DeMint to leave Senate; 2014 now even more interesting
Just when it looked like Georgia’s 2014 GOP primary might attract the most national attention, with Sen. Saxby Chambliss facing a likely challenge from his right, South Carolina upped the ante significantly. Jim DeMint, the Palmetto State’s arch-conservative senator, said today he is resigning his seat to take over as leader of the Heritage Foundation.
Initial reports are that South Carolina law calls for the governor to appoint DeMint’s replacement, who would then stand for election in 2014. The state’s other senator, Lindsey Graham, is also up for re-election that year and there’s speculation that he’ll also be challenged by another Republican. That could make for quite a twin-bill in South Carolina’s 2014 GOP primary — not to mention that Gov. Nikki Haley faces some dissension from within her own ranks and might not cruise to re-election herself. Graham and even Chambliss might be breathing a little easier this morning, knowing the activists’ attention and money will now be spread around a little more widely.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Haley for her choice as DeMint’s replacement. DeMint is renowned as one of the Senate’s most conservative members and a leader for the tea-party senators elected since 2010. While the Senate will remain under Democratic control for at least two more years, the difference between a replacement as ideologically firm as DeMint and one closer to Graham could loom large — particularly given Democrats’ threatened reform of the filibuster.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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248 comments Add your comment
CC
December 6th, 2012
2:04 pm
Auntie Christ:
“You do realize I hope, that you just described gw bush’s tenure in the White House.”
That’s your opinion, and you are entitled to it. We both know what opinions are like, don’t we? I can dress myself, thank you very much, but you might give some serious thought to finding someone to think for you because you obviously have problems in that area.
Linda
December 6th, 2012
2:04 pm
Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican & Democrats have always been & are still racists.
http://runslave.blogspot.com/search?q=Martin+Luther+King+Republican
Glenn
December 6th, 2012
2:07 pm
Well so much for the GOP and this new “broader ” appeal . How can this not be viewed as doubling down on unpopularity ?
I now feel sorry for John Boehner ,
Linda
December 6th, 2012
2:15 pm
Democrats are racists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwqhoVIh65k
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 6th, 2012
2:17 pm
Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican & Democrats have always been & are still racists.
Utter nonsense.
Lincoln would not be a Republican today and the South went Republican soon after LBJ signed the civil rights bill giving African Americans equal rights.
Just look at the leadership of the two parties. 19 of 20 in the Republican party are white males.
Then look at the Democrats. Very diverse and much more in line with America.
Its obvious what is going on.
Auntie Christ
December 6th, 2012
2:18 pm
CC
December 6th, 2012
2:04 pm
That’s your opinion, and you are entitled to it.
**********************************************************************
What I said was fact not opinion. Go back and read the new reports from Sep and Oct 08, 1 Million jobs a months lost, the Dow losing 500-700 points a day, a Trillion plus in Tarp money requested, major bank failures, and on and on, one catastrophe after another, on top of bush’s catastrophic useless war and his handling of Katrina. Those are facts, not opinion and no amount of tea party wet dreaming is going to erase them.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 6th, 2012
2:26 pm
http://www.heritage.org/about/staff?positions=%22Senior+Management%22
Your right Kyle. Pretty diverse group over there.
Reminds me of a line from the “Blues Brothers” movie.
Elwood: What kind of music do you usually have here?
Claire: Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western.
Kind of like Fox News. They present both sides too.
The Republican side and the conservative side.
LOL.
@@
December 6th, 2012
2:36 pm
I’d go with Trey Gowdy as DeMint’s replacement. He presents himself with articulate passion. Not sure what’s goin’ on with his hair though. It has those “Something about Mary” moments.
ODD OWL
December 6th, 2012
2:37 pm
Aaaaaahhhhh The Democrats are experiencing the thrill of victory, while the Republicans are tormented by the agony of defeat… Jim DeMinted is one of the first rats to jump off the sinking ship… Very soon it will become a torrent… Tea Party Tim Scott is not an acceptable replacement to fill Jim DeMint’s Senate seat… African-American Democrats view Tim Scott as a Big House, who is willing to sell his race down the river for a fist full of dollars and a small measure of power… Democrats will oppose Tim Scott’s appointment vigorously… Gov. Nicky Haley should appoint herself to the seat… She don’t have a future as Gov. anyway, because South Carolina will go Democrat Blue in 2014… Did Johnny “one note” Boehner cave on that fiscal cliff issue yet ??? The President will begin his well deserved and much needed Christmas vacation in Hawaii around December 20th and he will not return to Washington until January 5th, 2013…
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
2:40 pm
Well, another success story for South Carolina. I grew up there and it is one fine state. They selected a smart woman and made her governor. No surprise there. They believe in telling the truth and you better believe it when they tell you something.
The people of South Carolina are proud of their state and don’t personally like to” tear down” their own fine state (unlike liberals in Georgia who diminish their own state for politics).They are not afraid to say what they believe in and foremost in that belief is a free country with independence as the best of qualitites.
So, good luck to Mr. DeMint in his efforts to secure our heritage. And may Gov. Haley send the best and the strongest in mind and spine to the Senate. They could use a little help in subduing the nincompoops of Washington, D.C.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 6th, 2012
2:48 pm
Spare Tim Scott the liberal lynch mob, already.
Glenn
December 6th, 2012
2:53 pm
@ Odd Owl
Its moderates who are going to feel defeat . The Heritage Foundation is the modern conservative voice . Thus the voice of FOX news . The Heritage Foundation is the actual spin factory . Think Benghazi & leftwing hypocrisy . Jim DeMint now gets to talk his crazy Tea Party conservatism without having to pretend he cares about his constituents . He also gets a MASSIVE raise .
Tim Scott will get the seat if for no other reason than because he is black . That’s just the game of politics .
getalife
December 6th, 2012
2:59 pm
The tea party had it’s “Waterloo” and are dead.
If you can’t beat him cons, join him.
Glenn
December 6th, 2012
2:59 pm
Dusty , South Carolina is a welfare state dependent on federal money . Your state only brings in two thirds of what it receives in federal coin . There is nothing independent about South Carolina . Because South Carolina is the least educated state people like Jim Demint can thrive . Don’t worry Dusty . We will keep our hands off your medicaid .
@@
December 6th, 2012
3:05 pm
African-American Democrats view Tim Scott as a Big House, who is willing to sell his race down the river for a fist full of dollars and a small measure of power
Obama beat him to it. Today’s black unemployment is what….15.5%? Almost double that of whites.
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
3:08 pm
Sooooo, GLENN, you don’ tthink a black man can be smart enough to go to the Senate. That shows how smart you are.
As to the present Tea Party, they are the second in tea parties. Tthe first threw boxes of tea overboard in defiance of overtaxing without representation. The present Tea Party is an effort to return our government to the fairness of its Constitutional foundation.
It seems that you don’t have a taste for tea parties. Stay in your shell and watch the world turn, as long as it turns for YOU. Try,also, to adjust to the fact that some people can honestly earn MASSIVE salaries.
I don’t doubt that you
jconservative
December 6th, 2012
3:12 pm
Kyle, if you are still checking the blog. Please check any sources you have in S. C. re Haley naming a “care taker” type to hold the seat until she runs for the seat in 2014 when her term as governor is up.
And I understand her approval rating is shaky at about 40% as I recall.
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
3:16 pm
Glenn
You are the one who knows all about Medicaid. Our family is self supporting. Don’t get mad because South Carolina is a fine state. Your musings have no interest to me or them. Your prejudice is noted and found to be ignorance.
Steve
December 6th, 2012
3:19 pm
Dusty, aside from Charleston and Greenville, when you drive through that state it’s a wasteland of poverty. But hey, the rich are doing quite well there in their enclaves…
Glenn
December 6th, 2012
3:20 pm
Dusty
Me and your beloved South Carolina are dependent on the Federal government . I and the people of South Carolina would be living off rat meat if it wasn’t for the federal government Dusty . Luckily we both get to take more than we put in and still feel entitled to whatever misguided pride we might feel .
If you read again I stated quite clearly he would get the nomination due to THE GAME OF POLITICS . If Jim DeMint was intelligent enough for South Carolina I believe anyone could represent your state .
Kyle Wingfield
December 6th, 2012
3:23 pm
jconservative @ 3:12: I’m not all that plugged-in in S.C. I have not read anything from anyone who is in the loop there suggesting she might want to do as you speculate. More likely, she’d want to weigh whether a placeholder senator, leading to two wide-open senatorial primaries, would help her re-election chances that year.
Cherokee
December 6th, 2012
3:34 pm
“I heard a very interesting (although not surprising) comment last night from someone who has been traveling around the country ”
Sure you did….
Ray
December 6th, 2012
3:37 pm
This indicates how ridiculous, or at least totally non-mainstream, the Heritage Foundation is more than anything else. I don’t know how anyone other than an arch-conservative can take anything or any “study” by the Heritage Foundation seriously with a guy like DeMint running it.
Politico
December 6th, 2012
3:44 pm
@@
Black unemployment has always run at a higher rate than whites or the overall percentage.
Has it always been a concern for you or since Obama has been in office? If before Obama, when did you mention it and what have you done about it?
JamVet
December 6th, 2012
3:52 pm
Well, since he can’t go back to the 1950’s where he belongs, I guess the Heritage Foundation is his next best move…
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
December 6th, 2012
4:23 pm
DeMint is fine as a fiscal conservative, but too extreme on the social side.
As for Haley, everyone’s approval rating lowers in non-election years, so if she chooses to run she’ll be ok.
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
4:32 pm
Glenn & Steve
If I want to drive through a waste land of poverty and foreclosures and unemployment I would ride through Detroil (for your benefit ,that is not S.C.). Or you could ride all the way through Nevada and reach the fading Las Vegas which probably has the only gas stations in the state. Or hike through the wrong side of Chicago and see if you come through healthy.
The South is beautiful bliss. That’s why you hang around, isn’t it?.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 6th, 2012
4:38 pm
The South is beautiful bliss. That’s why you hang around, isn’t it?.
The south is mostly poor with the lowest education levels in the country.
( Believe me it shows )
If not for the rest of the US the south would quickly turn into a Theocracy with the Baptist church and the state merging. It would soon be a third world country.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 6th, 2012
4:39 pm
Don’t get mad because South Carolina is a fine state.
The home state of Strom Thurmond.
Truly a great American.
“all the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the ***** into our homes, into our schools, our churches and our places of recreation and amusement.”
- Strom Thurmond
Saddest part is if he were alive and ran for his old seat he would win in a landslide.
Politico
December 6th, 2012
4:41 pm
Dusty
Nice try, but even with Detroit, MI is way ahead of SC in college grads, GDP, per capita income and the list goes on
But thanks for trying
Your efforts are noted
Glenn
December 6th, 2012
4:43 pm
I do like the south Dusty .
I have lived in Georgia , Connecticut , & Iowa . I have lived in a liberal state , a conservative state , & a middle of the road state . They all had things I liked and disliked about them . I believe it has made me look at politics from all angles or maybe just removed from ideology .
I even like South Carolina . Charleston is one of my favorite cities . Me and a group of friends even go golfing every summer on Kiawah Island . I just think that even with its faults our government gets a bad rap . I’m heading home .
Enjoy your holidays Dusty : )
Lynnie Gal
December 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
Curious timing for DeMint since he just railed against Boehner two days ago. It looks like Boehner is getting rid of the crazies. Speaking of crazy–this statement: “Graham is a bloodthirsty, warmongering big government liberal. Just like Chambliss” written by one of the right-wingers on this site is evidence that the Republican party is about to split between the TP crazies and the more reasonable moderates in the party. Don’t see how the party will survive these extremists. Meanwhile–bye, buy Jim D…
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 6th, 2012
4:57 pm
Congress Works to Scrub Word ‘Lunatic’ From Federal Law…
So how will we address joe biden?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
December 6th, 2012
5:01 pm
Lynnie Gal, in case you missed it (and of course you did) Boehner is in the House and DeMint in the Senate.
Boehner has no power in the Senate.
None.
JamVet
December 6th, 2012
5:04 pm
Lynnie, here is to hoping you are correct.
And if they won’t, the people will.
Right Mssrs, Allen, West, Walsh, Mourdoch and Akin?
Good riddance and good luck in the private sector…
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
5:08 pm
Cheesy & Politico
Amid all your sqawking, you still haven’t said why you still HANG AROUND our lovely South.
If I felt like you, I surely would be enjoying the pleasures of delightful thriving Detroit or the newness & glory of Nevada not to mention the charm of chilly crime-ridden Chicago.
Indeed, you are really missing out Could it be that you don’t fit in with all that”education” you mentioned and those great job opportunities?
At least be honest like Glenn. He hangs around to play golf! That’s as good excuse as any I suppose. Only the rest of us just love the place (except for a few uncouth ignoramuses).
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
December 6th, 2012
5:11 pm
Lets start a poll on how many times AmVet can post the same thing every day. . .
JamVet
December 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
Let’s start a poll and see if one single day goes by without tibs obsessing over me…
Schnort.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
December 6th, 2012
5:13 pm
Of course, the easiest answer to the poll would be every other post. AmVet hasn’t had an original thought since 1972.
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
5:14 pm
Keep ‘em corrected, Tiberius. Sometimes liberals don’t read their instructions correctly.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
December 6th, 2012
5:18 pm
One doesn’t obsess over something so insignificant, AmVet.
One just points out the all too many errors.
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
5:20 pm
Now now let’s ;not be to too hard on AmVet. After all, it’s probably the old PTSD that bothers him. WWII was tough!
getalife
December 6th, 2012
5:22 pm
He looked humbled on cnn today.
The gop are purging their cons like the ME purging their dictators.
Politico
December 6th, 2012
5:26 pm
Big ole Dust
Why hang around the US?
After all you have been crying and whining since the 08 election..
Just saying
@@
December 6th, 2012
5:28 pm
Politico:
Apologies for the late response.
I’ve always wanted success for the black community….we all stand to benefit when they do.
What I’m tired of witnessing is the dem party’s “soft bigotry of low expectations”.
It’s hard to succeed when the party that represents “their” cause is telling ‘em they can’t do it without government help.
JamVet
December 6th, 2012
5:30 pm
Poor tibs, he doesn’t have to read my posts, of course.
But I told him many months ago that he will read them. All of them.
And he complies and complains.
But the poor soul can’t help himself…
saywhat?
December 6th, 2012
5:30 pm
Dusty
December 6th, 2012
2:40 pm
“Well, another success story for South Carolina. I grew up there and …..”
that explains ALOT.
“They believe in telling the truth and you better believe it when they tell you something.”
Who knew the Appalachian trail ran through Argentina?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 6th, 2012
5:30 pm
What I’m tired of witnessing is the dem party’s “soft bigotry of low expectations”.
It’s hard to succeed when the party that represents “their” cause is telling ‘em they can’t do it without government help.
Total nonsense but often parroted response.
JamVet
December 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
As for the Chambliss, he can only hope that enough tea soaked Georgia dolts pretend he is not moving toward the center and vote him solely because he has an R after his name. (They will and he knows it.).
Hi Dusty.
Hows the broom?
I saw the new Geico commercial with you in it!
saywhat?
December 6th, 2012
5:41 pm
In Dusty’s defense, there is at least a few good things about South Carolina-
1) they invented the toothbrush. If it had been invented anywhere else, they would have called it the teethbrush.
2) The University of SC recently discovered a new use for sheep,……………wool.
3)They save money by having Clemson football players wear orange uniforms. They can play football on Saturday, and pick up trash on the side of the highway the other 6 days a week.