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S.D. Sen. Johnson in Critical Condition
Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., chats during a meeting in Pierre, S.D. in this Jan. 11, 2006 file photo. Johnson was taken to a George Washington University Hospital in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 after suffering a possible stroke. (AP Photo/Jenny Michael, File)
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- Public Discussion (35)
Should it come down to it, I think it would be very unethical of the South Dakota governor to appoint a Republican in Johnson's place. Americans decided for a transfer of power in government, and I don't think it's right to mess with that based on a medical problem.
Elections (no matter how messed up with special interest money) should decide the party in power, not the governor of a ultra-conservative-ville.
- 7 votes
#2 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:33 PM ESTI disagree. It's a healthy process that allows the state legislature of South Dakota to pick their new Senator (this right is usually deferred to the Governor). The picking of a new Senator is the business of South Carolinians, not Americans.
Also, I may be reading too much into your post, but you appear to be pushing the 'will of the people' argument. This is a slippery argument because the will of South Carolinians was to have Senator Johnson (in 2002)... that may not still be true today.
- 4 votes
In retrospect, my comment was fairly insensitive and I should have addded the obligatory 'if he passes'.
- 2 votes
Meh... we really need to get directions out of state names. Then we can follow up with cities like North Haverbrook.
Thanks for the correction, David.
- 3 votes
Well, so long as we don't end up in Ogdenberg or Brockway... or other cities with monorails... like, uh, Seattle? LOL!
- 2 votes
If its a mild stroke and they caught it very early, I think he will be fine.
- 11 votes
#3 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:37 PM ESTShould the worst befall Sen. Johnson I would hope the Governor of South Dakota would be foolish enough to appoint a Republican. I can not possibly think of better fuel for the 2008 election. Crass? Yes -- and I wish nothing but the best for Sen. Johnson. That said, the blatant exploitation of something as tragic as a stroke for such massive political gain would resonate very, very, very powerfully with the American electorate.
- 3 votes
#4 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:28 PM ESTI think if it came right down to it, Arlen Specter could be talked into switching parties. I'm sure he would be better off as a democrat and so would The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Given Arlen's views on abortion he would do much better as a democrat.
- 1 vote
Arlen Specter could be talked into switching parties.
After the way he caved this last year on major issues to the White House, I don't know that we'd want him. We already have what Specter would be like as a Democrat: his name is Joe Lieberman.
I think I'd rather work on getting one or both of the senators from Maine on board. Susan Collins is unlikely, but sometimes I think Olympia Snowe could be possible.
- 1 vote
Well spiffie, to be on the safe side, perhaps we should get all 3, it's just that I am from Pennsylvania, that is what I thought of Arlen.
Fair enough. The Democrats would be stupid to say no, in any case. If anyone wants to join the party, we should make them feel welcome.
- 1 vote
Maybe we can do a recount of the old governor's race.
I have an itching feeling that the democrat actually won!
Special elections, anyone?
Senator Frank Murkowski, who was elected governor of Alaska in 2002, then made an appointment to fill the seat that he vacated when he was elected. He appointed his daughter, Lisa Murkowski. Two years later, Alaskans voted on a referendum that would allow special elections in such circumstances. They rejected it primarily based on economic factors (ie, the cost of running such an election).
If such a referendum were held in your state (Special elections rather than appointment for vacating Senate seat), would you vote yes or no?
- 2 votes
#6 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:58 PM ESTI'd certainly vote yes. Even with a governor of my own political party who was likely to appoint someone of my own political party.
- 1 vote
CNN is now reporting that Johnson's spokesperson is saying it's not a stroke, but they haven't said what it was, yet.
- 1 vote
#7 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:06 PM ESTIN OTHER NEWS: Democrats demand a scan of Tim Johnson for traces of polonium-210.
STAY TUNED! Film at eleven.
- 4 votes
radioactive element that recently poisoned a Russian ex-KGB spy in england. google around, it's been all over the news. there's probably more than a few articles about it on the vine.
- 2 votes
Koozebane, of course I look over my shoulder; I'm in China where the government does not conspire to check the internet; it lets everyone know and openly does it.
First thought on reading this was of Sen Paul Wellstone whose death Oct 25, 2002 in a plane crash shifted senatorial balance in favor of the administration. This should be a "heads up" for all Democratic and Independent senators to be alert not for polonium-210 but for any "natural cause" or "accident".
#8 - Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:58 PM ESTA conspiracy theory actually starts with an in-your-face name like "conspiracy theory" meant to discredit those who do not believe the lies they've been fed throughout their lifetimes. It would be foolish to think there are not people who would find it expedient to conveniently be rid of a Democratic senator.
- 1 vote
What separates a good conspiracy theory from facts is EVIDENCE.
Accusations and theories, while a good way to smear an opponent with zero proof, are worth exactly squat.
People disappear from internet chat boards with no explanation all the time. I think John Hedin should start looking over his shoulder for going public with his theories. The eeevil Neo-con hit squad reads all of his posts and is now onto his whistle blowing and midget molesting.
WOW. That was easy. No muss, no fuss, no proof.
- 1 vote
Sweet, Mike Rounds, the governor who signed the South Dakota Abortion Ban gets to pick the next U.S. Senator! That's the kind of rational, logic-based, decision-making we need in this crucial decision. Hoorah!
- 3 votes
#11 - Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:45 AM ESTHow AMAZINGLY convenient for the Bush administration!
"Conspiracy theory" be damned! We've been lied to by this administration so much in the last 6 years that I don't trust anything they say. At all. Ever.
If right wing GOP loyalist Gov. Rounds, selects a Republican to replace Sen. Johnson (and we all know he will, short of a miraculous shift in allegiances...)
This will effectively make Dick Cheney the tie breaker in the Senate. That means none of the Democrat's agenda will be allowed for at least two more years, long enough for Dick and George to do much more document shredding and hard drive erasing to keep themselves out of jail.
The doctors are saying that Johnson's condition is congenital, yet how hard would it be for those in power to select a arrange a loyalist doctor to tell the public ANYTHING the administration wants them to hear? Democrats like Dick Durbin already seem dissatisfied with the amount of access they have been allowed the case.
Interestingly, a similar thing happened for South Dakota in 1969 when GOP senator Karl Mundt had a stroke yet was allowed to serve his term although he was too ill to attend votes. So...Sen. Johnson SHOULD be allowed to serve his term barring death.
How much you wanna bet he doesn't make it?
- 2 votes
#12 - Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:28 PM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
