Replacing Sen. Jim DeMint

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Yesterday, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) stunned the political world by announcing his intent to resign from the U.S. Senate in January to accept a job as president of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, DC.  His division to walk away from the Senate comes four years before his second term was to expire and, apparently, two years earlier than most political watchers expected.  DeMint had indicated that he did not plan to run for a third term leaving most observers expecting a 2014 early departure if he did not intend to complete the term.

South Carolina law dictates that the governor shall appoint a replacement.  That means the task falls to Gov. Nikki Haley.  She posted the following on her Facebook page about how she will approach making her choice:

Nothing about that statement should be surprising to anyone.  She's the governor, she's Republican and to think she would appoint someone who was not Republican or of like mind would be naive.  Here's what stands out: "I will appoint a person who has the same philosophy of government that Jim DeMint and I share."  First, if Jim DeMint wants to ensure someone who shares his philosophy is in the seat, he should stay.  I am not a fan of DeMint's politics but he was elected by a majority of South Carolina voters.

GUEST COLUMN: The Trayvon Martin Case

WHY THE TRAYVON MARTIN TRAVESTY IS THE BLACK MAN'S REALITY IN 2012
By: Brian Green

Some of my friends and associates have asked me, why have I been so silent about the Trayvon Martin case?  The honest to goodness truth is that I am embarrassed.  I am embarrassed that I live in a society where a 17-year old black kid cannot walk to the store and buy his little brother candy.  I am embarrassed that an alleged killer is not charged or even arrested or held for questioning, and that evidence is not harvested but instead, he is sent home with a proverbial pat on his back for killing someone wearing a hoodie.

So yes, I've been pretty silent about this the whole time. There has been a lot of talk about the hoodie and that there is no such thing as clothes that can get you killed; a lot of talk about the rights of people to wear what they wish and even talk about cities that cite and charge young men a fine for wearing saggy pants (Albany, GA).

I have been silent because I have lots of friends of every color-- and I do not think this is an indictment on white people, it isn't-- but it is an indictment on racism and how it is alive and well in our country.