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

Dress Down: Bill Ritter’s Big Idea

Let it never be said that Governor Bill Ritter is not a man of big ideas:In a recent letter to state employees in the state publication Stateline, Ritter talks about the hard economic times and thanks employees for their hard work. He then applauds a stress-reducing move by the Department for Health Care Policy and Financing to extend “‘dress down Fridays’ to every day of the week.” Senator Ted Harvey wondered whether it might be an April Fools Day joke. I'm wondering if it was an idea hatched as the result of his executive order authorizing collective bargaining -- er, employee partnerships. Whatever it is, somehow methinks this wasn't the dressing down being cited by our governor. Five days a week of that would make most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: April Fools Day, authorizing, big ideas, Bill Ritter, Collective Bargaining, Department for Health Care Policy and Financing, dress down Fridays, employee partnerships, Executive Order, Governor, hard economic times, hatched, idea, joke, letter, man, publication, result, senator, state employees, Stateline, stress-reducing, Ted Harvey

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ari Armstrong, Modern-Day Sam Adams, Helping Fill the Watchdog Gap

Sign of the times ... The American Journalism Review has released its annual survey of statehouse reporters. The unsurprising result? Forty-four states - including Colorado - have fewer full-time journalistic watchdogs tracking how elected legislatures are doing the people's business. As much as the Right pines about the liberally-biased media, this is not entirely a phenomenon to be rejoiced over. The news-gathering local media terrain is shifting under our feet as we move. A clear reason why we need more of the Modern-Day Sam Adams variety: Congratulations to Ari Armstrong for his well-deserved award and the lucrative success it brings. We don't always agree, but no one can deny Ari's diligent and persistent advocacy on behalf of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: advocacy, American Journalism Review, annual, Ari Armstrong, breach, citizens, clear reason, Colorado, Congratulations, diligent, economic liberty, elected, fewer, full-time, intellectual activism, journalistic, kudos, legislatures, liberally-biased, lucrative, media, media terrain, Modern-Day Sam Adams, news-gathering, people's business, persistent, personal liberty, phenomenon, pro-freedom, professional, rejoiced over, reporters, result, Right, statehouse, states, success, survey, unsurprising, watchdogs, well-deserved

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

BREAKING: ColoradoPols Behind the Curve on Local GOP Politics

"Breaking" news from the Dead Governors: Marc Holtzman won't be running for governor. Hey, don't yawn at me like that. -- Oh, I see ... you're yawning at their headline? -- So what you're trying to say is the Dead Guvs aren't exactly the source of breaking news for things happening on the Republican side of the aisle here in Colorado? -- Okay, okay, call me Captain Obvious. But I'm not the only one around here.... Sources also have shared with Mt. Virtus a sneak peek at some possible upcoming headlines from the Democrat Pols blog:Breaking: Bill Owens Says He Doesn't Want Governor's Job Again Breaking: Jane Norton 'Not in the Mix' to Take On Ritter Breaking: Bruce Benson to Stay at CU, Won't Vie for Governor's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Amazing Race, Bill Owens, Bill Ritter, breaking news, Bruce Benson, Captain Obvious, Carmelo Anthony, Dead Governors, Democrat, Denver Broncos, headlines, Jay Cutler, Lindsey Vonn, Marc Holtzman, The Fray, Tim Gill, Ward Churchill

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Thanks to What?: Posing a Clear Litmus Test Between Left and Right

Blogging for the Heritage Foundation, Conn Carroll points readers to a clear litmus test between the Left and the Right. If you followed that link and said, "Hey, that's not a bad idea, why didn't I think of that?" -- it's pretty safe to say you're on the Left. On the other hand, if you laughed out loud and/or your stomach turned upon reading it, you must be on the Right. But here's my thought: If we're going to be showing our gratitude for painful certainties that show no sign of abating, why not a campaign to get people to say Thanks for this? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: abating, campaign, certainty, clear, Conn Carroll, death, gratitude, Heritage Foundation, laugh, Left, link, litmus test, Right, stomach, taxes, thanks, turned

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Shocking Headline of the Year

"Kim Jong Il Re-Elected as Leader of North Korea" ...You know, I thought for sure the people would vote him out ... Oh, wait, never mind ... Only one thing: the article doesn't tell us if he got 100% of the "vote" like Saddam Hussein did ... Hmmm .... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: PPC, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Happy Easter

From the New American Standard version:Luke 24:1-9 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, liberty, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Which Party Will Miss Peter Groff as Senate President More: GOP or Dems?

It seems almost certain that Democrat Senate President Peter Groff has tried to remain mum about the news of his impending departure to join the Obama administration in Washington to avoid distraction from an especially difficult budget process in the state legislature this year. But the cat's out of the bag now. Kind, classy words in the Denver Post from the Republican opposition:"Washington's gain is our loss," said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray.... "I hope that President Obama gives him a job with a lot of power in the Department of Education," said Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. It's hard to say which party will miss him more at the helm of the state senate in 2010. For Republicans, he's a strong ally on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: 2011, adversary, bandied about, budget process, classy, critical, Democrat, Denver Post, Department of Education, difficult, education reform, election year, fiscally conservative, Grand Junction, Greg Brophy, helm, Josh Penry, kind, likable, motivation, mum, Obama administration, other issues, perceived, Peter Groff, potential, reasonable middle, replacements, Republican, sad, senate minority leader, Senate President, state legislature, state senate, strong ally, Washington, well-respected, words, Wray

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Democrats Gamble State Finances, Majority Status, on Pinnacol “Gimmick”

The budget debate at Colorado's State Capitol heads into full throttle this week. In a tough year, the linchpin to the Democrats' plan is a raid on the privately-funded Pinnacol Assurance Company. Even the Denver Post recognizes this as a bad idea:If lawmakers can't get money from Pinnacol, higher education could be cut by more than $400 million — more than half the state's allotment to colleges and universities. Pinnacol offers guaranteed workers' compensation insurance, and Republicans have argued that because the insurer's assets were funded by businesses paying premiums, the state should keep its hands off. [Attorney General John] Suthers, a Republican, clearly, agrees. The Pinnacol idea is dubious at best. It is a gimmick, a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC Tagged With: accustomed, Andrew Ripemoff, anti-taxpayer, assets, Attorney General, bad idea, budget, Colorado, court decision, debate, Democrats, Denver Post, desperate times, dubious, editorial, elected leaders, eliminating, eschewing, Face the State, full throttle, funnier take, gimmick, higher education, important connection, insurer, John Suthers, linchpin, majority party, Mary Mullarkey, newfound powers, notch, own hides, Pinnacol Assurance, plan, primary strategy, Republican, risky gimmick, State Capitol, supreme court, TABOR, tax exemptions, tough decisions, tough year, workers compensation

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

RMA Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 8:30: Tax Day Tea Party, Jessica Corry

Tune in tonight at 8:30 PM local Mountain time for the 22nd edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. We have two guests for this week: Brian Campbell to talk about tomorrow's Tax Day Tea Party, and Jessica Corry from the Independence Institute to talk about high salaries and lack of transparency at the University of Colorado. If you miss the live show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Penn State’s “The Veteran” Training Video Brings Back Ironic Memories

I couldn't resist commenting on this one - from the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web:"What if it was 'Oh, the gay one,' or 'Oh, the Asian kid?' " asks Maggie Kwok, head of the Penn State Veterans Organization in an interview with the Daily Collegian, PSU's student newspaper. She is referring to a "training video," prepared by the university's Counseling and Psychological Services office, depicting "worrisome student behavior." The office swiftly removed the video when it prompted a kerfuffle, but the PSU College Republicans preserved it on YouTube. It's a fascinating documentation of academic prejudice. Why bring this one up? I find the video not only bizarrely condescending in the generic sense, and for all the cogent reasons … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Cultural Conservatism, Education, General, My Life, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: analysis, Best of the Web, bizarrely, blue book exams, cogent reasons, College Republicans, complain, condescending, Counseling and Psychological Services, courteous, Daily Collegian, different era, diligent, engaged, essays, female, generic, generous, graduate students, hardest-working, honest, James Taranto, kerfuffle, Maggie Kwok, mature, office hours, Penn State University, personal connection, polite, privilege, razzed, recitations, room, ROTC, stood my ground, student, student newspaper, sympathy factor, teaching assistant, training video, university, veterans, Wall Street Journal, whole experience, worrisome student behavior

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • …
  • 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