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 General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Now That’s a Debate Dinesh D’Souza & Christopher Hitchens Couldn’t Win

The headline of the day comes from the Boulder Daily Camera (H/T Complete Colorado):Conservative D'Souza, atheist Hitchens to debate God at CU Go back and read that again, out loud if you must... Dinesh D'Souza and Christopher Hitchens - two very bright, educated, opinionated men - are going to debate against the Almighty? Of course, this won't be a fair fight by any remote stretch of human imagination. For example, try responding to this opening statement:Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: atheism, Bible, Boulder, Catholic, Christopher Hitchens, Complete Colorado, conservative, Daily Camera, Dinesh D'Souza, editors, educated, fair fight, God, headline, human imagination, Job, Macky Auditorium, opinionated, religion, remote stretch

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Congrats to D’Evelyn JH/HS

Via the Rocky Mountain News, Jefferson County's own D'Evelyn Junior High-High School received another well-earned recognition yesterday as Business Week and GreatSchools.Net teamed up to name D'Evelyn the top-performing school in Colorado:D'Evelyn is a Jeffco public school started by a group of parents in 1994. It accepts students from across the district starting in grade seven and runs through grade 12. It emphasizes structured academics and strict discipline. The school's test scores are among the best in Colorado, and the remediation rates of its graduates attending state colleges and universities are among the lowest. D'Evelyn - named for the late Independence Institute co-founder David D'Evelyn - is a school with which I have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, My Life Tagged With: Business Week, colleges, Colorado, competition, complete list, connections, D'Evelyn, David D'Evelyn, Great Schools, Independence Institute, Jefferson County, model, option school, parents, remediation rates, Rocky Mountain News, school board, strict discipline, structured academics, success, test scores, top-performing school, universities, well-earned recognition

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Quote of the Day: Greg Brophy on Gov. Bill Ritter’s New Energy Economy

State senator Greg Brophy - "the Senate GOP's self-described 'eco-freak'" - on the trumped-up claims of Governor Bill Ritter's New Energy Economy:Said Brophy, "I guess if you can't use tax dollars to effectively promote green energy, you always can use them to promote the promotion of it." Well-said. I guess we've found one area where Ritter can begin to trim $632 million from the budget. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Bill Ritter, budget, Colorado Senate News, eco-freak, green energy, Greg Brophy, New Energy Economy, promote, state senator, tax dollars, trim, trumped-up claims

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Observing MLK Day

From the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech:Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commemorative, General, History Tagged With: birthday, federal government holiday, I have a dream, Martin Luther King, speech

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

A Day of Transition

Today is Barack Obama's day. I see it as a break from taking critical stock of his policies and recognizing both the peaceful transition of power that still is a tremendous blessing to our Republic and the historic nature of installing a non-white person into the nation's highest office. This two-fold recognition is a fulfillment of the great and remarkable promise of the Declaration of Independence that gave birth to our nation. Yet the surviving spirit of the Declaration and the importance of Liberty embodied and codified in our Constitution depends more on the character and vigilance of the American people than on the cultish popularity of its leaders. And what of other Right-leaning Colorado bloggers? What do they say? Here's a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: American people, Barack Obama, Best Destiny, blessing, bloggers, character, Colorado, Constitution, Constructively Reasonable, critical stock, cultish popularity, Declaration of Independence, embodied, historic nature, Inauguration Day, leaders, non-white person, peaceful transition, policies, remarkable promise, Republic, Rossputin, surviving spirit, vigilance

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

No District Office for Rep. Betsy Markey: Different Kind of “Hope” and “Change”

Face The State reports:Seventy-seven days after being elected to serve Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, a Democrat, still has not set up an in-state office to serve her constituents. Staff in Markey’s Washington, D.C. office confirmed she does not have a district office set up and said there is no concrete timeline for when that will get done, but it will be “soon.” Hey, don't hurry up with that or anything. No pressure. Hmmm, the only question left unanswered is "why is it taking so long". As the story points out, Mike Coffman - another newly elected member of Colorado's House delegation - has had an office set up for weeks now. So who knows? Maybe Betsy Markey is ready to put down roots … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: 2010, 4th Congressional District, anticipation, Betsy Markey, change, Colorado, Congressional office, constituents, delegation, Democrat, district residents, experiment, Face the State, hope, House of Representatives, in-state office, Mike Coffman, newly elected, no pressure, question, roots, soon, timeline, two years, unanswered, Washington DC, why not

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

The Democrat “Stimulus” Bill: “Serious times call for silly, self-serving solutions”

Here's my new slogan for the day: "Serious times call for silly, self-serving solutions." At least as it applies to Democrats and their approach to addressing the current economic downturn . The Wall Street Journal sorts it out very nicely in today's editorial "The Stimulus Time Machine":The stimulus bill currently steaming through Congress looks like a legislative freight train, but given last week's analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, it is more accurate to think of it as a time machine. That may be the only way to explain how spending on public works in 2011 and beyond will help the economy today. According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, a mere $26 billion of the House stimulus bill's $355 billion in new spending … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Add new tag, bad idea, bailout money, Barack Obama, Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Democrats, Denver, discredited, economic downturn, economic history, economic plan, economic theories, economy, editorial, embarrassing, exhibit, fiscal year, Hall of Historical Ignorance, ignorance, John Boehner, justification, lessons, marginal tax rates, Michael Bennet, museum, national well-being, New York City, past, political power, pork bill, public works, Republicans, Rossputin, slogan, stimulus, taxpayer money, time machine, U.S. Senator, unelected, votes, Wall Street Journal

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Putting State Government’s Checkbook Online Should Take Months, Not Years

I quickly hoorayed last week when Governor Bill Ritter announced his full backing for putting the state's checkbook online. But a follow-up report from Face The State seemed to suggest the process could take a long time:“Putting the budget online will be different because there is too much to put it all,” [state representative Don] Marostica said, adding that legislative staff is working on ways to publish a “simplified” version. While Kennedy was hesitant to commit to a timeline, Marostica said the process could take three years. But - as explained in this iVoices podcast with Sandra Fabry of Americans for Tax Reform - the fact is the federal government has already pioneered this work, along with several other states, and all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Americans for Tax Reform, Bill Ritter, Cary Kennedy, cause, Colorado, credit, Don Marostica, excuses, Face the State, federal government, fiscal transparency, four months, hoorayed, iVoices podcast, legislative staff, months, online transparency, open government, pioneered, politicians, Sandra Fabry, searchable budget database, state checkbook, state of Colorado, states, years

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

On Second Thought, I Guess the State Capitol Isn’t as Dangerous as All That

So I've heard the State Capitol has become a rough place these days (yes, Denver truly is the Wild West!), but I had no idea it had come to this, as disclosed in the Headline of the Week: "Brophy bill to protect homeowners killed in committee". My first thought was, How many homeowners have been killed in committee meetings lately? I especially have reason to be concerned, seeing as how I plan to be under the golden dome tomorrow to speak on a new media/blogger luncheon panel to the Senate GOP Caucus. I will be joined by the famous Vodkapundit (aka Stephen Green), Zombyboy, Rossputin (aka Ross Kaminsky), Charles Martin, and Face The State editor Brad Jones. Frankly, I'm humbled to be with this group of accomplished bloggers / new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Climate Hysteria, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, My Life, PPC, property rights, Second Amendment Tagged With: bill, Bill Ritter, blogger, Brad Jones, busy, canine sex, carding, cats, Charles Martin, committee, concerned, Democrats, Denver, digress, Face the State, golden dome, good idea, Governor, Greg Brophy, gurus, headline, homeowners, intruders, kibosh, legislative attempt, meetings, New Energy Economy, new media, no idea, Peoples Press Collective, politically correct, predictable, property, quote of the day, represent, Resurrection Song, Rocky Mountain Alliance, Ross Kaminsky, Rossputin, rough place, sad, Senate GOP, State Capitol, state senator, statehouse, Stephen Green, Taxasaurus, Vodkapundit, Wild West, Zombyboy

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Affirmative Action for Men Losing Jobs?

Snark of the day: Where's affirmative action for men who are losing jobs at a much faster rate than women? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: affirmative action, jobs, men, snark, women

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • …
  • 228
  • 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