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

MSNBC

[leadpenny]

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.

[OldFriend]

At this point we just don't have enough information. No sense speculating. I was simply remarking on the way hospitals work. Of course, he got immediate attention but if the symptoms were transient, there is nothing to do but monitor for now.

[Political Junkie Too]

And we have to have our Party under control, too. That has been been more of a challenge, I think.

-PJ

[Diddle E. Squat]

The lack of updates is perplexing. Many hours have passed. Surely they know something.

Sometimes it takes a large number of tests and a good bit of analysis for the docs to figure out what is going on. 8 hours in the hospital for diagnostics isn't a long time when trying to interpet such potentially serious symptoms.

[STARWISE]

Off thread topic, but I never knew that mental incapacity could come quickly with a UTI (urinary tract infection), until my frail Mom started getting them. Every now and then she starts hallucinating strange people or lights in her room.

Right away, my Sis and the residence home nurse know she's got an infection.

And she describes these episodes with such vivid detail. Thank God, she's got a great sense of humor and even temperament and just takes it in stride, while we restrain our chuckles. Sometimes, I just can't help it .. they're funny. But .. it's tough to get old. God help us.

[OldFriend]

Be assured the MSM vultures will be the first to know.

[Mo1]

If not a stroke, I'd bet aneurysm.

After hearing the video .. I'm thinking aneurysm also .. he didn't just stutter his words .. he want totally blank

That clip did not sound good at all

[Diddle E. Squat]

Off thread topic, but I never knew that mental incapacity could come quickly with a UTI (urinary tract infection), until my frail Mom started getting them. Every now and then she starts hallucinating strange people or lights in her room.

Wow, I had no idea that such seemingly different problems could be interrelated. Scary how supposedly minor things can actually be quite serious at times. Sorry for your mom, best wishes to ya'll.

[ilovew]

I doubt it. I also doubt that Senator Johnson is going anywhere so it really doesn't make much difference. I think he's going to be okay.

[rintense]

Yep. If it truly was an aneurysm, it explains the 'blackout' as well as his staff being very concerned. He may be on life support until his family can get to DC, talk to the doctors and see what's next. The situation seems very grave to me.

[Reagan80]

You know, technically, the Senate is 49D, 49R and 2Independent; Lieberman (I-CT), and Sanders (I-VT) - yes, I know they would 'caucus' with the Democrats). However, if Johnson was absent for some extended period, it would result in the rather odd situation where the Democrats controlled the Chamber, but would be outnumbered on the Floor of the Senate in absolute terms, 49R to 48D.

Probably not relevant, just an historical oddity. It just goes to show how tenuous and unworkable the D's hold on their "majority" is...Dingy Harry may have celebrated too soon...

Reagan80

[af_vet_rr]

South Dakota is a very Republican state.

That explains why we are talking about a Republican Senator who won by a very large margin because South Dakota, is, as you say, a "very Republican state".

Oh wait, we are talking about a Democrat Senator who's been in office for a decade.

[scannell]

or one guy like Kerry out campaigning in order to succeed on any given vote.

Remember, they would control the voting calendar.

[scannell]

Having first hand experience at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center I can assure you it's not for the convenience of the patient.

Forget the rules, this is a US Senator and the control of much of the government is in balance here.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

True.

[Sunsong]

However, if Johnson was absent for some extended period, it would result in the rather odd situation where the Democrats controlled the Chamber, but would be outnumbered on the Floor of the Senate in absolute terms, 49R to 48D.

Good point. And your reminder of the tenuous postion of the dems at present is a nice one :-) thanks.

[acapesket]

God Bless Senator Johnson and his family.
That having been said and meant sincerely.
Even if they (D's) control the Calendar, how the heck are they gonna keep Obama, Clinton, Biden, Dodd, Kerry etc in the same room at the same time?
As Rush always says.. Gridlock is mostly good for us

[LdSentinal]

That explains why we are talking about a Republican Senator who won by a very large margin because South Dakota, is, as you say, a "very Republican state".

South Dakota isn't a very republican state? If Michael Rounds appointed a Republican, the election would take place in 2008 -- a presidential year.

Oh wait, we are talking about a Democrat Senator who's been in office for a decade.

Congrats on being ignorant. He was elected senator in 2002 -- 4 years ago.

[Dead Dog]

Aneurysms are bad things. My mother survived one a three years ago. They gave her 30% chance of living through the night, but she's pretty much fully recovered now.

Another thing this could be is a migraine w/ aura. This happened to my wife the day before she went into labor. She became disoriented, then had difficulty seeing and speaking. Pretty damned scary, turned out fine. But they were able to rule out a stroke after CAT scans and ultrasound. Both her and the baby were fine.

[LdSentinal]

The other blog states that:

"NBC’s Chip Reid joined Joe Scarborough at the top of MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country” at 8 p.m. CST and said that Sen. Tim Johnson may have had a stroke after all."

[Dead Dog]

By 500 last minute, Indian Res, late arriving, late counted..but always just enough votes.