POLITICOS REACT TO SENATOR JIM DEMINT’S SURPRISE RESIGNATION
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) dropped a bombshell on the national political scene this week when he announced that he was giving up his seat in the U.S. Senate to serve as the new leader of The Heritage Foundation. DeMint’s sudden, surprise resignation means that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley gets to name his interim successor.
It also means that there will be a special election in November 2014 to fill the remainder of DeMint’s term.
Here’s what people are saying in response to the news …
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint has served South Carolina and the national conservative movement exceptionally well. His voice for freedom and limited government has been a true inspiration. On a personal level, I value Jim’s leadership and friendship. Our state’s loss is the Heritage Foundation’s gain.
-Nikki Haley, S.C. Governor
Just got off the phone with a reporter who wanted my thoughts on what Gov. Haley should do about appointing a replacement for DeMint. It took me 10 minutes to say, “I ain’t got a clue.”
-Bob McAlister, GOP consultant
Jim DeMint has shown that principled conservatism remains a winning political philosophy. His passion for rigorous research, his dedication to the principles of our nation’s founding, and his ability to translate policy ideas into action make him an ideal choice to lead Heritage to even greater success.
-Thomas A. Saunders, Heritage Foundation Chairman
Jim DeMint has been a consistent champion of the conservative cause. I am certain he will keep fighting for freedom and federalism in his new role as head of The Heritage Foundation. While we lose his voice in the United States Senate, his support for South Carolina values will still be felt in Washington and across America. I congratulate him on his new position and look forward to continuing to work with both Senator DeMint and The Heritage Foundation in defending the Constitution and the rule of law.
-Alan Wilson, S.C. Attorney General
The news of Senator DeMint’s resignation from the Senate comes as a surprise. Senator DeMint has been a strong conservative voice, and he leaves big shoes to be filled. I have faith Governor Haley will appoint someone with the character, leadership, and conservatism Senator DeMint has provided South Carolinians for the past eight years. I am proud to have worked with Senator DeMint and I will continue to call him a friend and a mentor in the years to come. I wish him the best of luck as he continues fighting for the conservative cause at The Heritage Foundation.
-U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney
There has never been any question as to what side of that ideological divide Sen. Jim DeMint stands; he has long been a warrior in the United States Senate for restricting government and empowering people. And thanks to Sen. DeMint’s willingness to challenge the status quo Republican leadership, we now have true conservative champions like Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz serving alongside him in DC.
Today’s news that Sen. DeMint is leaving the United States Senate, in the middle of the debate on how Congress should respond to the so-called “fiscal cliff,” is akin to an army losing a general in the midst of battle, and it is my hope that Gov. Nikki Haley swiftly appoints someone to serve in his stead who is just as committed to the liberty movement, and who is just as willing to stand for what is right as opposed to what is politically expedient.
-Tom Davis, S.C. Senator
Senator DeMint has been a conservative champion and a dedicated public servant to the nation. Jim has always been someone I’ve admired, and I’m proud to call him a friend. Jim’s leadership and voice will be deeply missed in the United States Senate and in South Carolina. I’m excited for him as he begins his new role with the Heritage Foundation, and grateful that he’s continuing the fight in other ways.
Whoever takes Jim’s place in the Senate will have large shoes to fill. I hope that person is committed to the same values of limited government, free markets, and individual liberties that Sen. DeMint has championed for so many years. I’ll be praying for Gov. Haley to select a leader who believes in the principles that Jim has fought so hard to defend.
-U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan
OK S.C. Politicos … it’s trivia time: In the wake of Rod Blagojovich, the DOJ began tapping Governor Haley’s phones: a) Before noon b) Before 10 a.m. c) Before DeMint’s resignation letter hit the desk in the Senate.
-Jason Zacher, GOP consultant
Today’s big winner? Lindsey Graham who just had a bunch of pressure relieved from his likely primary challenge in ’14. The big loser? South Carolina. While it’s good that crazy DeMint is getting out, our politics will be splayed out and on display for the world to mock once again as Haley chooses a successor and we have two open Senate seats in 2014.
-Brian Barrie – Political Satirist
What do you think of DeMint’s resignation? Post your thoughts in our comments section below …
***
38 comments
Welcome to another episode of Carolina Political Crapdome
One man leaves, one woman enters !
-jimlewis, owb
Palinesque…just another Repugnant Party grifter who quits…
A cabinet appointment, ambassadorship, or health or family reasons I can accept. But to resign two years into your term to take over a think tank? Bad form. He owed South Carolina six years. He owed his donors and supporters six years. DeMint lost a lot of respect today. It may take a few days for people to get over the shock and form an opinion, but when they do their opinion will not be positive.
Agree completely. No matter the side of the aisle you sit on; it is an embarrassment that he is not fulfilling his obligation. Would love to know what he stands to earn from taking the role with the think tank.
“Would love to know what he stands to earn from taking the role with the think tank.”
A $1,000,000 a year salary.
So, what happens to his campaign stash? I hear he has big bucks on hand.
What DeMint’s Diciples never understood about him: He’s all about Jim DeMint. MONEY is his God. He cares little or nothing about S.C. in general or the people who so stupidly wasted their votes on him.
Answering Sailor:
What happens to DeMint’s PAC money? He should ask Stephen Colbert, who was advised that, via a little legal legerdemain, he can convert all his PAC money to his own bank account. What will DeMint do?
The list of potential replacements for DeMint is growing with each passing hour-1)Haley: SC Governors to have a history of appointing themselves to fill vacant senate seats. Possible but I would says very unlikely. 2)Rep. Scott-perhaps the strongest possibility. Given that this is SC the chance to be the first AA senator from SC since reconstruction would earn Haley brownie points and further Scott’s political rockstar status in this state.Downside is that it would make it look like a political version of affirmative action which Scott would want to avoid.3)McMaster-if (big if)he is just going to serve until 2014 then this helps to clear the way for Scott to run in 2014.Also he has the political chops to serve and then ride off into the political sunset.
David Wilkins and David Beasley are two more possibilities–both have name recognition/reputation/standing in DC (though at very different levels). Possible but Wilkins seems to be enjoying retirement and Beasley is spending more time overseas on his Christian missionary work. Possible but doubt full.
Gresham Barrett/Mick Mulvaney/Trey Gowdy/Jeff Duncan/Curtis Loftis- long shots at best. All of these are potential challengers in a primary and the last thing LuvGuv2 wants is to give good press much to a potential challenger.
Anyone else will not have the statewide name recognition here or the political reputation in DC to represent this state.
I wonder what Dick Harpootlian would say.
If history is any guide it would be something stupid.
Hey Colonel,
Got herb?
Good riddance. I guess the Heritage Foundation isn’t interested in establishing credibility.
Ain’t that the truth?
The people who brought us Romney/Obamacare are hiring DeMint…of course, he was all for Romneycare when Mitt ran in ’08.
She wants herself appointed.
Nobody has anything politically to offer her. Ex.: Scott can’t deliver the black vote to her.
And the best she could do is be reelected as governor, which is a step down from US Senate.
Her gang of kindergarteners is brown-nosing like crazy right now and they are her key advisors.
McConnell will be happy to make the appointment so he and his buds can run state government for the next ten years.
Of course Haley wants to be a Senator. The pay is better and there’s much more lobbying in Congress than in this poor old state.
She’ll be a steady vote for the GOP, so they may bust out their wallet to whitewash her checkered run as governor and drown her opponent(s) in negative attack ads just to keep her on board.
I find Jim Demint and Tom Davis equally deplorable.
That being said, if she wants to make it out of the republican primary for governor in 2014, she would be well advised to appoint Tom Davis to Demint’s seat so he doesn’t unseat her in the republican primary in 2014.
VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!.
Jim DeMint and and the Pee Party’s non-knowledge of the concepts & construction of the Constitution and their corruption of the conservative cause is the moral equivalent of the race-baiting of an earier era. It is time for Demint to join the dung pile with Coleman Blease and “Cotton Ed” Smith.
DeMint was probably the strongest supporter of the Constitution in the Senate you twit.
No, Colonel, he was/is not a defender of the Constitution. it is hard to defend something one knows nothing about.
Where we’re you at Colonel when your boy was voting FOR every budget busting measure that George W , Cheney, and Karl Rove
Another fine trio of “fiscal conservatives”
Were proposing?
Demint only found religion when a Black guy was elected President
He couldn’t CARE LESS about the Constitution!
But now he’s got a million a year gig.
Good for Demint!
He’ll pull down the bucks leaving you and the other yahoos here to babble on about
“The Constitution”
Have fun!
Whatever Dawg – I suppose you think Harry Reid is Mr. Constitution.
I’ll give DeMint a measure of credit in that he voted against NDAA.
DeMint doesn’t want to piss in the wind for the next 4 years since Obama won and the Senate appears completely lost to the GOP for the foreseeable future, especially since there’s more money to be made elsewhere. He probably feels that he can work with the Heritage Foundation and be more useful to the GOP that way. I’m sure there’s also great personal gain for himself to go in this direction, and that is likely a big factor in why he is doing that too.
What I make out of this, though, is that he’s willing to give up his voice and vote in the Senate, which he asked for from South Carolina, and which South Carolinians bestowed upon him, in order to further his own party’s presence on the federal government stage. I gave Tim Pawlenty grief for ditching Romney’s campaign to go work as a lobbyist. Jimmy-D’s actions are somewhat worse since he’s ditching his responsibility as a SC Senator to essentially promote the GOP brand.
That’s fine, let him resign, but I hope SC never elects him to any office ever again. I also think whoever the temporary replacement is, their voting record is on him. He’s the one that handed Haley his seat, he can take the responsibility for whoever Haley fills that seat with.
As a US Senator, or Senator from SC, rather.
If the question is between public service and money, they’ll take the money every time. That’s why they’re Republicans.
Well said.
Colonel, I accept your sword.
Per Trikki’s statement:
Jim DeMint has done less for South Carolina and the USA than any senator in the state’s history.
He knows it and is proud of it.
He is demented by ideology.
At least Tim Scott is from Charleston, the only place in SC that matters.
And so is everyone’s preferred choice, Stephen Colbert. Bet Nikki even thinks he’s a conservative.
….. has Zach’s name been mentioned yet? I rescued his ass and HE OWES ME!
edit: “ass from Templeton”
DANG!!!!
I go away for awhile and our little slice of paradise festers to a new low………
OK, let’s do the count….
Has anything happened over the last two months in SC that could not have been predicted by past experience? (other than the 4-peat by the Cocks over Clemsum – never saw that coming)
No, it’s simply business as usual. Stupid is as stupid does and our stupidity knows no bounds.
D’Mint is just like the first Twat – a never-has-been who never-will-be, the only difference being today’s value for never-has-beens in the Republican party free market – a million dollar salary.
If ANYONE wonders why the Republican party is in a clockwise whirlpool down a toilet bowl, look no further than the next head of the Heritage Foundation, soon to be persona non gratus in the land of boiled Palmetto nuts.
The purpose of the GOP is to elect Republicans, and since DeMint will be replaced by another Republican who gives a fuck?
That’s what SC wants, and what it will get.
Simply put:
Demint is a “Chickenhawk’ and now he is a “quitter”
Asskissers can spin it anyway they want but what it boils down to is that Demint is a “Chickenhawk” and a “quitter”. He’s taking his ball and going home.
Actions speak louder than words and Demint just spoke volumes.
He “Palined”!
Nobody gossiped, nobody hinted.
All of a sudden
The Senate’s DeMinted.
Lib’rals in DC, sipping their meritage,
Said “that salary’s chump change,
Even at the Heritage.”
But in Columbia, as Nikki was coiffing her hair,
She mused, “who will I make
The next “Slumdog Millionaire”?