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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....

1/17/2008 By Ben 5 Comments

Why Not Huckabee? The Slime

Why as a conservative don't I support the presidential candidacy of Mike Huckabee? Another great example is highlighted this morning by Jim Geraghty at NRO's Campaign Spot:The Thompson campaign has video of one of those pro-Huckabee push polls. More than a few South Carolina readers have reported the same calls, as well as Campaign Spot Senior South Carolina Correspondent. I'm neither impressed by the Huckabee campaign, nor from Common Sense Issues, the group behind the calls. Sure, the Huckabee campaign says they don't support this, and they're calling on it to stop. But let's see some anger. Let's have Huckabee call up Davis, the guy who's doing this and say, "stop it, you're hurting my campaign." Come on out and denounce Davis … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, neo-populism, political slime, presidential primary, push-poll

1/15/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Romney Wins, Now What?

Mitt Romney recorded an impressive win in the Michigan primary tonight. Hats off to him. Now here's hoping that Fred Thompson surges back to take South Carolina and Rudy makes a comeback with a Florida victory. It will drive all the pundits mad, simply mad - especially those in the MSM beginning to mourn McCain's demise. Can you imagine it? The phrase "Republican frontrunner" will set off unending fireworks on all the cable news programs. So should the word "momentum," which professional and amateur prognosticators appear to have put too much stock into this far. Huckabee's Iowa win got him what? Back-to-back third-place finishes. And McCain went from one week as the New Hampshire darling to badly beaten in Michigan the next. So who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Florida, Fred Thompson, Michigan, Mitt Romney, presidential primary, Republican National Convention, Rudy Giuiliani, South Carolina

1/15/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

GOP Primary Thoughts for the Day

Today is the Michigan Republican Presidential primary: Here's hoping that my home state can do its part to derail the McCain Train before it carries the whole Republican Party and conservative movement off the cliff. Meanwhile, Fred is on fire in South Carolina: See here and here for a sample of the details. On the other hand, Paul Mirengoff at Powerline opines that a McCain Michigan victory catapulting him to frontrunner status coupled with Fred's rising status as the leading conservative challenger in South Carolina might do wonders for Fred's campaign. Perhaps, but I'm not willing to take the chance with McCain. Today, I cheer for Romney. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Fred Thompson, McCain disaster, Michigan, Republican presidential primary, South Carolina

1/14/2008 By Ben 6 Comments

Rebutting Confederate Libertarianism

Thanks, Mr. Snaggle-Tooth, for your lengthy treatise in response to my prior arguments. In it you write:Ole Ben links a Liberty article by libertarian attorney Timothy Sandefur, ‘n I mus' say it’s jus’ ‘bout as good as the pro-Unionist argumint kin git. Quite Jaffian it wuz, with the acrid odor of Claremont about it. But that article got picked to pieces in-iss un', written by anothah libertarian attorney, Stephan Kinsella. (See this here response by Kinsella too.) Well, in the interest of time, here's an even better version of Sandefur's argument (link leads to abstract, from which you can download a PDF). It's a very well-documented and well-argued essay, and there isn't much I can add to it in this forum. Some of its salient … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, History, National Politics Tagged With: Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Confederates, secession, slavery

1/14/2008 By Ben 6 Comments

Ronulans Assail Town Clerk over 31-Vote Error

Weird political story: Paranoid Ron Paul supporters harass a New Hampshire town official over a simple mistake that initially cost their candidate 31 votes but was quickly corrected. Two words for the Ronulans (in the vernacular): Chill out. Though, as Paul's campaign continues to sink like a piece of lead, I'm sure many will find a conspiracy in that, too. All part of an American political tradition, a leading historian once argued. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: paranoia, presidential primary, Ron Paul

1/11/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Glitches Aside, CEA Caucus Guide Very Informative

(Before you begin, please remember to take this through the filter of a writer who has been described as "one of the most virulent anti-public education individuals" in Colorado.) Yesterday I wrote about the Colorado caucus (25 days to go). Today I found the most comprehensive guide of them all - created by the Colorado Education Association. Everything you need to know about the caucus is in there. And more. Including the following suggested resolutions for CEA members to make at their caucuses: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor Tagged With: Bob Schaffer, Colorado Caucus, Colorado Education Association, Joan Fitz-Gerald, Mark Udall, No Child Left Behind, right-to-work, vouchers

1/11/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Why did Ritter Leave Worker Protections out of His Order?

The Denver Business Journal interviewed one of the two national labor experts who spoke at an event this morning sponsored by the Colorado chapter of the Federalist Society. From the article headlined "Labor experts make case against Ritter's union order":The governor and Democrats in the House and Senate argue the order is non-binding and won't have a direct bearing on budgets or businesses. Many in the business community also say they're hard pressed to see how the order effects them. But Stan Greer, senior programming director for the National Institute of Labor Relations, based in Springfield, Va., made the case that Ritter's executive order isn't in the state's best economic interests -- particularly if state workers are forced to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, Labor Tagged With: agency fees, Denver Business Journal, Executive Order, Federalist Society, Gov. Bill Ritter, government employee unions, labor experts, union coercion

1/10/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Fred Wins

The consensus of serious analysts on the right side of the blogosphere is that Fred Dalton Thompson won tonight's South Carolina debate, aired on Fox News. Here we go (in no particular order): 1. Jim Geraghty, National Review Campaign Spot: "Winner: Thompson. This performance was so commanding, I wanted his last answer to echo back to the lights in the back of the auditorium, blow out all the lamps and spotlights, for the theme to “the Natural” to play, and for him to trot around the stage in slow motion while sparks showered down in the background." Jared has to appreciate the reference. 2. Erick at RedState: "Fred Thompson owned this debate. He owned it. He dominated." 3. John Hawkins, at Right Wing News: "1) Fred Thompson … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics Tagged With: Fred Thompson, presidential primary, South Carolina

1/10/2008 By Ben 4 Comments

26 Days ‘Til Caucus

Update, 2:41 PM: Information on Douglas County Republican caucuses is included in the comment section. Thanks, Steve! ... Denver County, too, compliments of el presidente. The Denver Post has a full-length story this morning on the building interest & excitement surrounding Colorado's caucus process this year. As the story notes, it overwhelmingly has to do with a highly competitive primary in a presidential election year:Republican Mort Marks, 83, plans to hold a caucus at his house. He said he has received calls from a lot of people he hasn't heard from before, and he has noticed larger turnout at recent Republican events. "There is a hell of a lot more interest than I've seen in many, many years," said Marks, who hasn't decided … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life Tagged With: Colorado Caucus, Jefferson County Republican Party, presidential primary

1/9/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Radio Show Review

Thanks for those who tuned in to News Talk 1310 KFKA this morning to hear my inaugural guest host appearance on the Amy Oliver Show. For those who want more information on the guests and some of the topics discussed: Alan Gottlieb of the Public Education and Business Coalition edits the HeadFirst Colorado blog, which covers a range of education reform issues. Today we talked about the latest on the Bruce Randolph autonomy proposal, including union officials' latest delaying tactic, which Alan also posted on today. There's also a great story from yesterday on the topic at Face the State. I posted on the news of the rapidly growing estimates of revenue from the Governor's property tax hike at the Colorado Taxpayers blog. Other stories … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General, Labor, My Life Tagged With: 1310 KFKA, Amy Oliver Show, Bruce Randolph, Collective Bargaining, education reform, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Gov. Bill Ritter, Property Tax Increase

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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

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