text:
1800 Europe bound
This, my 1800th post, is being written at Sky Harbor International Airport at 7:00 PM on July 15, 2016. Dave and I are waiting for our British Airlines flight to London, continuing on to Munich to start our 2-week vacation.
By the time you read this, we will be done with Munich and on our way to Switzerland. We begin a land tour in Zürich and Lucerne before boarding an 8-day river cruise down the Rhine River which ends in Amsterdam.
I hope to write blog posts intermittently, but you can also follow our adventure on my Instagram page.
July 20, 2016 1 Comment
4th of July dessert bar
At last, the final post from the 4th of July Pot-Luck Pool Party. It only took two weeks to get all the recipes posted, that's not so bad.
If you want to see the menu in its entirety, you can always go to the link over on the left column of this page, click on the "Menu and Party Ideas" page and you'll find not only this party but many others.
The good new is that the recipes for all the desserts we served at the party are already posted on this site. There is one more fun idea though, so don't go running off.
First up is Tram's Famous Key Lime Pies! Tram brought the pies to my 4th party two years ago, so the recipe is posted HERE.
It's fun to go back and read that post since Zak & Zoey were only 4 months old at that gathering.
So sweet! As is Tram's pie.
Next, I baked my super easy All-American Berry-Cherry Flag Pie. It is going to be at every 4th party from here on out. Maybe next time I can convince someone else to make it though.
I posted the recipe for these Mason Jar Lid Hand Pies on July 3rd. But how cute is this bakery display stand? I found it at The Painted Fox, one of my favorite shopping websites. Love it!
Lastly, we have the Mason Jar Ice Cream Bar. Above you see the cute sprinkles and toppings displayed.
July 19, 2016 No Comments
lowcountry boil
This is the second of the two main-courses from the 4th of July Pot-Luck Pool Party.
Have you heard of Frogmore Stew? How about Lowcountry Boil? The Boil, I knew about, the Stew I didn't. Or at least I thought I didn't. Turns out they are the same thing.
Here is the history of this dish, according to Coastal Living Magazine, "Once called Frogmore Stew, this one-pot wonder was created by a National Guardsman when he needed to cook a meal for 100 soldiers. Richard Gay, who learned the recipe from his family, had everyone remembering his stew. The dish was named Frogmore, where Richard was from, by the guards who teased him about home. The Unites States Postal Service eliminated the name Frogmore, which changed this popular dish to Lowcountry Boil."
You can use whatever type of cooked sausage you would like. I prefer Aidells Pineapple & Bacon Smoked Chicken Sausage, which I find at Costco. I also get the shrimp at Costco. It is already deveined and ready to drop in the pot.
July 18, 2016 1 Comment
yet another pulled pork recipe
The first of my two main-course dishes for the 4th of July Pot-Luck Pool Party is a pulled pork recipe that came from Williams-Sonoma. I altered the recipe to fit my needs.
Need #1 – I did not want to buy a jar of the Williams-Sonoma pulled pork starter. It cost too much and after going online and looking at the list of ingredients, I had all of it on hand anyhow, so I made my own.
Need #2 – I buy my pork shoulder at Costco and a 2.5 pound piece (which is what the Williams-Sonoma recipe called for) would be a joke at Costco. Mine weighed in at a whopping 15 pounds. This meant I needed to quadruple the original recipe, which was more than fine because the original served only 4 to 6 and I had more than 24 mouths to feed. I realize that 15 pounds is 6x as much, but the remaining ingredients only needed to be 4x more.
The big trick to the thing was cooking it in a slow cooker in two batches. It wasn't difficult and took less time and effort than I expected it would. I thought about calling a neighbor to borrow a second slow cooker, but I was too lazy. That is a good option though.
Another issue was that it never even crossed my mind to take a photo of even one sandwich. I have photos of the pork in the chafing dish and of the slaw on the platter. But no individual sandwiches pics or of the cute setup I had for the little sandwich baskets and paper liners that I worked super hard to get all fixed up. Darn it! As you can see, I had to improvise with those "close-up" images. Sad, but it's all I got.
July 15, 2016 1 Comment
watermelon overload
I had an abundance of watermelon to use up at the 4th of July Pot-Luck Pool Party. The week prior, I had purchased four small seedless watermelons to make these tasty treats. Kim, Peggy, Anne and I were planning to get together at Kim's new house for a little housewarming happy hour. At the last minute, plans changed. Without the party on the horizon, I don't know what I would have done with them all!
I used them up in a non-alcoholic watermelon-strawberry-lemon slushy and in this refreshing watermelon salad.
July 14, 2016 1 Comment
carry out the theme!
If you know me, you know that when I have a theme, I carry it out to the nth degree. Here is my train of thought, "Red, white & blue is the theme, so we absolutely have to have a RW&B salad!" This one did not disappoint. Well, except for the fact that I forgot to add the almonds and didn't remember until after I took the photos, and more discouraging, until after nearly half of the people had made their plates. Oh well.
There was some left, although there probably wouldn't have been if I'd remembered the darn almonds! Anyhow, I pulled out the lettuce leaves and packed it away in the fridge.
Two days later, I was home alone and thinking about dinner. I was looking at the container of leftover salad trying to decide if I should add new lettuce to it or just toss it in the trash. Suddenly I had an overwhelming craving for pancakes. Seriously, is there anything better than breakfast for dinner? So I whipped up a batch of pancakes and topped them with the leftover, kind of soggy, berries, burrata and fresh (not soggy!) almonds – delish!
July 13, 2016 1 Comment
corn 3 ways
I know that yesterday I mentioned that I'd highlight the 4th of July main courses and dessert next, but that was before I remembered that in addition to all the wonderful salads and sides my friends brought, I also made a few sides and salads myself. So let's get to those first.
July 12, 2016 No Comments
Rachael's appetizer and little party bits
Connor's friend, Rachael, brought these super easy and super tasty little appetizer picks. Luckily I was able to snap a photo before they were all snapped up!
No one had signed up for chips and dip, so I asked Connor to provide those.
You have to have chips and dip!
I threw together a red, white and blue flag snack tray using, red grapes, banana slices, strawberries, yogurt covered pretzels, blueberries and raspberries.
Lastly, I purchased a mock gingerbread house at Trader Joe's, which was really a sugar cookie White House and I pretended like it was Christmas in July. I loved putting it together since our long family tradition of Marissa and Connor each assembling their own Christmas gingerbread houses has fallen by the wayside. Mostly because they hate it! Oh well, a mom can reminisce.
These were a few of the little extras at the 4th of July Party Pot-Luck Pool Party. The main course and dessert details will follow in the coming days.
July 11, 2016 No Comments
Julie's department store broccoli salad
George and Julie brought not only a tasty broccoli salad but their four beautiful children as well. Actually the party more than doubled in size from when I originally lamented about it being so small, in this post. That made me happy. My motto when it comes to parties is always "the more the merrier!" When kids and teens are added to the mix, nothing could be truer!
Case in point – I asked Dave to please set up the ping-pong table and the lawn games; cornhole, ladder ball toss and croquet.
He balked, saying that no one was going to play any of those things because it was too hot. I argued that people would hop in and out of the pool and I wanted there to be a variety of activities for them to choose from.
Um, do you want to take a wild guess at who was right? Those kids walked straight in the front door, through the house and into the yard. All games and activities were played, not only the ones above but also the pool volleyball and basketball and the putting green. Take that 109 degrees!
Back to the broccoli salad. Julie said the recipe comes from a department store restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. The store was called Lazarus & Co. and although it is no longer there, the salad lives on. Thanks for sharing, Julie!
July 9, 2016 1 Comment
Michelle's Ridic Salad
My cousin, Ty, and his beautiful wife, Michelle, brought a pasta salad to the potluck. She named it, not me. She cracks me up.
It's not only ridiculously easy but also ridiculously delicious!
Above are the "Three T's" – Ty, Tram and the Twins. Below is Michelle with Zoey … doing … I'm not sure what but they sure are cute!
July 8, 2016 1 Comment


text:
GLASSBORO, N.J. (CBS) – According to the Glassboro Police Department, an officer's K9 partner suddenly passed away on July 5.
The K9, named Anka, had broken out of her secured kennel sometime before 9 p.m. Saturday. Glassboro Police and surrounding agencies immediately began searching the area for her.
An off-duty police officer soon located a severely-injured Anka one mile away at the intersection of Cross-Keys Road and Flanagan Avenue. She had apparently been struck by a vehicle.
Police rushed Anka to a nearby veterinary hospital, but while en-route she succumbed to her injuries.
Officers suspect Anka became stressed during private 4th of July fireworks displays in the area. Police believe this caused her to pull away from the fencing in her kennel and allowed her to slip out and run away.
Anka and her partner Ptl. Williams graduated from Patrol K9 school in 2011. They were involved in several K9 assignments during their time together in service.
Anka was also the first female police K9 in the department's K9 history that began in 1958. The Glassboro Police K9 Unit plans to honor Anka in a memorial service in the near future.
Police say details will be announced as they become available.
You may also be interested in these stories:
- 4-Star General Delivers Forceful Case For Clinton At DNC
- Hillary Clinton Officially Accepts Dems' Nomination, Capping Historic Convention
- Dallas Sheriff Among Officers Honored At DNC
- LGBT Community Celebrates Pelosi, Rendell In Philly
- Father Of Fallen Muslim Soldier Asks Trump 'Have You Read The Constitution?'

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Fading is the best book of 2013 for me! I can't imagine anything coming close to touching it."-Sinfully Sexy Reviews
"EK Blair has upped the standards of indie writing forever. This author is an artist...most incredible, breathtaking stories I have ever read."-Word
"My favorite book of 2013 and one of the best books I have ever read...gasping and sobbing."-Seductive Romance Reviews
About the Author
A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.
Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She's a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.


text:
|welcome to the CFNM Clips - great online collection of proper cfnm porn. We are happy to introduce all kinds of humiliation that demanding luxury dressed lady propose to humble naked and miserable male slave. Jerking, milking, teasing girls take you to the deepest CFNM fantasies!
|If you have never seen real bachelorette parties, girl's birthdays, etc...then you are quite simply not going to believe what you see. But this is the sad truth. Girls go absolutely nuts. Girls go absolutely slutty. It just goes to prove that girls want sex and cock at least as much as guys do...they just are better than us at hiding this fact, you will enjoy this site if you really like party hardcore sex!
>>> See all DANCING BEARs cfnm videos from all parties. <<<
|most popular free clothed female naked male (cfnm) movies | updated daily with totally free hadpicked movie galleries
College guys stripped by confident schoolgirls
you guys know how im always inventing knew games right well heres anew one...
adventures in cfnm
Life model gets aroused in front of girls class and has to cum as punishment
Therapist helps girl get over her fear of cocks by making her milk one!
Schoolboy Spanked
Guy with tiny cock gets stripped, laughed at and milked by two girls
They were asking to play with his dick
who are willing to participate in our little experiment (who grows & who...
All measuring from hard through soft
Guy tied naked in a post and tickled by hot girls.
Hey guys, so this week I decided to present Brandi Piece Theater. This weeks...
Three girls wank guy off to get a DNA sample
Cfnm dogging movies
Son gets a hard-on while being spanked so mums friend relieves him
adventures in cfnm
Boy gets humiliated, stripped and wanked by his sisters friends
MILF catches teen spying on man in bath and makes her wank his cock
Nurses mock the dicks of guys they bully and measure
Helpless boy got his ass probed and cock measured
CFNM Secret
Pure CFNM
CFNM Adventures
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Girls pick up a hitch hiker, drive him to a field and force him to strip
Robbers force two couples to strip and then wank each other off
Young girl and MILF battle to see who can make a boy cum
Converted To Exhibitionism
Dominative female doctors make a guy beat off
adventures in cfnm
adventures in cfnm
Once again its brandi to the rescue...this actually a topic im quite serious...
So I figured for this weeks update I could do another experiment. I had a...
Three streetwise girls strip, wank and take pictures to blackmail guy
Glued Hands
Insolent chauffeur is stripped and sucked by posh ladies
|Best CFNM Videos
|Kinky Handjob Tube
|free CFNM femdom
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Peeping Tom is stripped and wanked dry by female swimming class
Cfnm dogging movies
Holly West in CFNM Secret video: Cum Cravers
Oldie domina milks young naked man
adventures in cfnm
MILF examines and wanks the huge cock her daughter told her her about
Welcome To The Convent
CFNM Maximum porn videos
A picnic turns into endless CFNM serving for the guy
Smart dresser is stripped and wanked by three girls to see if he is gay or not
Obedient guys touch themselves for pervy CFNM girls
Kayla Carrera in CFNM Secret video: Pussy Pile
|CFNM Videos
|CFNM Videos
|Clothed Female Nude Male
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Guy is tied up and has his cocked teased until he begs to cum
adventures in cfnm
Cum In The Bath
Burglar gets his ass and cock punished by two hot blondes
They do whatever she said
Unwanted Erection
i had Cali give him a blow job just to see if he can last once he passes that...
cfnm fever movies
Steam room flasher is stripped and wanked into huge explosion by four girls
cfnm fever movies
boy at med exams video
These girls go wild for a plate of cum
|Kinky Handjob Tube
|CFNM Video
|Real CFNM Parties
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Girls gets a creamy surprise in her mouth
boy at med exams video
Brandi walks in on her masturbating friend... so she decides to lend him a...
Hi there, everyone! I invited my friend Alexa James to my favorite massage...
boy at med exams video
Bride to be and her horny friends go cock sucking crazy
Brandi is up to her antics again. This time this poor chap gets a good...
CFNM - Jerky Tiffany # 1
ID Parade
Guy is stripped and wanked in front of all female art class
Two gorgeous angels are assigned to service a guy's cock and ass for...
Penis test
|Femdom Pleasure
|CFNM Handjob
|free CFNM femdom
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Two women violate guy's ass and wank him dry after he gropes them
Photographer is caught wanking and given double blowjob by two models
Teen guy forced to jack off at medical exam
Helpless guy turned into animal on a CFNM walk
Stunning brunette gives bodybuilder a blowjob before a competition
Dorm Lock Out
Whats better than having 3 horny chicks at your disposal to do with what you...
Boy bends over and opens up for mean clothed nurses
Guy is stripped and wanked in front of female audience to win girlfriend back
Two girls bet whether a man will drop his trousers if they ask him
Primitive women get their first taste of cock and spunk
adventures in cfnm
|Free CFNM
|Hottest Handjobs
|CFNM Handjob
Bookmark CFNM Clips!
Pervy science ladies examine an edgy dude
Two blondes suck and fuck an old guy till he cums on them
cfnm fever movies
Riley Evans in CFNM Secret video: Titty Teasers
Crime Scene
It was awesome, and the best one was when they had to get hard under...
Card Games
cfnm fever movies
Little did they know they were actually going to a rub n tug but my helpful...
Naive male model is taken advantage of during photo shoot with three girls
Schoolgirls take advantage of tied up man to strip and wank his cock
Old boy gets stripped and humiliated by two young girls
|Free Handjob Video Clip
|CFNM Femdom
|CFNM Handjobs
100% free cfnm image galleries | hottest scenes of fully clothed ladies dominating totally naked male subs
• Two shy girls get boy to wank for them so they can see what happens
• Mum and sister help nerdy girlfriend get her first feel of a cock
• Male model strips and gets handjob in front of wrong girls before cumming on them
• A group of rich girls strip and play with their boy toy butler
• Female reporters interviewing nude male athletes with huge cock.
• Lucky guy gets naked handjob off four stunners during massage
• Boy is caught wanking to porn by three girls who decide to take over
• Boy is tied to the bed while sleeping by four girls who want his cock
• Hospital Patient Gets His Cock Jerked By Three Hot Nurses
• Man gets hard on trying on some old clothes so girls grope and wank his bulge
• Naughty pictures on a computer lead to a forced strip and wank for unlucky guy
• Mother spanks son for getting an erection before her friend wanks him off
• Proud girl shows off her boyfriend's cock to two friends before sucking it
• Three Horny Sexy Nurses Jerk Off Their Patient's Big Cock
• Naked Tai Chi instructor gets groped and milked by the girls
• Mother and four girls strip and wank a guy for getting daugher pregnant
• Hot Student And Her Friends Jerk Off Their Teacher In Class
• Drugged guy is stripped and tied to railings by two girls who then abuse him
• Three girls milk a naked guy onto a glass table with their friend's face undeaneath
• Boy goes into wrong showers and girls won't let him out without wanking him off
• Salesgirls catch guy naked in his house and decide to milk him to a huge orgasm
• Two female paramedics find patient is faking by teasing his tiny penis
• Ladies playing with their pool boys dick before going to a concert.
• Police officer getting naked in a room full of horny clothed girls.
• Camping girls have their way with a CFNM victim
• Slim boy undressed and abused by two CFNM bitches
• Life model gets erection in front of girls class and is made to wank for them
• Two young girls learn from some MILFs how to play with a man's cock
• Pool fun ends in the poor guy pinned and stroked
• Stunning blond is tricked to strip off but her friends make the guy pay with his cum
• Clothed girls tie a guy to a tree and have fun with him
• Guy tries to chat up poledancer but gets stripped, laughed at and milked
• Brittania teases her brothers friends naked cock
• Four stunners face sit then suck a guy handcuffed to the bed
• Three women find out beefy fireman has a small hose
• Club owner gets blowjob from four hot strippers
• Helpless guy turned into animal on a CFNM walk
• Mum strips boy naked in front of a girl after he spills juice on his clothes
• Two rich bitches abuse naked farm boy in the back of their limo
• Two lesbians torment a tied up naked guy before three girls wank him off
• Two Horny Sluts Jerk Off Their New Substitute Teacher's Cock
• Three girls wank naked man's cock over their friend's tits and pretend its sunscreen
• Nude guy serves as a picnic toy for two CFNM bitches
• Lady judges surround nude men in a big cock contest.
• Naked men gym supervise by horny intructors.
• Three Slutty Hookers Jerk Off A Broke Customer's Cock
• Graffiti boy caught and humiliated by two mean girls
• Naked guy kicked and abused on an outdoor CFNM orgy
• Mature masseuse sonia
• Defeat at strip poker means two girls get to see his tiny cock
• Three Hot Sluts Give Stripper A Handjob At A Birthday Party
• Inexperienced girl is given a handjob lesson by two MILFs using her boyfriend
• Girls massages males and suck cock beside the swimming pool
• Three girls take out their frustration at soccer team's defeat on guy's cock
• Policemans truncheon isnt big enough to impress these two women
• Bodybuilder is stripped and wanked by three gym babes
• Brunette nylons mistress
• The tall sexy brunette that is Tammie Lee is such a tease! She loves to suck and wank a big hard cock whilst smoking. Check Tammie Lee out, you won
• Boots and spurs milf
• Bound for cumload
100% friendly and free CFNM sites | All are totally free and clean - do not hesitate and visit them
1. Best CFNM Videos
2. free CFNM femdom
3. Kinky Handjob Tube
4. CFNM Zone
5. CFNM Videos
6. CFNM Video
7. Sex CFNM
8. CFNM Videos
9. Pure CFNM
10. Real CFNM Parties
11. CFNM Handjob
12. CFNM Movies
13. Girls Party
14. CFNM Movie
15. Free Male Medical Galleries
16. MILF Handjob
17. Femdom Pleasure
18. CFNM in Action
19. Clothed Female Nude Male
20. Handjob World
21. CFNM Lab
22. Hottest Handjobs
23. Guys Strip
24. CFNM Secret
25. Free CFNM
26. CFNM Sex
28. CFNM Paradise
29. Hot Handjob Movies
30. CFNM Pages
31. Pure CFNM Sex
32. Male Medical Exam
33. Femdom Movie
35. Handjob Handjob
36. CFNM Time
37. CFNM Cumshot
38. CFNM Free Porn
39. Free Handjob Video Clip
40. CFNM Humiliations
|We are glad to be listed at: CFNMable Blog | CFNM Guide | Handjob List | CFNM Zone | Handjob Toplist | CFNM Taboo | CFNM at Dominant Woman | Amoral CFNM People | CFNM 100 | Hardest CFNM | Categorized CFNM Galleries | CFNM and Handjob Pages | CFNM Gallery Archives | CFNM Central | CFNM Jerk Off | CFNM Club | CFNM List | CFNM Photoalbum | Shameless CFNM | CFNM Cum | Kinkiest Handjob
|Our friends: Cfnm Galleries | CFNM Life | CFNM Movies | Cfnm Pages | Chicks Jerking Dicks | Free CFNM | Girls Party | Handjob Tube | Handjob Video | Hottest Handjobs | Real CFNM Parties | Teen Handjob
|Traffic Holder: BUY/SELL TRAFFIC
|© CFNM Clips 2010


text:
Boondock Saints (US - DVD R1)
Fox has sent over artwork for an unrated special edition of this Willem Dafoe film
Starring: Willem Dafoe
Released: 23rd May 2006
Further Details:
Fox Home Entertainment has sent over details on an unrated special edition of Boondock Saints which stars Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus. The disc will be available to own from the 23rd May, and should retail at around $26.98. The disc will carry both anamorphic widescreen, and full screen transfers - along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track. The extra material will include audio commentaries from writer/director Troy Duffy and actor Billy Connolly, deleted scenes, some outtakes, a printable script, a Boondock Saints Trailer, and a Donnie Darko trailer. We've attached the artwork below:
News by Tom Woodward
Follow our updates
Latest Reviews
Zombi Holocaust/Dr. Butcher, M.D. US - BD RA Arrow Review Round-Up US - BD RA High Rise UK - BD RB Oxbow Incident, The UK - BD RB The Cook, The Theif, His Wife And Her Lover UK - BD RB
Reviewer Agony
Manos/Mosquito Double-Feature US - BD RA Little Nicky - Platinum Series US - DVD R1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel US - BD RA Shark Night US - BD RA Hollywood Homicide UK - DVD R2
Released Soon
The Lobster US - DVD R1 | BD RA Meet the Blacks US - DVD R1 | BD RA High-Rise US - DVD R1 | BD RA The Knick: Season Two US - DVD R1 | BD RA Blacklist: Season Three US - DVD R1 | BD RA
Most Talked About
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Ultimate Edition US - BD RA Captain America: Civil War US - DVD R1 | BD RA X-Men: Apocalypse US - DVD R1 | BD RA The Exorcist III: Collector's Edition US - BD RA Highlander: 30th Anniversary Edition UK - BD RB


text:
"Lenin is said to have declared that the best way to destroy the Capitalist System was to debauch the currency. By a continuing process of inflation, governments can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens....Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose." ~ John Maynard Keynes
Senate Rejects Final FISA Amendment, Lets Spying Program Stay Shrouded In Secrecy
Submitted by Persona non grata on Mon, 2012-12-31 01:00
As Wyden has pointed out in the past, and re-iterated during debate this morning, not only is Congress unable to get an estimate from the NSA on how many American citizens have been spied on through FISA, he is unable to even get a yes or no answer as to whether such an estimate exists. Considering FISA is supposed to be subject to Congressional oversight, this seems like a pretty big problem, and one worth fixing before renewing the program for another five years.
Your rating: None
- Login to post comments
User Login
Search This Site
Recent comments
6 hours 22 min ago
1 day 5 hours ago
1 day 8 hours ago
1 day 12 hours ago
1 day 15 hours ago
1 day 15 hours ago
1 day 15 hours ago
1 day 18 hours ago
1 day 21 hours ago
2 days 4 hours ago


text:
The most conservative member of the Senate has his office not far from the Russell Rotunda, where many of his colleagues regularly approach the mic under the lights and go on national television.
But you won't find James Risch, the high-energy, low-visibility junior Republican senator from Idaho, anywhere near the camera. That also explains why you may not have heard of him.
Yet it was Risch — not Sens. Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, or Marco Rubio — who compiled the Senate's most conservative record, according to National Journal's newly released 2013 vote ratings. And he did so for the second straight year and third time overall since he took office in 2009.
Risch stands in contrast to his Republican Senate colleagues, not so much because he's more conservative but because he doesn't seek the spotlight like some, including three possible presidential candidates. Risch cedes the point. He may indeed have the lowest name recognition compared with his colleagues.
"I'm not running for president, and I don't have a book that I'm selling," he said.
"So given that, there's a lot more work to be done right in this room than there is to walking over to the rotunda and getting on Fox or what have you."
So who is James Risch?
Those who know him say he's a strict constitutionalist, a believer in small government and states' rights. His voting record is more conservative than those of Minority Leader McConnell (No. 25) and tea-party stars Cruz (No. 4), Paul (No. 19), and Rubio (No. 17). In a state like Idaho, where Mitt Romney won by 32 points in 2012, Risch's record merely reflects the views of most voters.
"Idaho loves two things," said Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter. "They love a person who is a constitutionalist, who tries to follow the Constitution, and they love a person that uses the Constitution as the principles that guide their political decisions. And that is Jim Risch."
Not surprisingly, as Risch tells it, that means there's little common ground for him to find with Democrats, whose views he can't square with his principles. "I want to work with any Democrat, including Barack Obama. I want compromise with him," Risch said. "I want to deal with him. I want to do bipartisan things with him — to reduce the size of the federal government, to lower federal taxes, to get rid of regulations, and to reduce the intrusion of the federal government into our lives. So far I haven't found anybody that's interested in working with me on that."
Despite that, Risch insists he knows how to compromise, pointing to what he said was a top accomplishment during his time in the state Legislature: changing how the state enacted regulations, which prior to reform did not require the Legislature to weigh in. After the reforms, any regulation not affirmed by the Legislature expired. That resulted in a legislative rush to clear regulations that lawmakers wanted to see kept on the books.
"In the legislative process, you never get what you want," Risch said. "It is always a matter of give and take."
Risch came to the Senate in 2009 after Larry Craig, charged with soliciting sex from an undercover cop, decided not to run again. Risch spent nearly three decades in state government, including a yearlong stint as governor (he filled a vacant term), two terms as lieutenant governor, and two decades in the state Senate, much of the time as majority leader.
His friend and colleague of 30 years, Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho (No. 10), says he and Risch have the "highest level of trust" between them, and he describes Risch as results-oriented.
But when you're a constitutional conservative who values less government, what do results look like?
Crapo pointed to the Owyhee Initiative, a public-lands effort that designated more than 500,000 acres of wilderness in the state. But that was passed and signed into law nearly four years ago. Indeed, with a Democratic Senate, common ground and landmark legislative accomplishments are hard to come by.
Behind the scenes in the Republican Conference, Risch has earned a reputation as a quiet but earnest colleague.
"He's a workhorse," said his friend and fellow Westerner, Sen. John Barrasso (No. 6) of Wyoming. Barrasso said Republicans have consulted Risch on regulatory questions as well as issues involving the Environmental Protection Agency. "When Jim Risch talks, everybody listens," he said.
Risch faces reelection this year, and in deep-red Idaho seems poised to win, according to political strategists. He won't face a Republican primary opponent. A Democratic challenger, Boise attorney Nels Mitchell, recently entered the race and won the backing of former state Sen. Mike Burkett, who defeated Risch in a 1988 state Senate contest. (Risch still remembers the sting of that defeat "like it was yesterday," he said.) Otter, a Republican, is backing Risch.
"I will do whatever I can to help him," he said.
Risch came to Idaho from Wisconsin, where he grew up and studied forestry before going on to law school at the University of Idaho.
He also established himself as an accomplished rancher. Before he and his wife of more than four decades, Vicki, were married, Risch bought a beef cow, and has since grown the herd to more than several hundred cows. His eldest son, James, largely runs the operation now, but Risch regularly helps with branding — the metal brand is a symbol combining his initials, JR — calving, and other duties, his aides say.
"He's quite a cattleman," Otter said. "We don't brag how many head we have. I've been a cattleman all my life and a horse person all my life, but Jim's got a lot more cattle than I got."
What We're Following See More »
Just after President Obama finished his address to the DNC, Hillary Clinton walked out on stage to join him, so the better could share a few embraces, wave to the crowd—and let the cameras capture all the unity for posterity.
In a speech that began a bit like a State of the Union address, President Obama said the "country is stronger and more prosperous than it was" when he took office eight years ago. He then talked of battling Hillary Clinton for the nomination in 2008, and discovering her "unbelievable work ethic," before saying that no one—"not me, not Bill"—has ever been more qualified to be president. When his first mention of Donald Trump drew boos, he quickly admonished the crowd: "Don't boo. Vote." He then added that Trump is "not really a plans guy. Not really a facts guy, either."
Tim Kaine introduced himself to the nation tonight, devoting roughly the first half of his speech to his own story (peppered with a little of his fluent Spanish) before pivoting to Hillary Clinton—and her opponent. "Hillary Clinton has a passion for children and families," he said. "Donald Trump has a passion, too: himself." His most personal line came after noting that his son Nat just deployed with his Marine battalion. "I trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life," he said.
Michael Bloomberg said he wasn't appearing to endorse any party or agenda. He was merely there to support Hillary Clinton. "I don't believe that either party has a monopoly on good ideas or strong leadership," he said, before enumerating how he disagreed with both the GOP and his audience in Philadelphia. "Too many Republicans wrongly blame immigrants for our problems, and they stand in the way of action on climate change and gun violence," he said. "Meanwhile, many Democrats wrongly blame the private sector for our problems, and they stand in the way of action on education reform and deficit reduction." Calling Donald Trump a "dangerous demagogue," he said, "I'm a New Yorker, and a know a con when I see one."
Vice President Biden tonight called President Obama "one of the finest presidents we have ever had" before launching into a passionate defense of Hillary Clinton. "Everybody knows she's smart. Everybody knows she's tough. But I know what she's passionate about," he said. "There's only one person in this race who will help you. ... It's not just who she is; it's her life story." But he paused to train some fire on her opponent "That's not Donald Trump's story," he said. "His cynicism is unbounded. ... No major party nominee in the history of this country has ever known less."