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.
If it's bad, you can bet all kinds of "things" are going on right now in D.C.
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There is little precedent for forcing a living senator to stand down against his will.
A predecessor of Mr Johnson, Karl Mundt, continued to hold his Senate seat for three years after a stroke that incapacitated him in 1969, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions.
I bet the Blackberries, cellphones, and Capitol lights are burning. Is Nancy in charge of things?
When Senator Cloverdale (R=Georgia) died, the democrat governor appointed Zell Miller (D).
Yes, it was tacky and a bit shocking. But I'll admit that maybe playing it has a small silver lining, in that if I had been in the room I wouldn't have picked up right away that the speech problems was anything as serious as a stroke. Hopefully I'll now be more alert and aware and able to respond quickly if something like that happens in my presence.
True, but from latest I hear it's neither stroke nor heart attack... unknown still.
We can't believe much of what we've heard so far. Much of it is inconsistent. Now a news blackout since the earliest reports. Hmmmm.
True.
What MSNBC discribed sounds very serious .. sounds like it could be a stroke or and aneurysm
Sending prayres
This article claims incapacitation can't force stepping down:
Yes, the blackout is suspicious... likely to keep the MSM vultures in the dark, as well as those Political swine who greedily eye his seats on various committees.
Hearing the recording of his voice, there is no doubt there was some sort of neurological episode. It may have been transient but nonetheless it was not a figment of anyone's imagination.
Wicked and heartless.
I'll be surprised if there isn't a continuing news blackout .. just too hot.
It's entirely possible he had a brain aneurysm or has a previously unknown brain tumor. If not a stroke, I'd bet aneurysm.
I guess I just rushed to get that message out before leaving work.
The point I was trying to make is that not resigning but not voting still gives control to the Democrats.
Thanks for pointing out my mistake.
-PJ
If his condition has not deteriorated from the moment of the episode, the news blackout may simply be that there will be a battery of tests in the morning to determine exactly what happened.
He and his wife are also both cancer survivors.
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