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
Red Mountain View

Mount Virtus?

Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

Colorado Capitol

Colorado Ballot Reviews

Sometimes the choices are daunting or confusing, sometimes they're as clear as a Mile High view.

Writer / Editor For Hire

If I had five more writers just like him, I think my job would be the easiest in journalism....

2/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Beware Stimulus Spam from Nancy Pelosi and Congress in Your Email Inbox

You think the Nigerian email scammers are bad? Be wary if something like this shows up in your inbox. Well-timed and well-done comic relief from Big Hollywood's Ernie Mannix. Check it out. On a serious note, it isn't too late to make your voice heard about the bloated waste and economic poison most commonly known as the federal stimulus bill. If you're ambitious, you can follow Rossputin's lead and pen a letter. The least you can do is sign Americans for Prosperity's No Stimulus petition. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: ambitious, Americans for Prosperity, bad, Big Hollywood, bloated waste, economic poison, email scammers, Ernie Mannix, federal stimulus bill, inbox, letter, Nigerian, No Stimulus, pen, petition, Rossputin, serious note, sign, voice

2/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dick Wadhams Talks Up Ryan Frazier and Mark Hillman for U.S. Senate Race

Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams recently sat down with the Colorado Statesman for an extended interview. There isn't much in the way of new information, but there is one passage worthy of comment. Namely, it's interesting to see whom Wadhams is talking up for the U.S. Senate race to challenge the newly-selected Michael Bennet: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: Bob Beauprez, candidate, chairman, Colorado Statesman, Dan Caplis, Dick Wadhams, different information, elected official, excellent choice, Governor, humble opinion, interview, Josh Penry, leader, legislature, Mark Hillman, Michael Bennet, Republican Party, Rocky Mountain Right, Ryan Frazier, selected, senator, statewide candidate, straw poll, third, U.S. Senate, young

2/7/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Tom Lucero Touts a Few Big Name Supporters in Contested 4th CD Race

Update: I forgot to mention Fort Collins city councilman Diggs Brown as another candidate being touted to run as a Republican in the 4th CD. Thanks to Night Twister for the reminder. Will Republicans have an interesting primary in Colorado's 4th Congressional District? Who knows, but it won't be for lack of trying. Names like Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and State Representative Cory Gardner (Yuma) have been floated as leading contenders to take on newly-elected Betsy Markey. But CU Regent Tom Lucero yesterday released the names of his policy advisors and finance team. The list of campaign advisors and fundraisers features some notable and influential names, including business leader Steve Schuck as well as leading radio … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: 4th Congressional District, aggressively, approach, Betsy Markey, business leader, campaign, clean, Colorado, contenders, conventional wisdom, Cory Gardner, CU Regent, District Attorney, fundraisers, Hugh Hewitt, influential, Ken Buck, Mike Rosen, names, newly elected, notable, policy advisors, primary, race, radio business, radio talk show, rates, Republicans, state representative, stay tuned, Steve Schuck, Tom Lucero, underdog, Weld County

2/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Legislation to Shine Light on Colorado School Spending Still Alive and Kicking

Good news heading into the weekend: School district financial transparency is still alive at the Colorado State Capitol. Also, the Denver Post's Jessica Fender highlighted my recent Independence Institute report (PDF) in an article on the topic today. The fight led by citizens and state senator Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, for Senate Bill 57 (PDF) and shining the light on school spending resumes Monday. From the Greeley Tribune:“I anticipate it will be a very close vote — one vote either way — to take it back to mandatory,” said Harvey, before continuing later, “I am encouraged by the conversations I’ve been having with the senators.” Keep your chin up, and don't forget to remind your taxpayer-supported … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, General, My Life, PPC Tagged With: alive, article, citizens, Colorado, conversations, Denver Post, financial transparency, government officials, Greeley Tribune, Highlands Ranch, Independence Institute, Jessica Fender, light, Monday, report, school district, school spending, Senate Bill 57, senators, shining, State Capitol, taxpayers, Ted Harvey

2/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Unions Lobby State Democrats to Slow Down School Building Inspections

Who's in charge at the Colorado State Capitol these days? Big Labor:A bill whose only aim was to make it easier for local school districts to get their new buildings inspected was blindsided today on the Senate floor by union-led opposition, with all but two of the chamber's Democrats voting to kill the measure. Three of the Democrats who voted with the majority against Senate Bill 64 [PDF]--Sens. Bob Bacon, of Fort Collins, Rollie Heath, of Boulder, and Evie Hudak, of Arvada--had voted in favor of it in the Senate Education Committee only two weeks earlier. What changed their minds? The bill's sponsor, the GOP's Sen. Keith King, of Colorado Springs, says it was the fact that the Journeyman Plumbers and Gas Fitters Union began lobbying … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor, PPC Tagged With: Arvada, Big Labor, bill, Bob Bacon, Boulder, buildings, California, chamber, clean-up bill, clout, Colorado, Colorado Senate News, Colorado Springs, committee, cool, Democrats, efficient, Evie Hudak, exchange, flabbergasted, flip-flops, Fort Collins, General Assembly, hearing, inspections, Journeyman Plumbers, Keith King, lobbying, Michigan, New Jersey, opposition, Republican, reserved, Rollie Heath, school districts, school inspections, Senate, Senate Bill 64, Senate Education Committee, sponsor, State Capitol, union, union interests, voting, wow

2/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Arming with Knowledge in Debate for Economic Liberty & America’s Future

A must-read end-of-the-week Linkfest, in the midst of a critical national debate: American Thinker's Randall Hoven strikes again, this time with a less controversial and heavily fact-laden piece - reviewing some of the abundant evidence that economic freedom promotes economic growth and the failed history of massive government so-called "stimulus" projects. It's a worthy read. (If the article above triggers your curiosity and interest, and you live in Colorado, then I also strongly recommend you take a look at signing up for the Free People, Free Markets class.) Along the same lines, the Wall Street Journal has been a great place to stay informed. Earlier this week the Journal featured a terrific, hard-hitting piece by economists … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: American Contrarian, American Thinker, bill, brings attention, Bruce McQuain, Colorado, columnist, Congress, critical, Dan Henninger, debt, Dick Armey, economic growth, economic liberty, economists, excellent, failed history, Free People Free Markets class, Freedom Works, government, Great Depression, Harold Cole, Kevin Williamson, Keynesian, laugh, Lee Ohanian, Linkfest, lost brand, must-read, national debate, National Review, outrageous, pork, pork-laden, Randall Hoven, Reason TV, reminder, Republicans, Rossputin, socialism, Stephen Spruiell, stimulis ad, stimulus, Tom Coburn, U.S. Senator, Wall Street Journal

2/6/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Mount Virtus is Five Years Old (Please Don’t Pinch the Cheeks of my Blog)

Today is a landmark day for Mount Virtus. It was exactly five years ago that I put up my first post back on the old Blogger platform. My how it's grown: In honor of the occasion, I've created a new page that hopefully puts to rest any lingering uncertainty about the origins of the blog's name. Interestingly, today also would have been the 98th birthday of one of our greatest Presidents - and the President during my formative years, Ronald Reagan. A coincidence, no doubt. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Commemorative, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: birthday, blogger, five years, formative years, landmark day, Mount Virtus, name, new page, platform, President, Ronald Reagan

2/5/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Is This How John Sweeney Will Convince Michael Bennet to Kill the Secret Ballot?

Courtesy of Hot Air, a great video exposing the hypocrisy and dubious logic behind Big Labor's poorly-named Employee Free Choice Act: Of course, the removal of the secret ballot process from workplace elections only presents the more sensational half of the problems posed by this legislation. Costly binding arbitration makes up the other half. But if AFL-CIO president John Sweeney of all people can't tell you why the secret ballot should go (but liberal icon George McGovern can tell you why not), isn't the case rather clear cut? All eyes are on Colorado's newly-selected U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to see where he comes down on this issue. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: AFL-CIO, Big Labor, binding arbitration, CASE, clear cut, Colorado, costly, dubious logic, Employee Free Choice Act, George McGovern, Hot Air, hypocrisy, John Sweeney, legislation, liberal icon, Michael Bennet, newly-selected, President, problems, secret ballot process, sensational, U.S. Senator, video, workplace elections, YouTube

2/5/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

My 2.5 Minutes on KOA’s Morning Show – Taxpayer-Friendly School Reform

Yesterday morning I made a hit-and-run appearance on Colorado's Morning News (850 KOA) to discuss a couple simple education reform ideas in the context of announced state budget cutbacks and the so-called federal "stimulus" bill. Thanks to producer Jason Borgmann, here's the audio: Not quite as delirious as I thought I sounded at 7:00 AM. Clearly, this wasn't the medium for going in-depth and really tackling subject matter, but I think I got a couple provocative points across. … [Read more...]

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

2/5/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Colorado Democrats Working Hard to Become the Party of Toll Roads

Update, 8:50 PM: 19 Democrats voted for the taxes and tolls in the transportation bill. Lefties are in turmoil, with some angry that the Dems are responsible for passing a regressive tax. Yesterday I asked if Colorado Democrats would try to overreach in sticking taxpayers for state transportation costs. It didn't take long to see where the ruling party at the State Capitol stands. In a bizarre about-face, the Democrats decided to toss bipartisan compromise out the window to push a provision that would allow tolling on some of Colorado's busiest highways:Republicans and a handful of Democrats first voted to remove provisions allowing local authorities to toll existing roads. After a break in the debate, the bill sponsor and Democratic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC, transportation Tagged With: about-face, bill sponsor, bipartisan, busiest highways, Colorado, compromise, costs, deal breaker, debate, Democrats, Grand Junction, introduced, Josh Penry, local authorities, overreach, Party, party-line vote, provision, push, Republicans, Senate Bill 108, senate minority leader, State Capitol, strategic decision, taxpayers, toll roads, tolling, transportation

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • …
  • 267
  • 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