Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

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2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

Six Years of Mount Virtus Blogging

Another year has come and gone. Today Mount Virtus is 6 years old, which perhaps puts me in the ranks of Colorado's political blogging ancients. I have a few graying hairs to show for it. My blog's 6th birthday also means 99 years ago today one of our greatest Presidents -- Ronald Reagan -- was born. It's also Waitangi Day in New Zealand. But that's neither here nor there. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Commemorative, liberty, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Listen to Face The State Weekend Edition: Political Survey Results

Update, 1/25: If you missed me on the air this weekend, you can listen to a recording of the discussion on the Face The State website. In most places across Colorado, you can tune in and listen this Saturday or Sunday to the Face The State Weekend Edition -- locally, here in Denver on AM 710 KNUS on Saturday at 5 AM or Sunday at noon. During part of the show I will be discussing with host Brad Jones the latest results from the survey of Colorado's political temperature -- an independent project co-sponsored by People's Press Collective managing editor Michael Sandoval and yours truly. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Watching State of the Union? Engage Republicans on Your Mobile Phone

Are you a political junkie who is planning to tune in to tonight's State of the Union address (9 PM Eastern / 7 PM local)? Why not have more fun by making it interactive? This sounds like a potentially interesting opportunity:For those on or off the same political page, they are invited to participate in the NRCC's live chat via SMS during President Obama’s State of the Union address. To participate, consumers can text either keyword, SOTU or STATE, to the short code 777218. After opting-in, consumers receive a text message that reads: "Thank you for participating in NRCC's State of the Union Text Chat. Look here on Wednesday 1/27 for the link to participate." Several hours before the State of the Union address, consumers will … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Jan. 2010 Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature: Highlights on PPC

The 2010 survey of Colorado's political temperature is in the books. A formal rollout of the top-line results is coming on Monday. But you can get a first glance throughout the evening as El Presidente highlights the raw results on People's Press Collective. Thanks to everyone who participated. With 714 participants, this is the most popular edition yet. Come back and make your voice heard again in February ... Onward and upward for 2010! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Too Much “Transparancy” in Secretary of State’s New Campaign Finance Site?

Update, 9:00 PM: They fixed it. That's responsive, same-day government service for you! First of all, I have to commend to you the Secretary of State's work in creating the new TRACER campaign finance website, which is a more user-friendly, valuable tool than its predecessor. On the lighter side, while it's imperative for candidates and committees filling out important disclosures to cross their t's and dot their i's, someone should have checked on TRACER's main page to ensure the same level of accuracy: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Co-hosting Backbone Radio Sunday: Bloggers Take Over KNUS Airwaves

This Sunday evening from 5 PM to 8 PM I will be guest co-hosting Backbone Radio on AM 710 KNUS with fellow bloggers Joshua Sharf and the Peoples Press Collective's Tom James (not only local bloggers, but Leadership Program of the Rockies Class of 2006 takes over). With very few guests, it should be a good three hours of enlightening discussion and entertaining political banter. Go here to listen live. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, liberty, My Life, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado GOP Leaders Show Serious Face Entering Legislative Session

Yesterday evening the Colorado Republican legislative staff hosted a blogger round (or square as the case may be) table discussion on some of the looming issues on the eve of the legislative session. Topics of discussion ranged from public employee pensions to medical marijuana to government transparency. Rather than provide a recap, I'll point you to the thoughts of liberal blogger David Thielen -- whom I finally met in person and sat next to during the discussion. Though he was outnumbered about 15 to 1, Thielen held his own and was treated well. His Colorado Pols essay reviewing the event was honest, fair-minded and lighthearted -- which: … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 7 Comments

Dan Maes Tops Scott McInnis: January Colorado Political Survey Results

Introducing the detailed release of results from our January edition of the Survey of Colorado's Political Temperature (click "Fullscreen" for best view): January 2010 Colorado's Political Temperature Survey Results Thanks again to everyone who participated. And congratulations to our candidate winners this time around: Dan Maes, Ken Buck, Cory Gardner, Ryan Frazier and J.J. Ament. Our plan is to work on some limited cross-tab analysis of these results. If you have any interest in any particular cross-tab (e.g., how did people vote in a particular race by age group?), please email me or leave the suggestions in the comment box by Tuesday night. … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

2010: Time to Take the New Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature

This post will stick to the top until January 15. Please scroll down for newer postings. Okay, you political junkies out there: Come on, admit it. You've missed the Survey of Colorado's Political Temperature since we announced the last results in November. Well, the survey is back and better than ever -- with fewer, better-organized issue statements, as well as the opportunity to predict head-to-head general election matchups in all the different Colorado races. You only have until next Friday, January 15, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time to get it done. You know you can't resist. What are you waiting for? Click here to take the January survey The best news of all is that with the 2010 election year upon us, the Survey of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Liberal Blogger’s Memo to Colorado Tea-Partiers: More Than a Grain of Salt?

Because of his integrity, decency and candor, David Thielen is my favorite liberal blogger in Colorado. We can disagree from here to Sunday, but he is honest and reasonably fair, and calls 'em like he sees 'em. Yesterday he posted a memo to the "Colorado Tea-Partiers" (the fact alone that he self-consciously avoids using the obscene derogatory term used by many others on the Left speaks highly of him) about the different Republican candidates in the two major races: U.S. Senate and Governor. Please check out the memo and offer your honest reactions. I would dispute a few of Thielen's characterizations, but he does have quite a few honest insights to offer. My Tea Party friends may want to head over there and sound off in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC

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Inside

  • About Ben
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  • Colorado Ballot Reviews
    • Colorado Ballot 2008
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    • Colorado Ballot 2014
  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • Patient Power
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  • 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
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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

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