S. Dakota Senator in Critical ConditionFuture of Democratic Control of Senate Uncertain
December 14th, 2006 Posted in News by Chris Pommier
Reported in the Washington Post this morning, Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota is in critical condition this morning after undergoing an emergency surgical procedure to
Johnson, 59, who is in the critical care unit at George Washington University Hospital, fell ill at the Capitol yesterday, introducing a note of uncertainty over control of the Senate just weeks before Democrats are to take over with a one-vote margin.
If Sen. Johnson doesn’t recover. or is unfit to hold office, the Republican Governor of South Dakota. Michael Rounds, will appoint his replacement. It’s assumed that Rounds would would appoint a Republican. With the narrow majority in the Senate for the 110th Congress currently going to the Democrats at 51 to 49 (including the independents who said they would caucus with the Democrats) this would cause a 50/50 split broken by Vice President Dick Cheney.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
What a nightmare. I sure hope he makes it through and is able to head back up to Washington.
December 16th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I think we’re all holding our breath!
What do you think the odds are of the Republican governor of his state appointing anything besides a Republican replacement?
grrrrrrrrrr
December 17th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Yeah, not likely. And I agree with you too, Jonah it’s a nightmare for everybody, especially the poor guy’s family.
December 18th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Hey Chris, is your reading tonight? Have fun with it!!!!!
December 18th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Thanks, Bluey! I’m glad I had a first reading to work on being in front of a group. This’ll be larger, probably MUCH larger. Yikes!
December 19th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Hi Chris, how did your reading go?
Sorry I haven’t stopped by in a while.
January 9th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Oh yeah and if he doesn’t recover his family would suffer the most. We the people would survive, we’d find other ways to be heard and get things done, but his mom and family would lose the most, the love of a son, the closeness of a partner, etc…let’s send him all of our good thoughts.