You know what makes me sick about this Johnson situation?

[Marr]

Something similar happened not so long ago on the opposite side, IIRC. A Democratic governor was either in or possibly about to put in the position of choosing the replacement for a Republican representative (I don't remember the names or place now, unfortuantely). There was a long discussion about it here on DU, and as I recall, the consensus of opinion was that he should choose a Republican, in deference to the voters. A moderate Republican, but a Republican nonetheless.

And as usual, the right proves themselves to be several times more disgusting than our worst. There's not even a question that they'd replace the Democrat with a Republican- that's just taken for granted. They run several yards further and try to replace the guy while he's in the fucking hospital. It's just sickening.

This is the sort of thing I think of when people start talking about moderation and playing "fair".

[burythehatchet]

1. The last one I recall

was in Georgia when Roy Barnes selected Zell Miller. The rest is history.

[jobycom]

2. Don't hate the attributes that make us better than them. nt

[Cocoa]

3. I don't remember that, but I believe it

it's absolutely true that there are different rules for the republicans than there are for the dems.

I was wondering about the possibility of the SD governor picking a dem. I bet there's lots of republicans that would love to give a big fuck you to their own party, and I wonder if the SD gov is one. Sorry I don't know anything about the SD gov.

[LaurenG]

4. But he isn't going to be replaced

They aren't going to get to choose anyone to replace him.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Was it Craig Thomas, Repuke? He's just been diagnosed with Leukemia

and we had a long debate over what would happen should he leave the Senate. Is that who you're thinking of?

Yes, there's a stark difference between Democrats and repukes when it comes to doing the right thing in politics. That's how the Democrats ended up the Minority party for 12 years. That and evoting machines.:(

edited:had wrong name.

[Marr]

7. I think that's it- yep.

Thank you very much.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. He's from Wyoming

and Wyoming state law requires the Governor to appoint a replacement of the same party as the incumbent.

NO Governor, Republican or Democrat, would appoint a member of the other party to the Senate.

[Redneck Socialist]

6. A Democrat that did that would be nuts

I don't recall the incident you're writing about, but why would a Governor betray his/her party that way?

[Skittles]

8. it's not betraying a party

it's doing the will of the people

[Redneck Socialist]

12. The people elected the governor too

Elected him/her to make just those sort of decisions.

[Skittles]

16. it is not right for a governor to shift the balance of power in the SENATE

this is something that needs to be addressed

[Redneck Socialist]

17. The gov is merely fulfilling one of the functions of his office

It's mere happenstance that (in this as of yet hypothetical case) it has national implications.

I guess I just come from a kick 'em when they're down school of politics. I'm neither surprised nor horrified that a republican gov would appoint a a pub to fill a Dem's seat. Sure, in this (again hypothetical) case it would suck for us, but I would certainly hope a Democratic gov in a similar situation would do the same.

[Ian David]

9. The correct response to the Repuke vultures

"The most important thing is for Johnson to do what is bet for his health and his family. The Senate can take care of itself. We're not worried about losing his seat, especially since there will undoubtedly be several vacant seats as ethics and accountability investigations proceed.

"Most of those expected to be investigated in the coming weeks are Republicans, and the majority of Governorships are now in the hands of The Democrats.

"While it would be nice for the South Dakota governor to 'play fair' and give Mr. Johnson's seat to a Democrat, should replacing him become necessary, he might want to think about the precedent he sets for how we deal with future vacancies."

[applegrove]

18. Good point!

[zbdent]

10. Hasn't Arlen Specter been fighting cancer?

There weren't any calls to have him leave, right? Repukes were calling him "courageous" (despite the fact that some of them hate him because he isn't totally in lockstep with the party ...)

[cali]

11. Let me point out

that in 1991 Gov. Casey (D-PA) appointed dem Harris Wofford to the Senate after the death of Senator John Heinz (R). In 2000, Governor Miller (D-GA) appointed dem Zell Miller to the Senate replacing Senator Paul Coverdell (R). Kind of makes mincemeat out of your argument.

[MonkeyFunk]

15. Imagine if the tables were turned

and a Democratic governor appointed a Republican to the Senate. This place would explode.

This just goes to show one more reason why governorships are important.

[screembloodymurder]

13. It's part of their "Focus in Bipartisanship" program.

Otherwise known as, FIBS, cause it only goes one way.