Maybe its not a Democratic Senate after all

[Bill McIntyre]

December 13, 2006 5:18 p.m. EST

South Dakota's Sen. Johnson
Hospitalized for Possible Stroke
By DAMIAN PALETTA
December 13, 2006 5:18 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tim Johnson (D., S.D.) was rushed to George Washington University Hospital in Washington on Wednesday afternoon after suffering a possible stroke, his office said.


"As this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team," his office said in a brief statement. "Further details will be forthcoming when more is known."

Mr. Johnson, 59 years old, was first elected to the Senate in 1996. While Mr. Johnson's condition is unclear, should he become incapacitated, South Dakota's Governor Michael Rounds, a Republican, would appoint a successor, South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said Wednesday afternoon.

That appointment would stand until the Nov. 8, 2008 elections.

If Mr. Rounds appointed a Republican to replace Mr. Johnson, it would deny Democrats the majority and control of Senate and its committees when Congress reconvenes in January. That is because there would be 50 Republican senators, 48 Democratic senators, and two independent senators who caucus with the Democrats. Vice President Richard Cheney would cast the tiebreaking vote in this case.

Mr. Johnson won his 2002 bid for reelection in the predominantly Republican state by just 524 votes out of more than 334,000 votes cast.

Mr. Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call.

Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he had walked back to his Capitol office after the call but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his office and examined him and decided he needed to go to the hospital.

Mr. Johnson, who turns 60 Dec. 28, had surgery for prostate cancer in 2004. The centrist Democrat has been one of the more reserved members of the chamber, rarely taking center stage at news conferences. He served in the House for 10 years from 1987 to 1997. His focus has been on committee assignments important to his state's interests -- Indian Affairs and Energy and Natural Resources -- as well as a spot on Appropriations. The latter allows him to direct funds to South Dakota.

Mr. Johnson has worked as a lawyer and county prosecutor and served several years in the 1970s and 1980s in the South Dakota state Legislature.

[Bill McIntyre]

But---

Should the 59 year old Johnson's health problem be serious enough to
force him to resign from the Senate, according to the South Dakota
secretary of state, the governor of South Dakota may appoint a
replacement. The appointment would last until the next general election
-- in this case, 2008. Johnson's term happens to expire in 2008.

The 17th amendment of the U.S. Constitution says state legislatures can
give their governors the power to appoint someone else to take over, but
only in the case of "vacancies."

What's a vacancy? Clearly death or resignation, but history suggests not
much else. Serious illness doesn't count.

The Senate Historian's office cites several examples of a senator being
incapacitated for years and remaining in office.

Most recently, Sen. Karl Mundt (ironically, also from South Dakota)
suffered a stroke in 1969 and was incapacitated, but he refused to step
down. He remained in office until Jan. 1973 when his term expired. Mundt
was pressured repeatedly to step down during his illness, but he
demanded that the governor promise to appoint his wife. The governor
refused, and Mundt remained in office.

Another example was Sen. Carter Glass, D-VA. Sen. Glass had a heart
condition that prevented him from working for most of his last term
after his re-election in 1942. Yet Glass refused to resign, and finally
passed away from congestive heart failure in his apartment at the
Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC in May of 1946.
*****************************************

Edit- I guess "Democratic" was a poor choice of word in the thread title. I should have said "Democrat controlled."

[rigdvr]

heck, even if he doesnt step down but cant cast a vote its gonna shift things slightly...

To think a politician is above stepping down if not able to perform is sickening. So we gotta pay him even though he cant work just because he says so? I need to run this employment program past my boss:)

[Bill McIntyre]

I think Strom Thurmond was dead for the last few years he was in the Senate. They just propped him in a seat now and then and then put the body back on ice at night.:)

[peterv]

I'd be checking for Polonium poisoning. (half-joking)

Thursday morning edit:
He went in for emergency brain surgery Wednesday Night (aneurysm?)
I hope he pulls thru.

[Bill McIntyre]

Its not looking good.

Democrat in Senate in Intensive Care After Surgery

By KATE ZERNIKE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 — Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat from South Dakota, was in intensive care today after undergoing surgery late Wednesday night for a brain hemorrhage, a development that highlighted the fragility of the Democrats’ new majority in the Senate.

Adm. John Eisold, the attending physician of the Capitol, said in a statement issued by Mr. Johnson’s office this morning that the operation had been successful and that the senator was “recovering without complication.” But he added that it was too early to say whether further surgery would be necessary, or to assess his long-term prognosis.

I'm wondering when Pat Robertson will say that this is God's retribution on the Democrats for being pro-choice.

And BTW, in spite of the Dems being the "surrender monkeys," this guy's son served in Afghanistan and is now serving in Iraq.

[apnea_complex]

Bill,

What is sad to see is Washington cares more about who will now control the senate rather then the health of Sen. Johnson. I know there are Republicans who would like to even probably see him get more sick. People are crazy. I was reading on, I think it was, democraticundergound.com? and people are starting to say his health problems are part of a secret conspiracy brought on by the GOP.

[Bill McIntyre]

and people are starting to say his health problems are part of a secret conspiracy brought on by the GOP.

Well hell, everybody knows that, don't they?:)

[FredT]

Sen Johnson will survive or not, and nothing the media pushes wil change that.

OTOH the more controversey the media pundits can create the more ads they can sell. Take it all with a grain of salt, preferably one of the "grains" they feed cattle.

A 50-50 sanate would be preferable to to a 49-51 as history has proven "we the people" will be safer and more secure in our personal lives if they get nothing major ideoloy driven done. I just hate to loose a man to get it.

FT