Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrat, has stroke: (1 Viewer)

[Goobieman]

Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrat, has stroke: NBC
Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:20pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrat of South Dakota, had an apparent stroke on Wednesday at his office in Washington and has been hospitalized, NBC News reported.

The condition of the 59-year-old Johnson was unknown, the network said.

When the 110th Congress convenes on January 4, there will be 49 Democrats in the Senate, 49 Republicans and two independents. But the two independents will align themselves with the Democrats, giving them majority control of the Senate.

South Dakota's governor, Michael Rounds, who would appoint any successor if there is a vacancy, is a Republican.

http://today.reuters.com/news/artic..._0_US-USA-CONGRESS-JOHNSON.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

I sincerely hope the guy is OK...

...but Golly, won't something like this giving the Senate back to the GOP really piss the dems off?

If it does, I have $5 on a lawsuit being filed.
I also have $10 on any number of liberals arguing that a state governor doesn thave the right to thwart the will of the people.

 

[Skip]

Oh wow. I have met Senator Johnson on two occasions and he seemed like an excellent public servant, and a good guy to boot. Best wishes to him and his family.

On a political note, if Gov. Rounds appoints a Republican, and I'd guess he would, you'd get your $10 if anyone took you up on that because I'd be one of the first to argue that. However I am hoping he will be OK, not for political reasons but because he's a good man.

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes and appoint another conservative Democrat. It's what the people of South Dakota want.

 

[Harshaw]

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes and appoint another conservative Democrat. It's what the people of South Dakota want.

Maybe what they want is someone of Johnson's general character and convictions. If a Republican fits that description, how would that thwart their wishes?

 

[Skip]

I'm certain that some Republicans would fit that description. However it's Gov. Rounds' job to appoint someone as close as possible to Sen. Johnson, if it comes to that. The closest possible match should be someone who is of his character and convictions, which would include being a fairly conservative member of the Democratic Party.

 

[jujuman13]

Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

Link
BREITBART.COM - Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

In effect this means that the GOP has now regained control of the Senate.
As Sen. Johnson D- SD has now been incapacitated any vote in the Senate will be deadlocked thus as VP Cheney will have the casting vote.
The Governor of SD is a Republican, he has the power to appoint a person to serve as Senator should Sen. Johnson either resign or die, it would be extremely unusual for a GOP Gov. to appoint a person from another party, so 50-50 Senate could well be the make up oof the Senate.
I guess Pres. Bush is praying for him to resign and the democrats are praying for him to continue.

Comments please.

 

[Little-Acorn]

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes

Ditto. These would be the constituents who decided to put a Republican in their goerrnor's seat, and assigned him the authority to pick whomever HE wished for Senator in the unfortunate case that the sitting Senator was unabel to continue his duties.

 

[Kandahar]

Johnson won't resign with a 51-49 split. Even if he's incapacitated, the vote would split 50-49. Unless he dies, the seat won't open up.

 

[Skip]

Ditto. These would be the constituents who decided to put a Republican in their goerrnor's seat, and assigned him the authority to pick whomever HE wished for Senator in the unfortunate case that the sitting Senator was unabel to continue his duties.

Hmm, I was more referring to the voters' wishes that the person in the Senate seat should be a conservative Dem, but if you wanna cut my quotes and use that kind of self-serving logic, that's cool too.

Reverse the situation, Republicans, and think about what you honestly think should happen.

Besides, Johnson's not going anywhere - I hope.

 

[Little-Acorn]

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes

I agree. Those constituents carefully voted a Republican (not a Democrat, though they could have) into the Governor's office, and assigned him the authority to appoint WHOMEVER HE WANTED to replace a Senator in the unfortunate event of the sitting Senator's inability to continue his duties.

I hope Gov. Rounds does exactly what his constituents indicated they wanted. Rather than overturning the results of his election, as some Democrats here seem to want... as usual.

 

[NYStateofMind]

Re: Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

Link
BREITBART.COM - Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

In effect this means that the GOP has now regained control of the Senate.
As Sen. Johnson D- SD has now been incapacitated any vote in the Senate will be deadlocked thus as VP Cheney will have the casting vote.
So folks it looks like the US will have a deadlocked Government?
Comments please.

Aren't you jumping the gun a bit here? Sen. Johnson was taken to the hospital for evaluation and there is no news as of yet about his condition. It's much too soon to assume that he will be incapacitated when the Senate convenes in January. I prefer to wait and see what happens.

People do have strokes and fully recover.

 

[Navy Pride]

Re: Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

Aren't you jumping the gun a bit here? Sen. Johnson was taken to the hospital for evaluation and there is no news as of yet about his condition. It's much too soon to assume that he will be incapacitated when the Senate convenes in January. I prefer to wait and see what happens.

People do have strokes and fully recover.

People do have strokes and don't recover to......I don't wish the man any ill health but if he were not able to fill his senate seat then the Republican governor of SD would pick a replacement and it would surely be a Republican........The irony of this is then the senate would be split 50-50 with the Vice President breaking any tie effectively putting the Senate back in the hands of the Republicans...

 

[danarhea]

Hmm, I was more referring to the voters' wishes that the person in the Senate seat should be a conservative Democrat, but if you wanna cut my quotes and use that kind of self-serving logic, that's cool too.

Reverse the situation, Republicans, and think about what you honestly think should happen.

Besides, Johnson's not going anywhere - I hope.

Actually, the Governor is not under any obligation to appoint a Democrat. If Sen. Johnson dies, he will appoint a Republican, as is his right to do so. Welcome to the world of politics, Skip.

However, I hope the Senator will be OK though. Only a pure scumbag would wish for him to die, and I am not one of those.

 

[Harshaw]

I'm certain that some Republicans would fit that description. However it's Gov. Rounds' job to appoint someone as close as possible to Sen. Johnson, if it comes to that. The closest possible match should be someone who is of his character and convictions, which would include being a fairly conservative member of the Democratic Party.

I don't at ALL think it's his job. You could argue it's the right thing to do, but not that it's his job.

But yes, as all have said, I wish nothing but full recovery.

 

[26 X World Champs]

Johnson won't resign with a 51-49 split. Even if he's incapacitated, the vote would split 50-49. Unless he dies, the seat won't open up.

Exactly right...no Senator in modern history has ever been forced to resign his seat and there were several who suffered strokes and eventually returned to the Senate.

So for all you Republicans who are gleefully hoping that he will resign you're going to have to "pray" for Sen. Johnson to die because that is most likely the only way that the GOP will regain control of the Senate.

It should be interesting to see those of you who are "praying" for GOP control to be teased like this...

 

[Harshaw]

So for all you Republicans who are gleefully hoping that he will resign you're going to have to "pray" for Sen. Johnson to die because that is most likely the only way that the GOP will regain control of the Senate.

It should be interesting to see those of you who are "praying" for GOP control to be teased like this...

No one has expressed any sentiments of the kind.

 

[Stinger]

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes and appoint another conservative Democrat. It's what the people of South Dakota want.

Yeah like the Democrats would do.............................:rofl

My heart goes out to his family and from what I read he seems to be in good hands.

 

[Stinger]

However it's Gov. Rounds' job to appoint someone as close as possible to Sen. Johnson, if it comes to that.

It is nothing of the sort and if it the party affiliations were switch don't insult our intelligence by suggest he would appoint a Dem or that the Dems and the left would urge him to.

Let's hope Johnson has no lingering complications and gets well soon so we don't have to bear through the insufferable demands and whining the Dems will try to engage in even though they would do exactly the same.

 

[Little-Acorn]

Hmm, I was more referring to the voters' wishes that the person in the Senate seat should be a conservative Democrat,

No, the voters' wishes were that the Senator should be Tim Johnson. Their second choice, as shown also by their votes, was that a Republican governor should choose his replacement according to his own wishes. That's the governmental structure South Dakotans have signed on to, by innumerable votes through the ages.

Did I miss the vote where the people of South Dakota repudiated the Governor's authority to choose whom he liked, and declared that he should choose only a conservative Democrat (a contradiction if there ever was one) ito replace a sitting Senator? They could have done that by ballot proposition at any time... but did they? When?

I know, liberals want us to ignore duly elected legislators and their laws, when those laws don't favor liberals. But please say so honestly, instead of this imaginary "what we think the voters really wanted" charade.

 

[danarhea]

No, the voters' wishes were that the Senator should be Tim Johnson. Their second choice, as shown also by their votes, was that a Republican governor should choose his replacement according to his own wishes. That's the governmental structure South Dakotans have signed on to, by innumerable votes through the ages.

Did I miss the vote where the people of South Dakota repudiated the Governor's authority to choose whom he liked, and declared that he should choose only a conservative Democrat (a contradiction if there ever was one) ito replace a sitting Senator? They could have done that by ballot proposition at any time... but did they? When?

I know, liberals want us to ignore duly elected legislators and their laws, when those laws don't favor liberals. But please say so honestly, instead of this imaginary "what we think the voters really wanted" charade.

Actually, I believe this is in the Constitution. Governors and State legislators originally appointed Senators. When the 17th Amendment passed for direct election of Senators, there was no provision as to what would happen if a Senator died, therefore keeping the appointment option for the States in those cases.

 

[Navy Pride]

I don't wish the man any ill health but if he were not able to fill his senate seat then the Republican governor of SD would pick a replacement and it would surely be a Republican........The irony of this is then the senate would be split 50-50 with the Vice President breaking any tie effectively putting the Senate back in the hands of the Republicans...

 

[Navy Pride]

Oh wow. I have met Senator Johnson on two occasions and he seemed like an excellent public servant, and a good guy to boot. Best wishes to him and his family.

On a political note, if Gov. Rounds appoints a Republican, and I'd guess he would, you'd get your $10 if anyone took you up on that because I'd be one of the first to argue that. However I am hoping he will be OK, not for political reasons but because he's a good man.

I would hope that the Governor, if it came to that, would stick with his constituent's wishes and appoint another conservative Democrat. It's what the people of South Dakota want.

You live in a fantasy world my friend if you believe that.......This is not the first time this has happened......In Missouri a few years ago the Democratic Senator got killed in and plane accident and the democratic governor picked the senators wife to succeed him...............

Fact is if it were a democrat or a republican they would pick someone from their party,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Navy Pride]

Johnson won't resign with a 51-49 split. Even if he's incapacitated, the vote would split 50-49. Unless he dies, the seat won't open up.

He may not have any choice if the stroke incapcitates him......

 

[Harshaw]

You live in a fantasy world my friend if you believe that.......This is not the first time this has happened......In Missouri a few years ago the Democratic Senator got killed in and plane accident and the democratic governor picked the senators wife to succeed him...............

Actually, there's more to it than that. He was killed in a plane crash right before the election, and he was trailing his Republican opponent. It was too late to change the ballots. Then, the Democratic governor announced that if he won anyway, he would appoint the wife.

There was some irregularity to announcing who the appointment would be; I don't recall if it was actually illegal under MO law or if it was just considered really, really bad form, but it was a no-no.

In any case, the sentimentality of it carried the vote, and MO ended up with a Democratic senator.

 

[Navy Pride]

I hope he makes a quick recovery........

 

[jujuman13]

South Dakota Senator Hospitalized

Guess it was indigestion after all.
Link
My Way News - South Dakota Senator Hospitalized