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.
yah I forgot it.
its not ghoulish or tacky - its politics - and you either play to win, or leave the field.
Harry Reid appears to be doing well. Let's hope for the man's family's sake that he does well.
no way. we've spent the last 6 years getting our teeth kicked in for trying the "new tone". it doesn't work.
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.
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.
In that case it would be Thune, but he's already the other Senator from SD.
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.
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.
Tom Daschle is hyperventilating for sure.
I see no reason to commit suicide for bi-partisanship that flows only one way.
prayers for a complete and speedy recovery.
Wow. Sincere heartfelt prayers, indeed.
That's sad. He seems like a nice guy.
Oops. Double post.
McCain has two sons in the service and Senator-elect Webb has one. There may be more.
Thank you, thank you. ;-)
Prayers for Tim and his family
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