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.
Yeah, my wife tells me the same thing and I reply, "Lay off of mom!"
So where do we, "the people of FR," draw the line?
Would we be saying nice words and praying for, say, Senator Edward Kennedy if it were he who was undergoing brain surgery now?
Seems to me it would be pretty hard for most of us at FR to send ol' Ted "best wishes."
Granted, Tim Johnson probably never ran from the scene of an accident and left a woman alone to die. But suppose for the sake of argument that Tim Johnson and Ted Kennedy have similar voting records. If they do, that would mean Johnson had voted for some very evil things.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we should be un-gracious, or gleeful like DUmmies are when a Republican suffers. But I don't think we should be sanctimonious either.
Senator Johnson and his family are in my prayers and in the hands of the fine neurosurgeons at GW. They have an excellent team there. A friend had a brain aneurysm and was operated on at GW; if that's what it is, Sen. Johnson's recovery will be a long haul, but his chances at this hospital are better than most. Prayers for the medical team as well.
Sort of true. Your are right they may be operating because of a large aneurysm or an aneurysm with viable arteries arising directly from the aneurysm sac that cannot be coiled. However these are also more surgically challenging cases.
We probably won't know for several days Sen Johnson's ultimate prognosis for recovery.
Wishing for someone's death should be left to the very few, the arch criminals who represent a clear and present danger to the planet, or who have committed capital crimes in the past, and great human suffering. Kennedy does not fit into that category. He is simply a political opponent. It is way beyond my pay grade to go there, and I find it wrong, and beneath one's dignity. It is an act of dehumanization.
to lead-penny
I'm praying for a speedy recovery for Senator Johnson (D-SD).
GOD BLESS HIS SON IN IRAQ.
Wow...if anyone needs our prayers it's Teddy Kennedy...that guy has really strayed.
Folks here are wishing him well. Folks at DU and HuffPo are claiming this was an assasination attempt by Republicans. They have`nt blamed the Jews yet, but I imagine they will sooner or later.
How about Putin? Have the creeps blamed the Rusky spies yet?
I am too.
I would have thought the reverse is true. Most of the Senators/Congressman I know of have college age children. The newly elected draft-dodger from New Hampshire is a good example. His son attends the Berkley School of Music in Boston while young ladies are reporting in to ROTC programs at Northeastern, BU and MIT.
To criticize another for appearing to wish someone death is hardly being sanctimonious in my book.
Evidently the mods agree. #608 has been removed.
WMAL in Washington reporting he spent the night having brain surgery.
I simply said if there were no symptoms they would wait till morning.
Clearly preliminary tests in the ER determine the next steps.
An aneurysm is worse than a stroke.
Prayers for your mom!
Wow! Wonder if it's true?
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