Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) suffers possible stroke(Update Spokesman says NO stroke)

MSNBC

[Hendrix]

Yes, the democrats sure were bipartisan when the Vermont senator switched to independent to give control of the Senate to the democrats. The democrats could have refused to take control because the voters put the republicans in power, but as we know that did not happen.

[ichabod1]

yah I forgot it.

[oceanview]

its not ghoulish or tacky - its politics - and you either play to win, or leave the field.

[OldFriend]

Harry Reid appears to be doing well. Let's hope for the man's family's sake that he does well.

[rintense]

I think if an appointment needs to happen, it should be the challenger since the vote totals were so close. And yes, I would say that, too, if the political roles were switched.

[oceanview]

no way. we've spent the last 6 years getting our teeth kicked in for trying the "new tone". it doesn't work.

[Terpin]

I hope he makes a full recovery....Now if this was Schumer, Levin, Reid, Kennedy, or Kerry... I don't know if I could be so generous. Just being honest.

[livius]

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only person who had this (nasty) thought! I do hope he recovers and has all of his faculties, because a stroke is a horrible thing.

Still, that said, if he doesn't, I hope the GOP gov appoints a Republican, and a conservative one at that, to fill his spot. If the Dems had seriously wanted to cooperate, they would have; but they screamed this "bipartisanship" thing simply to prevent Bush from getting anything done, and unfortunately, he was decent enough to fall for it.

[dfwgator]

I think if an appointment needs to happen, it should be the challenger since the vote totals were so close.

In that case it would be Thune, but he's already the other Senator from SD.

[PurpleMan]

Seems at though he can appoint whomever he pleases to fill the vacancy wit, regardless of party.

http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Statute=12-11-4&Type=Statute

South Dakota Constitution

12-11-4. Temporary appointment by Governor to fill vacancy in United States Senate. Pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the Governor may fill by temporary appointment, until a special election is held pursuant to this chapter, vacancies in the office of senator in the Senate of the United States.

Source: SL 1979, ch 99, § 1.

[PurpleMan]

Seems at though he can appoint whomever he pleases to fill the vacancy with, regardless of party.

http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Statute=12-11-4&Type=Statute

South Dakota Constitution

12-11-4. Temporary appointment by Governor to fill vacancy in United States Senate. Pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the Governor may fill by temporary appointment, until a special election is held pursuant to this chapter, vacancies in the office of senator in the Senate of the United States.

Source: SL 1979, ch 99, § 1.

[DCPatriot]

Tom Daschle is hyperventilating for sure.

[OldFriend]

Zell Miller was appointed by a dem governor to replace a REPUBLICAN senator.

I see no reason to commit suicide for bi-partisanship that flows only one way.

[philsfan24]

prayers for a complete and speedy recovery.

[Lando Lincoln]

Wow. Sincere heartfelt prayers, indeed.

[Nascar Dad]

That's sad. He seems like a nice guy.

[PurpleMan]

Oops. Double post.

[kabar]

McCain has two sons in the service and Senator-elect Webb has one. There may be more.

[Quilla]

Thank you, thank you. ;-)

[rockthecasbah]

Prayers for Tim and his family