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.
I don't know enough about South Dakota politicos to speculate.
In the mean time I hope is as able to recover.
One state has a rule that the party of the Senator gets to select three names, and the governor gets to pick which of the three to appoint. Many states just leave it to the Governor.
I think it's better to defeat Daschle than Johnson. Johnson isn't bad for a Democrat.
More info:
Special election to fill senate vacancy
12-11-5. Special election to fill senate vacancy. The special election to fill the vacancy of a senator shall be held at the same time as the next general election. The general election laws shall apply unless inconsistent with this chapter.
12-11-6. No special election if appointed senator's term expires at normal time. No special election, to fill a vacancy, may be held if the term of office of the appointed senator expires in the month of January immediately following the next general election that would occur after the vacancy.
Source: SL 1979, ch 99, § 3.
http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-6
http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Statute=12-11&Type=Statute
Source: SL 1979, ch 99, § 2
All of theme:
CHAPTER 12-11
SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-5
Prayers for his return to health.
Do you really wonder what they say? You know what they say.
But incase you don't, they wish him immediate death and quick decent into Hell, where he belongs.
Scary thought. If that's the case in SD, we might have to say hello once again to "Senator Daschle."
Even in that circumstance, the Gov. would appoint some 90-year-old who wouldn't run again.
Prayers for his recovery and long convalescence away from the pressures and hubbub inside the beltway.
So basically if Johnson has to be replaced, his replacement will just finish out his term as it is up at the next general election in 2008 anyway.
Al hasn't experienced much winning of late.
Take that topic somewhere else. The man is ill. I'll let a higher power judge him.
Bipartisanship in today's doublespeak means the other party forsakes all of his her's principles to the first party's merest whims.
an american indian - good choice - let the Dems be seen as demonizing an ethnic minority, being given an opportunity to go to congress.
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.
Not because of anything Governor Rounds did. Ever the curious one, I checked South Dakota law. A special election is supposed to be held between 80 and 90 days of the vacancy:
12-11-1. Special election to fill congressional vacancy--Time of election of representative. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or representative in the United States Congress it shall be the duty of the Governor within ten days of the occurrence, to issue a proclamation setting the date of and calling for a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If either a primary or general election is to be held within six months, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress shall be held in conjunction with that election, otherwise the election shall be held not less than eighty nor more than ninety days after the vacancy occurs.http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-1
...uhm, yes but her girlfriends are even prettier...if I knew how, i'd HTML a rainbow flag beneath this comment...
You are most wise!
About that President Hunter statement.
Yes they have. When the loss of a single member by the GOP would have swung control, they had death watches for Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond in hopes that one of them would die and give them the senate.
Well, if Johnson is able to remain in the Senate, how long before Robert KKK Byrd, no spring chicken, kicks the bucket? Or Ted Kennedy's liver finally gives out?
The dem roster is chock full of geezers that could kick the bucket at any minute.
Yep. The replacvement would be in the Senate till the '08 elections.
However, w/ a 50-50 split, ties would be broked by the President of the Senate VP Cheney.
But he's still alive.
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