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.
Shirley, you jest.
Prayers going out for Sen. Johnson and his family.
I like to believe that everything happens for a reason - fate guides our hands in unusual ways.
Yes, bipartisanship, and stupidity. Do you think a Dem would do such a nutty thing? It's one thing to make a meaningless political gesture, but this is about political power, and who will be sitting on the Supreme Court, among many other things.
I hope he recovers completely,(strokes sent my mom to her special place, then sent her away) That's true, but since the Dems idea of Bipartasinship is: "Do it our way" it would bejust desserts for their past behavior.
I wish Sen. Johnson a speedy and full recovery.
That said, then-Governor Zell Miller (D) of Georgia appointed a donkey to replace Sen. Paul Coverdell (R) upon his death a few years ago. The precident is there.
"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."
With all due respect, are you mad?!
You forgot the "/sarcasm" thing, right?
no way. we've spent the last 6 years getting our teeth kicked in for trying the "new tone". it doesn't work.
I see no reason to commit suicide for bi-partisanship that flows only one way.
"It would show a great deal of bipartisanship"
It would also show stupidity...
I disagree. Just because a tragedy happens is no reason to ignore the fact that the voters voted for a Republican Governor in South Dakota, and, thusly, endorsed him to chose who to appoint in such situations, which would presumably be a Republican.
If it weren't for Senator Johnson's personal popularity, there is no assurance that they would have picked another Democrat over a Republican. Actually, his victory in 2002 was razor thin, and there is reason to believe they would have instead picked a Republican if it were another Democrat.
{that's even if they really picked Senator Johnson in the first place, his 524 vote victory in 2002 had major legal issues, which John Thune (whom, I sure you know, unseated Dashle 2 years later and is now Johnson's colleague in the Senate) chose not to persue.}
As someone has already pointed out, When Coverdell died in Georgia, a Democrat was appointed to take his place (even if it was Zell, at the time, nobody knew Zell would turn out the way he did). There isn't any historical reason to appoint a Democrat either.
Anyhow, I hope all this is irrelevant, because I wish Senator Johnson a full and speedy recovery, and the ability to fill the term to which he was elected. But should the worst happen, there is no compelling reason for Gov. Rounds to ignore the fact that the voters elected him as a Republican, and gave him the authority to appoint people in the event of a Senate vacancy, and that his supporters undoubtedly believed that it would be a Republican in that unfortunate event.
Let me add my prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.
Appropos of "bipartisanship" - having a Republican Governor appoint a democratic replacment (should that prove necessary) - forget it.
Do you really think if the shoe were on the other foot - that a democrat governor would appoint a Republican replacement? If you think so - I have a nice parcel of land to sell you in Mexico on the seacoast (where non-Mexicans aren't allowed to own land).
Remember the screams for "bipartisan powersharing" when the Republicans had a one seat majority? (When Jeffords jumped). Where are the screams for "powersharing" now that they have a one seat majority?
All I see are smirks a la Schumer and Reid.
Bipartisanship is capitulation. And it's something only Republicans know how to do.
Are you nuts or just a Democrat ? Oh wait, that's the same thing.
Screw bipartisanship. Appoint a republican.
It would not be without precedent for a Gov. to appoint a replacement with someone from his own party when the person being replaced was of the opposite party.
I wish nothing but the best for Sen. Johnson and his family.
Bipartisanship in today's doublespeak means the other party forsakes all of his her's principles to the first party's merest whims.
I agree, that would be a classy move. The D's would, however, publicly applaud it for a full fifteen seconds, retire to an anteroom, and then laugh their collective glutes off at the idiotic naivete of the act.