Rand’s Rant:

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is publicly criticizing House Republican leadership for purging some conservatives from committees based on their votes. “I guess it shows the true colors of people,” Paul said on the Peter Schiff radio show. “I don’t know if any of these people want to run for president, maybe they’re going to have to explain why they wanted to purge people from their committees who believe in balancing the budget.” (Read more)

Power Trip: Las Vegas casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson met separately with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Eric Cantor in Washington, D.C., this week. He also had meetings with senior Republican campaign officials during his visit. A spokesman for the casino magnate declined to give details of the gatherings, though it’s believed Adelson was expected to address the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. One of Adelson’s casinos, the Las Vegas Sands, is being investigated under the anti-bribery law. Adelson is a major GOP backer who donated more than $100 million to conservative causes in the 2012 election. (Read more)

Funny Business: Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert, who has already run two unsuccessful campaigns to become president of South Carolina, is naturally interested in being appointed to the state’s Senate seat being vacated by Jim DeMint. The Republican announced Thursday that he will resign to head the conservative Heritage Foundation. Colbert’s spokesman told The Huffington Post: “Stephen is honored by the groundswell of support from the Palmetto State and looks forward to Governor [Nikki] Haley’s call.” Good luck Stephen! (Read more)

In DeMint Condition: The odds that faux-conservative Stephen Colbert will replace Republican Jim DeMint as the state’s senator are probably pretty tiny (read: nonexistent), especially given that there’s not exactly a dearth of conservatives ready to fill in. Rep. Tim Scott is DeMint’s personal favorite, but other more well-known candidates who could become South Carolina’s next senator include Gov. Nikki Haley (who gets to choose De Mint’s replacement) and Rep. Joe “You Lie” Wilson. (Read more)

Lift Rift: Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., reportedly excoriated a House staffer Tuesday for riding in a “members only” elevator. “This is a ‘members-only’ elevator. Can you read?” Foxx reportedly asked the female employee, before requesting that she get off. When the staffer pointed to a sign that read “during votes,” the irate Foxx started yelling, “Members only!” (Read more)

Video of the Day: Caustic conservative commentator Ann Coulter is no stranger to making shocking remarks. But her latest comment regarding the “fiscal cliff” surprisingly—makes sense? Coulter told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday that Republicans should give in to President Obama and raise taxes on the wealthy. “You’re saying capitulate to Obama? We don’t have a revenue problem, Ann,” Hannity said. Her reply: “We lost the election, Sean!” Say what, Ann?

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#ann coulter#eric cantor#fox news#gop#house of representatives#jim demint#john boehner#nikki haley#politics#rand paul#senate#sheldon adelson#south carolina#stephen colbert