Senate balance pivots on ailing Democrat (Johnson)

Cape Cod Times ^ | Jan. 5, 2007 | Wire Reports

[FairOpinion]

Johnson spent his 60th birthday last week in the intensive-care unit of George Washington University Hospital, where he has been in critical condition since emergency brain surgery Dec. 13.

He has not spoken since the surgery, said a spokeswoman, and he remains on a ventilator at night.

Johnson is up for re-election in two years, but until then no authority can remove him from office.

Should Johnson die, however, all eyes would be on Gov. Michael Rounds of South Dakota. He is a Republican, and would be under pressure to name a Republican to the Senate seat - thus giving control back to Republicans.

[stumpy]

All right, here's my prediction for the Senate. During the new year, Robert Byrd will pass on, Ted Kennedy will stroke out and die also, and some other demoncrat will pass on by a sensless accident. As fat as kennedy is, he is way past a stroke that takes him out.

[Paleo Conservative]

Senator Coverdell was actually dead and had to be replaced.

True Senator Coverdell was dead, but his replacement was a Democrat appointed by the Democrat governor even though Senator Coverdell was a Republican. The MSM presstitutes didn't complain that a Democrat governor used his power of appointment to decrease the Republican margin in the Senate. If there had been one more Republican member in 2001, Jeffords wouldn't have had the opportunity to jump and put the Republicans in the minority.

[oldenuff2no]

Folks, we are still talking about a person, a father, and a husband. I'm not going into the right to die issue, it is none of my affair. That decision is between this man and his God.
I wish him a speedy recovery or a calm painless passing. Which ever is the will of our maker.
I also hope that all here continue to look at him as a person, a valued life, valued father, and loved husband. He is not a political pawn. I will pray for this man and his family.

[FairOpinion]

Byrd was born on Nov. 20, 1917, so he recently turned 89. He may or may not last out the 2 years.

I think Ted Kennedy actually slimmed out some. He was borne in 1932, so he is only 76.

As for accidents or sudden health problems, one never know who is next. Johnson is only 60 and everyone thought he was in good health.

[MissouriConservative]

I doubt he does, although we can hope for a miracle. After the election he was cozying up with the rats who deserted him. After all, rats of a feather you know.....lol

[FairOpinion]

"He is not a political pawn"

Tell that to the Democrats -- they are the ones who are using him as a political pawn.

I agree with your general sentiments. Terri Schiavo was also a person, loved by her parents and family.

[c-b 1]

Apparently there is nothing that says that you have to be mentally competent to serve, all you have to be is alive, as I understand it.

That is obvious, a majority in the Senate aren't mentally competent to serve.

[staytrue]

My limited experience is that after 1 month, he will die within 3 months.

[EDINVA]

Pelosi is in the House; Johnson is in the Senate. No matter what happens to him and his seat, she still is Speaker of the House (unless 15 Dem Congressmen croak in the next two years and are replaced by Republicans).

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I recall Pete Wilson being rolled in on a stretcher to vote after he had an appendectomy. Made an interesting photo. Voting can only be done by those present - and then even if Johnson were there - you could have a contest over whether he "indicated" a vote sufficiently well to be understood.

[MHT]

Many who are on ventilators too long never regain their speech. He's been on it over a month and I think that 14-days is the max. Also, his "response" could be involuntary, like twitches, blinking, hand gestures. There is nothing to indicate that this guy is improving. It will be interesting to see if and when they move him from a critical care unit to a rehab facility. That may never happen. He also may develop pneumonia or some other problem while in this state of inertia.

He will probably never regain the level of energy or ability that a US Senator needs to do his job. The people of South Dakota are the real losers because half of their voice in the Senate has been silenced.

BTW, notice the extreme class of Senator Thune and the Republican Governor. Had this been a Republican and the other officials Democrats, they would be leaking to the press that the guy was a goner and insisting upon his resignation. Johnson is blessed that his peers are so discrete.

[packrat35]

Also when Senator Heinz (R-PA) died and replaced with a D.

[DrGunsforHands]

Thought it was a majority of the quorum count (number of senators present).

[srmorton]

What a gem his replacement was, though, in Zell Miller. Although his presence allowed Jeffords to jump, Zell voted the way he thought his constituents would want him to and was very instrumental in getting the Bush tax cuts through the Senate.

[furquhart]

Yeah, but neither of them dying does us any good - both WV and MA have Governors who adhere to the cause of the party of treason.

[Democratshavenobrains]

If he is a vegetable, he will stay in the Senate. Anything else and the Dims will throw a massive hissy fit.

[furquhart]

Don't bet on it.

Indeed, I'd bet on the Democrats trying to find a way to engineer his replacement with Stephanie Herseth.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Gov. Michael Rounds of South Dakota . . . is a Republican, and would be under pressure to name a Republican to the Senate seat - thus giving control back to Republicans.

Just imagine an article about a Democratic governor and the possible replacement of a Republican senator! Can you imagine their using the word "pressure" to describe the tendency of a Democrat to nominate another Democrat???

[sopwith]

"Most, if not all, Democrat senators are in a vegetative state."

Most, if not all, senators are in a vegetative state.

[greasepaint]

I am concerned about the sympathy vote in the 2008 election.

people in Misouri were stupid enough to vote for a corpse.

do people in South Dakota have a problem with
voting for a plant?