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

New Al Gansee: Lighthearted Reading to While Away Thanksgiving Break

No politics today, nothing that juicy or intriguing to break the fast on the eve of Thanksgiving. If you're bored over the holiday and looking for some amusing reading -- especially if you're looking to stage a new play or produce a new movie -- then check out the two-act script I completed earlier this year titled Al Gansee: The Shot Heard 'Round Cambria. The synopsis will give you the flavor:In the early 1960s, a tiny Midwestern farm community has been transformed into a Marxist workers' paradise upon the return of a charismatic native son and his Russian KGB companion. Now leading a Socialist Union that bears his name, Chief Comrade Al Gansee confronts the desire for territorial expansion and transmission of his ideals. Gansee, his … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, liberty, My Life, property rights, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Please Welcome the Two Newest Rocky Mountain Alliance Bloggers

For the first time in quite awhile, the Rocky Mountain Alliance has started to grow again. We have two new members who represent excellent additions. I invite you to check them out and add them to your regular blog reading (if you haven't already): The Business Word by Don Johnson has become a must-read for anyone seeking coverage of the unfolding major Republican primary races in Colorado, with great analysis and interviews Michelle Morin is a leader in the Teller County Tea Party movement Coalition for a Conservative Majority in Colorado Springs, and her site Mom 4 Freedom has been a leading Colorado-based voice in the fight against Obama Care and other proposed costly government intrusions into our freedom The Rocky Mountain … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC, property rights

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Arm Yourself with Knowledge … Fight Back Against Senate Democrat Tactics

Update, 12:30 PM: If you have the same experience as I did, you'll find the voice mail in Senator Bennet's D.C. office to be full. Then go ahead and call the regional office near you. You'll likely talk to a tired-sounding staffer who will take your message in opposition to the Baucus health care bill and the vote to proceed, along with your ZIP code. It's that simple. Now is the time to speak up. Writing over at Red State, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) shines light on the deceptive approach he believes Harry Reid and the Senate Democrat leadership will take to ram their government health care takeover through:To begin debate on this new version of Obamacare, Reid will play a shell game. He needs 60 senators to “vote to proceed” to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 9 Comments

Humor: The Big Political News You May Have Missed Over the Weekend

Because I'm finally getting around to putting out a press release (below the fold) with the important details -- click on "Fullscreen" for easy readability: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Health Care, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

A Grassroots Escape Clause in the New Colorado GOP Prosperity Platform?

So some Colorado GOP leaders have crafted a Prosperity Platform and rallied behind Scott McInnis as the gubernatorial candidate. Meanwhile, some in the grassroots remain thoroughly unconvinced and stand behind hard-working longshot Dan Maes. The issue is not the rhetoric or the substance of the 20 governing principles that has earned skepticism or even ire. It's some of the cast of characters involved that many understandably still have a hard time trusting. I'm not all the way there yet myself. What might help make the Prosperity Platform more palatable is an escape clause -- and by that I mean not for McInnis, but for us. So the issue is an agreement to fulfill the 20 principles. What happens if he is elected and then reneges, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben 6 Comments

Talking to Former GOP Guv Candidate Josh Penry on Decision to Drop Out

This morning I had the opportunity to follow up on this week's Colorado political bombshell with the man at the center of the storm: state senate minority leader Josh Penry, of whom word leaked Monday that he had decided to withdraw from the Republican primary campaign for governor. As a personal supporter of Penry's candidacy and seeing evidence of his tremendous support among Colorado's grassroots Republicans, I was greatly shocked and disappointed. In fact, it's safe to say I'm still reeling from the revelation. Anyway, without further ado, here's a quick recap of my interview this morning (please note that the following is somewhat excerpted and a close paraphrase rather than a direct quote): … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, PPC, property rights

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Campaign Volunteer Opportunity that Gives Back to the Community

If you live in the Denver metro area, Ryan Frazier, a Republican candidate for Colorado's 7th Congressional District, is advertising a volunteer opportunity for you that does not involve stuffing envelopes, knocking on doors or waving signs. Rather, it's a way to help those in the community who are struggling during these difficult economic times:Please join us on Monday, November 23 from 9:30am - noon as we volunteer our time at the JeffCo Action Center. We will be helping to sort and box food in their warehouse 8035 W. Colfax Avenue in Lakewood. The JeffCo Action Center needs to know how many of us to expect, so please RSVP by clicking here or emailing Marc Massey at marc@frazierforcolorado.com by noon on November 20. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, liberty

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Latest Colorado Political Survey Inspires Kataline Essay on “Big Tent” GOP

Our current survey of Colorado's political temperature has inspired more than just a series of click-in-the-box responses. Having read one of our test issue statements -- It is important for Republicans to employ a "big tent" policy when considering candidates for office. -- Karen Kataline decided to deconstruct the term "big tent" in a thoughtful new essay for Backbone America:Our party is and has always been united not by our ethnicity but by our ideas. As members of minority Republican groups, our role is to welcome others into the party rather than to seek special favors or victim status as the parade of minority groups on the Left have consistently done. Go ahead. Read the whole thing. Then go ahead and take our latest survey. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

SD 16: Cheri Gerou, Don Ytterberg Out; Evergreen Businessman Tim Leonard In

The exciting opportunity for a Republican pickup in Senate District 16 with a departing incumbent Democrat Dan Gibbs has taken some interesting turns in the past week. State senate minority leader Josh Penry's most highly touted replacement was Cheri Gerou. But the HD 25 representative told me today her current seat is "where I plan to stay." So count out Gerou. Then there's Ali Hasan who, while refuting my initial speculations that he might contend, had suggested Jeffco GOP chair Don Ytterberg as a great candidate. However, Ytterberg says he has no desire to take another shot at SD 16 and is dedicated to his current work. "I made the commitment to work for the success of our party and I will do that to the best of my ability," he … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, PPC, property rights

2/7/2026 By Ben 8 Comments

Political Blackmail Behind Josh Penry Dropping Out of Guv’s Race?

PPC already has reported to my great disappointment and astonishment that Josh Penry has decided to withdraw from the Colorado governor's race. Penry's friend and former state representative Rob Witwer followed a few moments ago with a short statement:Josh did an outstanding job framing the debate and articulating the need for change. He raised the level of Republican campaigns in Colorado, and for that he deserves a huge amount of credit. He leaves behind a winning playbook that should help Scott McInnis achieve victory next November. But more to the story emerges from behind the scenes on this MSNBC report: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • …
  • 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