Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

Ben on Social Media

Mount Virtus?

Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

Colorado Ballot Reviews

Sometimes the choices are daunting or confusing, sometimes they're as clear as a Mile High view.

By 1 Comment

Calling Denver’s Center-Right Bloggers

What are you doing this Wednesday evening? Have you been looking for a way to commemorate disgraced Dan Rather's swansong as CBS Evening News anchor? The Independence Institute is hosting a farewell party for Rather, and you're invited: Join us for “Happy Hour” on Wednesday, March 9th at 5:00 PM at Jackson’s All American Sports Grill in LoDo as we say a tearful good bye to legendary anchorman Dan Rather. Following Rather’s final farewell, Jay Ambrose, former editor of the Rocky Mountain News, will address the liberal bias in the mainstream media. RSVP to Rachael by calling 303-279-6536 or rachael@i2i.org The Center for the American Experiment in Minnesota is hosting its own dinner forum to mark the occasion, with Powerline's … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Libertarians, Immigration, and Food for Thought

An interesting, more in-depth read for a Monday morning: Robert Locke, former associate editor of FrontPage magazine, unleashes a full-scale intellectual assault against the libertarian philosophy on the pages of the American Conservative. It's a must-read for those who are interested in exploring the nuances and distinctions within the broader Republican, center-right coalition. While those on the left side of the political spectrum are well occupied in their own deep internecine squabbles, it is important to remember that the broad majority coalition has its own serious disagreements, too. … [Read more...]

By 3 Comments

This Calls for Bob Schaffer

The State Central Committee Meeting of the Colorado Republican Party is fast approaching: on March 19 delegates from across the state will decide on a new party chairman and a new national committeeman. Bob Martinez, completing a successful stint as Colorado's national committeeman, has already stepped forward to fill the role of party chairman. Unfortunately, current state party chair Ted Halaby wants to swap roles with Martinez, having declared his candidacy for the committeeman position. In a letter he recently mailed out to delegates, Halaby cited among his accomplishments a couple of gems: "Outraised the Colorado Democratic Party by a ratio of nearly 30 to 1": That fundraising certainly didn't translate into electoral … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

Good News from Jared

Fellow RMA member Jared has received his wife's blessing to pursue a commission as a Naval Reserve Intelligence Officer. Read all about it. Memo from Mount Virtus To Jared: Way to go! You are truly blessed with a courageous and supportive wife. May you find God's will as you pursue your commission, and may your efforts be rewarded. Speaking frankly, this American citizen would be proud to know you're in the nation's service. All the best! Ben … [Read more...]

By 1 Comment

Testimony Resurfaces in Schiavo Case

A report today in CNS News indicates that critical testimony in an earlier hearing in the Terri Schiavo case was incorrectly disregarded. The testimony challenges the idea that there is "clear and convincing evidence" of Terri's express wishes to die. One of Terri's close friends testified that she had expressed strong opinions against the removal of life support from comatose Karen Ann Quinlan during a conversation in 1982. The judge ruled that the testimony was mistaken as to when it took place because it couldn't have been discussed in the present tense: he wrote that Quinlan was dead in 1982. But Quinlan didn't die until 1985. Judge Greer, the same man overseeing the case today, asserted that the conversation must have taken … [Read more...]

By 2 Comments

Fight the McCain-Feingold Tyranny

Today that old feeling of disgust reemerged. It didn't take me long after I first read about McCain-Feingold - eight years ago in my political science class with Dr. Mickey Craig (to whom I owe a lot of my depth and insights into politics) - to develop a visceral anger towards the misguided "reform" idea. Weak-willed Congressmen couldn't vote it down, the President naively signed it into law, and the Supreme Court narrowly ruled the restrictive law constitutional. And now... it's ba-a-a-ack! The blogosphere has justly erupted with concern about the McCain-Feingold lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission that could essentially shut down freelance political blogging by turning hyperlinks to campaign websites into in-kind … [Read more...]

By Leave a Comment

“Our American Values Are In Our Pockets”

As Clay has already pointed out, I was able to attend noted lecturer and talk show host Dennis Prager's morning presentation to Colorado's joint House and Senate Republican Leadership Team. Dennis is heard locally on 710KNUS - to whom I am grateful for the invitation to this morning's event - from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday to Friday. Prager delivered a mid-legislative session pep talk to a caucus in need of revitalization. It is tough being in the minority, especially when you're not used to it. But the nationally-syndicated radio celebrity sure did yeoman's work in lifting the legislators' spirits. … [Read more...]

By 1 Comment

Calif. Education Establishment Bucks Schwarzenegger

There's a lot screwed up with the way the public education system is currently run. Witness recent events in a Berkley, Calif., school district: teachers refuse to work beyond their "contract hours" and thus are not assigning homework to students. Who's to blame? The teachers' union wants an automatic cost-of-living increase and a hefty share of any new money the school district receives. District officials say they sympathize with the union but are pointing fingers at Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, saying they don't have enough money. The subtext suggests the unions are also flexing their muscle to demonstrate their resistance to Schwarzenegger's proposal to institute teacher performance-based pay and to reform tenure. These … [Read more...]