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....

2/15/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Video: Berkeley Bans U.S. Marines … How Will Udall Respond?

A new video produced by the National Republican Senatorial Committee raises questions about the Congressional Democrats and their priorities: Notice not only the radicals' self-absorbed, boorish behavior but the local law enforcement's capitulation. If Berkeley insists on boycotting the U.S. Marines, the proposed solution of withdrawing federal earmark subsidies only makes sense. Then maybe down the road we can consider voting to let Berkeley secede from the union and from our military protection. But seriously, given his recent troubles with Far Left anti-war activists, how will Mark Udall vote? Or will he beg Nancy Pelosi to keep the proposal off the floor? Cross posted at Schaffer v Udall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Berkeley, Ken Salazar, Mark Udall, moonbat Left, National Republican Senatorial Committee, U.S. Marines

2/15/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Pitchers, Catchers Report: Here Comes an Amazing Tigers Season

Baseball is right around the corner. This morning, spring training begins for Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers. In all my life, I've never looked forward to a season with such anticipation. After a couple spectacular offseason maneuvers, the Tigers sport an absolutely fearsome lineup and a starting rotation that will be the envy of most of Major League Baseball. Don't believe me? How about ESPN's Jayson Stark?Beware of Tigers: How many runs will the 2008 Tigers score, anyway? A thousand? Two thousand? More than the rest of their division combined? That will be one question we'll explore this spring, now that Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria have pulled into Motown. But there's just enough uncertainty about issues like (A) Joel … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: 2008 season, Detroit Tigers, Major League Baseball

2/14/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Dog Bites Man: “Left-Leaning” Group Attacks GOP Official

The Denver Post reports today:A watchdog group filed a complaint with the state's Independent Ethics Committee against Secretary of State Mike Coffman on Wednesday. The complaint is the first one filed with the committee since voters created it in 2006, said Colorado Ethics Watch director Chantell Taylor. It is also the latest complaint Ethics Watch, generally seen as left-leaning, has lodged with various agencies about Coffman, a Republican. [emphasis added] "Generally seen as left-leaning"? It's more apparent than just "generally seen," as this well qualifies as a partisan, politically-motivated attack. The only thing that's changed is the name of Taylor's group - from Colorado Citizens for Ethics in Government to Colorado Ethics … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Chantel Taylor, Colorado Ethics Watch, Denver Post, Mike Coffman, partisan political attacks

2/14/2008 By Ben 6 Comments

Who Fits the Bill as McCain’s VP?

In his column today, Quin Hilyer at American Spectator lays out a blueprint (and a very good one at that) of the qualifications for John McCain's ideal running mate. By the time you near the end of the article, you may be wondering if there is anyone who matches all of the specifications. Hilyer concludes:So there you have it: McCain needs a solidly "full-spectrum" conservative, reformist, youngish, cool, well-rounded, brainy, all-media-respected, articulate, telegenic, border-state/constituency-challenging, non-party-weakening, executive-experienced, running mate who can handle the presidency at a moment's notice. Good luck to McCain in finding such a candidate. The good news, amazingly enough, is that there are several potential … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: American Spectator, John McCain, Quin Hilyer, vice presidential candidate

2/14/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Getting Beyond “Conservative”

Thought-provoking read for the day: Selwyn Duke at American Thinker questions where adhering to "conservatism" has gotten us and whether we need to re-assess our approach:I don't want to preserve the cultural status quo, I want to overthrow it. Then we can pull the statist weeds up by the roots and burn them in freedom's fire, just like our Founding Fathers did. Do you think they were conservatives? Conservatives don't start revolutions; they simply make sure their shackles are made no heavier. Political victory rests on cultural victory, and changing the culture starts with changing our mentality. We have only two choices: We can be revolutionary. Or we can be wrong. Read the whole thing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cultural Conservatism, General, National Politics Tagged With: American Thinker, Conservatism, Founding Fathers

2/13/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Next Free People, Free Markets Class: Sign Up Before It’s Too Late

Coloradans: Have you always wanted to learn more about the history, the moral philosophy, and the sound economic principles that undergird our liberty through free-market capitalism? Then you'll want to sign up for the next edition of the Free People, Free Markets class, which starts this Saturday, February 16. It's not too late to sign up. From the Independence Institute website:You have a strong love of freedom. It's a natural part of being human. But too few people were taught the fundamentals of a free society. We have a wonderful seminar to offer you. It pulls together the basic principles of liberty and a free market, showing you that these cohesive fundamentals allow society to work well,and to honor the individual. The course … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General Tagged With: Free Markets, Independence Institute

2/13/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Denver Teachers Union Backs Down on Autonomy Issue

I've been especially hard on the Denver teachers union (DCTA) lately, but when they do something (mostly) right it would be petty and disingenuous of me not to give credit where due. The Rocky Mountain News reports today that DCTA has decided to acquiesce to the requests of Bruce Randolph and Manual High School for autonomy from school district red-tape and negotiated work rules: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bruce Randolph, Denver Classroom Teachers Association, Dr. Kristin Waters, Manual High School, Montbello High School, Rocky Mountain News, school reform, teacher grievance and tenure

2/12/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Need a Break from Presidential Politics? Support Bob Schaffer

Are you tired of the give-and-take of Presidential primary politics? Are you a conservative Republican who needs to step back and take some time to consider whether or not you want to jump on the John McCain bandwagon? Do you want to help the Republican Party down ticket by supporting a candidate with integrity and independent conservative principles? Well, then... How about celebrating the 199th anniversary of Republican forefather Abraham Lincoln's birthday by giving a tangible contribution to Old Abe's legacy? How about showing support for a superb Colorado Republican while you let the national party work on getting back its conservative bearings? How about getting behind sending a candidate to Washington, DC, who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, Bob Schaffer, Colorado Republicans, presidential primary

2/11/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Date Set for Tax Hike Suit Showdown

Face the State has the latest on the court case requesting a vote of the people on Gov. Bill Ritter's statewide property tax increase:The State Board of Education, claiming that CDE is the wrong agency to be targeted, has asked the court to be removed as a defendant. Meanwhile, Ritter has sought to intervene as defendant. A Denver District Court hearing has been set for May 5. State Board of Education member Bob Schaffer, R-Fort Collins, believes Ritter has a lot at stake in the courts’ pending decision, having approved a property tax hike over the objections of the state’s attorney general. “He has a clear interest in proving the attorney general wrong,” said Schaffer. “While the massive tax increase bill was passing, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Colorado Board of Education, Colorado Supreme Court, Face the State, Gov. Bill Ritter, Janet Rowland, Mesa County, Property Tax Increase

2/11/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

The School Autonomy Roadblock outside Bruce Randolph

My first op-ed for the Boulder-based Colorado Daily appears in today's edition. The topic is the school autonomy movement growing out of events at Bruce Randolph School. I've pasted the entire op-ed below, for fear that the link provided soon will be broken: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bruce Randolph School, Colorado Daily, Denver Classroom Teachers Association, Innovation Schools Act of 2008, Manual High School, Sen. Peter Groff

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 175
  • 176
  • 177
  • 178
  • 179
  • …
  • 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