Jim DeMint, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation and latest spiritual guru of the tea party, told a Christian radio host last week completely un-ironically that "the conscience of the American people" freed the slaves in the 1860's, not "big government."

Rep. Tim Scott has been chosen to fill South Carolina's empty Senate seat. He will be the only black senator.

If you're one of those Democrats who's been riding a huge schadenfreude high since November 6, you probably took news of South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint's retirement in the customary way. With the online equivalent of going "WHOOOOOOOO" out of a limousine's sunroof, after doing a shooter with one of those awesome names like "Sex Intercourse with Boobs Outside."

Following yesterday's surprising news that Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina was leaving the Senate in January to head the Heritage Foundation, thoughts immediately turned to the only man qualified to replace the Tea Party politician: Stephen Colbert.

Remember Todd Akin? The imbecile Missouri state representative who made those "legitimate rape" comments about five weeks ago? Well, now that some time has passed and he's officially still in the race to be Missouri's next Senator (yesterday was the last day for him to withdraw), Republicans are lining up to support him again.

The Senate Tea Party Caucus' first meeting took place today! It's comprised of three minority-party freshmen — Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ron Johnson — and Jim DeMint. This bloc will wield unlimited power, from the back bench.

Republicans will only control one chamber of Congress next year, giving them little means of dismantling the "Obama Agenda." But after wading through Congress' history of old rules, they may have discovered a way to stifle the executive branch's power.

The Senate will most likely approve President Obama's tax deal today. Now that that's settled, can the chamber finish its other year-end work? Sure! But Tea Party Sen. Jim DeMint wants these bills read in full on the Senate floor.

Erstwhile Senate candidate Alvin Greene was arrested in November 2009 on obscenity charges for allegedly showing pornography to a female college student. Greene had a hearing today, and it seems his loss to Sen. Jim DeMint hasn't dampened his spirits.

And the first showdown between Tea Party Republicans, led by Sen. Jim DeMint, and Sen. Mitch McConnell's establishment goes to... the teas! McConnell has dropped his opposition to a proposed Republican earmark ban. Is this a good thing?

According to a new report, oil giant BP spent some $18,000 on the campaigns of climate legislation-blocking senators like James Inhofe. But don't worry! They also spent $7,000 on non-climate-legislation-blocking senators. So, they own almost everyone.

Republican Senator Jim DeMint has confirmed that he will introduce legislation to cut federal funding from NPR after they fired analyst Juan Williams for making insensitive comments about Muslims on Fox. The Right's war on NPR has begun in earnest!

Next week, the Supreme Court will decide whether the Westboro Baptist Church can picket the funerals of US soldiers with signs like "God Hates Fags." Last night, Bill Maher compared homophobic Senator Jim DeMint to the church's pastor. Video inside.

Sen. Jim DeMint says that even though "no one" came to his defense in 2004 after he said that gay people and unwed mothers should be banned from teaching, "everyone" quietly told him not to back down from his position.

Quick: What's the best way for a politician to broadcast short, nearly-incomprehensible missives to the world? No, it's not by hacking into Wolf Blitzer's teleprompter before The Situation Room. Twitter! Here are the seven scientifically-determined "Twitter geniuses" of the Senate.

It's only Monday, but Senate Republicans have already found a new part of the Constitution they want to amend. Sen. Jim DeMint and others plan to introduce a balanced budget amendment in September, just to wow their base before November.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle have put aside their differences to collectively humiliate Michael Steele for his "Obama's war" gaffe. First came the Dems with their stupid press release. Now it's John McCain and Co.'s turn.

Alvin Greene v. Jim DeMint for South Carolina Senate is on. SC Dems' executive committee has voted to uphold the unemployed 32 year-old veteran's primary victory because they can't prove any shenanigans. Can't wait for the first campaign ad! [AP]

What the hell? At this point, it's the only reaction we can have to Alvin Greene, the unemployed veteran who beat out a much more-qualified opponent in the South Carolina Democratic Senate primary. Watch his halting Countdown interview for yourself.

Some unemployed guy defeated a former legislator in South Carolina's Democratic senate primary. He had no money, no signs and no website. Did he win because of his brilliant policies? Or because his last initial came first in the alphabet?