Mount Virtus

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

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Home Archives for My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

On TV with the AG

As explained here, I will be guest alongside Colorado Attorney General John Suthers on tomorrow evening's edition of Independent Thinking: I2I Education Policy Analyst Ben DeGrow and AG Suthers will join I2I president Jon Caldara to Discuss Supreme Court Victory on Friday's episode of Independent Thinking. The show will disect the legal victory for the free speech rights of workers. The episode airs on KBDI Channel 12 in Denver (Channel 32 in Colorado Springs) TOMORROW (Friday) at 8:30 PM, and on Sunday, July 8, at 11:30 AM. Just remember: it's an episode labor union leaders don't want you to see. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, My Life, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

More Horn Tooting

El Presidente is tooting his own horn, having climbed to the top of the most recent rankings of influential Colorado political blogs. The other horn noise you hear comes from a tailgating Mount Virtus, close on his bumper at #2. El Presidente won't be able to ease off the accelerator too much with such friendly competition. More interestingly, seven of the top 10 on the influence meter are right-leaning blog sites. I'm not sure if this fact says more about the nature or the quality of the political debate or more about the secret methodology used to create the rankings. Regardless, you as a reader are part of the success. Thanks for your continuing visits. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Mount Virtus On National (Internet) Airwaves

Readers who want to hear me share developments in Colorado labor policy and politics with a national audience, please tune in to Rightalk.com on Wednesday, May 16, 2:45-3:00 PM Eastern (12:45-1:00 PM Local). House Bill 1072, the Labor Peace Act, the coming Democratic Convention, Ritter's executive order and other favors to union leaders are all fair game. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben 5 Comments

My Brother the Hero

My big brother the police officer has been recognized for his heroism above and beyond the call of duty (please read the whole article): A Jefferson County police officer is being hailed as a hero for going beyond the call of duty and saving the life of a woman trapped inside a sinking car. Brad Degrow become a police officer for the excitement, but never expected a March call that brought an experience he never imagined. "One of the things that drew me to this job," Degrow said, "you never know what's going to happen today or tomorrow." My brother is mostly embarrassed at all the attention, which is why it's my job to shine a little more light on his heroic deed. The Colorado branch of the DeGrow clan are all proud of you, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

I’m #4!

BlogNetNews has launched its rankings of the most influential Colorado political blogs, and Mount Virtus has been ranked number four. Heh. I'll keep aiming higher. Most intriguing to me is that 3 of the top 5 and 5 of the top 10 are right-leaning blogs. It's trade secrets, of course, but I'm curious what the BlogNetNews methodology is. All that being said, I will continue to wield my (great? hmm...) influence wisely and carefully. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Opening Day

And now a brief diversion from politics & public policy: Simply put, today is the best day on the American sports calendar. A lot of fans today are donning orange and blue to root the Florida Gators to success in an unprecedented feat: simultaneously winning back-to-back NCAA basketball titles while defeating the same school they beat to win the NCAA football title earlier in the year. Whoa! Yes, this game will be fun to watch for sure, and here's hoping that Ohio State can make it a close contest. But around this house today, sports fans don their blue and orange to celebrate Major League Baseball's Opening Day. My beloved Detroit Tigers begin their American League pennant defense at home against the Toronto Blue Jays, with emerging … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

On the Air

If you're bored, I'm on the air this hour (5 PM - 6 PM MDT) on KVOR in Colorado Springs to discuss the Merrifield-Windels email and more about education. … [Read more...]

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

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

GOP Legislators Unveil New Site

The Colorado Senate Republicans have launched an official online news service. Check out Colorado Senate News. Leading the news there, not surprisingly, is the breakdown on the Democrats' efforts to ram through the pro-union bill HB 1072. Speaking of HB 1072, my latest op-ed on the topic ran yesterday in the Pueblo Chieftain as a counterpoint opposite labor professor Raymond Hogler. My piece comprises the latter half of the Web page, so please scroll down if you would like to read it. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Special Game for My Tigers

Not often do I write about my Detroit Tigers' ongoing special season, one that has far more than revived the franchise from a decade-plus of the doldrums. But last night's 10-4 victory over Tampa Bay hit so many milestones that it's impossible to ignore: Shortstop Carlos Guillen became the 10th Tiger in franchise history to hit for the cycle Rookie phenom Justin Verlander became the first Major League pitcher to reach 14 wins in 2006 In his first game in a Tigers uniform, new first baseman Sean Casey belted a home run and drove in two runs Temporary call-up outfielder Brent Clevlen hit his first two career home runs, pushing his two-game batting average to .625 With 56 games remaining in the season, Detroit tied last season's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Little Virtus: Cutest “Weepublican” Ever

Jim has already posted about the Sunday RMA picnic here and posted a couple pictures here. Richie D also posted on the event here. It was a good time had by all, but in my humble and honest opinion, this is the best picture of all from Sunday's picnic. Let two things be known here and now: 1) That her fair appearance is overwhelmingly a product of her mother's genes; and 2) That being a daddy is the best job I've ever had. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life

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Inside

  • About Ben
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • Dennis Prager
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  • Mark Steyn
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  • Rush Limbaugh

Colorado Blogs

  • American Kestrel
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  • Coyote Gulch
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  • Rocky Mountain Alliance 1.0 (Archive)
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  • Rossputin
  • Stop the ACLU Blog
  • The Spot (Denver Post)
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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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