HERO WORSHIP ASIDE, THIS IS TERRIBLE NEWS FOR TAXPAYERS AND FREE MARKET SUPPORTERS
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint’s decision to resign his seat and become president of a Washington, D.C. think tank caught literally everyone in the political world by surprise. It also set off an avalanche of hero worship from establishment Republicans who have spent the last few years cursing DeMint under their breath, hoping he would stop making their lives miserable and join his tax-and-spend brethren in the GOP Senate Caucus.
Make no mistake: these liberal “Republicans” are grinning from ear-to-ear in the wake of DeMint’s announcement – as are liberal “Republicans” here in South Carolina.
More importantly for those of us living in the Palmetto State, DeMint’s decision to leave the Senate has fundamentally altered South Carolina’s political landscape – for the worse. It is NOT a great day in South Carolina, people – unless of course you’re one of the cookie cutter “Republican” political consultants who is grooming this or that mouth breather for the “next level.”
Sad …
This website has praised DeMint almost without ceasing over the last four years – and with good reason. The one-time “go along to get along” Republican realized circa 2008 that his party had abandoned its fiscal principles – and that someone needed to hold the party (and its elected officials) accountable. So DeMint resolved not to “play ball” with the Washington crowd anymore – even if that meant missing out on opportunities to climb the ladder and depriving South Carolina of bureaucracy-inflating tax dollars.
DeMint’s decision took courage. In fact his conversion should be an example to “Republican” at all levels of government that you can survive – and thrive – by aggressively advocating the principles that the Grand Old Party claims to embrace.
Next to U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, no one in Washington has “walked the walk” with the same level of consistency as DeMint … period. Which is why his decision to abandon his post with four years remaining in his term is so disappointing. In fact for those of us who care about the advancement of the fiscal conservative, free market ideology at all levels of government – DeMint’s decision is shaping up to be downright devastating.
First, it is a foregone conclusion that DeMint will be replaced by a status quo establishment “Republican,” whether it be Tea Partier-turned-insider Tim Scott or a “caretaker” like former S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster or U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins. Either way, taxpayers lose in that equation. And while Scott might vote in a manner similar to DeMint (we stress “might”), there is no way in hell he will show the same willingness to buck the GOP establishment or actively criss-cross the nation taking on liberal GOP incumbents.
Only someone like Mick Mulvaney, Tom Davis or Jeff Duncan would do that.
Equally problematic, DeMint’s decision triggers a special election in two years. That means liberal U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham – who is also up for reelection in 2014 – will have a much easier time winning a third six-year term. Again, that’s devastating news for taxpayers.
Finally, DeMint’s decision gives struggling S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley an opportunity to rehabilitate herself politically – although we don’t believe that one well-received political appointment is going to do much to lift her abysmal poll numbers. One thing is for certain though, after a month of wall-to-wall negative coverage about her mishandling of a major crisis at the S.C. Department of Revenue – NO one is talking about that scandal anymore.
At least not for the time being …
But the big picture all goes back to Jim DeMint – and what prompted his surprise announcement.
For months DeMint supporters have been working hard to walk back his prior statements about serving only two terms in the U.S. Senate. They believed – as we did – that Mitt Romney would win the 2012 election and that Republicans would pick up seats in the U.S. Senate in 2012 and 2014. As a result, DeMint would have been in line to lead the powerful Senate Commerce Committee – a perch from which his free market ideology might have developed some bite to go with its bark.
Obviously the results of November 6 shattered those hopes – which may be why DeMint has shifted from preemptively justifying an additional six-year term to clocking out less than a third of the way through his current term.
DeMint apparently didn’t want to tilt at windmills anymore – at least not drawing a legislators’ salary.
It’s not for us to say whether DeMint is correct in his belief that he can “do more” for the conservative cause at the helm of the Heritage Foundation. Maybe he will. We certainly hope he will. But his absence in the U.S. Senate remains a severe setback for lovers of liberty and prosperity.
“No one has quite proven so willing to draw a thick line in the sand quite like DeMint,” a column in The Daily Beast observed.
Even with DeMint drawing that “thick line,” America rushed headlong into the dependency abyss – with most “Republicans” paddling over the falls every bit as furiously as Barack Obama and the Democrats. Without DeMint in the Senate, the trajectory is truly frightening to ponder. And that’s why at the end of the day we’re profoundly disappointed in his decision – and thoroughly depressed by the “short list” of candidates being considered to replace him on an interim basis.
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67 comments
I posted this in another section but since things are in such a state of flux, here goes:
Demint is a “Chickenhawk” and a “quitter”. I have never voted for the man but since he used to be my congressman and who I have corresponded with, I feel somewhat qualified to post that his actions speak LOUDER than his words.
The people who DID vote for him did so with the expection that he would represent them and the state of South Carolina for a term of 6 years.
Demint’s has not listed as health or personal family situations as reasons for resigning (which would be valid and understandable).
By his resigning, he has broken his charter with the voters who elected him to be their senator.
Simply put:
Demint has given the people who supported him and the citizens of South Carolina the finger.
I ment to post at the end:
Demint took his ball and went home AS he was giving the people who supported him and the citizens of South Carolina the “finger”
You are pissing up a rope. There are many reasons why his resigning is for the better. If you live in Columbia, read and listen to the local media, Jim Demint was a persona non grata. You simply never heard his name or read his name, which says more about your intent.
yeah, right, whatever
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Sad thing is, we’ll get another almost as bad. I say almost because anyone, ANYONE will be better than DeMint.
He has done absolutely nothing for the state that elected him. He pursued his own personal agenda and has enriched himself on the blood of his constituents.
Right on the $$$, Sparkle. What does Russ and Lisa have to say about their hero quitting?
There’s not a single Senator in Washington who would so much as hold the elevator door open for DeMint to enter if he was approaching. He burned his bridges and good will of others by campaigning against sitting Senators of his own party.
With the message sent in November’s election he was in political “hell.” $1 million a year gets him into purgatory at least, allows him to spout ideaology endlessly, and at least some staffer will open the door and shine his shoes.
I know Washington having lived there and worked on “The Hill.” He didn’t fit in the most exclusive club in the nation as it is widely known. Thus, he was useless to SC and the Nation as a Senator.
I’ll let others opine as to the strength of his new “power.” For my money, however, once the Senate regains its footing (and it will very soon) he will have missed his real chance at Washington power.
Nonsense. Demint, and the Senate Repubs have no power. They have been totally clipped, like little capons, by the viciously-street-smart Dems. Now, Sen. DeMint actually has much more opportunity to project his opinions and further his political agenda. This is a brilliant move by the Senator.
Jim DeMint will be another Grove Norguist
Jim DeMint’s tombstone:
Quitter
whatevah!
Palinesque. Just another GOP grifter.
This is great news for anyone other than morons like FITS and the tea party. And when you say that Lindsey Graham will have an easier time getting reelected, what you don’t say is the reason why. It’s because with two US Senate elections at the same time, turnout will increase, which means more mainstream people will be voting. That means Graham has a much better shot. The tea party only wins primaries when just a small number of radical, angry, white, uneducated fools come out and vote and everybody else stays home. Demint’s resignation is good for SC because he did absolutely nothing for SC, and because Graham is almost assured of winning now. As the tea party loses influence, so FITS loses what little influence it has. It is a GREAT day in SC! As a moderate republican, I”m definitely smiling today
More like it, you are moderately obese, on the entitlement dole, hate martin Luther King JR, and was glad Kennedy was shot cause he was catholic.
\
The Tea Party iare educated, multicultural, sick and tired Americans who own small businesses, farm your groceries, fly your jets, drive your ships, and are on the wall protecting your freedoms.
We know jive talk when we hear it from DC. We are here and we are populating!
Thomas, your rambling, completely incomprehensible post fully proves my point: That most tea party members are mentally deficient in some major respect. Far from populating, the tea party is disappearing into obscurity and irrelevance. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of people.
The Tea Party iare educated, multicultural, sick and tired Americans who own small businesses, farm your groceries, fly your jets, drive your ships, and are on the wall protecting your freedoms.
The Tea Party is a dead-and-buried tool of the GOP used to drum up their numbers in Congress in 2010 and was almost immediately cast aside afterwards, and a lot of their members were old white people on Social Security and Medicare who watched Fox News, which is exactly why absolute morons like Palin and Beck were considered “leaders” of the mainstream portion of the movement. What little part of the movement that was actually principled and stood for something solid was swiftly snuffed out by a party who wanted nothing to do with the principles they claim to stand for.
The GOP does not know how to drum up their numbers in Washington. Your bunch won the election in large part because 3 million Republicans stayed home and did not vote.
I really have no time to school smarmy nihilists such as yourself and your kind, so I suggest you look up the Taxpayer march on Washington September 12, 2009.
The 2012 vote was a protest vote from the Tea Party. Any purging of Tea Party from positions by GOP establishment leadership will have repercussions in the next voting cycle.
It is clear that you have the mentality of an African Dung Beetle rolling extremist Democrat turds around all day.
The recent Winthrop poll showed 6% of SC voters identified themselves as tea partiers.
Haha! Shit, the “party” was over almost as soon as it started. You guys need to wake up from your stupor, ask “Dude, where’s my car?” and drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate what’s left of your brain.
Got to be honest. I pretty much see this as bailing on his duty to the people who elected him and to the office he held. Big, big supporter here and if we are going to talk-the-talk…
He didn’t resign because of any special circumstances or to seek higher office. He quit because something that paid better came open. I get it, I really do. However, a public servant has a duty to fill out the requirements of office, including the term of that office.
He “better dealed” his Senate seat and we all lost because of it. He took of for a raise.
Not going to hate him, but this final move in an otherwise stellar career makes me a bit ill.
Most of you idiots in here do not really understand how the system works. You really can’t fight city hall and that is a fact. Wake up and smell the roses. DeMint is correct in leaving and trying to combat the situation outside the city halls. The only thing that can save America now is for the Capitol to be nuked when they all are there.Compromise is the Devils best weapon!
So you’re saying Demint didn’t understand how the system worked when he ran for his second 6 years in the Senate? That wasn’t his first elected office, either. Guess he’s just a slow learner.
DeMint is correct in leaving and trying to combat the situation outside the city halls.
…by taking a high-paying job at a GOP think tank that is primarily funded by obscenely rich billionaires to come up with fairly biased shit that gets tossed out by various right-wing radio talk show hacks? Color me unimpressed.
Even if he’s doing this solely to help the GOP, he’s basically admitting that helping out his party is more important than representing the people who elected him. Considering that DeMint actually has one of the lowest net values among the Senate, though, it is really fucking hard to say money wasn’t a factor.
net worth*
Smirks: do you really believe DeMint was truthful in his 2010 financial filing that listed his net worth at $40,501?
How can anyone claim to be a “fiscal conservative” and have such a puny net worth?
Of course, he could be hiding his assets by putting everything except his cot at the C Street house and his checking account in Debbie’s name.
One has to wonder if the recent GOP purge of conservative congressmen from their commitee’s had anything to do with his resignation.
That being said, in fairness to the situation- his net worth was valued between $16,000 and $65,000 by the Center for Responsive Politics in 2010.
I’m sure that will be going up substantially in the next year.
By ? Maybe, as you say, Boehner’s “purge” of Congressmen had some influence on his decision. But on the other hand, that should have encouraged him to stay, at least for the benefit of those who elected him to office. He was in line to become the ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce and Transportion Committee, which sure would have been helpful to Charleston and the state when it came to the dredging issue for Charleston harbor.
And of course you are right when you state that his income will go up substantially–500 percent or so it’s estimated. But when was the last time a SC elected official put the welfare of its citizens over their own personal financial aggrandizement or national political ambitions. It’s never happened in the present Governor’s office so why should a Senator be any different?
“But when was the last time a SC elected official put the welfare of its citizens over their own personal financial aggrandizement or national political ambitions.”
Yep, I agree.
As you can see from all the posts here though, it’s become yet another partisan issue…with those commenting like a Dem wouldn’t do the same…
Politics is simply rarely the answer to anybody’s problems on either side of the current paradigm/duopoly.
I doubt more than 10% of the population will ever come to that conclusion though, so it will be demagoguery in an attempt to control the mob/tyranny of the majority via elections until some new paradigm pops up.
It’s all pretty sad, I can understand why some intelligent members of our species become drunks, Mencken has a nice write up/argument for keeping the population “gently stewed”. :)
Here it is btw:
paradise-engineering.com/misc/
Good post, and thanks so much for the Mencken citation. I particularly liked the end of it and I can’t help but wonder if our right-wing friends might have better success election-wise (outside of S C of course) if they would heed his advice:
” No man ever became a tyrant after two or three cocktails. He may be foolish, but he is not cruel. He may be noisy, but he is also tolerant, generous, and kind…”
But then they are surely familiar with his oft-quoted statement that “A man never went broke underestimating the taste of the American people.”
DeMint cut and run, just like right wing heroes Palin and Gingrich.
And Pawlenty.
Like Jessie, JR.?
I’ll share my philosophy with you, which overall has worked pretty damn well for me:
“If you can’t fight city hall, you can always shit on the courthouse steps and leave a big stink”
true dat! true dat!…Or as Stalin observed, it’s not who votes that count…it’s those who count the votes that matter…
He did it for the money. He’s the 3rd poorest person in the Seante. He’ll make a million dollars a year or close to it as the Director of Heritage. He only made 174,000.00 as a US Senator. A 500% raise ain’t bad.
I agree. After all he is a far right Republican. Isn’t his philosphy, you’re on your own.
Why is he so poor? I mean, 174K a year isn’t exactly chump change.
Good for him! I’d go after a pay raise, too! (not everyone is like JOe Biden…who gives pennies to charity each year but lives in a $6.5 million dollar mansion on the Deleware…)
What’s wrong with a little profit? Got solydra? Got some Corzine? Brite Source? Didn’t GE make 14 billion in profit and pay no taxes? It’s all cool ‘cuz GE owns NBC and that’s just free ‘tizing for the Dems…
What are the odds she would appoint Sanford?
Demint met his Waterloo instead of the other way around as he had been predicting for years
And, it was sweet.
The self-proclaimed “kingmaker” DeMented only got 3 of the 18 candidates he supported elected this year.
He saw the proverbial handwriting on the wall.
America is waking up to these self-serving ideologues who are funded by obscene billionaires like the Kochs and Adelsons.
Really? Give it time, my fried…give it time…
Give it five years…I’m sure we will all be staring at our Indian-accented doctors and wonder why…O will hardly be praised for destroying the best health system in the world…In time, in time…
Demint cashed out. Simple as that. Isn’t that the Republican way?
Sic’s lament is bullshit. Name one worthwhile piece of legislation this Bozo had a hand in passing in the senate. Hell, even include his time in the house.
I say good riddance.
And it is apparent he dies his hair just like his “hero” Ronald Reagan.
Amen Brother. Russ Cassell was defending DeMint all morning as some kind of martyr, without even mentioning that deMint will get a $1 million dollar raise.
Hair plugs, like Biden, gentleman?
I’d take the big money too….instead of hanging out with the DC blood suckers of the tax payers.
From reading these comments I can only conclude that most people on this blog are like Will Folks, too young to remember and understand the impact Heritage has had on the conservative movement.
Heritage changed the Conservative Movement from a grass roots voter based rebellion (much like the Tea Party)into a mature, effective mouthpiece that could immediately provide people and policies for a new administration. Believe me we could use some of that now in the movement. DeMint has done his job in the Senate, he has gotten guys like Rand Paul,Ted Cruz, Ron Johnson, and Mike Lee elected. He realized that we need Heritage to do again for this modern movement what it did for Reagan back in the 70s and 80s, provide backbone.
Make no mistake DeMint is taking over for a lion of the Movement. Ed Feulner is a giant and has done great things for the cause of conservative governance. But Ed is 71 and Heritage has gotten old. The libs have copied what Heritage did in the 70s with the Center for Am Progress and a few other think tanks. If we are going to elect a conservative President and he or she is going to govern as a conservative and not be co opted by the RINOs, then we need a Heritage Foundation that is aggressive and ready to provide answers on any policy question at a moments notice like they were in the early days of the Reagan Presidency.
I applaud DeMint for taking this on, he is right where the Conservative Movement needs him. He is confident, as am I that the young folks he elected can carry the torch in the Senate while Demint builds a “shadow cabinet” at Heritage that will serve a conservative candidate well when the nomination battle starts in 2015, just like it did for Reagan in 80.
Face it, Craig, the demographics are against supporters of the Heritage Foundation.
You are dillusional if you think otherwise.
Odds are that this country is going to shake out in one of two ways in the next 2-3 generations:
1. A kinda-sorta version of Canada – most probable scenero
2. Nations/states like Rhodesia or South Africa where a minority CONTROLED the majority of the population before their demise. Both are the ONLY two “nations” that could be considered “Conservative” in modern history) – less probable scenero and one I would fight against – but I probably won’t be around to fight that battle – but my offspring would and I’ll damn make sure they do.
Never forget:
When the “have-nots” outnumber the “haves”, the “haves” ALWAYS lose.
Yes, Sparkles…nobody wants to work for stuff they can get gubmint to steal it for them for free…I believe they call it “re-distribution” with reverence, in some circles…
The call came from Nikki last night asking if I would be interested in being appointed as US Senator for South Carolina.
Needless to say, I was extremely flattered. However,after due consideration, I informed her that I respectfully declined, and emailed my official response, as follows:
“All I am, ever was, or hope to be in any future life, all I have, ever had, or expect to have at any time not withstanding, before going to supersede any previous statement, and irregardless of any utterance made hereafter, I owe in its entirety and without any reservation whatsoever to my one and only benefactor, that sterling, magnanimous, warm hearted, genial Governor Nikki Haley.”
(I’ll bet you think I’m only saying that because I have the photograph of her in Victoria’s Secret lingerie)
Henry would NEVER use “irregardless” – it’s not a word (except when used by those who are uneducated in the beauty of English).
If it was a word, it would mean “without without regard” and be a somewhat strained double negative, meaning actually “with regard” –
Anyone else need a quickie course in “I Want A Word” by the late Dr. Havilah Babcock????
I voted for DeMint.
I have always respected Heritage.
I do not believe DeMint has the brainpower to run Heritage. I mean, this is a foundation with some really great minds. DeMint is not one.
Do you really think he’s going to “run” it? He’ll probably just be a mouthpiece.
The Heritage Foundation is a whorehouse for intellectual prostitutes. DeMint, with his background in advertising, is the kind of smarmy but not-too-bright mouthpiece the Heritage Foundation needs to obscure its true aims. Think Pete Campbell–an unctious little weasel just like Jim DeMint.
Beware false prophets.
Dear Jim DeMint,
Once again you have demonstrated just how dumb every other politician is….!!
BRAVO….BRAVO..!! (Standing ovation ….clap, clap, clap)
Most morons and unaware political observers have no clue what power play you have leveraged by resigning at this exact time. The only way to clean out a cess pool is to stir up a “hornets nest” and you have done exactly that.!!
Trey GOWDY…..will …(and I mean WILL) live up to the duty you have politically weathered and have entrusted him with by pulling this coup.
No one knows it yet… but you have single handed-ly buried Nikki Haley, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, Robert Ford, Gilda-Cobb Hunter, Mayor Riley, Bobby Harrel, Glenn McConnel and the Peeler Tri-fecta. Just think and remember this….when the media smiles……all other politicians are crying in their cornflakes..!! Every politician in this state should be cowering under their desks….including Lin Bennett..!!
By your deeds you have done what…..
1) …allowed Nikki Haley to feel the wrath of voter turn out in 2014 like no other governor…..
2) ….allowed a new appointee to the Senate to be torpedoed by the Tea Party, Democrats, and Republicans at the polls…
3)……educated your fellow voters of what a real political power play is that truly benefits the voters and NOT fellow politicians for favors….
4)…..set up a cushy “Heritage” leadership role that hopefully will SPONSOR the “Heritage Golf” atmosphere in Hilton Head that will play into the hands of Tom Davis when he DECLINES the offer that Nikki will try to offer him behind closed doors…!!
5) …..usher in a “fresh” Democrat that will defeat JIM Clyburn due to the lack of vision of Jim Clyburn to follow your lead…!!!
6)……allow Charleston voters to realize that Mayor Riley has done what in not walking away like you have done.!? Just think….will the next Mayor get a chance to be appointed so that voters get a trial period before they VOTE for a Mayor..!?
…..BRAVO….BRAVO…..JIM DeMint. Captain Kirk and Jim and Spock could not have pulled a better power play…!!
Jim……..your going to be a great VICE President serving alongside ….ME..!
BRAVO…..BRAVO……
” DeMint’s decision took courage”….is the writer of this article on crack?…DeMint jumped ship for money,just like his partner in idiocy Sarah Palin.Don’t even try to make this numbnut a hero.He will leave the Senate having done NOTHING.He will be going to a foundation after using their money to back political icons like Akin and Murdock…almost forgot “I am not a witch” …only courage displayed here is by the Heritage Foundation for paying this man big bucks.
Yeah, I choked on my lunch when I read the “courage” line. FITS is almost as bad as BigT in his political analysis.
Dear Jim DeMint,
It is official……….
….a poll taken by all government civil servants here in the state of South Carolina. You have done exactly what “Maximus” would do if the Columbia State House was the Roman Colle-see-um. By resigning, you did not fall on your own sword, you actually threw your sword back at …WHO..???
…and the crowd is going nuts with de-lite….!!!
Your “Maximus Desimus DE-mint”…….!!!!
Remember Jim, every politician dies….not every politician ever really LIVES….!!!
Yep, Obama said you can’t change Washington from the inside….but you just proved him wrong…!!! You have changed Washington….Columbia….and every political mind from the INSIDE..!!!!
You deserve the Nobel prize in ….”Political Psyops”
I’m so disappointed in Demint. He has done SC a huge wrong and has shirked his responsibility. I have to wonder if he’s leaving because of a scandal of some sort. I almost hope so.
> $1,000,000 in annual salary. Look no further, Catherine.
O please!
So you’re going for the scandal theory then?
Isn’t the president/congress bound by law to balace the budget? Maybe DeMint got sick of the daily defecation on the Constitution that passes for govm’t these days…