Posted on 05/09/2010 1:33:44 PM PDT by FTJM
After endorsing Rand Paul in Kentucky's Republican Senate primary Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina issued a statement saying, "Senator (Mitch) McConnell and I are on different sides in this race, but I support him as our leader."
McConnell, the Senate minority leader, had endorsed Secretary of State Trey Grayson a day earlier.
DeMint's statement sent me off on a bit of mental time travel. I landed first in December, 2007, when Greg Stumbo, the outgoing attorney general and former longtime state House majority leader announced that he would like to have his old 95th District seat back just a day after the freshman Democrat warming that seat conveniently announced his resignation due to family considerations. In making his announcement, Stumbo said he had no plans to run for one of the House leadership posts when they came open again in the 2009 organizational session.
Another quick time-traveling hop landed me on the House floor on Feb. 11, 2008, the day Stumbo was sworn in after winning his old seat in a special election. Then-Speaker Jody Richards welcomed him back with a hug, and Stumbo continued pooh-poohing any notions that he had designs on a leadership position.
I wrote at the time that I suspected Stumbo had a plan, because he always has a plan. And we all know now what that plan was.
If DeMint's comment reminded me that politicians often make nice to a fellow politician right up until the moment they pull the figurative knife out of that fellow politician's back, I suspect his endorsement of Paul set the red flags to waving faster in McConnell's office.
(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...
I sure as heck hope so. McConnell gets more worthless every day.
Majority Leader DeMint. I like the sound of that.
Unless I’m missing something, DeMint would be an improvement. McConnell seems like a low energy guy—at least I know what DeMint stands for. Maybe someone here can tell me a bit more about why McConell should stay despite the fact that he appears less than dynamic.
President Demint?
Woo hoo!!
Go DeMint!!
Rebellion is brewing!!
DOA
He calls them as he sees them.
Rare in DC these days.
We need more like him and Michelle Bachmann.
That Kentucky race is very much the Romney/Rockefeller GOP versus the Palin/DeMint GOP, (assuming that Demint is finished with Romney which appears to be the case).
Indeed.
It’s always been a milquetoast position. Dole, Lott, Frist, etc were happy face statists. The Senate for the most part are boring blowhards who never rock the boat. Repeal the 17th Amendment if you want more action.
“Is DeMint angling to replace McConnell as GOP leader?”
I sure hope so.
Why? McConnell's job -- his only job -- is to lead the GOP caucus in the Senate and keep it pointed in the right direction.
In that regard, McConnell has done an excellent job -- they have stood unanimously against most elements of the Obama agenda.
It's not his job to "lead the party" or "formulate policy" or be a spokesman for the GOP.
So, why do you hold McConnell in such low regard?
I like President Demint better
Just wait one minute here.....When Sarah endorsed Rand Paul, pretty much everybody was jumping on her, now that Demint did the same, it’s a sign of genius and a cut against the Establishment...I don’t have anything against Demint, mind you...I just want some clarifications on why when one does it...it’s almost unbecoming of an conservative but when someone else does it, it’s OK!
I hope so.
It's the other way around. People were calling Paul a nut because his father and distorting his record. When Palin endorsed him, they went silent.
DITTO, old Mitch is to weak.
He would be the best.Palin pres. John Bolton Sec of State.
My personal early pick for VP is Haley Barbour,but I don’t know if that ticket would fly.
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