Mount Virtus

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

Ben on Social Media

Home Archives for My Life

By Leave a Comment

Your Family (and Mine) Can’t Afford Barack Obama’s Policies

Hold on to your shirt (and your wallet), as you read new Heritage Foundation research by Brian Riedl:The Office of Management and Budget has released its annual mid-session review that updates the budget projections from this past May.[1] They show that this year, Washington will spend $30,958 per household, tax $17,576 per household, and borrow $13,392 per household. The federal government will increase spending 22 percent this year to a peacetime-record 26 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This spending is not just temporary: President Obama would permanently keep annual spending between $5,000 and $8,000 per household higher than it had been under President George W. Bush.[2] Driven by this spending, America will run its … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Replaying Discussion of Colorado Political Developments: Jeff Crank Show

For my handful of fans out there, yesterday morning I was honored to appear as a guest on the Jeff Crank Show to discuss developments in Colorado's governor's race and the U.S. Senate race. The podcast of the August 29 episode is available compliments of AM 740 KVOR in Colorado Springs. I join the show at the 12-minute mark. Thanks to Jeff and Laura for setting up the appearance -- I truly enjoyed myself! You can tune in to the Jeff Crank Show for entertaining conservative political commentary every Saturday at 8 AM local time. … [Read more...]

By 1 Comment

“Reverse-Coronations” No Better; Who, if Anyone, Wins Grassroots Momentum?

On Friday Ken Buck was ready to bow out of Colorado's U.S. Senate race. By Sunday he had received a new boost from more than 200 emails and calls from "activists in Colorado" urging him to stay in -- a figure he shared with me in a short phone interview he was gracious enough to give this afternoon. "Everyone who called has been positive and supportive and encouraging," Buck said. When asked if he was surprised by the outpouring, his single-word answer was "overwhelmed." Not much else came out of the conversation except that Buck's campaign is looking beyond the October reports. "I have a longer term goal than quarter-to-quarter fundraising," he said. Colorado Independent blogger John Tomasic gives me too much credit for helping to … [Read more...]

By 3 Comments

Announcing Straw Poll Evasion Another Strange Scott McInnis Campaign Turn

What's the deal with Colorado Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis skipping out on this month's state party candidate forum and straw poll? And then making a big deal out of it? Apparently, the strange interviews weren't enough. The candidate touting broader polls he commissioned showing his own name recognition advantage won't stand next to Josh Penry (whom I support) and Dan Maes (whom I respect) to gauge the support of the party faithful. Who does he hope is going to elect him? In search of satisfactory answers, read Westword's account of an interview with McInnis campaign spokesman Sean Duffy. If the trajectory of this race continues to any extent in the direction it's going, it's not a long matter of time before Josh … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Dr. Obama’s Health Reform and the “Public Option” Cheese Shop

Last night as I put the elder Virtus child to bed, we looked at her stack of four Berenstain Bear books. In a rare display of 3-year-old magnanimity, she told me, "Daddy, you pick the story." So I picked up the copy of Old Hat, New Hat and delightfully suggested, "Let's read this one." A bare second passed before little pale fingers reached instead for Bears in the Night, as she insisted, "No, let's read this one." And so, naturally, we discarded all talk of headwear and instead followed the little bears through the dark up Spook Hill to the hooting owl and back. Before we began the story, however, the thought struck me: The scenario was an apt metaphor for the Obama Care "public option" ... "Why yes, Mr. DeGrow, you can choose from … [Read more...]

By 1 Comment

Trips to Whole Foods Now Take On a Whole New Wonderful Meaning

So I hear that some wacko Lefties are trying to boycott Whole Foods because the company's CEO wrote a widely read opinion-editorial for the Wall Street Journal explaining why Obama Care is bad medicine and offering a proven, constructive alternative. I'm proud to say that the lovely Mrs. Virtus today went shopping at Whole Foods. It wasn't the first time, and certainly not the last. We're not overboard on the natural foods thing, but with some pretty serious food allergy issues in our household, the availability of some alternatives they offer is quite convenient. Being very cost-conscious consumers, we tend to purchase different types of groceries and necessities at different stores. So it's not like we give Whole Foods a tremendous … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

School Reform News September Highlights: Choice in Indiana, Tennessee, and Colorado

Most readers probably don't know that I am a contributing editor and regular writer for the Heartland Institute's monthly publication School Reform News. But the September issue just came out, in which I wrote two stories and was quoted in another. Without further ado here they are: For all my Hoosier friends, "Indiana Joins Growing List of School Choice States" Doesn't sound like a Volunteer thing to do, but "Tennessee Lifts Charter School Cap After U.S. Threat" From our own backyard, "Private Choice Program in Colorado Beats State Graduation Rate" Happy school reform reading! For the 3 or 4 of you who actually care, I may start this as a regular feature. … [Read more...]

By 3 Comments

Josh Penry for Governor

Earlier this week I was privileged to sit down in a one-on-one meeting with state senate minority leader and Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Penry. I have to admit it's a bit surreal to be in close contact with someone running for governor who is in my age bracket -- Josh is less than a year older than I am. But the political times, they are a-changin' ... and many signs suggest the pro-liberty youth movement promises to better serve the GOP and its fiscally conservative wing in 2010. At our 40-minute enclave Penry and I discussed policy issues, most specifically education, while he afforded me the opportunity to assess his strengths and weaknesses, and offer my 2.5 cents (inflation) worth of advice. As I told Josh directly, I … [Read more...]