Johnson, hospitalized, becomes chairman of spending subcommittee (Senator Tim Johnson)

Rapid City Journal ^ | 4 January 2007 | Staff

[trad_anglican]

"will lose none of his rights during his absence"

This, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with our elected representatives. They are privileges not rights.

[dforest]

No, a Democrat stint!

[Common Tator]

The governor needs to replace him. The Governor can't unless Johnson dies or resigns. It is hard to resign if one is in a coma. And he is not dead.

He can legally serve out his full term while in a coma.

[johnny7]

...when he returns.

LOL... you're a funny guy.

[r9etb]

He can legally serve out his full term while in a coma.

And the beauty of that would be that he couldn't vote .... the R's would effectively pick up one seat. ;-)

[Alissa]

I heard yesterday, that Sen Robert Byrd almost collapsed on the Senate floor and was "caught" by Rockefeller before totally falling to the floor. However, he did regain his composure. I only heard one blurb on the radio, so I assume the media is suppressing this story. The Dems have to be very worried with all their old-timers giving them the majority.

[rollo tomasi]

The 17th Amendment is one of several ugly ink blotch on rather beautiful Constitution.

[not2worry]

how does he vote and represent the people who elected him?

[rollo tomasi]

Sorry, brain freeze and too much coffee:

The 17th Amendment is one of several ugly ink blotches that impairs the beauty of our Constitution.

[jackv]

Yes, and typical republican wimps who let them get away with this!!

[savedbygrace]

He's in a chemically induced coma, and they claim they are bringing him out of it S L O W L Y.

The governor cannot unilaterally decide to replace him. Johnson must either be dead, or submit a resignation letter first. Ain't gonna happen. They can keep him 'alive' for years. Heck, he could remain in a coma and run for re-election, and maybe even win another six year term.

[LimberJim]

It wasn't Rockefeller, it was John Glenn.
______________

Washington -- He's a former astronaut, a former senator, an all-American hero. And once again, John Glenn on Thursday showed his mettle.

He grabbed Sen. Robert Byrd under the arm as Byrd stumbled in the U.S. Senate chamber, helping to break the fall as Byrd, 89, was about to hit the floor. It was instinctive, the 85-year-old Glenn said later when asked what he was thinking as he grabbed Byrd.

"I wasn't thinking anything. I was standing right behind him. I was afraid he broke something," Glenn said, noting that Byrd's ankle appeared to twist.

___________________

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/116799007978780.xml&coll=2

Byrd "twisted his ankle" - yeah, that's the ticket.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Democrats are always elected by zombies, It seems only fair that they occasionally appoint one to an important committee.

[unixfox]

Sheesh. Two years of this crap?

Only if we are lucky.

[unixfox]

He can legally serve out his full term while in a coma.

That sums up just about all of em!

[dforest]

Yes, and typical republican wimps who let them get away with this!!

They have "polited" themselves right out of business. Gave truth to the fact that you can't fight political scum by turning the other cheek.

[jackv]

Yes. I have practically given up on all of them.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

"Heck, he could remain in a coma and run for reelection, and maybe even win another six year term."

First of all, I pray for Senator Tim Johnson's full and complete recovery. Second of all, you can be elected (at least in Missouri) even if a death certificate has been issued, your remains publicly interred, and your social security death benefit issued to your surviving spouse. That is, IF you are a Democrat. I don't think that rule applies to Republicans.

[WideGlide]

Senator, blink twice if you approve of SB 9002, a bill to authorize the Department of Defense to restrict the purchase of Olive Drab skivvies to American manufacturers and to ban the purchase of items made offshore. (:^*)

[mpackard]

He isn't off of the respirator. It's hard to imagine that this man is ever going to be able to function as an independent adult, much less as chairman of a powerful committee. My mom had a sub-arachnoid hemmorhage in 04. She even got as far as weaned off of the respirator. She regained some conciousness but was without the ability to speak or communicate. Sometimes the brain can be rehabilitated but I'm nearly certain that since he cant breathe on his own the part of his brain that is damaged controls all his vital functions.