Could the power of the Senate be handed to Cheney

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

<a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061213/D8M07D081.html" target="_blank">http://apnews.myway.com/articl
e/20061213/D8M07D081.html</a>

>>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.<<

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Just licking your chops, aren't you Darkbeer?

Maybe if that doesn't work the Republicans can try the Putin Solution.

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

Hey, if Cheney can run around having small heart attacks for the past 15 years, this guy can have a small stroke.

Tit for tat, right?

 

Originally Posted By DAR

Yeah Darkbeer that's pretty low, a man's life is in danger.

 

Originally Posted By gadzuux

So is control of the senate - no small matter. If the dems lose control of the senate due to the governor of south dakota appointing a republican replacement for johnson, it will have a rebound effect among the electorate and be seen as it is - a naked power grab by the GOP with no respect for the will of the people.

I double dare them to try.

 

Originally Posted By DouglasDubh

Yes, I remember the last time this happened, only it was a Republican Senator and a Democrat Governor, so naturally the Democrat Governor respected the will of the people, and appointed a Republican to replace the Republican Senator.

Oh wait, it didn't happen like that. The Democrat Governor appointed a Democrat.

 

Originally Posted By alexbook

>>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.<<

I'd like to applaud the White House for keeping politics out of this.

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

>>WASHINGTON - A spokesman for Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson said the politician did not suffer a stroke or heart attack, contrary to initial reports after Johnson was taken to a Washington hospital, weeks before his party was to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin.<<

<a href="http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/12/13/541247.html&cvqh=itn_senator" target="_blank">http://www.comcast.net/news/in
dex.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/12/13/541247.html&cvqh=itn_senator</a>

 

Originally Posted By jonvn

Then what was it, meth withdrawal?

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

Darkbeer and Me: We report. You decide.â„¢

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

Hey, remember when President George H. W. Bush threw up on Prime Minister Miyazawa when he was in Japan?

That was awesome...

 

Originally Posted By DAR

Didn't Palpatine try to get control of the Senate?

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<Hey, remember when President George H. W. Bush threw up on Prime Minister Miyazawa when he was in Japan?>>

That is a perfect example of the difference between Bush I and Bush II.

When that happened to GHW Bush I really felt sorry for him. He got sick, which he had no way of controlling, during just about the worst possible moment. I even wished that the media hadn’t mentioned it.

But if it had happened to George W. Bush, I'd figure his nose should have been rubbed in it to make sure he didn't do it again.

 

Originally Posted By ecdc

The Senator is having brain surgery now. I hope he'll be ok, and not just because he's a Democrat. Imagine that, not making it about politics when someone's life is on the line.

Of course, Bush does that everyday with the kids in Iraq, but he's advised he'll be taking his sweet time on deciding what he's going to do there.

 

Originally Posted By DAR

Nothing like getting another slam in there.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

I know if somebody dies, or resigns, then the governor of the state in question can appoint a successor.

But if neither happens, I think the senator could officially "serve" even if he doesn't actually do anything. According to the AP:

"In 1969, another South Dakota senator, Karl Mundt, a Republican, suffered a stroke while in office. Mundt continued to serve until the end of his term in January 1973, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions and was stripped of his committee assignments by the Senate Republican Conference in 1972. "

So this guy, though he had he committee assignments given to someone else, was officially a senator for three years even though he didn't attended senate sessions?

 

Originally Posted By alexbook

^--There have even been cases of Senators being carried into the Senate chamber on stretchers to participate in key votes.

-----

Meanwhile, in the human world:

Gov. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said, "Our prayers are with Tim, Barbara and their family. We are hopeful of good news for our friend and colleague."

Laura Bush said that she and the president were "praying like all the people of South Dakota are for his very, very speedy recovery."

Senator John Thune (R-SD) and his wife issued a statement saying, "Our prayers are with Senator Johnson and his family during this difficult time. We encourage all South Dakotans to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers."

 

Originally Posted By gadzuux

>> Nothing like getting another slam in there. <<

Oh, does that seem like an unreasonable position to you? Hundreds of people are dying horrible and violent deaths EVERY DAY in iraq, and bush is saying that he "won't be rushed".

I guess he'll be enjoying a warm and cozy holiday season while he ponders his next strategic blunders, in the meantime the hellhole that he's made out of iraq rumbles on, and the bodies continue to pile up.

But god forbid that anyone should criticize our commander in chief. How thoughtless.

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

<<Oh, does that seem like an unreasonable position to you?>>

Yes

<<Hundreds of people are dying horrible and violent deaths EVERY DAY in iraq,>>

According to the National Highway Safety Administration. <On average, 119 people are killed on the roadways of the U.S. each day.>


And according to the Center For Disease Control.

<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/research_data/health_consequences/mortali.htm" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/res
earch_data/health_consequences/mortali.htm</a>

<Cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of premature death in the United States. Each year, more than 400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking. In fact, one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking related. Every year, smoking kills more than 276,000 men and 142,000 women.>

So lets get back to your statement.

<<Hundreds of people are dying horrible and violent deaths EVERY DAY in iraq,>>

Your point?

 

Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom

<<Imagine that, not making it about politics when someone's life is on the line.

Of course, Bush does that everyday with the kids in Iraq, but he's advised he'll be taking his sweet time on deciding what he's going to do there.>>

And somehow your statement is NOT about politics?

So what your saying is that its OK for on average, 119 people to be killed on the roadways of the U.S. each day. And, for more than 400,000 Americans to die each year from cigarette smoking.

But not a single American soldier should risk their life to protect OUR Nations Freedom and Liberty.