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.
I haven't stayed up with all of the posts:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061213/ap_on_go_co/johnson
Man, just reading that makes me feel better :)
Posted by Ctrl_Alt_Del on Sat Nov-13-04 03:18 PM
"Die (vulgar expletive)! Die (vulgar expletive)! Die (vulgar expletive)!"
Oh grow up! This is unfortunate but if as result we get the Senate back, so be it.
All this speculation about the balance of power is moot IMHO. They still have Snowe(R) and Chafee(R) to continue to support their agenda's. Prayers for Sen. Johnson.
I understand Stephanie Herseth is very popular in SD and has already won two statewide races by wide margins.
Alright, I think enough prayers and well wishes have been posted. Now we can get into the raw politics of the matter. If the democrats can run a women who has been bedridden in the hospital for months, in and out of apparent comas, and on the verge of death for re-election to the house in 2004 (a women in Hawaii whose name escapes me). Then I see nothing that would stop them from attempting to keep Johnson a Senator for 2 more years, even he never left the hospital or his home. And the republicans, ever looking to be "bipartisan" and gain media love and attention, would probably be morons and rotate through senators to "pair" their vote with him.
I wouldn't be surprised if it happened.
--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.--
The (D) Gov. of Idaho could later reciprocate and appoint a (R) senator, if Sen. Thomas's illness gets worse.
Amen to that. I know from family experience that everything depends on how soon the stroke victim receives treatment.
Umm, I seriously, seriously doubt she's had any facelifts. She's only 35.
Sen. Thomas is from the State of Wyoming, not Idaho.
BTW-The Gov. of WY in a Democrat.
Hope he recovers. Prayers to him.
Yeah, that would take a big man... it would be a great example to those in Washington that the country is ready for the end of partisan bickering, and that they want to see Congress work together and get somethin done.
(Ok, ok, it's sarcasm.)
I doubt that a Democrat governor in the reversed situationn would do the same. I would expect a Republican governor to appoint a Republican senator and a Democrat governor to appoint a Democrat.
Well, the truth is Strom Thurmond was very incapacitated and he continued to serve.
Just because someone has a stroke wouldn't disqualify them from serving, IMHO.
My dad had a stroke, he lost his speech, and use of one arm, but within a month, he was pretty much back to normal.
His speech came back a little slower than his physical abilities.
The question would be not one of physical limitations, but cognitive limitations.
Chafee (R) lost.
Snowe is busy pushing the global warming myth.
ABC radio new's 1st worry was the balance of the senate possibly going to republicans...
Worth a reposting.
Johnson, who turns 60 on Dec. 28, is already a cancer survivor, having had his prostate gland removed in March 2004. According to news reports, he is also deaf in his left ear as a result of surgery to remove a benign tumor from his eardrum after returning from the Vietnam War.
"This is a pretty mean town and lets just keep him in our prayers," said former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. "This town is so eat up with power that everybody, you know, that's all they think about. You go to ask somebody for a cup of coffee, they question why you asked, there must be an ulterior motive to you asking.
"Senator Johnson is a really nice man from strong South Dakota stock so I am sure he'll be all right," DeLay added.
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