DennisMansfield.com

Jim Risch - US Senator from Carmen San Diego?

You know, it's no surprise that I have had years of political relationship with Jim Risch.  He started young. He's been in politics since I was in high school...that's weird. Then in the early 1990's I found myself in the center of the "culture wars" swirled about by a general lack of communication by both sides...liberal and conservative. Jim wasn't quite in those "wars"...and properly so,to his credit, as I look back on it.

During those years I had the honor of helping beat him when he was trying to "come back" into the State Senate against Roger Madsen. To Jim's credit, Roger beat him and Phil Batt asked Roger to be in his cabinet...and Jim survived, being chosen to fill that vacant seat.

And he came back...

So the Come Back Kid is now facing Larry LaRocco...trying to come back, himself. I helped run Helen Chenoweth's race in 1994, allowing Larry to exit stage left. And  you know, I never disliked Larry LaRocco. He's hard to dislike.

And as I have said in the past, it's sometimes hard to feel like you know Jim Risch, let alone feeling like you like or dislike him.

The truth of the matter is that Jim doesn't care if Dennis or others "like" him. Which, actually is refreshing, when you think about it. He's just not like others.

And I've come to the conclusion that we need that type of strong, tough leadership from Idaho in the US Senate.

So, I'm voting Risch in 3 weeks. Whether it's Obama or McCain, come January... when I ask "where in the world is Jimmy San Diego", the answer will most likely be: in the US Senate.

Den

Risch...Right and Left.

Great piece from Randy Stapilus on yesterday's debate for US Senate.

How odd is it to hear Jim be reported as saying that he's right and left? I've been around him for almost two decades...and he's a conservative.

Has anything changed? Apparently so...maybe he's become a Progressive Conservative...and if so, welcome to a movement of less bark and more wag...welcome to a movement of people who see the value of personal effort within the solid borders of civility.

How refreshing would that be for us as a state? Yeah, I could see that with both Larry and Jim.

Den

What does "it" matter? - 50,000 page views later

Get this, on September 2nd of 2006 we launched this blog with the following text:

What is "it"? There have been a lot of "its" in the past and many quotes like "it's the economy stupid" and many others. For this website the "it" for now is an attempt in fusing politics, culture, business, personality, religion, you and me.

No longer will there be a perceived hidden agenda - you'll get the straight scoop right here. There has never been a hidden agenda in my life; I like to lay myself right out there. Along with some friends there is a plan to bring many thoughts and plans to help businesses succeed, to help people reach their true potential and see a fusion of different perspectives become a stronger entity.

You'll see video, documents to download, links to other sites and people that speak into this dream - hang on & hope you like "it"!

Well....it's been 23 months since that first post (and 50,000 pageviews later as well - we hit that today.)


I'm sure that's not a big deal for some folks, but on this blog, it's fun to see us tip the scales at 50,000. ( I think that's more than the total number of election votes I've ever received - tee hee)


We've had a bunch of posts and we'll have a bunch more....

Keep hangin' on...and thanks for joining us, lo these many , many days/weeks/months and now years.

Den

 PS: Let me know which ones may have been "favorites", ok?
I just may sprinkle this month of August with a few "Best Of's"

Beauty and the Beast...against all odds?

Spent this Sunday in two distinctively different modes.

I enjoyed the  first part of the afternoon at the final showing of the Idaho Dance Theatre performance of Joy Ride. Several outstanding dancers were featured throughout the two hour performance, however Boise's own Jeremiah Robert Wierenga and Yurek Hansen were outstanding. Wierenga's personal "star power" and gifted stage presence was terrific to watch. Key to the success of the overall performance was the troupe's final 20 minute dance number, called The Journey Home. The piece was a very loose adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, and it was fun! It was narrated by Stitch Marker (an amazing local acting talent - I love to see Stitch's many and varied perforamces at the Boise Contemporary Theater). Odysseus' adventure was against all odds...and he succeeded, 20 years after he started.

Then, I spent time getting caught up this afternoon on the upcoming Idaho US Senate race, featuring Jim Risch's Primary ooponents: a cast of thousands. As I read on about the folks running for this seat two things hit me:

1. How easy it will be for Jim Risch to beat these well-meaning GOP opponents and
2. How much like Helen Chenoweth's '94 race, Larry LaRocco's comeback may be, 14 years later.

See, here's how it works (as I roll-up my sleeves to show my battle-scarred arms). The guy/gal who is best liked/most connected/least hated by the "I'm-in-with-the-in-crowd" crowd in Idaho power circles is given the "wink and the nod". For the uninitiated, that means he/she is "in". No question. Done deal. (Most of the time....)

Then, they either prime the financial pump by themselves (Jim's a good example) and/or connect with campaign donors (Dirk K's another good example). The race goes on and the victory is assured.

Again...most of the time. There ARE those few exceptions....

1. When Jim Risch ran unsuccessfully against Roger Madsen for a State Senate seat GOP nomination in '92. (an organized cadre of pro-lifers helped support Roger's fledgling campaign by running a separate race - off of our kitchen table.) Roger won by 196 votes, against all odds.
2. Helen Chenoweth's '94 Primary and General race(s). David Leroy was the leader of the GOP pack. I headed up that Primary race for her - Helen became the Congressman...against Leroy and then against incumbent Larry LaRocco and ultimately... against all odds.
3. Bill Sali's 2006 Primary against Sheila Sorenson. Because of their support for my race in 2000, we connected Bill to the Club for Growth, gave him some great DC contacts and he did his own thing....Congressionally, that is. Against the GOP "boys" ...and against all odds.

So is Jim Risch the "in crowd" guy? Of course. Does he have a hard Primary facing him? Heck no. Could the General Election be the place of shock and awe. I'm betting it will be.

The Beauty of the GOP "system" may meet the Beast of "change" in the body politic of Idaho in 2008.

Larry "Odysseus" LaRocco could finally find his way "home" after all these years - and then find himself cast as the new version of "Helen Chenoweth". He could just possibly find the "vibe" that people want and connect to that frequency, as Madsen did, as Sali did and as Helen Chenoweth did....against all odds.

How weird is that?

Den