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.
Johnson should take the hero's way out and resign as soon as possible ~ like today maybe.
Yep, shoulda done it before he hit the ground./sarcasm
It could have been a brain aneurysm and that is not good...
He may not even be conscious.
ROTFLMAO ~ bipartisanship? We don't need no steenking bipartisanship ~ we need control of the Senate.
This can be fixed with a Constitutional amendment that reduces the minimum age for both offices.
This can be fixed with a Constitutional amendment that reduces the minimum age for both offices.
May God be with him and his family.
"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.
What is it?
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.
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.
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.
Ditto .. prayers for his complete recovery and return to wellness.
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.
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.
I wish they hadn't played that.
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.
We got rid of many of the most notorious RINOs this time.
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