Mount Virtus

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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....

8/28/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Tim Pawlenty: Quick Thoughts

Update: Looks like I got headfaked, like many others. Pawlenty appears to be out. Speculation is on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Kudos to Steve if this is correct. In part he writes about her:Not only is she a woman (which, like it or not, is an issue for some voters), but she also puts a fresh, future-oriented face on the McCain campaign. By upending Alaska's corrupt political class, Palin has actually produced the type of change that Barack Obama can only talk about; and her collar is far bluer than Joe Biden's ever was. Furthermore, she is arguably the only candidate who has the necessary expertise to address the single most pressing issue in this election: gas prices. As Governor of Alaska, Chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Alaska, Campaign Spot, Costco, Erick Erickson, fiscal conservative, FRED PAC, Governor, Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Mark Sanford, Minnesota, national ticket, political climate, Red State, Republican, running mate, Sam's Club Republican, Sarah Palin, Soren Dayton, The New Conservative, The Next Right, Tim Pawlenty, vice president

8/28/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Yippee… Barack Obama May Get “Modest” Bounce in Polls from DNC

It's normal for a major national political convention to give its nominee a "bounce" in the polls, so it's too early to reach any conclusions. After all, the Obamessiah has yet to give his rock star speech at Invesco Field, which may cause the knees of middle America to swoon. But so far, Rasmussen's daily tracking poll has yet to pick up on the signs of major Joe(Biden)-mentum. No, wait, that's not fair ... Today's results show "hints of a modest convention bounce building for Barack Obama". Obama broke the tie with John McCain to forge a one-point national lead - still, not that compelling after last week saw the Democrat candidate with a consistent three-to-four point lead. And after three days of fawning media coverage of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, daily tracking poll, David Copperfield, Democrat candidate, Democratic National Convention, electoral votes, highway closure, Hillary Clinton, I-25, Invesco Field, Joe Biden, John McCain, modest convention bounce, national political conventions, Obamessiah, Rasmussen Reports, toss-up state, traffic jam

8/26/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

A Different Kind of DNC “Protest” West of the Downtown Denver Action

So much for all the DNC-related action happening in downtown Denver. On my drive to work this morning I spotted this unmistakable display on Table Mountain between Arvada and Golden, displayed here in a photograph taken by a friend: 9News apparently was on the scene, as well:The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and Open Space Rangers struck a deal with the protestors allowing them to take a break before hiking back up the mountain and removing the sign. The group behind the sign was not immediately known but roughly 50 anti-abortion protestors are in the area. My friend who took the picture said she was told the sign was constructed from 2,500 bed sheets, and that students from Maranatha Christian Center did the hard work … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: "destroys unborn children", Arvada, bed sheets, Democratic National Convention, display, Golden, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Maranatha Christian Center, Open Space Rangers, pro-life, protest, Table Mountain

8/25/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Opining on Apathy in Recent State Employee Union Elections

Over at the Denver Daily News, my op-ed on the recent union elections in state government is up. The piece begins:Some pundits and hopeful partisans speculate that our upcoming national election may see less apathy among younger voters. Coloradans might also wonder about the apathy among their state employees.> Forty-nine percent of Americans between 18 and 29 voted in the 2004 national election, a slight rise from previous showings. While at least one candidate has made more appeals to the youth on the bases of "hope" and "change," it's unclear whether the trend will continue. Overshadowed recent news in our own backyard shows even greater voter apathy outside the sphere of electoral politics. When faced this year with deciding on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: Democratic National Convention, Denver Daily News, elections, labor union, op-ed, state government, union elections

8/25/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Peoples Press Collective Scooping DNC

If you are interested in following events in and around the Democratic National Convention, you should be checking in regularly with the grassroots media coverage of the Peoples Press Collective. A lot of photos and video are up from the weekend's protests, with more exciting coverage to follow today as the DNC actually kicks off. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Democratic National Convention, grassroots media, Peoples Press Collective, protesters

8/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Let Joe Biden Speak for Himself

Joe Biden, Barack Obama's vice-presidential nominee, can speak for himself. First, a video put together by Rocky Mountain Right: Second, Joe Biden talking about Barack Obama, via The Next Right: I need to pinch myself again. Obama really picked Biden - er, Cliff Clavin? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Cliff Clavin, Hugh Hewitt, Joe Biden, Rocky Mountain Right, The Next Right, vice presidential nominee

8/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Seriously … Joe Biden?

Update: Another Colorado blogger added to the list below Barack Obama picked Joe Biden as his running mate ... seriously? When I first heard the news late last night, it sounded too good to be true. My first reaction was that Obama must have made the pick from an insecurity about Obama's personal and political weaknesses. Example? There's no way Biden's long-winded, incoherent ramblings could upstage the Obamessiah's cultish appeal at this week's Democratic National Convention. Beyond the DNC, what does Barack Obama have to look forward to in having Joe Biden as a running mate? What do we really know about Biden? Here's a quick rundown from Colorado bloggers: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: Atrios, Barack Obama, Best Destiny, blogosphere, Bob Agard, Clarence Thomas, Colorado blogs, compliment, Daily Kos, David Harsanyi, Delaware, Democratic National Convention, Democrats, Denver, Denver Post, eat their words, gaffe-free, gaffe-prone, gravitas, Haditha, Human Events, hypocrisy, infamous audio, Joe Biden, John McCain, Joshua Marshall, Lefty bloggers, liberal, long-winded ramblings, lose their lunch, Michael, Mickey Kaus, National Journal, Obamessiah, Patrick Ruffini, plagiarism, political weaknesses, Rocky Mountain Right, Ross Kaminsky, running mate, script, seniority, teleprompter, The Next Right, Townhall, U.S. Marines, U.S. Senator, U.S. Supreme Court, vice president, YouTube video

8/22/2008 By Ben 7 Comments

Exclusive Video: DNC Scrubs Free Speech from Pepsi Center Sidewalk

Bringing the Democratic National Convention to town means not only cleaning up the homeless off the streets but also cleaning up any vestiges of apparently offensive speech. One of the capable Peoples Press Collective video journalists caught it on video in front of the Pepsi Center today: "Obama, stop abortion!" ... "Stand for life" - All getting washed away. I doubt there will be any debate inside the Pepsi Center about the Democratic Party's abortion platform. Free speech can be a matter of convenience sometimes. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: abortion, Democratic National Convention, Free Speech, homeless, party platform, Peoples Press Collective, Pepsi Center, pro-life, YouTube

8/22/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Sneak Peek at the DNC Podium: Introducing … ObamaTron!

The Denver Post this morning gives a sneak peek of the Democratic National Convention podium inside the Pepsi Center (H/T Complete Colorado). My first reactions to what the podium looks like: An acid trip back to the 1970s (can you imagine Jimmy Carter giving a speech there opening night)? The set of a cheesy Fox TV reality show (Bill Clinton might just fit in onstage)? ... Or how about the movie Tron? Whatever it is, the podium may be another piece of the poor planning that may threaten a Barack Obama post-Convention bounce. Or maybe he can just get bounce from a Lightbike ride... The DNC craziness has just barely begun. Keep up with coverage you won't find anywhere else at the Peoples Press Collective. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Labor, My Life, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: 1970s, acid trip, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Complete Colorado, Democratic National Convention, Denver Post, grassroots media coverage, Jimmy Carter, Peoples Press Collective, Pepsi Center, podium, reality show, speeches, Tron

8/22/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Barack Obama Needs a DNC Bounce, But Poor Planning May Interfere

Barack Obama really, really, really needs a bounce from the Democratic National Convention. First, nationally, as political guru Michael Barone points out:Realclearpolitics.com yesterday had John McCain ahead of Barack Obama by 274 to 264 electoral votes, counting leaners. RCP has Obama carrying just two Bush '04 states, Iowa and New Mexico, with 12 electoral votes. McCain's lead in two other Bush '04 states, Virginia and Colorado, with 20 electoral votes is microscopic, but then so is Obama's lead in New Hampshire, with four electoral votes. Showcasing Jimmy Carter on the opening night of the DNC is not a good way to separate Barack Obama from the obvious comparison with the malaise president or to generate a national bounce. And … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, busy highway, Colorado, Democratic National Convention, ego-fest, electoral votes, I-25, Iowa, Jimmy Carter, John McCain, malaise, Michael Barone, New Hampshire, New Mexico, political guru, Presidential election, public opinion, Rasmussen Reports, Real Clear Politics, Republican, survey, swing states, Virginia, White House

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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
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