And put the tie breaking vote back into Republican hands. This could be interesting.

- EOM

at the chance to replace Johnson with another republican misogynist. He'd just *love* to be the one that tilted the balance back...whatta feather in the cap

-5.75,-4.05 "I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard."
William Lloyd Garrison
US abolitionist & editor (1805 - 1879)

All I'm concerned right now with Senator Johnson's recovery. I send all my best to his wife, Barbara, and his children (Brooks, Brendan, and Kelsey) and their families. I especially hope that Dad/Grandpa is home with his family for Christmas.

Just sayin'.

Info

_{"If you can’t trust a Methodist with absolute power to arrest people and
not have to say why, then whom can you trust?" - Garrison Keillor}

Johnson, a centrist who has largely avoided the spotlight since being elected to the Senate 10 years ago, became disoriented during a midday conference call with reporters.

( ... Link ... )

And Political Wire says he's "speaking and is expected to be fine".

( ... Link ... )

On the bright side, if he's no longer disoriented and he's speaking coherently he's already in better shape than Bush.

May be Putin's helping the repukes.
Better start checking for weird chemicals.
Nothing is above the repukes when it come's to dirty tactics.

arteriovenous malformation

...of a quiet Christmas for him will be true....I only wish it was a happy quiet time with his wife, rather than in the ICU of a hospital.

-5.75,-4.05 "I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard."
William Lloyd Garrison
US abolitionist & editor (1805 - 1879)

Sen. Johnson Undergoes Surgery to Relieve Bleeding in Brain

Last Edited: Thursday, 14 Dec 2006, 2:30 PM EST
Created: Thursday, 14 Dec 2006, 2:00 PM EST

12/14/2006 --
South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson "looked great" Thursday after being listed in critical condition after undergoing successful brain surgery for a congenital condition that causes tangled blood vessels.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would not say whether Johnson was conscious or any other aspects of his medical condition, but told reporters that based on what he saw, nothing will change Democratic control of the Senate next year.

"I saw him, he looked great. To me, he looked very good," Reid said in a press conference on Capitol Hill after returning from visiting Johnson.

Johnson was admitted Wednesday afternoon after a condition from birth, called arteriovenous malformation, caused bleeding in his brain, said U.S. Capitol attending physician Adm. John Eisold. He had surgery

"He (Johnson) underwent successful surgery to evacuate the blood and stabilize the malformation," said Eisold, who is consulting with surgical doctors at the hospital. "The senator is recovering without complication in the critical care unit at George Washington University Hospital. It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long term prognosis."

Johnson's condition, also known as AVM, causes arteries and veins to grow abnormally large and become tangled. The congenital condition causes tangled blood vessels.

"An arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein that you're born with,” said Dr. Thomas Lansen, a New York neurosurgeon, who was not part of the surgical team. The amount of blood and pressure in the brain and the location of the blood clot will determine how much damage was caused, Lansen said.

Details of the surgery were not disclosed by the hospital, except that it began Wednesday night and lasted past midnight.

"The Johnson family is encouraged and optimistic. They are grateful for the prayers and good wishes of friends, supporters and South Dakotans," said Barbara Johnson, Johnson's wife, in a statement. "They are especially grateful for the work of the doctors and all medical personnel and GWU hospital."

• Audio: Click here to hear the conference call where Johnson fell ill.

Johnson was admitted on Wednesday around noon EST after wrapping up a conference call with reporters, in which he became disoriented and stuttered a response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking for any additional questions and then signed off.

more at acckk FOX

From NYT comments section:

Here’s the relevant section of the South Dakota law concerning a vacancy in the senate or House.
12-11-1. 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 occurs.

Source: SL 1890, ch 84, § 19; RPolC 1903, § 1956; SL 1915, ch 182, § 2; RC 1919, §§ 7214, 7308; SL 1929, ch 117, § 5; SDC 1939, §§ 16.0602, 16.1401; SDCL, § 12-11-2; SL 1974, ch 118, § 46; SL 1979, ch 99, § 5.

http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-1

- - -
Maybe I’m nuts, but it seems pretty clear to me that there would be an ELECTION, and that the governor cannot just ignore the law and appoint a Republican to fill Johnson’s senate seat should that seat become vacant because of resignation or death

No one can force Johnson to resign. The choice is his.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
There is also this:

12-11-4. Temporary appointment by Governor to fill vacancy in United States Senate. Pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, the Governor may fill by temporary appointment, until a special election is held pursuant to this chapter [SEE SECTION 12-11-1. ABOVE] , vacancies in the office of senator in the Senate of the United States.

Source: SL 1979, ch 99, § 1.
http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-4

- - -
BUT, it is still clear to me that an election would be held and that the governor could only temporarily fill that vacancy.

— Posted by mary ann benavides

and all the speculation will not be necessary. I wish him a speedy recovery.

From the latest reports, there are two main issues involved in Tim Johnson's prognosis:

1) The degree and area affected by the bleeding from the AV malformation. To the extent that involves speech function, it takes longer to rehabilitate. So far, he is recovering well (as far as reports can indicate) from the initial surgery without surgical complications. There is no information however yet on the extent of the damage done, and how long a rehabilitation would be necessary before he could become active again.

2) Usually, to completely remove an AV malformation, a fairly extensive surgery is required, and this cannot usually be done during an emergency surgery for bleeding. So, it is likely he will have to have, at some point, at least a second operation.

AP

Informative update