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S.D. Sen. Tim Johnson undergoing surgery
By MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press Writer 59 minutes ago
Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson (news, bio, voting record) of South Dakota was undergoing surgery early Thursday after being admitted to the hospital with symptoms of a stroke weeks before his party is slated to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin.
There was no word on the nature of the surgery which began late Wednesday and lasted past midnight or Johnson's condition.
Apart from the risk to his health, Johnson's illness carried political ramifications. Democrats emerged from last month's elections with a 51-49 Senate majority. If he is forced to relinquish his seat, a replacement would be named by South Dakota's GOP Gov. Mike Rounds.
A Republican appointee would create at 50-50 tie, and allow the GOP to retain Senate control.
Johnson, who turns 60 later this month, was admitted to George Washington University hospital at midday Wednesday after experiencing what his office initially said was a possible stroke.
His spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher, later told reporters it had been determined that the senator had suffered neither a stroke nor a heart attack.
But several hours after she spoke, Dr. John Eisold, the Capitol physician, called that into question with a statement of his own.
"Senator Tim Johnson was admitted to the George Washington University Hospital today with the symptoms of a stroke. He is currently under the care of physicians at the George Washington University Hospital."
Fisher and Eisold both said they did not intend to issue further updates on Johnson's condition until Thursday. There was no formal announcement of the surgery, which was disclosed by an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the subject.
...
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/13/D8M07D081.html
Even if he were dead the Dems would stuff his body and wheel him in, claiming he was still alive!
Wait for libs to scream that Karl Rove poisoned the poor guy.
You must not have read my posts. theyve been claiming it since yesterday.
I keep hearing some accusations of polonium use. Its all a bush conspiracy.
Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson in critical condition this morning
Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was in critical condition early Thursday after suffering "stroke-like symptoms" and undergoing emergency surgery at a Washington hospital, the Associated Press reported.
A nursing supervisor told The Washington Post "early today that the senator was out of surgery and in critical condition. Hospital officials and Johnson aides offered no further comment or details; a more complete statement was expected later this morning."
AP said "A person in the hospital's media relations office, who declined to be identified by name pending a formal statement, said George Washington University Hospital was preparing to announce that Johnson's condition was critical. He would not describe the nature of the surgery."
Reuters has some background on the 59-year-old South Dakota lawmaker.
See our earlier posts below.
Update at 9:01 a.m. ET: CNN is reporting that Johnson was diagnosed with "congenital arteriovenous malformation," an inherited condition that caused bleeding in his brain. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the network's resident medical expert, said the senator could be in for a lengthy recovery given the likely location of the bleeding.
Update at 9:30 a.m. ET: The U.S. Capitol physician told AP the surgery, in which doctors stopped the bleeding and untangled abnormally large blood vessels in Johnson's brain, was successful.
"The senator is recovering without complication," Adm. John Eisold said. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis."
We have audio of Johnson exhibiting symptoms of a stroke during a conference call yesterday.
See if y'all can stop salivating and give a second to think about the fact that the guy is ill...
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2006/12/democratic_sen__1.html
Can you point out the posts with everybody salivating? I'd love to see that one...
I've always found that people proscribe to others the faults they find the most insidious in themselves.
So if you believe that, you must also believe that all the whining the right does about libs is more reflective of their own extremism?
So if you believe that, you must also believe that all the whining the right does about libs is more reflective of their own extremism?
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/14/D8M0MG2G2.htmlDemocratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was in critical but stable condition Thursday after late-night emergency brain surgery, creating political drama about which party will control the Senate next month if he is unable to continue in office.
Johnson suffered from bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation, the U.S. Capitol physician said, describing the surgery as successful. The condition, present at birth, causes tangled blood vessels.
"The senator is recovering without complication," the physician, Adm. John Eisold, said. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis."
Eisold said doctors had to drain the blood that had accumulated in Johnson's brain and stop continued bleeding.
Democrats hold a fragile 51-49 margin in the new Senate that convenes Jan. 4. If Johnson leaves the Senate, the Republican governor of South Dakota could appoint a Republican _ keeping the Senate in GOP hands with Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking power.
Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, or arteriovenous malformation, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and become tangled.
The senator's wife, Barbara Johnson, said the family "is encouraged and optimistic."
In a statement from Johnson's office Thursday, she said her family was "grateful for the prayers and good wishes of friends, supporters and South Dakotans."
A person familiar with Johnson's condition said the 59-year-old senator's underlying condition caused the stroke-like symptoms and doctors will be watching him closely for the next 24 to 48 hours. The person spoke on condition of anonymity out of respect for the senator's family.
Can you point out the posts with everybody salivating? I'd love to see that one...
I've always found that people proscribe to others the faults they find the most insidious in themselves.
As I predicted, post 1. :angel:I concur. We've all wished him well and commenting on the lunatics left paranoid rants. its amazing that these people dont care about his health except that he continues to hold the seat for the Democrats. They are more than announcing their willingness to let him hold the seat as a vegetable if they have to. its quite stunning.
I agree with RSR, yet same can be said for some on the Right. They heard of the problem and thought, "Cheney will break ties."
For both sides of the sicko divide, the divisions ARE deep and regardless of the breakdown, there are Dems that are more 'conservative' and Reps. that are more 'liberal' than either argument argues.
Bottom line, someone that chose to serve their country, with a ''D" by their name and at minimum a moderate voting record is very sick and those that wish to exploit have some explaining to do.
It looks like the guy will be OK, or at least alive, and has indicated that he won't resign, even if he never makes it to the senate floor. The Dems will still have their majority, and Harry Reid doesn't have to visit him in the hospital anymore.