Aside from the obvious financial advantage, the choice by Jim DeMint to leave the U.S. Senate for the presidency of the conservative Heritage Foundation underlines his feeling that a major part of the problem with today's Republican Party is our inability to properly articulate our positions.

While Republicans attempt to discuss issues and ideas, we are constantly thrown off topic by left-wing provocations that cannot be logically justified. So, we waste all our time in a defensive food-fight with people who are unable to learn from history nor envision the future. Shame on us.

Best thing to do with these poor folks in the future is to ignore them and stay on message. Far better to act than to react.

Steve Dickler

Hilton Head Island