Mount Virtus

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

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If I had five more writers just like him, I think my job would be the easiest in journalism....

4/9/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Which Party Will Miss Peter Groff as Senate President More: GOP or Dems?

It seems almost certain that Democrat Senate President Peter Groff has tried to remain mum about the news of his impending departure to join the Obama administration in Washington to avoid distraction from an especially difficult budget process in the state legislature this year. But the cat's out of the bag now. Kind, classy words in the Denver Post from the Republican opposition:"Washington's gain is our loss," said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray.... "I hope that President Obama gives him a job with a lot of power in the Department of Education," said Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction. It's hard to say which party will miss him more at the helm of the state senate in 2010. For Republicans, he's a strong ally on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: 2011, adversary, bandied about, budget process, classy, critical, Democrat, Denver Post, Department of Education, difficult, education reform, election year, fiscally conservative, Grand Junction, Greg Brophy, helm, Josh Penry, kind, likable, motivation, mum, Obama administration, other issues, perceived, Peter Groff, potential, reasonable middle, replacements, Republican, sad, senate minority leader, Senate President, state legislature, state senate, strong ally, Washington, well-respected, words, Wray

4/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Shocking Headline of the Year

"Kim Jong Il Re-Elected as Leader of North Korea" ...You know, I thought for sure the people would vote him out ... Oh, wait, never mind ... Only one thing: the article doesn't tell us if he got 100% of the "vote" like Saddam Hussein did ... Hmmm .... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: PPC, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events

4/8/2009 By Ben 2 Comments

Thanks to What?: Posing a Clear Litmus Test Between Left and Right

Blogging for the Heritage Foundation, Conn Carroll points readers to a clear litmus test between the Left and the Right. If you followed that link and said, "Hey, that's not a bad idea, why didn't I think of that?" -- it's pretty safe to say you're on the Left. On the other hand, if you laughed out loud and/or your stomach turned upon reading it, you must be on the Right. But here's my thought: If we're going to be showing our gratitude for painful certainties that show no sign of abating, why not a campaign to get people to say Thanks for this? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Cultural Conservatism, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: abating, campaign, certainty, clear, Conn Carroll, death, gratitude, Heritage Foundation, laugh, Left, link, litmus test, Right, stomach, taxes, thanks, turned

4/8/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

Is It Time to Step Up Advertising on Colorado Conservative Blogs?

Over at RedState, Erick Erickson makes a great point about rebuilding the conservative movement that can be applied to Colorado:In the past few years, SEIU, AFL-CIO, NEA, DCCC, and a host of other left-wing organizations have been buying ads on left of center blogs keeping those blogs going — allowing the bloggers on the left some financial incentive to keep blogging for the left.... In addition to all of that, you’ve got the Soros gang and SEIU engaging in a host of left-wing activities online that recruit and fund online writers — bloggers, journalists, etc.... Every day in Washington, there is some right-wing group somewhere bemoaning the efforts of the right online. Sadly, for them and the rest of the right, their first … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, Labor, liberty, My Life, PPC Tagged With: advertisers, bloggers, businesses, Colorado, conservative movement, Erick Erickson, existing talent, George Soros, great point, ineffectiveness, journalists, labor unions, left-wing organizations, members, modest rate, operators, owners, Peoples Press Collective, rebuilding, RedState, Rocky Mountain Alliance, SEIU, take heed

4/8/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

RMA Blog Talk Radio Solo Hosting Stint: Helpful and Humorous Links

Last night I was honored to host Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio by myself. I was blessed to have three great conversations - including an update on the Fort Collins city council elections with Randy Ketner, a discussion on a range of fiscal issues with prospective state treasurer candidate J.J. Ament, and 12 minutes with my wife and Independence Institute colleague, the lovely Mrs. Virtus, to talk about parental rights and homeschooling freedoms. A rank amateur flying solo by the seat of my pants, I filled in the rest of the time with a monologue referencing several stories. Here are the links for anyone who is interested: Vince Carroll's excellent "Blowing the lid off TABOR" column in yesterday's Denver Post -- which Ament … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, My Life, National Politics, PPC Tagged With: adoptable, apostates, apostles, Arne Duncan, Blog Talk Radio, BYU, candidate, city council, colleague, column, Complete Colorado, conversations, Denver Post, Education News Colorado, Education Secretary, elections, flying solo, Fort Collins, freedoms, great sources, homeschooling, Independence Institute, J.J. Ament, links, lovely, monologue, Mrs. Virtus, parental rights, PETA, pets, photo caption, podcast, Randy Ketner, rank amateur, Rocky Mountain Alliance, state treasurer, stint, student newspaper, TABOR, Vince Carroll, vouchers, Washington DC, wife

4/7/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Walker Stapleton Announcement Makes First GOP Treasurer Candidate

The Denver Business Journal reports that Colorado Republicans have their first official candidate for State Treasurer (H/T Rocky Mountain Right):Denver businessman Walker Stapleton , president of real estate company SonomaWest Holdings, Tuesday became the first Republican to announce that he will run for Colorado state treasurer. Democrat Cary Kennedy now holds the office and has filed to run for re-election in 2010. Three GOP businessmen, including Stapleton, have said they are eyeing the race. Stapleton, 34, unveiled a list of 30 business backers with his announcement, including El Pomar Foundation CEO Bill Hybl, Gallagher Enterprises CEO Charles Gallagher and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. One of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, businessman, Cary Kennedy, Colorado Republicans, debate, Democrat, Denver, Denver Business Journal, guest, impressive, J.J. Ament, official candidate, press release, primary, re-election, real estate, Republican, Rocky Mountain Alliance, SonomaWest Holdings, state treasurer, taxpayer-friendly, Walker Stapleton

4/7/2009 By Ben 1 Comment

RMA Blog Talk Radio Tonight at 8:30: State Treasurer Candidate J.J. Ament

Tune in tonight at 8:30 PM local Mountain time for the 21st edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio, go check it out. Our confirmed guest for this week is J.J. Ament, to discuss a potential run for state treasurer. We also may have someone else to discuss goings-on at the State Capitol. And perhaps there will be time to check returns from today's heated Fort Collins city council election. You can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, clean government, Colorado Politics, Fiscal Policy, General, PPC Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, candidate, city council, election, Fort Collins, guest, J.J. Ament, returns, Rocky Mountain Alliance, State Capitol, state treasurer

4/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ari Armstrong, Modern-Day Sam Adams, Helping Fill the Watchdog Gap

Sign of the times ... The American Journalism Review has released its annual survey of statehouse reporters. The unsurprising result? Forty-four states - including Colorado - have fewer full-time journalistic watchdogs tracking how elected legislatures are doing the people's business. As much as the Right pines about the liberally-biased media, this is not entirely a phenomenon to be rejoiced over. The news-gathering local media terrain is shifting under our feet as we move. A clear reason why we need more of the Modern-Day Sam Adams variety: Congratulations to Ari Armstrong for his well-deserved award and the lucrative success it brings. We don't always agree, but no one can deny Ari's diligent and persistent advocacy on behalf of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: advocacy, American Journalism Review, annual, Ari Armstrong, breach, citizens, clear reason, Colorado, Congratulations, diligent, economic liberty, elected, fewer, full-time, intellectual activism, journalistic, kudos, legislatures, liberally-biased, lucrative, media, media terrain, Modern-Day Sam Adams, news-gathering, people's business, persistent, personal liberty, phenomenon, pro-freedom, professional, rejoiced over, reporters, result, Right, statehouse, states, success, survey, unsurprising, watchdogs, well-deserved

4/6/2009 By Ben Leave a Comment

Opening Day

Snow is on the ground, but the Major League Baseball regular season is here. Hopes are renewed. Leading up to the season, Michael at Best Destiny has featured his takes on the best baseball movies ever. I largely concur with his opinions. As a Detroit Tigers fan, I consider myself sufficiently humbled after last year's crash from the plateau of high expectations -- a crash of epic proportions. This year the team looks somewhat different, definitely younger, and based on significant uncertainty in the bullpen could finish almost anywhere in the division. But it's April 6, and I'm hoping for the best. As for the hometown Colorado Rockies (my National League team), they likewise are relieved of the burden of high expectations. In a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commemorative, General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

4/6/2009 By Ryan Leave a Comment

How Much is a Trillion?

To put a trillion dollars into perspective, I decided to do a little imagining.  Just suppose that you could use a 53-foot semi-trailer to represent 1 million dollars.  One million dollars won't fill a trailer, but every time you see one, you know it stands for a million dollars. Now, imagine driving 12 hours per day on a road trip past a solid row of 53-foot semi trailers.  This row of trailers represents 1 trillion dollars, with 1 million dollars in each trailer.  Here are your approximate trip stats (based on this route and driving time): 10,000 Miles of semi trailers 3.74 Rows of trailers from LA to DC 146 Hours to drive up and down the rows 12 Days for a road trip (driving 12-hour days) up and down the rows Now that's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, liberty, National Politics, PPC, Random and Miscellaneous

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Inside

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  • Passion and Purpose:
    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

Colorado News

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National News and Politics

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  • Reason
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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
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Christian Commentary et al.

  • Kevin Pierpont
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Conservative and GOP Sites

  • Backbone America
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  • Colorado Republican Party
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Colorado Blogs

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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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

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