How is Senator Tim Johnson?
To the news media: Please don't cower from the questions which must be asked.
By Mark Kilmer Posted in Congress — Comments (25) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota) underwent emergency brain surgery last December 14 – "to evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation," according to the U.S. Capitol Physician, Admiral John Eisold – following hemorrhaging from a congenital brain condition.
Media speculation went immediately to a discussion of the divided Senate – 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, 2 Indies who caucus with the Dems – and the possibility that South Dakota's Republican Governor Mike Rounds would name Senator Johnson's successor who would serve for the remainder of the Senator's term, as it expires after this session anyway. Such talk, though somewhat morbid, was necessary, I though, with a closely but deeply divided Senate facing issues of fundamental national importance. And now, with Harry Reid and Russ Feingold threatening to defund our troops as they fight to secure Iraq, and with Chris Dodd babbling like an idiot, threatening this or that, Johnson's vote is of critical import. The Democrats often need 60 votes to pass their more wild-eyed propositions, and they could use Johnson's help.
Read On…
At the end of February, we were told:
Johnson left a Washington hospital last week to enter a private rehabilitation facility. Sedated for weeks after his Dec. 13 attack, he is now described by aides as alert and able to talk, but he is still experiencing considerable weakness on his right side.
His staff won't say where he is, or how long it will be until he's in a condition to report to the Senate, but his recuperation - which includes four hours a day of physical and speech therapy - is expected to take months.
Democratic leaders - intensely protective of Johnson and unwilling to vent their concerns publicly - are resigned to the situation.
That was two and a half months after the Senator's emergency surgery. It is understandable that the Democrats would be guarded about the Senator and jealous of their bare majority, but one would like the think that the media, the journalists who think of themselves as the eyes and ears of the public, as the public's watchdog, would ask a question or two. Would demand some solid information, for the people of South Dakota and for the nation at this critical time.
No. This thing is on hold.
Yesterday brought us this press release from Senator Johnson's peeps:
Johnson's Doctors Say Johnson Continues to Progress
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson continues his recovery in an in-patient rehabilitation facility, where he will spend the Easter holiday with his family. His doctors are pleased with his progress and have released additional information.
The Senator continues to make gains with regard to strengthening in his right leg. The attending physician states, "These very early signs of physical improvement offer the hope of even greater gains over time. It is not uncommon for arteriovenous malformation (AVM) patients to see improvement for up to 2 years."
"Patience, faith and family keep me moving forward. Between therapy, my Senate work and following the news in South Dakota, I have been keeping busy. Barb can attest that I am anxious to get back to traveling the state and visiting with South Dakotans," said Senator Johnson.
The follow-up contacts are Senator Johnson's press people.
What's going on, and why aren't the news reporters, the country's journalistic scholars, finding out and telling us. Senator Johnson does deserve a modicum of privacy, but we should offer him privacy up to the point where his life becomes public. Serving in the United States Senate is a public duty and a responsibility to the people of South Dakota and of the United States.
I pray for Senator Johnson, and I hope that all is well. I hope that he is able to return to the Senate soon and resume his work. If he cannot, he owes it to all concerned, including to himself, to step aside. The news media owes us its best effort to discover the truth. If things are as I pray, Senator Johnson will soon take a decision on whether or not he wants to serve after what he has been through. If he chooses to resume his work, good for him. If things are as I fear… the math is not difficult.
To the news media: Please don't cower from the questions which must be asked.
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How is Senator Tim Johnson? 25 Comments (0 topical, 25 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
If the governor were also a Democrat and Johnson's replacement was likely to be a Democrat, there would also be calls for a resignation as the libs would want anotehr Dem who could actually cast votes to be in DC in the Senate. My guess is that this would also be a non-issue (as in, let the man resign) if the Dems had a buffer for their majority.
The reason this is not being made an issue is that the Senate hangs in the balance and the libs don't want to lose control of the Senate with the seat.
I want to see video.
Why doesn't the press pursue this with the same vigilance as TANG?
“Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15.”
-Ronald Reagan
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Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words...-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes
For days after this sad story broke the media covered other instances in history where Senators for whatever reason were not present for long periods of time, and did not resign their seat.
Certainly it is not common. But it has happened multiple times.
the talking point du jour. Want to give instances when the said senator's condition and his improvement, if any, was subject to some sort of omerta?
Never mind, that was a rhetorical question.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
"If he cannot, he owes it to all concerned, including to himself, to step aside." I'm sure that Sen Johnson isn't going to concede the Dems majority. He doesn't have to nor should he. The 3 recess appointments this week is an example of legally manipulating the system towards ones advantage. It wasn't what the law was intended for but it is within the law. All's fair. Same applies for Tim. To resign would be asinine as well a betrayal to his party. The only real news on this is if he dies.
The precedent is pretty clear and unless he dies, the democrats aren't going to lose this seat. None of this has anything to do with the media.
-exits
To resign would be asinine as well a betrayal to his party.
I didn't realize taht he was elected to represent the interests of the Democrat Party in the Senate. I was under the impression that he was supposed to represent the interests of the people of South Dakota.
So in preventing himself from "betraying his party" he is actually betraying his constituents by forcing them to accept only half the representation and voice that the other states have.
The people of South Dakota elected Tim Johnson, a Democrat. I doubt that Tim is thinking, "hmmm, perhaps they really meant they wanted a Republican".
That they also elected a Republican to the post that is responsible for filling Senate vacancies.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
That's an excellent point Zuiko. Governor Mike Rounds can replace Senator Johnson should he die or be impeached. I didn't forget this fact. It just isn't relevant.
elected a person to be their senator, to represent them in the Senate. I doubt any of them thought they were electing the Democrat Party to represent them in the Senate.
Keeping in mind post #18 ("a betrayal to his party") Pagar, you vote the person, not the party. Right?
can't imagine anyone saying I'm voting for this person to be my Republican/Democrat. Would I be upset if the person I voted for changed parties? Yes I would, but I would be more upset, if the person I voted for could not show up to do the job for a long period of time; leaving me with no one to represent me.
Sen Thurmond was my Senator for many years, the one time I called his office for assistance, it took 1 hr and 15 minutes for a government bureaucrat to call back that a matter that had been unresolved for months was resolved in my favor during that hour. The excellent service I received that day did not prevent me from publicly stating in his later years that it was time he step down and let someone who was capable of doing the job have the job.
The voters don't matter, the nation doesn't matter, but we must not betray the party. Keeping in mind that the same party was willing to nominate a candidate for president that met with the enemy in Paris while our nation's military were engaged with that same enemy. Keeping in mind that the same party just had their speaker of the House meeting with the leader of a country our State Dept has identified as a axis of evil nation. None of that apparently matters as long as one does not betray their party.
Pagar, I'm hearing what you're saying and I am not arguing your points. If you believe that Tim will hand over the majority because he thinks SD and the US would be better off, well, you surely believe in the Easter Bunny as well. Happy Easter.
"Here is what Tim is going to do...?" This discussion has been about what he SHOULD do, not what he WILL do.
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Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman
From what little news we've heard, what Tim is "going" to do is recover and retain his seat. What Tim "should" do is recover and retain his seat. Anything else would go against his needs, the people that elected him, his party, and his principles. In the event that he dies, what Governor Rounds "should" do is replace him with a Republican. Anything else would go against his needs, the people that elected him, his party, and his principles. Unless this occurs, what the vultures "should" do is go back to roost and wait until their services are needed. Tim, Godspeed on your recovery.
He was out of it for at least the last two years of his term, and we didn't read much about him either. There are things other than partisanship and media bias going on here, too.
South Dakota's journalistic culture isn't particularly aggressive and it's considered unseemly to delve too much into his plight. And Karl Mundt's behavior in his convalescence provides the Dems with a useful response if Republican cmoplain.
I'm assuming Johnson is in horrible shape, unable to carry out his duties.
above Byrds's Kennedy's and cary's and not too far below Reid's. But, he is never going to walk into the Senate again and cast a vote.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
There would be daily screaming about why he is not forced to resign.
the press will dutifully, like the good lapdogs they are, say nothign until told by the DNC to do so.