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 My Life

2/5/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

On TV at 8:30 PM Tonight to Discuss Public School Financial Transparency

Tonight (Friday) at 8:30 PM on Denver's KBDI Channel 12, you can watch me make a guest appearance on Independent Thinking with host Jon Caldara. The topic? Jefferson County Public Schools' new, front-of-the-pack financial transparency website. For more -- including my podcast interview with fellow guest, Jeffco CFO Lorie Gillis, and my new paper on the topic of school financial transparency -- please visit Ed Is Watching. The lonely Friday crowd can make your popcorn in plenty of time for tonight's 8:30 showing. For everyone else, get your TiVos/recorders ready or watch the episode re-air on Monday, 1:30 PM, on KBDI. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Fiscal Policy, liberty, My Life, PPC

2/4/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

February Survey: Time to Help Us Take Colorado’s Political Temperature

This post will stick to the top until February 12. Please scroll down for newer postings. Time flies, so here comes another edition of the Survey of Colorado’s Political Temperature. The deadline is next Friday, February 12, at 5:00 PM local Mountain time. What are you waiting for? Click here to take the February survey The February edition has even fewer issue statements, but introduces some interesting new items: Polling questions and head-to-head matchup on the 3rd Congressional race to challenge Rep. John Salazar Questions about your plans to participate in the upcoming caucus and assembly process Detailed question about your sources of local political news and information Throughout the 2010 election year, the Survey … [Read more...]

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

1/29/2010 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

1/29/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

Friday Quick Hits: Obama Dissed, Arrogant Dems, Howard Zinn Eulogized

I hope you enjoy one or more of the following: David Freddoso at the Washington Examiner points out that Senate Democrats very quickly have killed President Obama's very modest "spending freeze" proposal before it barely had a chance to get going. Speaking of Obama, my PPC friends are licking their chops at the prospect of The One coming to Denver to stump for our appointed junior U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Speaking of arrogance, guest writer Don Rodgers at Reclaim the Blue calls out Democrats in our state legislature for their hubris, after shoving through four of the Dirty Dozen tax bills on Wednesday (and are scheduled to hear the rest starting this morning) as a prelude to their dying political majority. Speaking of death, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, History, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

1/28/2010 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

1/27/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

Government Workers Now the Majority Among U.S. Union Members

A startling statistical development emerged last Friday, that you may have missed if you weren't paying attention too closely. New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that for the first time in U.S. history there are more union members working in government than working in the private sector. I sat down yesterday for a 9-minute iVoices podcast conversation with Brian Johnson, executive director of the Alliance for Worker Freedom, to explore the effects of the changing labor movement on the fight for liberty and limited government. Follow the link here or click on the play button below to listen: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

1/25/2010 By Ben 4 Comments

Palin Crushes Huckabee in Righty Blogger Poll: Whom Did I Vote For?

Update, 1/26: The correct answer is Mitch Daniels. Sadly, no one guessed the correct answer by 6:00 PM. "Why did I pick Daniels?" you might ask. At this point in the game, all I can say is: "Why not?" John Hawkins at Right Wing News earlier today released the results of his conservative blogger survey "on which candidate they'd support if the 2012 Republican primaries were today." Yours truly was one of 69 to cast a vote. Sarah Palin won a 29 percent plurality in a crowded field of 12 candidates, while Mike Huckabee edged out Ron Paul for last place and 0 votes. The latter finding is especially interesting in light of the first poll to show a Republican candidate beating Barack Obama in a hypothetical 2012 general election matchup: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC

1/25/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Legislators Advance Modest School Spending Transparency Bill

Last Thursday afternoon I testified before the House Education Committee at the State Capitol on House Bill 1036 and what effective public school financial transparency should look like. The best coverage came from the Colorado News Agency:HB 1036, called the Public School Financial Transparency Act, contains many of the same provisions as last year’s all-GOP effort by Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Colorado Springs, and Sen. Ted Harvey, R- Highlands Ranch. That bill died on a party-line vote in the same committee. Stephens, who also is a co-sponsor on the new bill, and Harvey have reintroduced their bill again this year as Senate Bill 91, which they say would provide an easier way for people to search for and use data in a more meaningful way while … [Read more...]

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

1/22/2010 By Ben Leave a Comment

37 Years of Roe v Wade: Time for Hope, Renewal to Continue Fight for Life

One day after a refreshing U.S. Supreme Court victory for free speech, today we mark the 37th anniversary of Roe v Wade -- a somber occasion for our nation. I recommend to you a well-written "In Memoriam" by Red State's Erick Erickson. A couple key passages:The truth that these children are biologically human and biologically distinct from their mothers is beyond question to anyone who believes in the most basic tenets of science. Why, then, are they declared so totally bereft of rights in our society? The fact that a woman can, with the protection of the law, kill her child on the day of its planned full-term delivery, indicates clearly that the only answer to this question is “physical location within their mother’s womb.” If a child is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, clean government, Commemorative, Cultural Conservatism, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics

1/22/2010 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

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • …
  • 55
  • 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 © 2025 RSS Feed · WordPress · Log in