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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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....

2/4/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Harassing Union Tactics Unleashed by Ritter’s Executive Order

From the University of Colorado newspaper comes a story about union organizers accused of harassing state employees:Last week, human resource directors from many state agencies met with leaders from several unions to voice their concerns about union organizers' tactics, which some called over-aggressive. One union organizer, employed by Colorado WINS, was arrested in downtown Denver in November for allegedly trespassing on Regional Transportation District property after attempting to distribute leaflets in an adjacent private building where a state agency is located. In a more recent incident, a union organizer who visited a Department of Corrections (DOC) employee at home, found himself on the business end of a gun. (The DOC could not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: Collective Bargaining, Colorado Association of Public Employees, Colorado WINS, Communications Workers of America, Executive Order, Gov. Bill Ritter, harassment, SB 86, Sen. Shawn Mitchell, Silver & Gold Record, union organizing

2/4/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Attend Your Caucus Tomorrow

Colorado's registered Republicans and Democrats, don't forget that tomorrow evening is caucus time - your chance to pick a Presidential candidate, make your voice heard, and elect the delegates to the county and state assembly. Looks like there will be unusually high interest in 2008. The Denver Post has the basic information here:Colorado voters registered as Democrats or Republicans can participate in Tuesday's party caucuses, as long as they were registered before Dec. 5. Here's how: Process: At a caucus, state political parties hold presidential preference polls and conduct other party business. Democrats require a candidate to receive at least 15 percent of the available votes. Republicans hold a straight vote. Schedule: Caucuses … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado Caucus, Democrat Party, Republican Party

2/2/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rasmussen: Romney 30, McCain 30 … Where’s the Momentum?

Any fellow Romney for President supporters (or anyone not too excited by the prospect of McCain at the top of the GOP ticket) looking for a little good news heading into the Super Tuesday showdown, look here (H/T Michelle Malkin):In the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination, it’s John McCain at 30%, Mitt Romney at 30%, and Mike Huckabee at 21%. Ron Paul is supported by 5% of Likely Republican Primary Voters....Romney leads by sixteen percentage points among conservatives while McCain has a two-to-one advantage among moderate Primary Voters. Considering the "no-bounce" trend of this race over the past month, the McCain momentum meme may be mostly a myth (how do you like the alliteration?). This race isn't over yet, and may … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado Caucus, John McCain, Michelle Malkin, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, presidential primary, Ron Paul, Super Tuesday

2/2/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Obligatory Super Bowl Prediction

For what it's worth, here's the official prediction of Mount Virtus concerning tomorrow's big game: Super Bowl XLII (Feb 3, 2008 - Glendale, AZ): New England Patriots (19-0) 31 New York Giants (13-7) 17 MVP: Tom Brady But what do I know? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: New England Patriots, New York Giants, predictions, Super Bowl, Tom Brady

2/2/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Corry Calls Huttner to Higher Plane of Political Discourse

In her latest "Mad Voter" diary, my friend and colleague Jessica Corry launched a witty and skillful rebuke of Michael Huttner's radical gutter politics, which she cites as demeaning to the women she has invited to join her "Blonde Republican Activists" club:Indeed, the vast majority of women live in an incredible era of limitless choices. And it is men we should be pitying, especially those like Huttner who dream of building their power base by promoting hostility, self-victimization and rage. I won't suggest that Huttner "hates" women. He just believes we're so stupid and so incapable of thinking for ourselves that we need men to stand up for us. Perhaps he can explain himself at BRAs first organizational meeting. She ably … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: gutter politics, Jessica Corry, Michael Huttner, Politics West

2/1/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Moloney: Look to the History of American Teacher Unions

Why did the Denver teachers union throw itself in the way of a request sought by teachers and school leaders for autonomy? In a column today for the Rocky Mountain News, former state education commissioner Dr. William Moloney adds some badly needed historical perspective:As this tragedy unfolds, observers sigh and say, "Oh, that's just the way all teachers unions behave." Not so! It's just the way American teachers unions behave, and it is profoundly important for public policy-makers to understand this critical distinction. The whole article is worth a perusal. It will help explain union opposition to the new Innovation Schools Act, too. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bruce Randolph, Dr. William Moloney, education reform, Innovation Schools Act, teachers union

2/1/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bipartisan Education Reform Proposal a Threat to Union Power

The Denver Post reports today that Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver, has filed a piece of legislation that already has started to cause shockwaves among the education establishment:A bill that would give traditional Colorado schools the flexibility to operate more like charter schools and allow them to be removed from union agreements was introduced into the legislature Thursday. Senate President Peter Groff, D-Denver, submitted the "Innovation Schools Act of 2008," which would give schools control over their budgets, hiring decisions and length of the school day and calendar. The bill would relieve schools from, among other things, having to follow state statutes regarding teacher pay and hiring. "There is a laundry list of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bruce Randolph, Caroline Hoxby, Collective Bargaining, Colorado Education Association, education reform, Innovation Schools Act, Manual High School, Marguerite Roza, Sen. Peter Groff, Terry Moe

1/31/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Scandal Alert: Disturbing Allegations about State Lawmaker

Face the State was first to report it:Assistant House Majority Leader Mike Garcia, D-Aurora, is facing accusations that he exposed himself to a female lobbyist while making lewd comments after a political fundraiser earlier this month. Quickly followed by the Denver Post:A lobbyist is accusing House Assistant Majority Leader Michael Garcia of exposing himself to her and making lewd comments at a bar. Garcia did not return calls seeking comment, and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff refused to answer questions today about the allegations. The allegations are disturbing. Politically speaking then, the responsible approach would be for Rep. Garcia to refute them quickly, firmly, and clearly, or to resign both from his leadership position … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

1/30/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Carroll: Colorado Judges Rebuff School Funding Lawsuit

In his column today, the Rocky Mountain News' Vince Carroll opines about a little-noticed state court decision (the Lobato case) that slapped down those who believe unelected judges should dictate school finance policy:Colorado's education establishment has spent the past three years sneering at democracy, trying to persuade the courts to take on a role that the state constitution assigns to the legislature. Last week they were rebuffed for the second time. Will they finally get the message? Will they accept the fact that the constitutional guarantee of a "thorough and uniform system of free public schools throughout the state" is not a reasonable excuse for the courts to usurp the power of the legislature and dictate the level of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: CASB, CASE, CEA, Lobato case, School funding, Vince Carroll

1/29/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

John McCain?

Sen. John McCain wins Florida and all 57 of its delegates - well, congratulations then. Rudy to drop out and endorse McCain? Conservatives should feel used. Though one of Rudy's biggest supporters, Patrick Ruffini, makes a compelling case for Republicans to get on board with Romney:When it comes to the electability question, don’t focus on horserace numbers. Focus on the fundamentals. After weeks of fawning coverage, and weeks of seeing the press swooning for Obama and beating down Clinton, John McCain is no better than tied against Hillary. When it was last Clinton vs. McCain as the frontrunners, he ran worse than Giuliani and was seen as less dynamic. I expect that with either Romney or McCain, the race would settle into a 3-6 point … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: endorsement, Florida, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Patrick Ruffini, presidential primary, Rudy Giuliani

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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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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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