Tim Johnson

7:07 pm EST December 13th, 2006 | Media | 17 Comments

I wish the story could just be reported that Sen. Johnson had a possible stroke, and his family and colleagues wish him well, along with numerous citizens (like myself). The speculation, I think, about the "balance of power" in the senate and whatnot is premature and kind of morbid.

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17 Responses to “Tim Johnson”

  1. Patriot says:
    December 13, 2006 at 9:34 pm

    Hey Oliver perhaps he should be checked for Polonium poisoning.

  2. fd10801 says:
    December 13, 2006 at 9:40 pm

    Let’s all forget about political machinations, and how they’re reported in the Media.
    Oh, wait … You’re making a career out of it.

  3. Oliver Willis says:
    December 13, 2006 at 9:53 pm

    That’s news to me.

  4. WhiteWhale says:
    December 13, 2006 at 10:06 pm

    Oliver,
    We are not a country or a united people. Representatives fall ill? Whose next in power!? The media give 2 shits about human life plus being morbid always boost ratings much like some idiots like to slow and watch people mangled in car crashes.

  5. vwcat says:
    December 13, 2006 at 11:27 pm

    He didn’t have a stroke or attack. they did not say what it was but, maybe he will be out and fit in a few days.

  6. Hedley says:
    December 14, 2006 at 1:27 am

    Apparently he is in surgery now, which can’t be good.

    In any event, I can’t really blame the media here. I would be willing to bet that upon hearing the news, plenty of senators of both parties immediately considered what his death or inability to serve would mean politically. You don’t think Harry Reid thought about it?

  7. Dugger says:
    December 14, 2006 at 9:12 am

    If the worst happens, I hope the governor goes the high road and appoints a moderate (grit teeth) Democrat.

  8. JWG says:
    December 14, 2006 at 10:02 am

    If the worst happens, I hope the governor goes the high road and appoints a moderate (grit teeth) Democrat.

    I agree.

    I also note that PowerLine continues to wish the Senator the best of luck, despite predictions otherwise.

  9. Nimrod Gently says:
    December 14, 2006 at 11:43 am

    No, you don’t.

    Why don’t you have by-elections over there? Surely that’s fairer than just letting the Governor pick who he likes?

  10. Frank DiSalle says:
    December 14, 2006 at 12:11 pm

    If the worst happens, I hope the governor goes the high road and appoints a moderate (grit teeth) Democrat.

    Why would choosing a Democrat be “the high road”?
    The people who voted for Johnson, didn’t vote for Nancy Pelosi to be Speaker of the House, or Charles Rangel for Ways and Means.

    They voted for a Senator, and now the Governor has the right to select whoever he wants.

  11. Frank DiSalle says:
    December 14, 2006 at 12:17 pm

    Let’s all forget about political machinations, and how they’re reported in the Media.
    Oh, wait … You’re making a career out of it.
    Posted by: fd10801

    That’s news to me.
    Posted by: Oliver Willis

    Well then, who are these guys?

    Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.

  12. Jay says:
    December 14, 2006 at 2:05 pm

    Why don’t you have by-elections over there? Surely that’s fairer than just letting the Governor pick who he likes?

    The problem is, Senators used to be chosen by the state legislature. The constitution was amended to allow for the direct election of Senators.

    Under the older system, it was perfectly logical to allow the Governor to choose a replacement since so much of who was in the Senate hinged upon who was in state control. That part of it however, has not been changed.

  13. Nimrod Gently says:
    December 14, 2006 at 2:38 pm

    You Americans never follow through on anything. Cuh. Thanks for filling me in.

  14. Dugger says:
    December 14, 2006 at 6:22 pm

    Frank

    Because the people of the state elected a D.

  15. fd10801 says:
    December 14, 2006 at 6:32 pm

    Dugger: They elected a “D”? I thought they elected a guy named Johnson…

    Now we find out that on the election in South Dakota hinged the political fate of the Democrats?

    Crap…

    Then explain Jeffries…

  16. Dugger says:
    December 15, 2006 at 7:46 am

    fd,

    Just believe the honorable thing to do is for the governor to try and do what the people of the state said they wanted: A Dem in this case.

  17. fd10801 says:
    December 15, 2006 at 1:45 pm

    I see your point, and I was strongly persuaded by this from Jim Geraghty:

    There’s a part of me that thinks, if for some reason Johnson is unable to perform as the state’s senator, that South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican, ought to avoid a move that would mean switching control of the Senate. I think the governor would be wise to find and name some respected nonpartisan type. Heck, find the most conservative Democrat you can, the South Dakotan Zell Miller. But I don’t think it will be good for control of the Senate to change because of a sudden tragedy. As bothersome as Jim Jeffords’ decision was in 2001, it was the lawmaker’s own choice, not a matter of dumb luck, or an undiagnosed health problem that suddenly turned deadly serious.

    I know, I know, many folks out there are thinking, “if the situation were reversed, the Democrats would press for the advantage; after all, in Georgia, they named Democrat Zell Miller after Republican Paul Coverdell’s sudden death.” But I don’t think ‘what the other guys would do’ ought to be the touchstone in these circumstances. There are a lot of good ways to win back control of the Senate; capitalizing on a sudden tragedy isn’t one of them.