I know him well. I´m sad he is leaving the Senate--and irritated with him for not finishing his term!

Lots of possible interpretations...Senate inertia...minority status...he´s also been mentioned as a possible GOP nominee in 2016.

While I hate to see him leave, I´m sure the people of SC will be smart enough to elect someone who shares his values. Besides, after Boehner´s cave in, I believe the Republican party is finished and we need a new Conservative party to replace it. In his role in the Heritage Foundation, he is in a perfect position to help accomplish that.

In spite of the loss, I love to see good, strong people move up. This is a promotion for Senator DeMint and he deserves after laboring long and hard under the Establishment Republicans´ collective thumb.

Congratulations, Senator. May you live long and prosper as a strong voice for Conservatives throughout the country!

Congratulations to Jim DeMint! The Heritage Foundation has a heck f a lot more credibility than the US Senate. He is a worthy successor to Ed Fuelner who is an American Hero.

#3 is right on the upside, and I´m sure Sen. DeMint is tired of fighting both a losing battle against his party leadership and Harry Reid.

one of the good guys...the kind that always leave ....and we´re stuck with the not so good ones.......best to you...but i do think you should have finished what you started but....it is your choice

Trey Gowdy would be a great replacement for Senator DeMint. We need another fearless leader, unlike Grahamnesty.

Gov.Haley will appoint a replacement--who will it be?

Senator DeMint is one of the few conserative warriors in DC and I´m sad to see him go. The Heritage Foundation couldn´t have done any better. I don´t blame him for leaving. If I had to deal with not only the crumb Harry Reid but jokers like his fellow SC senator Graham and loser McCain I´d bail too. I´m sure that Gov Haley will apoint someone good to fill in until the next election to balance out the goober.

We´re losing a great Senator but perhaps he will consider a run for the White House? Meanwhile Trey Gowdy would make a GREAT replacement!

It´s no loss. I heard him on the radio months ago saying he´d rather the Rs lose elections than compromise. A noble thought, but if you continually lose, then you are irrelevant. What a dope.

As of this moment, Mick Mulvaney and Henry McMaster are the two frontrunners to replace DeMint.

Tim Scott is said not to want it; he´d rather be governor (after Haley) of South Carolina.

#13, I immediately thought of McMaster. He´d make a great choice.

As an aside, heritage party could be a winning name for a change.

Not Henry, please. He is establishment. Mick Mulvaney would be a better choice, or Trey Gowdy, or Jeff Duncan. Someone in a House district where there is a good chance of another conservative being elected or appointed. A good replacement for a House member who might be appointed would be Bill Connor, who ran for Lt Gov here.

DeMint was the best. I hate to see him go. A great loss for the senate, probably the only truly conservative in DC.

I disagree #12. Losing is exactly what should happen to the GOP now. Compromise´s last name is "Boehner".
I´ve had my fill, thankyouverymuch.
Yes to Trey Gowdy.

He´s using this as a bully bullpit to run for president. And, it well may be the start of a new party.

#3 et al: If DeMint leverages his position with Heritage to help cobble together a new conservative party of, by, and for the middle-class, then this could be a good thing, and I´m with you.

I hope DeMInt does start a new party, what a great leader he would make. Palin, DeMint, Coeburn... and anybody else who cares more for their country than their party.

#18, I heard DeMint´s remark while the Republican primaries were underway. While I wasn´t particularly happy with the slate of candidates, I thought that ceding the election to Obama for another 4 years in the interest of ´principles´ was asking way too much. In the end, Romeny was probably the most capable candidate of the bunch. The election was not a blow-out for Obama, showing that Romeny did have a wide appeal...I just wish he had more fire in his belly and stood up unapologeticaly for some of the stuff the Dems put around his neck... (like his 47% comment). But if one follow´s DeMint´s logic, then you are doomed to be irrelevant, like an annoying little dog -- always nipping at the heels of the ruling party but having no influence on the outcome.

Tim Scott, Gowdy or Mulvaney.

I am w/ those above time for a new party, I had it w/ GOP and pls don´t tell me not, they are like Dem only pretend to be slightly less so... had enough already

Sen DeMint is wasted in the Senate - this looks to be a good move for him - moving to an organization where his abilities and philosophy will matterand make a difference. I like The Heritage Party - good name - Trey Gowdy is a force to be reckoned with - he has spoken out clearly and forcefully on issues that concern us greatly.I do not the other gentlemen mentioned - S.Carolina is indeed fortunate.

apologies - last line should read I do not KNOW

#12, do you mean, as opposed to compromising their principals and losing anyway? When pubbies put up a clear difference such as Reagan, they win. When it´s demo-lite, they lose.

no, I read his attitude as "we´ll lose, but at least we´ll be pure.´ Reagan stood up for his principles to be sure, but he also didn´t take positions that were sure losers. Look at how the GOP shot itself in its feet consistently since the primaries: Romeny´s remark about self-deportation (what was he thinking?!) Akins and the Indiana Idiot´s remarks on rape and abortion. (Were they trying to lose?). Immigration is an important issue, but the GOP this time around not only lost the Hispanics big time, but the Asian vote too. Asians are among the most entreprenurial and among those iwth th emost to lose under Obama, and they deserted the GOP anyway. You can be conservative on finances and defense and still take positions that recognize the realities of the current immigration situation (you´re not deporting 12 million people), and abortion -- it´s settled law. Stop banging your head against the wall and encouraging the totally bogus ´war on women´ cry of the Dems. If Repubs don´t recognize this, they´ll never win another election.

Maybe he´s just cashing out. I find it hard to trust anyone in either party anymore.

Obama is such an undeserving, inadequate, pretending, evil little twit, and I don´t want anyone that represents me to give an ounce to him.