Frankly, I will be glad to see him go, but find it somewhat laughable that this bland and ineffective individual is leaving to join a think tank-surely, his photo will be featured in the dictionary next to the word "irony."

Another Republican shirks their duty for money... sad.

Sure is a good man with principles

I am not worried, Nikki Haley is picking his replacement........oh Sh_t !

Finally a big win for the people of the state; this foul carcass of the KKK, Jim Crowe and the burning cross has removed himself from the sweet stream of freedom; after his hopefully short tenure in the backwaters of southern swamp politics. Demint never accomplished anything for the people of the state. His 8 years in office was a total waste. Our next big problem is having Nikki Haley to appoint someone for Demint's job. It wouldn't surprize me if she didn't appoint herself.

HALLELUJAH. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Senator. Thanks for all those years of representing special interest groups...er, I mean, "representing" the people of South Carolina.

Jim DeMint has been a good U.S. Senator.

After having told voters to support a bad S.C. Constitutional amendment and the reelection of the state senator who wrote it, I have no faith in Nikki Haley to choose a good replacement for Jim DeMint.

Glory Hallelujah! Don't let the door hit you on the way out! How appropriate that he lead Heritage Foundation, which (as someone noted above) isn't a think tank at all but rather is a mouthpiece for uberconservatives who are shortsighted and, even though they claim otherwise, anything BUT Christian!

I am truly sorry to see a true conservative, one with principles he's willing to stand up for, leave the Senate. I have been proud to call Jim DeMint my senator. I wish him well, as he leads the Heratige Foundation. I hope to see good come from this move.

The ONLY drawback to his leaving is that our equally idiotic governor/dictator will be appointing his replacement. Maybe, if we're lucky, another "think tank" will hire HER out of the Governor's Mansion. What a gift THAT would be!

At least we know the Governor won't be the next Hot Rod!!

I did a little researching on the web, but could not find any accomplishments for Sen DeMint. Many statements about what he believes (gays and unmarried sexually-active people should not be teachers) but nothing he ever actually "did". The National Journal rates him as one of the most conservative members of the senate, based on voting record, but it seems he hasn't actually improved anything for anyone on his own initiative. If all he does is vote he might as well phone it in and stay home.

FOr those of you so anxious to spew your vitriole, I think it only fair to tell you: you've made total a**es of yourselves in a very public forum. Because of that, you have no credibility,nor do your opinions carry weight with anyone. Was it worth it?

@Josch - you have plenty of errors in your first post on this article.

Demint has done more than Obama did when he was a state senator and a senator.

Demint was the worst, most ineffective representative to have ever been elected to The US Senate. Demint was actually one of the most "laughed at" and pure embarrassments for South Carolina. Demint did not write and pass one single bill while he was in office as Senator for 8 years. The sad thing is that Nikki Haley, one of the most disliked Governors to have ever been elected in the state will make an appointment to fill the remainder of Demints term....til 2014. I would not be surprized if she doesn't appoint herself to the job by resigning as Governor and have McMasters to appoint her to the position. South Carolina is full of inept politicians.

Obama + transperancy = laughable

@josch - I was including your incomplete sentences and bad grammar. :)

Thank God hes gone in a few weeks.He was a loser from day one.I dealt with him on nhealth care insurance one time.He had no knowledgeof what the insurance companies do to small companieslike mine .He was a jerk .He should not get any repect from true Americans.Let him go have fun at his new Republican company job of fools.

I am dismayed and appalled at the number of derogatory remarks about Senator DeMint.

He was a real conservative, one who wanted to cut spending and cut government out of our lives. He consistently resisted the entitlement and dependency culture which the federal government is bent on expanding.

No matter where one stands politically, this country cannot keep spending money that it does not have on programs which are ineffective and inefficient. I applaud his efforts to expand a conservative caucus in the Senate. I recognize that the Republican Party has drifted away from limited government. He evinced support for libertarian fiscal policies, which will attract young voters to the GOP.

Frankly, we need legislators who will do less and expect government to do less, as well -- less spending, less taxing, less regulating.

I hope Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-5th) is on the short list for the seat. He would be great for the state and the country.

Regarding Jim DeMint's espousing libertarian fiscal policies, isn't that a little hypocritical to be libertarian when it comes to paying the bill, but Big Government when it comes to controlling individual behavior? And tax bonanzas for people who can afford them, and corporations who take advantage of the infrastructure paid for by the citizens while avoiding taxes, does not sound libertarian to me. And invading foreign countries on a whim? Not libertarian at all.
I do not think the GOP will attract young people while they continue to be anti-gay, anti-sex, and against a woman's right to control her own body. Young people support the opposite point of view on these issues by a large percentage. Old people will die; young people will realize how good it is to have health insurance. Heterosexual young people by a clear majority don't have a problem with gay couples having the right to marry. Young people by a large majority do not see marijuana use as worse than the alcohol abuse they have seen over and over. The young people I know do not think the government should base legislation on the bible.
The GOP is aging and dying, but I remember how after the '64 election people thought the GOP was dead, but look what happened.