What a great looking family
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.
The lack of updates is perplexing. Many hours have passed. Surely they know something.
50-49 Dem lead instead of a 51-49 Dem lead is still Dem control, unless Lieberman doesn't caucus. I doubt that he'd torpedo their control.
Not to mention that modern medicine is pretty amazing these days.
I forgot to post: my prayers up for him and his family!
What a great looking family
Is it me, or is FR really slow tonight?
Yes, it is.
Having first hand experience at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center I can assure you it's not for the convenience of the patient.
I tell you what is troubling. It was reported that when he went back to his office, he could not spoke and could barely move. It was stated that tests would be taken and it would not be known until morning if he had a stroke. Then a few hours later, people are reassuring us that he did not have a stroke. How can they know if they doctors won't know until tomorrow morning?
I thought early medical intervention could reverse the effect of strokes. If they do nothing until the morning, it could mean many things. What some of them might likely be, I'm trying to figure.
Yep. Though perhaps the development of something like Parkinson's or something else might cause seizures or stroke-like symptoms. The speech and movement difficulties seem to be common to a lot of potential problems.
I heard the Hugh Hewitt show...and the same thing...I don't know if it was a different person or not..but I heard someone say a bad stroke...
But, now the thread is saying it wasn't a stroke or heart attack.
Remember...not too long ago, Harry Reid had a TIA, which is like a mini-stroke..maybe that is what he had.
I haven't heard the recording yet.
Yes it does - but they can not have one defection (including Lieberman) or one guy like Kerry out campaigning in order to succeed on any given vote.
The recording is very revealing. He just came to a halt. It was beyond stuttering. He couldn't continue talking for awhile.
"And governors always make appointments from their own party."
Unfortunately pubbies like to 'play nice'. That bozo would prolly bring in another dem so's to be "FAIR".
I was talking abstractly about Senate rules, not about today's news. I'm not ready to don a vulture mask just yet. I may not agree with Johnson's politics, but I don't wish him ill either.
I'd imagine the Senator is currently receiving the best medical care available, no matter the time of day or night.
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