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 Ben

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Brandon Shaffer? Evie Hudak is the “Extraordinarily Partisan” Candidate

Laughable quote of the day from Democrat state senator Brandon Shaffer, as reported in Politicker:In state Senate District 19, Shaffer gave Democrat Evie Hudak the edge over Republican Libby Szabo, saying Szabo is "extraordinarily partisan." "Eventually, there's enough of a base there, enough unaffiliated voters who are looking for more of a collaborative approach to getting things done across party lines, that they'll come home to Evie," Shaffer said. More of a collaborative approach from Evie Hudak? The Evie Hudak who publicly stated "I support the entire Democratic party platform"? I guess one would have to be "extraordinarily partisan" himself to think that represents a "collaborative approach". Yes, I'm still laughing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Brandon Shaffer, collaborative approach, Democrat, Democratic Party platform, Evie Hudak, extraordinarily partisan, laughable, Libby Szabo, party lines, questionable truth value, Republican, state senator, truth, unaffiliated voters, whopper

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Yes, I Am “Uncle Charley”

I am the pseudonymous conservative gadfly blogger on a local education new site. At least that's what 9News would have you believe:Not everyone agrees. An online blogger named "Uncle Charley" has written several entries for Education News Colorado trying to get readers to think about the need before they act. One blog is entitled, "More Tough Questions on DPS Bond," which talks in part about the individual items that would be funded by this bond issue and series of property tax hikes have agreed to in Denver over the past two decades. "Uncle Charley" is actually the pseudonym for Ben DeGrow, with the Independence Institute, a non-partisan conservative political think tank. DeGrow says spending $13 million dollars on athletic fields … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life Tagged With: 3A campaign, athletic fields, Ben DeGrow, blogger, Colorado Education Association, conservative blogger, current recession, Denver voters, Ed News Colorado, education site, identity, Independence Institute, largest school bond proposal, legitimate needs, line-item veto, North High School, pseudonym, student performance, tax increases, think tank, tiny splash, Uncle Charley, Ward Churchill, whole package, William Ayers

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Looking for a Silver Lining? Help Bill Russell Take Out John Murtha

Republicans in Colorado and nationally don't have many bright spots to look forward to this Election Day (and conservatives have even fewer). But one silver lining that I hope for is the defeat of Pennsylvania Democrat Congressman John Murtha. If you have a little cash you are willing to play with to help someone at the tail end of this campaign season, please consider helping Republican challenger Bill Russell (no, not this Bill Russell) as he fights to send Murtha to the retirement home. You can contribute here. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Bill Russell, bright spots, campaign season, challenger, Colorado, Congressman, conservatives, contribute, Democrat, Election Day, John Murtha, national, Pennsylvania, Republican, retirement home, silver lining

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Move Over, Tina Fey

The Daddy in me - along with the political junkie - says this is too cute not to post (H/T Polipundit): … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: cute, Polipundit, Sarah Palin, Tina Fey, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Few Things to Look for in Election Results in Colorado and Nationwide

Are you interested in tracking the election results as they come in tomorrow evening? Rocky Mountain Right has the essential guide for tracking the performance of Barack Obama and John McCain here in Colorado, with the four key counties to watch. Nationally, for the Presidential race, all eyes should be on Pennsylvania and its 21 electoral votes - so astutely says Erick Erickson at Red State and Jim Geraghty's pseudonymous mentor Obi-Wan (who also has loads of other great information). After Pennsylvania, Colorado & Nevada here in the West will be bellwethers. If Pennsylvania is where it's at, the McCain-Palin team had better continue hounding this theme: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Energy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, bellwethers, coal production, Colorado, election results, electoral votes, Erick Erickson, Jim Geraghty, John McCain, key counties, mentor, Nevada, Obi-Wan, Pennsylvania, performance, Red State, Republicans, Rocky Mountain Right

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

U.S. Supremes Hear Idaho Case One Day Before Amendment 49 Vote

The day before Colorado voters go to the polls (or at least the few that haven't cast ballots already) to decide Amendment 49 - the Ethical Standards initiative concerning the use of government payroll systems - the U.S. Supreme Court today heard oral arguments (PDF) in Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Association (H/T Liberty Live). What's the connection? The Ysursa case is reviewing a law known as the Idaho Voluntary Contributions Act. As I pointed out many weeks ago, Amendment 49 is a better version of this clean government payroll law. I previously discussed this issue with Mike Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation on an iVoices podcast: It likely will be several months before our nation's highest court renders a verdict … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: Amendment 49, clean government, Colorado, deceptive, Ethical Standards, government payroll systems, Idaho, illegal, Liberty Live, local governments, multi-million dollar, onslaught, oral arguments, PAC collections, polls, U.S. Supreme Court, verdict, Voluntary Contributions Act, voters, Ysursa v Pocatello Education Association

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rehashing Obama’s Equivocations

Mary Katherine Ham's excellent video reminds us in just a few short minutes why Barack Obama's long string of equivocations on issues great and small adds up to a lack of leadership. Let me also pass on American Princess' warning to her readers: "Prepare to vomit." … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, property rights, Second Amendment, World Events Tagged With: American Princess, Barack Obama, equivocations, leadership, Mary Katherine Ham, video, vomit, warning, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Sarah Palin is Cleared in Troopergate

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's reputation is salvaged from scurrilous charges in a faux scandal (H/T Fort Hard Knox). Given its 11th hour release, you can just about guarantee the media establishment will bury her exoneration. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: candidate, faux scandal, media establishment, Republican, Sarah Palin, Troopergate, vice presidential

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Defeated but Not Down

It's hard to live up to the promise of live-blogging when there isn't much good news to report. This is the Democrats' night. I'll let them enjoy it. May God give them the grace to govern wisely. Somehow I doubt they will, certainly not from the perspective of life, liberty, and limited government. At least the vittles are good here at the John Bodnar party in Westminster. I couldn't bring myself to visit the somber affair down at the Marriott South. Meanwhile, I'll go look for the few bright spots of the night. Some big tax increases on the ballot maybe going down. (This tells me the state isn't lurching Left as much as it's turning Blue.) Other than that, not much. Don't expect to see a lot of politics on this site in the days … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blue, bright spots, Democrats, essays, giving thanks, good news, introspection, John Bodnar, Left, liberty, life, limited government, live blogging, Marriott South, nation, politics, promise, state GOP, tax increases, vittles, Westminster

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

And a Few More Bright Spots for Colorado and U.S. Conservatives

It's the morning after... El Presidente has some amusing video reactions to last night's election results. Meanwhile, both Joshua Sharf (who ran a valiant race in an overwhelmingly Democratic district) and Rocky Mountain Right highlight the bright spots for Colorado conservatives. I concur with their lists, but let me add one more small bright spot in Colorado. The State Board of Education lost GOP chairman Pam Suckla - a Bill Ritter apologist - and gained common-sense conservative Marcia Neal, giving an effective Board majority that the Colorado Education Association can't be terribly happy with. Especially if Bob Schaffer is selected as the next chairman. At the national level, the good news is that Republicans may have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Al Franken, Alaska, Barack Obama, Bill Ritter, black president, Bob Schaffer, chairman, Colorado conservatives, Colorado Education Association, common-sense conservative, Congratulations, decline, Democratic district, Democratic Party, egregious overreaches, El Presidente, election results, embarrassing, firewall, historic achievement, Joshua Sharf, Left, loyal opposition, Marcia Neal, Minnesota, morning after, national level, Norm Coleman, Pam Suckla, Party, peaceful transition of power, political, political dinosaur, race, rebuilding, Republicans, Rocky Mountain Right, State board of education, Ted Stevens, Thanksgiving, United States, valiant race, video reactions

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • …
  • 256
  • 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 © 2026 RSS Feed · WordPress · Log in