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.
Bipartisanship is capitulation. And it's something only Republicans know how to do.
Al hasn't been winning too much lately.
Please, folks, let's not talk about what would happen if the man died.
My prayer is that the Lord's will be done . . .
You summed it up very well.
k.
Dunno, but can't we at least wish the guy a speedy recovery, and THEN if something happens, ask that question?
Then again, if the Dems don't get what they want how much you wanna bet this ends up in the State Supreme court.
Then we'll get what the court wants to do. Remember what happened w/Torecelli in New Jersey?
Ya neva know.
Chip Reid has been on top of it. He said the doctors at GW said Senator Johnson exhibited signs of a stroke. I think MSNBC scooped this one big time.
"I hope he recovers - still, while trying not to be ghoulish and tacky, what party is the governor of SD (who would appoint his replacement)?"
Republican
12/13/2006Senator Tim Johnson Hospitalized
Senator Tim Johnson's office has confirmed that the senator has been taken to the George Washington hospital in Washington D.C. to have some tests done. His office tells KELOLAND News he wasn't feeling very well after his morning conference call at 11:15 eastern time, which would have been shortly after 10:00 here. So his wife, Barbara took him in to be checked out.We've been told Senator Johnson is still hospitalized. His office told CNN he was experiencing stroke like symptoms. We've contacted George Washington hospital. They are not releasing any information at this time.
12/13/2006Senator Tim Johnson Hospitalized
Just before noon, Senator Tim Johnson was taken to George Washington Hospital in Washington D.C. after experiencing stroke-like symptoms.His condition isn't being made available at this time.
Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth is asking people to pray for the Johnson family.
We are gathering more information about today's events and will bring you the latest details tonight on KELOLAND News and KELOLAND.com.
This was the senator who called right-wing republicans "The Taliban"
Yeah, sorry to say that that is how I lost my mom last year...unfortunately she held on for 4 months before finally passing in her sleep. I still miss her, too.
agreed. he may have been a cordial man, but he is still supporting a party that wants to promote the slaughter millions of unborns.
Yes,I understand that.I think that many states have a Governor's appointment provision and other states have various other methods.
An interesting sidenote on the subject...in '04,when our (MA) esteemed junior Senator was destined to become President,the (95% RAT)state legislature changed our replacement method...which had for many years been "Governor's appointment"...because the governor was a Republican.
Yet another benefit of living in a one Party state!
It's not true that Zell was a lefty before 9/11. Even before 9/11, he was a moderate to conservative Democrat.
As Governor of Georgia, he never raised taxes and cut them several times. He also stood up to public employees unions more then once. He was a moderate on social issues.
When he got to the Senate, he co-sponsored Bush's tax cuts, voted to affirm Ted Olson for Solicitor General and voted for John Ashcroft for Attorney General, all of this before 9/11.
Anyhow, he certainly wasn't as Conservative as he became after 9/11, but he was no 'good little lefty'.
"Is it okay if I wish him well, but unable to continue as Senator?"
My thought exactly and may I be forgiven. But I just saw the traitor Patrick Lehey on the tube moments before I heard about Tim Johnson. Need I say more?
If such a situation happened in West Virginia I know that that govenor would appoint himself in a heartbeat.
Yes, although I can imagine the conspiracy theories the wingnuts will be working up over there...
Sir, I submit to you that if that question were asked in seminaries rather than speculating about some abstract idea of evil being "the absence of good", we might produce a theology that is more true to reason, life and Scripture. Thank you.
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... not of the philosophers.
Maybe Chip Reid was in his office plotting against the republicans. That's how he got the scoop.
True but Miller caucused with the Dems keeping the donkeys in the majority.
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