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Mount Virtus?

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

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

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

11/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Come See Michelle Malkin Headline I.I. Founders’ Night this Thursday

From the Independence Institute website:Join Us For The 24th Annual Founders' Night Thursday, November 13, 2008 Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom Denver Center for the Performing Arts 6:00 p.m. Patron Reception (Table Sponsors & their guests & Patron Ticket Purchasers Only) Individual Ticket purchasers may check-in at 6:45 p.m 7:00 p.m. Dinner Click Here for a Map of the Area Tickets: $150 Dinner;$250 Patron; $2,000 Bronze Table; $3,000 Silver Table; $5,000 Gold Table; $10,000 Platinum Table … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Founders Night, Independence Institute, Michelle Malkin

11/9/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Exit Poll Demographics Shed Light on GOP’s Way Forward from Here

Two weird, somewhat interesting, observations about voting patterns in the recent Presidential election that you may not have seen. First, from Rocky Mountain Right:It's not all doom and gloom in Colorado. Exit polling from the presidential race indicates that Colorado may be in for a generational swing back towards the Republicans over the next few years going against national trends. Nationally, exit polls show that John McCain carried only 32% of the 18-29 age bracket. In Colorado, McCain won that age bracket with 53% of the vote.... Second, from Gay Patriot:According to the CNN exit polls, 4% of the American electorate self-identified as gay or lesbian. That means about 4.8 million gays and lesbians voted on Tuesday. That seems … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Colorado, conclusions, debate, exit polls, fiscally conservative, Gay Patriot, gays, Grand Old Party, Hispanics, interesting observations, John McCain, key religious groups, lesbians, message, Pew Research Center, Presidential election, rebuild, Rocky Mountain Right, sine qua non, voting patterns, youth vote

11/9/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #3: Modern Medicine

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I love to study history, which makes me all the more grateful to live in the times we do. No epoch in human history has been without its share of troubles of various kinds - and ours is no exception - but I feel profoundly blessed by the advent and continual development of modern medicine. Why? Because … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, Health Care, My Life Tagged With: allergist, bad protoplasm, blessed, common grace, complaining, medical problems, modern medicine, pediatrician, thankful, Western Civilization

11/7/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #2: Freedom of Worship

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Human beings are hard-wired to worship. What we choose to worship is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment decision. There's an ongoing battle in human hearts for whom or what will receive our worship. Ultimately, no human government or other authority can dictate or regulate this most fundamental form of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Constitution, First Amendment, free exercise of religion, freedom of worship, religious liberties, thankful

11/6/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Terrance Carroll, Josh Penry: Good Choices for Statehouse Leadership

Colorado soon will have a black Speaker of the House to go along with a black Senate President (Peter Groff). The Denver Post reports today that the Democratic caucus in the state house has thrown its support behind Denver's Terrance Carroll to replace Andrew Romanoff in one of the state's highest political positions. Moving beyond race, Carroll is someone with whom I obviously have many political disagreements. However, on the issue of school choice that I care about deeply, he is as good as the Democratic caucus has to offer. I feel a little better about the hope for defending and advancing gains in educational freedom with him at the helm than with the alternatives. But we'll remain diligent at our post. In other news, Republicans … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: adversary, Amy Stephens, Andrew Romanoff, Bill Ritter, black, Colorado legislature, comeback, Cory Gardner, Democratic caucus, Denver, Denver Post, educational freedom, fiscally conservative, good hands, Josh Penry, Laura Bradford, leadership posts, Mesa County, Mike Kopp, Mike Saccone, minority leader, newfound popularity, on track, political disagreements, Politicker, Republicans, round, school choice, Senate President, Speaker of the House, standing ovation, state house, state senate, Terrance Carroll, Western Slope

11/6/2008 By Ben 4 Comments

What I’m Thankful for #1: The Legacy of My Grandparents

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I am thankful for the legacy of my grandparents, not nearly as much a material legacy as one of character and fond memories. Not much more can be said about my Grandpa DeGrow, about whom I posted exactly one year ago to the day, on the 100th anniversary of his birth. (But I do invite you to read it, if you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: anniversary, character, Christian testimony, Family, Grandma Hutchings, Grandpa DeGrow, grandparents, hardships, hymns, legacy, memories, patience, piano, sweetness, thankfulness

11/5/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

And a Few More Bright Spots for Colorado and U.S. Conservatives

It's the morning after... El Presidente has some amusing video reactions to last night's election results. Meanwhile, both Joshua Sharf (who ran a valiant race in an overwhelmingly Democratic district) and Rocky Mountain Right highlight the bright spots for Colorado conservatives. I concur with their lists, but let me add one more small bright spot in Colorado. The State Board of Education lost GOP chairman Pam Suckla - a Bill Ritter apologist - and gained common-sense conservative Marcia Neal, giving an effective Board majority that the Colorado Education Association can't be terribly happy with. Especially if Bob Schaffer is selected as the next chairman. At the national level, the good news is that Republicans may have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics Tagged With: Al Franken, Alaska, Barack Obama, Bill Ritter, black president, Bob Schaffer, chairman, Colorado conservatives, Colorado Education Association, common-sense conservative, Congratulations, decline, Democratic district, Democratic Party, egregious overreaches, El Presidente, election results, embarrassing, firewall, historic achievement, Joshua Sharf, Left, loyal opposition, Marcia Neal, Minnesota, morning after, national level, Norm Coleman, Pam Suckla, Party, peaceful transition of power, political, political dinosaur, race, rebuilding, Republicans, Rocky Mountain Right, State board of education, Ted Stevens, Thanksgiving, United States, valiant race, video reactions

11/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Defeated but Not Down

It's hard to live up to the promise of live-blogging when there isn't much good news to report. This is the Democrats' night. I'll let them enjoy it. May God give them the grace to govern wisely. Somehow I doubt they will, certainly not from the perspective of life, liberty, and limited government. At least the vittles are good here at the John Bodnar party in Westminster. I couldn't bring myself to visit the somber affair down at the Marriott South. Meanwhile, I'll go look for the few bright spots of the night. Some big tax increases on the ballot maybe going down. (This tells me the state isn't lurching Left as much as it's turning Blue.) Other than that, not much. Don't expect to see a lot of politics on this site in the days … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blue, bright spots, Democrats, essays, giving thanks, good news, introspection, John Bodnar, Left, liberty, life, limited government, live blogging, Marriott South, nation, politics, promise, state GOP, tax increases, vittles, Westminster

11/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Get Out and Vote, Colorado GOP

If you haven't voted yet and still have a question about any of Colorado's statewide ballot measures, please check out my voter guide. Not sure what to do about judges? This is the best set of suggestions I've seen (and when in doubt, vote No). But whatever you do, please get out and vote! AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL COLORADO REPUBLICAN VOTERS From the Colorado Coalition of Conservative Bloggers As you know, Colorado has been labeled a "swing" state in this year's elections, and will be one of the states that will determine the direction of our nation for the next four or eight years. Historically, the voters in Colorado elected Republican candidates, largely because of the higher numbers of registered Republican voters. This Republican … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, conservative bloggers, judges, Republican voters, statewide ballot, voter guide

11/3/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

An Election Day Prayer

For my fellow Christians:1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Christians, Election Day, prayer

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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

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  • American Thinker
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
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Other Sites

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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