to the conservative coalition. It's a must-read from beginning to end, but here's the key thought:If the goal is winning elections, rather than purging membership rolls at the country club, throwing social conservatives under the bus is a catastrophically bad idea. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, bedroom, belittle, Colorado, conservative coalition, crouthouse, debates, divide, government, Harry Reid, involved, key thought, legislative leader, liberal activists, Mark Hillman, must-read, Nancy Pelosi, principles, purge, Reason, Rebuild the Party, recommend, Republican, right spirit, social conservatives, social moderates, taxpayer funding, unite

12/5/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Questions Linger as Colorado Supremes Sit on Ritter Tax Hike Decision

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and Governor Bill Ritter are defendants in a case filed by the Independence Institute (disclosure: where I work) and numerous aggrieved taxpayers over a 2007 law that raised property taxes without a proper vote of the people, as required by the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. Denver District Court Judge Christine Habas came down on the side of the people nearly seven months ago, but the Colorado Supreme Court has been silent since - despite reasonable expectations that critical tax revenue issues be addressed in a timely manner. As Face The State reports, CDE needs the Supreme Court to "hurry up":In June, Ritter, a defendant alongside CDE, appealed the decision to the state's highest court. Oral … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, property rights Tagged With: aggrieved taxpayers, attorney, Bill Ritter, CASE, chaos, Christine Habas, cockiness, Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Supreme Court, decision, defendants, Denver, Denver District Court, Evan Gluckman, exact science, Face the State, gamble, Governor, hurry up, Independence Institute, Jason Dunn, judge, landmine, Main Street Cafe, oral arguments, owner, plaintiffs, political insiders, property taxes, questions, reasonable expectations, revenue, Richard Westfall, Rocky Mountain Right, taxpayer dollars, Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, timely manner

12/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Finding the Common Ties that Bind the Conservative Movement

The Next Right has posted a thoughtful essay that seeks to put the current intra-conservative debates into perspective. The whole thing is a worthwhile read, but the conclusion especially is interesting:Conservatives, thankfully, are nowhere near as afflicted by tunnel-vision, as the current debates on the Right show. However, it is essential that, being conservative, we remember that these debates were not settled in 1964 or 1980 and are not going to be settled in 2008, 2012 or any other year. These debates are timeless elements of the American conservative tradition, and will probably never be resolved completely. However, another timeless element which we must also be careful not to forget is the fact that these debates have always ended … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life Tagged With: academic, affirmation, belittle, brass figures, co-exist, common, common interests, conservative, dark corners, debates, educate, essay, fiscal conservatism, futile effort, Hillsdale College, humility, icons, intra-conservative, Leo Strauss, libertarian, limited government, listen, Ludwig von Mises, movement, neoconservative, paleoconservative, personal responsibility, poli sci geek, political coalition, purge, renewed commitment, ridicule, Right, Russell Kirk, social conservatives, statues, tent, The Next Right, timeless, tradition, unlikelihood

12/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Public Service Message for Colorado Education Association Members

Via IndependentTeachers.org, here's a 2-minute video with a local teacher friend of mine explaining how members of the Colorado Education Association can get a refund of their political money before December 15: CEA has given hundreds of thousands in political contributions to Democrat candidates and Left-leaning causes. The teachers who think that's okay have nothing to worry about. The teachers who disagree may be interested in the refund process. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Colorado Education Association, deadline, December 15, Independent Teachers, members, teacher, video, YouTube

12/2/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Blog Talk Radio Links

The following are links to odds and ends I mentioned this evening as co-host of the Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio show: Neal Gabler's ironic Los Angeles Times column on Joe McCarthy and the American conservative movement: a true "triumph of the American imagination" Historian Arthur Herman's sage insights into lessons America should take from the grim Islamist terrorist attacks last week in India Chicago Tribune editorial from 2006 justifying jeers for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's attempt to secure a pardon for corrupt former Republican Gov. George Ryan - in particular, the tragic but inspiring story of the Willis family - featured in the Tribune editorial - is worth a read And, of course, thanks to guest Todd Bensman - check … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: American conservative movement, Arthur Herman, Blog Talk Radio, Chicago Tribune, corrupt, Dick Durbin, editorial, episode, Face the State, George Ryan, historian, Illinois, India, insights, inspiring, Islamist, jeers, Joe McCarthy, kinks, lessons, Los Angeles Times, National Review, Neal Gabler, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, Ryan Frazier, senator, special guest, terrorist attacks, Todd Bensman, tragic, triumph of the American imagination, Willis family

12/2/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

3rd Edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the third edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Confirmed hosts are Joshua Sharf and yours truly, with the guest tentatively scheduled as Todd Bensman of the San Antonio Express-News, author of the well-acclaimed series "Breaching America: Examining Illegal Immigration from the Muslim World". Bensman's observations on the recent vicious Islamist terrorist attacks in India should be very interesting to hear. Tune in tonight for the introduction of some new segments, to hear Todd Bensman, and to find out if any other Rocky Mountain Alliance blogger joins us as co-host. And don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s show, you can go back and download … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, My Life, World Events Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, blogger, Breaching America, download, guest, hosts, India, Islamist terrorist attacks, Joshua Sharf, live broadcast, Mount Virtus, observations, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, San Antonio Express-News, segments, Todd Bensman

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 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