How Jim DeMint is changing the political landscap

Wall Street Journal ^ | 8/27/2010 | Steve Moore

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

'I'd rather lose with Pat Toomey than win with Arlen Specter any day." That's South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint defending his Senate Conservatives Fund, a new PAC that has taken Washington by storm.

The fund-raising group has already helped eight underdog Reaganite candidates win Republican Senate primaries this year. In two years, the fund has raised and spent nearly $2 million from nearly 50,000 individual contributors.

Mr. DeMint's mission is to bring more Jim DeMints to the Senate—that is, people with an unfailing antagonism to big government. But his string of victories, often against establishment candidates, has many of his Republican colleagues grumbling. They say Mr. DeMint is pushing candidates through the primaries who are too far to the right to take back vulnerable seats from Democrats in November. Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott recently spoke for many in the party when he said it didn't need anymore "Jim DeMint disciples."

[tanuki]

I’d have to agree. DeMint is a great candidate IF you look long and hard for one. Most people don’t and Palin is as good a choice as any.

[jwparkerjr]

re: Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott recently spoke for many in the party when he said it didn't need anymore “Jim DeMint disciples.”

This from the author of the fantastically successful US Senate power sharing plan of the 90’s?

I'm sure are still Democrats laughing out their butt at the sheer luck they enjoyed with a Republican gave them a way to help dull the power of the majority!

I'm glad they come along so often with examples of why giving them both houses of Congress and the Oval Office set Republicans back 100 years.

I say to Mr. Lott that he should just go away and leave us alone. He's done quite enough already, honest. And I mean that in the nicest way.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Since Jan.2009, DeMint has done more work for CONSERVATIVES than any politician in the country, period.

[BufordP]

Finally a PAC I can believe in. Just sent J DeM $500.

[GOP_Lady]

Same candidates, as here:

http://www.freestrongamerica.com/candidates/

[marron]

Are you implying that DeMint is a tofu politician?

Quite the opposite. He is helping us drive out the tofu. See my post #3. I love the guy.

[rvoitier]

They say Mr. DeMint is pushing candidates through the primaries who are too far to the right.

If they're left of Atilla the Hun...I don't want 'em.

[upsdriver]

If DeMint is a great Senator(and I think he is), he should stay in the Senate. I would prefer an outsider for president, someone who isn’t cozy with the inside the beltway crowd. Someone who isn’t afraid to think outside the box and can take the heat that results from it.

[DoughtyOne]

This is what I told them when they came calling. Not a dime folks!

I’m glad to hear others were of the same mind.

But then Sarah Palin came to the rescue, raising funds for the party that has abandoned people like us. Here’s a woman that is supposed to be one of us, who didn’t get the message that it’s no more money until the Republican Leadership is on the same page with us.

Of course Sarah and that leadership ARE on the same page. Always have been.

[Darkwolf377]

I’m suspicious of Atilla’s position on border security, myself.