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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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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....

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Samsphere: Pro-Freedom Bloggers’ Shot Heard ‘Round Colorado

It's April 19, and I'm hanging out at a Denver bloggers convention sponsored by a group named after one of the Founding generation's most vocal patriots. The coincidence? It was 233 years ago today that a band of ragtag patriots on Lexington Green fired the "shot heard 'round the world" that eventually defeated the army of the world's most powerful empire. (Pictures up at Slapstick Politics, who beat me to the idea.) And here today in Denver is a band of ragtag pro-freedom bloggers, ready to counter the heavily-funded Left-wing statists who are working to turn Colorado blue. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Lexington and Concord, Samsphere Denver

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Cory Voorhis Fundraiser Sunday

I just received this email from a friend. Since supporting Cory Voorhis a worthy cause, and the event is very timely and in the neighborhood, here goes:18 months ago, federal agent Cory Voorhis was accused of breaking the law for bringing to light a dangerous practice of plea bargains for illegal immigrants. Just last week, a jury found him not guilty of those charges. But even after being found innocent, he and his family still face over $250,000 in legal bills. This great American needs our help! On Sunday, come meet Cory and support his Legal Defense Fund! Bring your friends and forward this message to help spread the word. Where: Abrusci's Restaurant 3324 Youngfield Wheat Ridge, CO When: Sunday, April 20, 2008, 1:00 pm – … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Cory Voorhis, event, fundraiser

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Unexplored Evidence Rebuts Big Blue Lie Machine Anti-Schaffer Campaign

Over at Schaffer v Udall, I have brought to light evidence that challenges the Big Blue Lie Machine's assumptions and characterizations of Bob Schaffer's involvement with the Northern Marianas Islands issue, which has gotten press coverage in the Denver Post recently. It's a long post, but hope if you have an interest in this issue that you will check it out. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Big Blue Lie Machine, Bob Schaffer, Denver Post, Northern Marianas Islands, Schaffer v Udall

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Sara Gagliardi’s Bad Mortgage Bill

Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, my state representative, earned the special distinction of having a bad legislative idea dismantled by the fair-minded editors of the Rocky Mountain News:Perhaps the best thing that can be said about the American Dream Protection Act of 2008, due to be introduced in the legislature at any time, is that it's not likely to be as bad as many of its counterparts under consideration in other states - and in Congress. Unlike those other measures, Colorado's bill addressing home foreclosures, by Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver, and Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, would not require substantial public subsidies. Nor would it place taxpayers on the hook for a massive bailout if the credit crunch intensifies. That said, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: American Dream Protection Act of 2008, bad idea, contracts, fiscal illiteracy, John Bodnar, Mortgage foreclosures, Rep. Mark Ferrandino, Rep. Sara Gagliardi, Rocky Mountain News

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Podcast on Ritter’s Union Partnerships

For the auditory learners out there, check out my new podcast with Jon Caldara on Gov. Bill Ritter's union "employee partnerships." Visual learners can turn to the full report, or if you're short on time, the two-page nuts and bolts version. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: Gov. Bill Ritter, iVoices podcast, Jon Caldara, union employee partnerships

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Friday Event at State Capitol to Highlight Second Amendment Rights

One month after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case D.C. v. Heller was heard, the Republican Study Committee of Colorado is hosting a discussion tomorrow on the topic of Second Amendment rights:The Second Amendment Rearmed? How Washington, D.C. v. Heller Could Reaffirm the Right of Personal Self Protection in Colorado The Republican Study Committee of Colorado Ad Hoc Hearing Friday, April 18, 2008 1:00 - 3:00 Old Supreme Court Chambers Colorado State Capitol Confirmed Presenters: Dave Kopel, Research Director, Independence Institute Darin Goens, Colorado State Liaison, National Rifle Association Dudley Brown, Executive Director, National Association for Gun Rights and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners William Perry … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Second Amendment Tagged With: David Kopel, DC v Heller, Mountain States Legal Foundation, National Rifle Association, Republican Study Committee of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Second Amendment

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

What Was All That Money Doing in Ritter’s Inaugural in the First Place?

The problems with Gov. Bill Ritter's $200,000-plus in misspent inaugural committee funds raises more questions beyond his apparent gross lack of oversight. In total, about $300,000 in inauguration funds were spent on campaign expenses. Campaign manager Greg Kolomitz returned the $83,250 that was paid to himself and his company, leaving roughly $217,000 still improperly spent. But a question I have yet to see answered is why so much money was needed in Ritter's inaugural fund in the first place. Seems quite extravagant. A quick trip back in time to the tenure of Colorado's last Democratic governor, Roy Romer, hints at a sharp contrast. From the January 3, 1991, edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette (no direct link available):In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: campaign finance violation, Colorado Springs Gazette, Gov. Bill Ritter, Greg Kolomitz, inaugural ball, inaugural committee, Roy Romer

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

“Tiger for the Taxpayer” Mark Hillman Rebuts Cowardly Whisper Campaign

One of Colorado's brightest, most respected conservative leaders - Mark Hillman - is running to represent the state party as Republican National Committeeman. He is running against state senator Dave Schultheis, a rock-ribbed conservative from Colorado Springs. How disappointed I was to see an anonymous online writer quoting unidentified sources to spread misinformation about Mark Hillman's fiscal conservative bona fides vis a vis Referendum C. I am only left to wonder where exactly the cowardly attacks are coming from. Face The State highlighted the absurd flap today, giving Hillman an opportunity to recite his record of opposition to Ref C:As far as the suggestion that Hillman was not aggressive enough in opposing Referendum C, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: Dave Schultheis, Face the State, John Andrews, Mark Hillman, Referendum C, Republican National Committeeman

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Union-Only Sign in Denver Raises Legal Questions, Political Stakes

Face The State features a story today about a Denver construction site that has posted a sign restricting work to union membership:A sign at a downtown Denver construction site warns, "If you are not currently an active member of a building trades local union, you are NOT allowed to work on this site." Picture by Steve Brown - Posted at Face The State This story prompts a reaction from two different angles. First, from the legal technical policy wonk side.... Under existing federal law that dates back to the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, private sector "closed shops" are illegal. Simply put, a "closed shop" requires workers to be union members when they're hired. That seems to be the message of the sign, which would make it patently … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: agency shops, closed shops, construction site, Democratic National Convention, Face the State, right-to-work initiative, Taft-Hartley Act, union shops

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Three Days ‘Til Samsphere

Only three days remain until Samsphere reaches Denver. Whether you've been blogging for years or just want to figure out how to get started, this is the place to be. If you live in the Denver area and have a chance to make it on Saturday, register now before the last few spots fill up. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: Samsphere, Samsphere Denver

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Inside

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    • Colorado Ballot 2008
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  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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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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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • Instapundit
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  • NRO's The Corner
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
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Christian Commentary et al.

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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