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.
How long until Levin, Conyers, Boxer, or Jackson-Lee start speculating about secret poisoning?
lol....Don't leave out the part where Chaffee said he was becoming a democrat. Poor baby!
yes, that would be true
Speedy recovery to him and bless his family.
Odd place to put a left hand, isn't it?
Can Rounds appoint himself?
Even if there are lingering effects of a stroke, Robert Byrd has already proven that it's possible to have one's brain turn to mush and still function as a United States Senator. Heck, he even ran for and won reelection to yet another six year term last month.
My husband has had several strokes, caused by a hole in his heart which has been repaired, and he has no dysfunction of any kind. He was only in his mid-thirties when he had his first stroke.
No, I do not believe she is a lesbian. But I have heard rumors here in So. Dak., which I have ignored. I've met her and I like her. She is a very nice young woman and the rumors are just that.....nasty rumors. Actually, she received the NRA endorsement when she was campaigning. But, she is still a Democrat, and I couldn't vote for her based on that alone.
TIA? I should know what that is since I'm 63.
BTW, there is no salt on the gruel I just rustled up.
I think that the scenario of special election is in the event of the incapacitation of a house member, if a senator is incapacitated the gov. appoints his replacement till the end of the term.
He could legally appoint himself, but it'd be the political kiss of death. He could get around this by appointing someone who agreed to not run in the special election, and then run himself.
It is much too late to be worried about that.
Actually, I was thinking about Strom Thurmond when I made my "Week-end at Bernie's" comment. Do you remember how the Democrats treated poor old Strom when they wanted to keep the Senate in session all night for a filibuster and the Republicans asked if Strom could leave the floor? They said no.
Rounds should definitly run should it come to it...
OTOH - Your comment is a perfect example of why the Republicans are called "the stupid party". Democrats have NEVER done that.
"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."
Hmmm. Sorry about his failing health. OTOH it was sickening the way that he first got elected to the Senate.
I like the idea of replacing him with a young, conservative lady, with a family history of longevity.
ping 317
I doubt very much that Senator Johnson will be incapacitated. It sounds like they caught this in plenty of time, when he was just having some mild stroke-like symptoms. Modern medical treatments will probably have him back to near-100% health in short order. And I suspect his condition will be far less fragile than Vice-President Cheney's.
But even if he had to be hospitalized or bed-ridden for the next two years, it wouldn't effect Democratic control of the Senate. The Democrats would have a 50 to 49 majority instead of 51 to 49. That's still a majority. Only if Johnson were to die and a Republican took his place would the Senate then be tied at 50-50, in which case Cheney would cast the tie-breaking vote to organize the Senate under Republican control. The Vice-President has no vote in the Senate unless there is a tie; he can't vote to create a tie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.