Senator Tim Johnson (D- SD) has reported stroke...

[kentuck]

Just reported on Scarborough...

[xchrom]

1. i hope he's ok.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. well, there goes the senate

:(

[krispos42]

6. Shit! SoDak's governor is Mike Rounds, 110% Repub...

Unless the voters demand that Daschle be appointed to replace him.

Argh! I lived there for 4 years, but never learned how that state replaces senators that are unable to complete their terms.

[KingFlorez]

3. Oh, no

I hope he's all right.

[krispos42]

4. Oh, poor Tim...

I was hoping he's run for President in '08...

Tim, get better!

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Maybe they caught it early and he received emergency

therapy like the clot busters, urokinase (spelling?), etc. There may be no brain damage if this is so.

With all the promising research that has been coming out lately on stroke, it's more important than ever that you and your doctor know what to do before you or a loved one is affected. Stroke occurs when part of the brain's blood supply gets cut off. Three years ago, researchers showed that physicians can, in many cases, prevent death or permanent disability from stroke if they give the victims a drug called TPA within three hours of the first symptoms.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,990225,00.html

[Deb]

7. Any word on his condition?

Prayers for a complete recovery. I hope he received speedy medical treatment, what a terrible way for him and his family to start the holidays.

[rep the dems]

8. FUCK!

DAMMIT! I know it's awful for me to be thinking of politics when a guy just had a stroke, but I am not about to have the fucking Republicans take back the Senate after the voters KICKED THEM OUT! So for everyone's sake, Tim Johnson, his family, the American people, I hope Senator Johnson is ok.

[durrrty libby]

12. He's young and hopefully will have a full recovery

However, people do function after a stroke

It is not always the end of the world

:shrug:

[tridim]

9. There has to be a law that forbids a Governor from causing a shift

in power in the US Senate. There has to be, right?

[Pab Sungenis]

11. Nope.

Governors can appoint who they want.

[tridim]

15. I didn't think so, but there definitely should be one

Since it'd be pretty easy to knock off Dems in Republican run states to steal back power. At the very least have a quick special election and let the voters decide.

[snowbear]

19. Not in Alaska...

Not since the former, and one of the WORST governors in history appointed his own daughter.

Now we have an emergency vote to fill U.S. Senate vacancies.

But in SD, you're right.. that's what Chip Reid on MSNBC just said.

[aquart]

13. Not in every state.

SHIT!

[Renew Deal]

16. There is in some states. SD isn't one of them

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Vacancies.pdf

[lonehalf]

20. Don't you remember that Governor Roy Barnes appointed ...

...Zell Miller after Senator Paul Coverdell died.

[hijinx87]

22. SD law specifically states that the governor may appoint a replacement

from which ever party he chooses.

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:iCgvFHkCogEJ:legis.state.sd.us/IssueMemos/IssueMemos/im98-11.pdf+senator+replace+%22south+dakota+constitution%22+governor&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=9

[thatsrightimirish]

10. oh i hope he's alright

I would hate to lose the senate this way

[Imagevision]

14. With the current administration? I suspect foul play and suggest 24 hr. armed security!

[FrenchieCat]

17. I for one will be praying for a speedy recovery.....

The guy is just about the most conservative Democrat in the Senate....But he's our Conservative Democrat, and I guess I will appreciate him more than ever if he recovers and doesn't allow the balance of power to tilt back to even in the senate.....amen!

[snowbear]

18. CNN just said he was conscious when transported to the hospital

And that it was "stroke like symptoms". We'll need to wait for the hospital to provide an update to know the status.

Prayers are with you Senator!

[thatsrightimirish]

21. This is the law

"Special election to fill congressional vacancy--Time of election of representative. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or representative in the United States Congress it shall be the duty of the Governor within ten days of the occurrence, to issue a proclamation setting the date of and calling for a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If either a primary or general election is to be held within six months, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress shall be held in conjunction with that election, otherwise the election shall be held not less than eighty nor more than ninety days after the vacancy "

But who knows if there is a law contradicting this one.

Of course, we should all be praying for this not to happen.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. WTOP (DC Newzradio) just reported that its serious ... but gave no details at all .....

.... and went on to say how this could shift the Senate at least until 08.

[beth9999]

24. Any chance that he was poisioned...

... or in some other way incapacitated by the Repugs?

[chimpymustgo]

25. Probably no fingerprints. Oh those lucky Rethugs. Praying for Johnson's

speedy recovery.