Mount Virtus

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

Ben on Social Media

Home Archives for My Life

By 1 Comment

Radio Show Review

Thanks for those who tuned in to News Talk 1310 KFKA this morning to hear my inaugural guest host appearance on the Amy Oliver Show. For those who want more information on the guests and some of the topics discussed: Alan Gottlieb of the Public Education and Business Coalition edits the HeadFirst Colorado blog, which covers a range of education reform issues. Today we talked about the latest on the Bruce Randolph autonomy proposal, including union officials' latest delaying tactic, which Alan also posted on today. There's also a great story from yesterday on the topic at Face the State. I posted on the news of the rapidly growing estimates of revenue from the Governor's property tax hike at the Colorado Taxpayers blog. Other stories … [Read more...]

By 4 Comments

26 Days ‘Til Caucus

Update, 2:41 PM: Information on Douglas County Republican caucuses is included in the comment section. Thanks, Steve! ... Denver County, too, compliments of el presidente. The Denver Post has a full-length story this morning on the building interest & excitement surrounding Colorado's caucus process this year. As the story notes, it overwhelmingly has to do with a highly competitive primary in a presidential election year:Republican Mort Marks, 83, plans to hold a caucus at his house. He said he has received calls from a lot of people he hasn't heard from before, and he has noticed larger turnout at recent Republican events. "There is a hell of a lot more interest than I've seen in many, many years," said Marks, who hasn't decided … [Read more...]

By 5 Comments

Mitt for President

Sadly - but arriving with an increasing sense of inevitability - Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race to be our next President. A classy departure worthy of an honorable man who ran an honorable, if less than inspirational, campaign. Most telling is his lack of endorsement: a non-endorsement that has to hurt John McCain. Yes, my predictions for South Carolina clearly were wrong, altogether too much made from the heart rather than the head. I'm not ashamed of holding out hope for Fred while hope was still there. Nor should my blogger friend Steven be ashamed of holding out hope for his man Huck (though we disagree on his candidacy). I share the sentiments of Dr. Rusty Shackelford at The Jawa Report (H/T Hugh Hewitt):Dear fellow … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Rox Win NL Pennant!!!

The Colorado Rockies secured the National League pennant tonight ... when did you ever think you'd hear these words? And after winning 21 of 22 games? Uncharted territory in Major League Baseball. W... O... W! Matt Holliday is chosen Series MVP, but it could just as well have been one of many others wearing the purple uniform. And how could you be anything but genuinely happy for Todd Helton? Simply un-be-lie-va-ble. I'm in baseball heaven now. October 14, 2006: My Detroit Tigers won 7 straight to claim the American League pennant, the franchise's first in 22 years. October 15, 2007: My Colorado Rockies won 7 straight to claim the National League pennant, the franchise's first in its 15-season history. Like last year's Tigers, … [Read more...]

By 1 Comment

Let’s Get Real: Rox Face Uphill, But Achievable, Climb

Ouch. That hurt. Last night's 2-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the World Series was painful, but not fatal. (Regrettably, I missed most of the game, fulfilling a commitment at a Republican event that featured keynote speaker Bob Schaffer.) Nevertheless, I'm here to tell Rockies fans not to panic. The naivete many had coming into the Series is gone, but the most loyal fans know it's a one-game-at-a-time approach now. Let's be realistic: even getting the series back to Boston is an uphill goal at this point, but here's hoping that Baseball with Altitude is a lot friendlier to the home team than to the visitors. And how about a little bulletin board material (albeit from cynical sportswriters) to get the Rox fired up? See you … [Read more...]

By 2 Comments

Discovering My Inner FredHead

Having taken this interesting and intuitive quiz, I have discovered that it is indeed Fred Thompson with whom I align most closely on the major issues of the day: My runners up were Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Tom Tancredo, and Ron Paul. Interestingly, the quiz results said I disagreed with both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani on abortion. Quite a feat, I suppose. I'd be interested to see what the results are for some of my other friends - both blogging and non-blogging. … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

On a Transparency Kick

In case you care to read them, below are my two latest published pieces for your perusal, and they strike a common theme: transparency in government. On Nov. 24, the Rocky Mountain News published (printed in the Sunday Denver Post, of all places) my Speakout submission in response to Gov. Ritter's unionization executive order. This Sunday, the Pueblo Chieftain published my op-ed calling for greater online transparency of school district budgets. Want to figure out as a taxpayer just how much your local schools are spending on different items? Think it's easy? Hence, the purpose of the op-ed. So yes, I've been writing on a transparency in government kick lately. It's an important issue more people on both sides of the aisle might … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Fleeting Influence

The new rankings are out, and I'm shocked to say that somehow Mount Virtus has climbed the rankings to #1 in Blog Net News most influential Colorado political blogs. Frankly, I'm humbled. Of course, fame and influence are both fleeting. So I don't expect it to last. But I'll savor it for one week, at least. Also encouraging, my friend Michael at Best Destiny creeped up the ladder a bit to #9. … [Read more...]