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Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffers possible stroke(Update Spokesman says NO stroke)
MSNBC

Posted on 12/13/2006 12:46:10 PM PST by leadpenny

Edited on 12/13/2006 2:04:33 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

http://capwiz.com/c-span/bio/?id=537&lvl=C&chamber=S

Sen. Johnson suffers possible stroke
12/13/2006, 4:53 p.m. ET
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington hospital, his office said.

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.

If he should be unable to continue to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.

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

He was taken by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital around noon, Fisher said.

"It was caught very early," she said.

Johnson's office released a statement saying he had suffered a possible stroke.

"At this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team," the statement read.

The White House issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family," said spokesman Alex Conant.

If the two-term senator, 59, is unable to serve when the 110th Congress convenes Jan. 4, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds would appoint a replacement. Johnson had surgery for prostate cancer in 2004. He is up for re-election in 2008.

South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there are no special restrictions on such an appointment and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party.

Johnson turns 60 on Dec. 28. The centrist Democrat was elected to the Senate in 1996 and 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.

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


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: South Dakota
KEYWORDS: congress; senate; timjohnson
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To: dfwgator

How long before dems start calling for the replacement to be Daschle?


101 posted on 12/13/2006 1:09:24 PM PST by rintense (Liberals stand for nothing and are against everything- unless it benefits them.)
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To: leadpenny

Oh my. God help him and his family.


102 posted on 12/13/2006 1:09:30 PM PST by katieanna
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To: Quilla

oh boy, "apparent stroke" is scarey because a more likely scenario for his age is a ruptured aneurysm. God be with him and his family in any case


103 posted on 12/13/2006 1:09:35 PM PST by mpackard (Proud mama of a Sailor.)
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To: OldFriend

Reid:

A little after noon he felt ill while in his Hart SOB office. He was taken to GWU Hospital. Nothing on AP or Capitol News via C-SPAN.


104 posted on 12/13/2006 1:09:40 PM PST by leadpenny
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To: ichabod1
"It would show a great deal of bipartisanship if he would appoint a democrat and not tip the balance of power as a result of a horrible tragedy."

Olmert, is this you?
105 posted on 12/13/2006 1:09:47 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran ("Remember the Alamo, Goliad and WACO, It is Time for a new San Jacinto")
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To: NonZeroSum
A couple of years ago, when Georgia had a Dem governor, we had a Republican senator who was unable to serve his term.

Our governor played politics and sent none other than Zell Miller, an ex-governorm (D), to the Senate. Zell was a good little leftie until he got to Washington. Something changed that man even before 9-11. I personally think that he couldn't stand the smell of the place. He had too much honor for the vermin who live there.
106 posted on 12/13/2006 1:10:02 PM PST by laxcoach
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To: leadpenny

Oh my. God help him and his family.


107 posted on 12/13/2006 1:10:17 PM PST by katieanna
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To: ichabod1

"It would show a great deal of bipartisanship"

It would also show stupidity...


108 posted on 12/13/2006 1:10:36 PM PST by babygene
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To: leadpenny

He's in God's hands now.


109 posted on 12/13/2006 1:11:03 PM PST by WashingtonSource
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To: ichabod1

I disagree. Just because a tragedy happens is no reason to ignore the fact that the voters voted for a Republican Governor in South Dakota, and, thusly, endorsed him to chose who to appoint in such situations, which would presumably be a Republican.

If it weren't for Senator Johnson's personal popularity, there is no assurance that they would have picked another Democrat over a Republican. Actually, his victory in 2002 was razor thin, and there is reason to believe they would have instead picked a Republican if it were another Democrat.

{that's even if they really picked Senator Johnson in the first place, his 524 vote victory in 2002 had major legal issues, which John Thune (whom, I sure you know, unseated Dashle 2 years later and is now Johnson's colleague in the Senate) chose not to persue.}

As someone has already pointed out, When Coverdell died in Georgia, a Democrat was appointed to take his place (even if it was Zell, at the time, nobody knew Zell would turn out the way he did). There isn't any historical reason to appoint a Democrat either.

Anyhow, I hope all this is irrelevant, because I wish Senator Johnson a full and speedy recovery, and the ability to fill the term to which he was elected. But should the worst happen, there is no compelling reason for Gov. Rounds to ignore the fact that the voters elected him as a Republican, and gave him the authority to appoint people in the event of a Senate vacancy, and that his supporters undoubtedly believed that it would be a Republican in that unfortunate event.


110 posted on 12/13/2006 1:11:31 PM PST by zbigreddogz
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To: leadpenny
Nothing on AP or Capitol News via C-SPAN.

I don't see anything on the AP wire either, nor on CNN or Fox. I wonder if MSNBC got burned.

111 posted on 12/13/2006 1:11:52 PM PST by Dont Mention the War (Giuliani '08: Why not p. o. BOTH sides?)
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To: NeoCaveman
"...along with all of us

Some of us, others not.

As regards your tagline, Duncan Hunter is the closest guy running to Ronald Reagan. Not surprisingly, Hunter is also the only candidate who was involved with the Reagan 76 campaign.

112 posted on 12/13/2006 1:11:56 PM PST by MSF BU
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To: rintense

in 10 minutes.


113 posted on 12/13/2006 1:12:24 PM PST by oceanview
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To: mpackard
...a more likely scenario for his age is a ruptured aneurysm.

That's how I lost my dad in 1998. I still miss him.

114 posted on 12/13/2006 1:12:35 PM PST by Quilla (Welcome to the party, pal!)
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To: leadpenny

I just checked his web site, he looks like a nice guy, even if he is a Democrat. He's had some health problems in the past, prostrate cancer, but that shouldn't have anything to do with an apparent stroke. Lot's of strokes cause no permanent damage, so maybe this will be one of that type.


115 posted on 12/13/2006 1:12:46 PM PST by Eva
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To: ConservativeMind
I hope he gets well. Sure, he hurts the balance for the Republicans, but this is not the way to win.

Ask Al.


116 posted on 12/13/2006 1:12:47 PM PST by USS Alaska (Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
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To: livius

Only problem is the best GOP candidate for the seat IS the Governor.


117 posted on 12/13/2006 1:13:13 PM PST by ReagansRaiders (DRAFT STEVE FORBES '08)
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To: leadpenny

He is very young, 60 another post said, politics aside, I hope for a full recovery. And I would say and feel the same for any Dem who got sick..


118 posted on 12/13/2006 1:13:31 PM PST by cardinal4
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To: zbigreddogz

Good post!


119 posted on 12/13/2006 1:13:39 PM PST by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
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To: ichabod1

Let me add my prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

Appropos of "bipartisanship" - having a Republican Governor appoint a democratic replacment (should that prove necessary) - forget it.

Do you really think if the shoe were on the other foot - that a democrat governor would appoint a Republican replacement? If you think so - I have a nice parcel of land to sell you in Mexico on the seacoast (where non-Mexicans aren't allowed to own land).

Remember the screams for "bipartisan powersharing" when the Republicans had a one seat majority? (When Jeffords jumped). Where are the screams for "powersharing" now that they have a one seat majority?

All I see are smirks a la Schumer and Reid.


120 posted on 12/13/2006 1:13:50 PM PST by Basheva
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