Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffers possible stroke(Update Spokesman says NO stroke)

MSNBC

[muawiyah]

He's old enough ~ happens all the time, and even to much younger people. We may well all know a stroke victim we've loved and respected, but the US Senate is not really the place for recovery from even a minor stroke.

Johnson should take the hero's way out and resign as soon as possible ~ like today maybe.

[John W]

Yep, shoulda done it before he hit the ground./sarcasm

[tubebender]

It could have been a brain aneurysm and that is not good...

[LdSentinal]

Johnson should take the hero's way out and resign as soon as possible ~ like today maybe.

He may not even be conscious.

[muawiyah]

ROTFLMAO ~ bipartisanship? We don't need no steenking bipartisanship ~ we need control of the Senate.

[muawiyah]

The typical age of Senators and Congress-critters alike is such that almost all of their children are well beyond military service age unless they are "lifers".

This can be fixed with a Constitutional amendment that reduces the minimum age for both offices.

[muawiyah]

The typical age of Senators and Congress-critters alike is such that almost all of their children are well beyond military service age unless they are "lifers".

This can be fixed with a Constitutional amendment that reduces the minimum age for both offices.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

May God be with him and his family.

[RFEngineer]

"We don't need no steenking bipartisanship ~ we need control of the Senate."

Still, it would be nice if the GOP tried to be conservative during the election season so they didn't have to require Democrats to stroke out to gain control of the Senate.

[qousqous]

muawiyah: would lowering the minimum age really make that much difference? The minimum age for representatives is 25, and for senators, 30, while in the 108th congress, the average senator was 60 and the average representative 54. (source)

[Howlin]

What is it?

[doug from upland]

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.

---

No, it would show that the governor is insane and should be recalled like Gray Davis (if S. Dakota has such a provision in its constitution).

[higgmeister]

You mean the way the Georgia Democrat governor showed bipartisanship and replaced Paul Coverdale with Zell Miller?

But we should give proper credit to Zell Miller for his promise to vote in the Senate as he felt his friend Paul Coverdell would have.

I'm proud to say Zell is one of only two Dems I have ever voted for.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Wow, MSNBC just had audio from a radio interview today where Johnson started stutturing, and had difficulty speaking. Said that his staff was concerned but afterwards he improved a bit, went back to his office, and not long later was having difficulty moving and speaking, at which time the rushed him to the hospital. Very sad and tough to listen to the audio clip.

Saying that there are all kinds of conflicting reports, from serious to not life-threatening. Saying that it may or may not have been a stroke, possibly a semantics issue.

But if it is true that his staffers won't confirm if he is conscious, it probably is quite serious.

[STARWISE]

Ditto .. prayers for his complete recovery and return to wellness.

[mrsmith]

"Your assumption here is that Johnson wouldn't be removed because of incapacitation, leaving SD with in effect, 1 senator. I highly doubt that would stand for very long. "

Except for death, the only way a Senator can be removed is resignation or expulsion.

No one can make him resign and the Dems can't be forced to expel him so tough nuggies for S.D.

I believe (haven't found a source) that the leadership remains in place throughout a Senate session even if the majority changes. If that is so then the Dems will expel him after the leadership vote if he is incapacitated. Then SD could replace him.

[CyberAnt]

They didn't say, just that it looked bad for Tim.

Being a dem, we probably won't know much. If this were a repub it would be wall-to-wall 24/7.

[Howlin]

I wish they hadn't played that.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Meanwhile Vanity and Colmes are still leading off with Mel Gibson crap. Pretty sad when that jerk Joe Scarborough has a better sense of news priorities.

[muawiyah]

We got rid of many of the most notorious RINOs this time.