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Home Front: Politix
South Dakota Senator Hospitalized
2006-12-14
Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was taken to a Washington hospital this afternoon after suffering a possible stroke, his office said in a statement. 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. "As this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team. Further details will be forthcoming when more is known," the statement read. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said called Johnson "a dear friend."

"Every member of the United States Senate sends our best to him and to his family at this difficult time, and we wish him a full recovery," Reid said. But if Johnson's condition could determine control of the Senate, CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports. Should Johnson 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 state law says that the governor can appoint a replacement when there is a "vacancy," but Secretary of State Chris Nelson tells CBS News political producer Steve Chaggaris that it's unclear whether a seat held by an incapacitated senator would be considered "vacant." Unless Johnson dies, the state of South Dakota is unsure of how to proceed if he's incapacitated. If he dies, however, the Governor, Mike Rounds, would appoint a replacement who would serve until the next general election in 2008, Chaggaris explains. Because the governor is a Republican, an appointment of this nature could affect the balance of power in the Senate, and thus the entire Congress.
From other news reports it sounds like the Senator had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — not serious in and of itself, but it can be harbinger of bad things like a stroke. Best wishes to the Senator and his family, and hope he makes a complete recovery.
Posted by:Fred

#9  Sen Tim Johnson expressing symptoms
Posted by: RD   2006-12-14 13:28  

#8  http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061214/D8M0NO180.html

Johnson, 59, suffered from bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation, the U.S. Capitol physician said. He described the surgery as successful. The condition, usually present at birth, causes tangled blood vessels that can block the flow of blood or rupture.

"The senator is recovering without complication," said the physician, Adm. John Eisold. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis."

Eisold said doctors drained the blood that had accumulated in Johnson's brain and stopped continued bleeding.

Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and become tangled.

The condition is believed to affect about 300,000 Americans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute's Web site said only about 12 percent of the people with the condition experience symptoms, ranging in severity. It kills about 3,000 people a year.
Posted by: RWV   2006-12-14 12:12  

#7  politics stops at the hospital door.
Amen, brother.

The radio news coverage last night was sickening--like vultures circling. There was really no mention of how he was, where he was, or what had happened. Just a lot of "if-he-dies" speculation.
Posted by: eLarson   2006-12-14 11:46  

#6  Seat got bad juju
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.

Johnson, who was elected in 1996, holds the same seat previously held by Mundt.
Posted by: Shipman   2006-12-14 10:37  

#5  Yes, I hope a speedy recovery.

However, I think it is discriminatory that the dead can vote at the polls but can't vote in Congress. ItÂ’s a grand American Donk tradition. Where's the equal protection clause when you need it? And you thought the Senate smelled before, just wait. [sarcasm off]
Posted by: Procopius2k   2006-12-14 09:00  

#4  In related news, Majority Leader Harry Reid was treated for hypertension and persistent sphincter convulsions.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2006-12-14 08:55  

#3  Frst of all, I know every Rantburger sends his or her prayers out for Senator Johnson - politics stops at the hospital door. It's all that much more tougher at Christamas time, so I hope he'll have a fast and full recovery.
From a discussion point of view, however, this brings up some interesting questions that will be looked at by BOTH parties. There is no standard - in ANY state, as nearly as I can tell - that covers when a Senator is considered 'incapacitated'. My call would be that if he cannot travel to Washington for the swearing in of the next Congress on january 4th, he could be considered incapacitated and unable to discharge his duties. If that call is made, the Democratic response will be swift, vicious, and violent - they will do everything possible to prevent the seating of a Republican senator, and I suspect that would include refusing to seat him without a new election.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2006-12-14 08:38  

#2  This sounds eerily like what happened to My brother a few months ago. He's a lot younger, at least.

I don't like your politics, Mr. Johnson, but I hope you make a full recovery and live for many many years.
Posted by: Jackal   2006-12-14 07:47  

#1  Unless Johnson dies

???

They are talking hypothetically, I assume.

Hopefully he will retire and enjoy what time he has left here on earth with his family without the added stress of governing.

Funny they wouldn't have thought about this a bit more than they seem to have before.
Posted by: gorb   2006-12-14 02:41  

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