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.
This statute seems in conflict with the rest of the language for filling a federal Senate vacancy.
-PJ
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! "Bipartisanship" was running a "culture of corruption" campaign that painted every Republican with the crimes of a few? Was it hiding information on a gay member and then outing him in the last month before election day? Was it not letting the President get a vote on his nominees for the last few years?
Why is Bipartisanship always a one way street. The Dems can prove how Bipartisan they are from the Minority, for a change.
Let 'em go "nuts, nuts, nuts, ballistic nuts." It'll be fun to watch their impotent rage. Plus, it'll be a nice morale pick-me-up for the Repubs.
CNN says Johnson is being examined by the stroke team at GWU hospital.
True. Just wondering, though, where was all their outrage when Jumpin' Jim Jeffords did his little stunt?
Prayers going up.
First off, this kind of goolish speculation isn't right.
Second, even if it were, both of the people you mentioned would be replaced by Dems anyway. WV's Gov. is a Democrat, and Mass. has a law (that was passed when JF'nK was running) that calls for a special election, and doesn't allow the Governor to replace him. And even if it didn't have that law, it'll have a Democratic Governor in less then a month.
Kick them when they are down. Go on go on, kick them!
12/13/2006Senator Tim Johnson Hospitalized
The office of Democratic Senator Tim Johnson says Johnson has suffered a possible stroke. He's at George Washington University Hospital this afternoon undergoing tests.His condition isn't being made available at this time.
Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth is asking people to pray for the Johnson family.
South Dakota's secretary of state, Chris Nelson, says if there is a Senate vacancy, Republican Governor Rounds would appoint a replacement who serves until the next general election in 2008. Nelson says as for what creates a vacancy, that's not defined in state law but it might be in federal law.
We are gathering more information about today's events and will bring you the latest details tonight on KELOLAND News and KELOLAND.com.
I don't know. This sentence seems to indicate it does apply to the Senate...
If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or representative in the United States Congress...
Good point. I don't think there's anything that says that a Senator can be out of circulation for the remainder of his term, thereby holding the majority for the Dems, even if he himself never steps foot back onto the Senate floor.
Correctomundo
In 2002, Johnson beat Thune by about 400 votes, and the Libertarian got about 600 votes.
"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."
I'm sure Democrats would do the same, the next time hell freezes over or the sun goes out.
13 ACU rating last year. 11 in 2004.
Johnson is clearly no friend of decent, civilized Americans.
Still, it is sad for any fellow human being to get struck down like this, and I hope he recovers quickly and fully.
It would also show a great deal of political stupidity. The Rats would never appoint a Democrat when the balance of power is at stake and if Johnson doesn't recover, we shouldn't either.
It would be a much better world not having to have UpChuck Schumer, the drunken Kennedy and Hitlery in power.
Our prayers for him and his family. He's not very old for this to be happening.
If we don't hear something like this soon, though, then it could be worse.
Last month, there was speculation that he was one of the Democrat Senators being discussed by Abramoff. Reid is from Nevada, which has a Republican governor.
If Reid goes down, that's another Republican added.
-PJ
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