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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumJim DeMint Gains More Power Over GOP in Move from Senate to Heritage Foundation
by David Freedlander Dec 7, 2012 4:45 AM EST
DeMints resignation may seem surprising, but the Tea Party firebrand known for holding up legislation and opposing establishment pols will be free of the rules and ethics of the Senateand remain a GOP kingmaker.
During slow moments in the United States Senateand there are many, many of them in the worlds most deliberative bodystaffers like to play a little game called mapping. In it, they take a look out on the graybeards occupying the seats on the Senate floor and sketch out what would happen if one of them were to retire or decide to run for another office. Who will vie for the open seat? What will happen to the committee slots the outgoing senator holds?
But few maps would have included the lightning bolt that struck the Capitol on Thursday, when Tea Party firebrand Jim DeMint announced, Im leaving the Senate. But I am not leaving the fight. In taking up a new post as head of the Heritage Foundation, DeMint pulled off a move many lawmakers would have considered laughable: leaving elected officefor a think tank no less!because the gig isnt powerful enough. But conversations with several Senate staffers and Capitol Hill insiders say the shock is unmerited.
He really hates the Senate, said one D.C.-based conservative political operative. And who wouldnt? This place is terrible for a conservativeyou have both sides arguing about how to slow the growth of government, not how to make government smaller. DeMint has left his legacy.
DeMints tenure in the Senate will be remembered for two things: for him being a one-man stopper of legislation that a large chunk of the body approved, thus making the ultra-slow Senate even more dysfunctional; and for frustrating Republican leadership by running conservative challengers against the establishments preferred choiceand often winning.
-snip-
Full article:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/07/jim-demint-gains-more-power-over-gop-in-move-from-senate-to-heritage-foundation.html
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Jim DeMint Gains More Power Over GOP in Move from Senate to Heritage Foundation (Original Post)
DonViejo
Dec 2012
OP
Bonhomme Richard
(9,000 posts)1. I am sure he see's himself as the new Grover.
It be long before he starts targeting repugs.
Turbineguy
(37,342 posts)2. More power over GOP
while the GOP loses more power over the US. The GOP is relegating itself to what used to be known as "the lunatic fringe".