WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With Democrat's grasp of the Senate relying on the thinnest of margins, ultimate control of the chamber hung on the health of a South Dakota senator who underwent brain surgery Thursday morning.
Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was in critical condition, said David Boyd, a nursing supervisor at a George Washington University Hospital.
Should Johnson not be able to complete his term, which ends in 2008, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds, a Republican, would appoint his replacement, which could shift the balance of power in the Senate.
Democrats gained a 51-49 Senate majority after last month's election. A GOP appointee would result in a 50-50 split and allow the GOP to retain Senate control through Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote.
I'm just surprised that the Bush Administration has the technology to cause an intracerebral bleed. How do you think they chose which Democrat to inflict it upon?
That's pretty messed up, I guess most of the nation celebrated a little too early.
"It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."- Barack Obama
I'm not clear on the procedures here, but it refers to him not being able to complete his term which ends in 2008. What if a replacement is named? Does that mean that once he recovers, he could not complete whatever the remainder of his term would be?
it answers your question further down in the story.
He can only be replaced if he dies, or resigns before his term expires. Historically, he would resign if he felt he was unable to perform the necessary duties of the job. However, they mention another senator from SD in the 70's who refused to resign after suffering a stroke because his replacement was not one he agreed with.
When I first heard the story, there was a fear that he was on the verge of death. I'm not sure how much his prognosis has improved since then, but I haven't heard anything about what you ask. I'm assuming that a replacement wouldn't be named unless it was pretty clear that he would be permanently unable to return to the Senate (brain damage, death, etc.).
"It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant."- Barack Obama
Sylvus wrote:When I first heard the story, there was a fear that he was on the verge of death. I'm not sure how much his prognosis has improved since then, but I haven't heard anything about what you ask. I'm assuming that a replacement wouldn't be named unless it was pretty clear that he would be permanently unable to return to the Senate (brain damage, death, etc.).
I thought brain damage was a plus, not something negative, for senators.
"Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich"
I'm kind of amazed that you guys are more concerned about his health than you are the fact that your political system is so unbelievably partisan that one sick guy can swing the entire direction of basically the fate of the world from one direction to the other, because you know in advance exactly how every single senator will vote in advance on every single issue.
