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.
The spokesman did not say what was wrong.
Now, as for this matter of Johnson remaining in the Senate despite his stroke, the example the press has dredged up has nothing to do with it. If Johnson is not on the floor and cannot vote, he cannot vote. End of discussion.
Congressman Billybob
Those people are just awful..
I've read that he had prostate cancer in the past. I hate to speculate, but there is always that fear that any cancer could come back in a distant metastasis. If he does have a tumor that might explain the symptoms. That's pretty scary stuff and I would certainly hope that's not the case.
Question for you: does only the Senate give approval of Supreme Court nominees, or does the house do so also? I don't remember the process from the last two times very well.
I hope that Mr. Johnson has a very long healthy and happy retirement beginning right now.
Look for example at Governor Corzine's appointment of Rep, Menendez, a fellow Democrat crook, to the Senate. The rule of politics is to win, and then hold office. It's as simple as that.
Congressman Billybob
It's all about the control of the committees. After the power-sharing debacle, I would hope that the GOP doesn't fall for that again. A 50-50 Senate puts our side in control.
Prostate cancer does not metastasize to the brain. Usually prostate ca spreads to the bones and lymph nodes. These symptoms don't fit with metastatic prostate cancer unless his elctrolytes are whacked do to bone metastases. However, that would be very unusual for someone with good medical care.
Yep.. In my state, when Republican Senator John Heinz was killed in a helicopter crash, Democrat Governor Bob Casey appointed liberal Democrat Harrison Wofford to fill the vacancy. Nobody expected anything different.
Did he eat at Taco Bell?
He can't talk, but it's not a stroke?
I didn't realize that, thanks for the info.
Interesting. If I were the SD Gov, I'd cite things like this as a reason to select an R, not that he needs a reason.
I don't see SD ever, ever going Dem. It's a very red state. And governors always make appointments from their own party.
One vote would create the possibility of ties to be broken by the Vice-President, but it will not affect the organization vote.
Currently, it is 51D-49R (technically 49D-49R-2I with the 2 promising to organize with the Democrats).
If Johnson were to resign and a Republican is selected, then it becomes 51R-49D and Republicans control the committees.
If Johnson does not resign but does not vote, then it becomes 50D-49R and the Democrats still maintain control of the Senate.
-PJ
It's just the senate.
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