Senator Tom Johnson (1 Viewer)

[Goobieman]

For those of you that dont know the story:

BREITBART.COM - S.D. Sen. Johnson in Critical Condition

Assuming his condition incapacitates him and he cannot effectively represent the people of the State of South Dakota in the senate, should he step down?

Or, should he consider that Dem control of the senate more important than than his duty to the people of SD?

 

[Navy Pride]

I could not answer the poll...........It strictly depends on what condition he is in.......

 

[Goobieman]

I could not answer the poll...........It strictly depends on what condition he is in.......

He is incapactitated to the point that he cannot effectively represent the people of the State of South Dakota in the senate.

 

[Hatuey]

He is incapactitated to the point that he cannot effectively represent the people of the State of South Dakota in the senate.

Wouldnt the person who replaces him be a democrat?

 

[Kandahar]

He should NOT step down, and the suggestion that he should is pure partisan hackery. It's not like the world will fall apart if there are only 99 active senators. This guy isn't the President or a Supreme Court Justice; he's one of 100, and a completely unimportant senator at that. Your sudden heartfelt concern for the people of South Dakota is so transparent it's laughable.

If the Democrats had won five seats and split the Senate 50-50 in the Republicans' favor, what would you say if a Republican senator (in a state with a Democratic governor) had health problems? Would you urge him/her to resign? Of course not.

Senators typically do not resign for medical reasons. Nine senators have kept their positions despite medical conditions keeping them away for six months or more.

So you'll have to hope he dies if you want the Senate back before 2008.

 

[Kandahar]

He is incapactitated to the point that he cannot effectively represent the people of the State of South Dakota in the senate.

You have no idea what condition he is in. His doctors suggest there is a good possibility he'll make a full recovery.

 

[Goobieman]

You have no idea what condition he is in. His doctors suggest there is a good possibility he'll make a full recovery.

You misunderstand me. Its a hypothetical.

ASSUMING his condition...
NP said it depended in the condition. The question assumes he is incapacitated; the specifics of the incapacitation are irrelevant.

 

[Goobieman]

Wouldnt the person who replaces him be a democrat?

Not likely. The governor appoints his replacement, and the governor is a Republican.

 

[Goobieman]

He should NOT step down, and the suggestion that he should is pure partisan hackery. It's not like the world will fall apart if there are only 99 active senators.

But, doesnt his non-participation in the senate betray his constituients?

The question is abut his duty -- his constituients or his party.

Which is it?

 

[Cremaster77]

But, doesnt his non-participation in the senate betray his constituients?

The question is abut his duty -- his constituients or his party.

Which is it?

The questions cuts both ways. Is it a betrayal to his constituency for another person to be named to represent them who they did not vote for, nor very likely would vote the same way as he would have. The people of SD elected him because he was likely to vote a certain way. Which is worse, not voting at all or allowing someone to vote in your place that votes counter to what the SD electorate has stated they would like?

 

[Caine]

But, doesnt his non-participation in the senate betray his constituients?

The question is abut his duty -- his constituients or his party.

Which is it?

Going off of what his doctor has said (not the fantasy land Goobieman wishes for) He wouldn't be betraying his constituents.

They did elect him did they not?

 

[Goobieman]

Going off of what his doctor has said (not the fantasy land Goobieman wishes for) He wouldn't be betraying his constituents.
They did elect him did they not?

It appears the entire population of this board is in need of reading comprehension classes.

Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson is incapacitated.
Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson cannot function as a senator.

By not stepping down, his constuients are underrepresented in the US senate
By stepping down, the Senate will likely go to the GOP.

Where is his duty:
His constituients?
His party?

 

[Kandahar]

By not stepping down, his constuients are underrepresented in the US senate

John Thune is a better senator anyway; it's not like he couldn't make up for Tim Johnson's absence.

And it's not like South Dakota has any pressing national issues that require two senators...other than bellying up to the pork buffet along with every other state.

By stepping down, the Senate will likely go to the GOP.

You wouldn't be asking him to step down for any other reason.

You've also overlooked the fact that if Johnson is incapacitated he won't be ABLE to resign.

 

[Goobieman]

John Thune is a better senator anyway; it's not like he couldn't make up for Tim Johnson's absence.

He can't vote twice.

And it's not like South Dakota has any pressing national issues

I see. South Dakota isnt important enough to have 2 Senators. :roll:
You'll forgive me for rejecting that argument out of hand.

You wouldn't be asking him to step down for any other reason.

Who said I was asking him to do anything?
The question revolves around his duty -- is it to his constituients or to his party.

And you didnt answer that question.

You've also overlooked the fact that if Johnson is incapacitated he won't be ABLE to resign.

Not true at all.

 

[Kandahar]

I see. South Dakota isnt important enough to have 2 Senators. :roll:
You'll forgive me for rejecting that argument out of hand.

South Dakota not having 2 senators isn't an important enough reason to flip control of the Senate. What do you imagine would be the consequence of Johnson being absent from his seat until 2008? Would the rest of the states impose a 100% tax on South Dakota? His absence would have absolutely no consequence.

Who said I was asking him to do anything?
The question revolves around his duty -- is it to his constituients or to his party.

And you didnt answer that question.

His duty is to the United States.

Not true at all.

Yes it is. If he's incapacitated, he's not of sound mind to sign a letter of resignation.

 

[Navy Pride]

You have no idea what condition he is in. His doctors suggest there is a good possibility he'll make a full recovery.

Reid was on CNN this morning and would not say if he was even concious.......The report I heard is that he is in criticial but stable condition........

 

[Navy Pride]

The questions cuts both ways. Is it a betrayal to his constituency for another person to be named to represent them who they did not vote for, nor very likely would vote the same way as he would have. The people of SD elected him because he was likely to vote a certain way. Which is worse, not voting at all or allowing someone to vote in your place that votes counter to what the SD electorate has stated they would like?

It may be a betrayal as you call it but Johnson is one of the few conservative democrats in the senate and the governor would be apointing another conservative he would just be a republican......

 

[Navy Pride]

Going off of what his doctor has said (not the fantasy land Goobieman wishes for) He wouldn't be betraying his constituents.

They did elect him did they not?

You Liberals are always whinning about the Constitution except when it disagrees with your line of thinking...........

 

[Navy Pride]

John Thune is a better senator anyway; it's not like he couldn't make up for Tim Johnson's absence.

And it's not like South Dakota has any pressing national issues that require two senators...other than bellying up to the pork buffet along with every other state.



You wouldn't be asking him to step down for any other reason.

You've also overlooked the fact that if Johnson is incapacitated he won't be ABLE to resign.

I am sure there are provisions for that.......

 

[Cremaster77]

It appears the entire population of this board is in need of reading comprehension classes.

Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson is incapacitated.
Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson cannot function as a senator.

By not stepping down, his constuients are underrepresented in the US senate
By stepping down, the Senate will likely go to the GOP.

Where is his duty:
His constituients?
His party?

It appears you are in dire need of some reading skills as well. The question has been answered which you have conveniently failed to acknowledge. By not stepping down, he fulfills his duty to both his constituents and his party at the same time. By stepping down, he allows his seat to be filled by someone who is opposed to the very principles for which his constituents elected him. You seem to think that having someone in power who will actively work to oppose the principles the voters have chosen to have represented is somehow better than having one less person work towards those principles. Your assumption is preposterous from the start.

 

[Cremaster77]

It may be a betrayal as you call it but Johnson is one of the few conservative democrats in the senate and the governor would be apointing another conservative he would just be a republican......

Apparently you haven't gotten the memo. Being a conservative Democrat is a far cry from being a Republican. The key word being "conservative". Republicans have betrayed the very notion of conservatism that they supposedly represent. If the governor would name a Republican who would take similar stances on the majority of positions, then it wouldn't be a problem. In reality, we know that there is still a vast chasm in ideological difference between a conservative Democrat and a Republican and anyone the governor would name would likely support curtailing civil liberties, increasing the federal deficit, legislating morality, etc. none of which Johnson has supported.

 

[Hatuey]

Not likely. The governor appoints his replacement, and the governor is a Republican.

It would be a shitty move on the side of the republicans.

 

[Kandahar]

I am sure there are provisions for that.......

Nope there aren't. The Constitution doesn't make any provision unless he is expelled by the Senate (extremely unlikely), or he dies. If he's incapacitated, he isn't of sound mind and therefore can't sign a legal document including a letter of resignation.

This wouldn't be the first time this has happened. Several senators have remained in the Senate despite being unable to perform their duties.

 

[Navy Pride]

Nope there aren't. The Constitution doesn't make any provision unless he is expelled by the Senate (extremely unlikely), or he dies. If he's incapacitated, he isn't of sound mind and therefore can't sign a legal document including a letter of resignation.

This wouldn't be the first time this has happened. Several senators have remained in the Senate despite being unable to perform their duties.

Just curious, can you name them?

 

[Skip]

It appears the entire population of this board is in need of reading comprehension classes.

Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson is incapacitated.
Let us -assume- for the moment that Johnson cannot function as a senator.

By not stepping down, his constuients are underrepresented in the US senate
By stepping down, the Senate will likely go to the GOP.

Where is his duty:
His constituients?
His party?

Let us -assume- that Bush will nuke Korea.
Let us -assume- that Saddam himself crashed planes into the WTC.
Let us -assume- that Santa Claus is real.

Let us -assume- that assumptions aren't worth talking about.
Let us -assume- that this poll question is quite obviously biased both in its phrasing in the actual poll and in the thread by Goobieman.

And finally, let us -know- that the GOP partisans are praying to their Jesus every night to ensure the quick and timely death of Senator Johnson and the theft of the Senate from the Democrats.