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.
"Oh wait, we are talking about a Democrat Senator who's been in office for a decade."
I was in Sd when he came into ofice. He won because there were hundreds of Colorado students bussed to the reservations who voted dem! They laughed about it. Thune should have won when he ran again but he didn't fight the frau.
"Oh wait, we are talking about a Democrat Senator who's been in office for a decade."
I was in SD when he came into office. He won because there were hundreds of Colorado students bussed to the reservations who voted dem! They laughed about it. Thune should have won when he ran again but he didn't fight the frau.
South Dakota voted for Bush 60-39. Senator Johnson is more conservative than a lot of Republican senators. His son served in Iraq and the people of his state trust him. I wish him a swift and full recovery.
Yes, you are correct, absolutely.
Glad to hear your wife and baby are fine!
Thank you, T.
Glad to see the Senator has no serious health issues. He looks like a nice guy. Maybe his sugar/insulin dropped.
My local radio top of the news hour mentioned that Harry Reid has stopped by the hospital to see Johnson twice today
just heard senator is in surgery
Reporter Chip Reid is on NBC local DC news right now - the latest is yes it was a stroke or something medical with 'stroke-like' conditions (symptoms).
Watching Sioux Falls KELO news. They suggested that Johnson could have had an aneurysism (sp?) Just passed on that CNN reports he is undergoing surgery.
...it's no LESS precious either.
Easy there, Buck - unlike SOME religions, Christians don't wish their enemies dead. The stakes are indeed high. I believe that there will be at least one High Court liberal retiring in the next two years. This is a key time to have (as tough as it is to say, having been on Pat Toomey's Senate campaign a couple of years ago versus Specter)...Snarlin' Arlen running the Judiciary Committee versus Patrick Leahey...
Let's hope the Senator lives to have his near death experience change his heart...we would have no greater advocate...
Reagan80
I don't know more than this: there is a special drug, which if administered within a window time of some three hours, can totally reverse the effects of the stroke. That being the case, Sen. Johnson's outlook appears OK. As well it should be. The OldPossum prays for his complete and quick recovery.
Where did you hear that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061213senate,1,1448934.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Aide: No stroke for South Dakota senator - 9:21pm cst
Excerpt:
South Dakota law dictates that the governor—Republican Mike Rounds—would appoint a replacement if either of the state's senators left office, and the governor would not have to appoint a Democrat if Johnson could not serve. The appointed senator would serve until the 2008 election.
Rounds said in a statement, "We are hopeful of good news for our friend and colleague."
on cnn
Tim Johnson is one of the more respectable Democrats and his son serves in the military. But Sen. Johnson won his last race by about 2,000 votes and now Senator Thune didn't throw a fit like the Dems when they loose a close race.
Also, the Republicans better get the fact when Georgia Senator Paul Coverdale died of similar circumstances he was replace by a Democrat Governor Roy Barnes, fortunately for us the Democrat he picked turned out to be Zell Miller.
I would remind the Democrats of this and the Jim Jeffords switch that threw the power back to the Dems after the Republicans had the majority.
Question is which Republican will Harry Reid try to vote for him as leader. If Johnson can't serve Chafee is not available for Reid.
It would be the classy thing to do and arguably the right thing to do but "bipartisanship" would be stretching it as the other party would never appoint an R in the same situation.
Praying for our nations leaders...BTTT.
Prayers for his swift and complete recovery.
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