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Home Archives for blogging

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dig into UAW Golf Course Hijinks Before Obama Ends Union Disclosure

Perhaps you have seen the story about the United Auto Workers-owned golf course in northern Michigan and the controversy about the value of its property and tax history. Well, local blogger Chetly Zarko has dug even deeper to try to figure out why the facility's reported Pension Fund expenses are so high:The only explanation in my mind for this kind of pension fund investment is that the pension contributions are for SOMEONE ELSE other than the workers at the hotel. Just who might be receiving the long-term benefit of those contributions? It's not big enough to pay the pension debt of any serious number of rank-and-file union members - but it is big enough to sauce up a few individual's or union leadership. Or perhaps the UAW is using … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: administration, analysis, artificial loss, Barack Obama, bliss, blogger, Chetly Zarko, contributions, corrupt, Department of Labor, facility, financial disclosure reports, Hilda Solis, ignorance, IRS, Labor Secretary, LM-2, Michigan, Pension Fund, property, shenanigans, speculation, tax evasion, taxes, union, union bosses, United Auto Workers, Wall Street Journal

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio with Mike Kopp Tonight at 8:30

Please note the new time! Blog Talk Radio show expands to 90 minutes of lively and hard-hitting looks at Colorado politics and the world around us... Tune in at 8:30 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the ninth edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Tonight's guest is state senator Mike Kopp, Littleton Republican and senate minority caucus chair. The legislative session is just beginning to pick up steam this week, and Senator Kopp will talk about the GOP agenda starting at 9:30 PM. The show's new, 90-minute format opens the door for a second guest (as yet unannounced) at 8:45. Hosts for this evening are Joshua, El Presidente, and Night Twister. Since they were all at the pro-Israel rally downtown Sunday, I'm sure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Shedding No Tears for the Shane Co. – No Diamond Business Friend of Mine

So the Shane Co. files Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As one not in the habit of frequenting jewelry stores, you might think I'm utterly indifferent. But then you'd see that I'm blogging on the topic, so perhaps you're wondering there must be something prompting me to waste a few minutes. Well, you're right. The lovely Mrs. Virtus and I are here laughing about the story, because we never intend to go back to the Shane Co., Chapter 11 or no. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: a watcher, argue, arrogance, automakers, bankruptcy, business, Chapter 11, conceded, condescension, Detroit, employee, engagement ring, errands, fiancee, forgiveness, gumball machine, hassle, haughty, indifferent, insurance, jewelry stores, laughing, metro Denver, mistake, money, Mrs. Virtus, palpable, rich, Rocky Mountain News, rough appraisal, rudeness, saleslady, scoffed, Shane Co., solder, sorry, tasks, tax bracket, timetable, unapologetic, unmoved, value, weariness, wedding, wedding band

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Year in Review Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the seventh edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. The year-end episode will take a look back at some of the big stories of 2008 and feature a discussion about Israel's current military campaign against Hamas. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s 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: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, episode, Hamas, Israel, Mount Virtus, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, year-end

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Month-by-Month 2008 Stroll Down Mount Virtus Memory Lane

It's the last day of 2008, and time for a quick month-by-month retrospective. The following are posts I've selected as the best posts for each month: January: Why did Ritter Leave Worker Protections Out of His Order? February: Getting the Whole Story Behind Ritter's Climate Action Plan March: High-Ranking Democrat: Property Tax Hike Not Just for Schools April: What Was All That Money Doing in Ritter's Inaugural in the First Place? May: Colorado Dems Fail to Lead or Take Responsibility, Irony Lost on Dead Guvs June: Bill Ritter, Tax Increases, Unions, and the Colorado Supreme Court July: Majority of Coloradans Don't Think Bill Ritter is Doing a Terrible Job August: It's Official: Colorado Government 100% Unionized, Thanks to Bill … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Commemorative, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Fiscally Conservative Kevin Lundberg Merits Nod for State Senate Seat

I see the upcoming showdown over the appointment to replace state senator Steve Johnson as a real testing ground: Do Republicans want well-qualified and proven fiscal conservatives of class and character - regardless of their views on social issues - or do they just want to toss officials overboard for their socially conservative views? Estes Park's Jon Nicholas gets it right: state representative Kevin Lundberg is the right person to fill Johnson's seat. Especially if Nicholas' observations (one technical error aside) about Lundberg's less well-known rivals indeed are correct: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Amendment 23, appearance, appointment, articulate, Blog Talk Radio, breakfast meeting, character, class, Colorado Union of Taxpayers, conservative principles, Deborah Moeck, Denver, Douglas Bruce, Estes Park, fiscal conservatives, fiscal watchdogs, hard-working, Jon Nicholas, Kevin Lundberg, lawmakers, limited government, Mike Lynch, personal endorsement, Referendum C, Republicans, responsible, right person, Rocky Mountain Alliance, social issues, spokesman, state representative, state senator, Steve Johnson, TABOR, testing ground, voting record, website, well-qualified

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Episode 6 Tonight: Jim Pfaff

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the sixth edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio. Confirmed co-hosts are Joshua Sharf and El Presidente. The guest will be Jim Pfaff, Colorado state director of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation and keeper of the site Opinion Times. Topics of discussion will include AFP Colorado's new report "Keeping Colorado Competitive". Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight’s 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: blogging, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life Tagged With: Americans for Prosperity, Blog Talk Radio, co-hosts, Colorado, El Presidente, Jim Pfaff, Joshua Sharf, Keeping Colorado Competitive, Mount Virtus, Opinion Times, podcast, Rocky Mountain Alliance, widget

2/7/2026 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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio On the Air Tonight at 9 PM

Remember, Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio is on the air tonight at 9 PM local Mountain Time. El Presidente - one of tonight's co-hosts - has the details. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, El Presidente, Rocky Mountain Alliance

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Returns Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the second edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio, as Joshua, El Presidente, Night Twister, and I work to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump (also known as proving "you may be right, we (really) may be crazy.") Special guest is slated to be Red County's Michael Kerr from the great Pacific Northwest. Perhaps Michael can cite experiences from King County, Washington, to shed light on the current recount in Minnesota. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight's 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: blogging, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, crazy, download, El Presidente, Joshua Sharf, King County, Michael Kerr, Minnesota, Night Twister, Pacific Northwest, podcast, recount, Red County, Right, Rocky Mountain Alliance, sidebar, sophomore slump, special guest, widget

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Inside

  • About Ben
  • Archives
  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
    • Colorado Ballot 2010
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    • 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

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National News and Politics

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  • Reason
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
  • David Harsanyi’s Blog
  • E!! The True Conservative Story
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  • Hugh Hewitt
  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
  • Little Green Footballs
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  • NRO's The Corner
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
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  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
  • Historical Conversations
  • IMAO
  • Jay P. Greene
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Christian Commentary et al.

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Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
  • Cal Thomas
  • Colorado Republican Party
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Colorado Blogs

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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