Posted by
Contrarian Guitarist on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 8:10:00 PM
From DailyKos' comment page regarding Tim Johnson's stroke...
"Our collective prayers will work miracle - "The Senator will be fine. Nothing is going to take away our victory. Period. In our own ways, let us all pray for him and his family. God Bless the US Senate.""
Well, if Tim Johnson is unable to serve and Governor Mike Rounds appoints a Republican, which South Dakota voters gave him the right to do, that would take away the Democrat victory in the Senate. Prayer is good but if only to a God that can do something.
"Can someone explain why a 50/50 split would automatically put the Senate back in the hands of the Republicans? I understand the thing about Dick Cheney breaking any tie votes, but what decides who controls the senate in light of a split"Um, Dick Cheney.
"uh...Isn't it currently 51 (democrats and allies) and 49 (republicans) and doesn't that meant that the loss of any one senator leaves it at 50 vs 49, and therefore in this case Cheney has no role and the democrats retain control? There would have to be 2 democratic losses to reach 49 49 and enable Cheney to break the tie. Correct me if I'm wrong on this"I mean really. These people are allowed to vote?
"I'm a South Dakota Democrat here... actually Tim Johnson is from my home town of Vermillion (where I went to K-12 and am going to college in). Mike Rounds is the governor here. He has a "nice guy" reputation... in fact, that's how he won the GOP primary to become governor. There was a viscious primary between the two "front runners" and Rounds came out untarnished and won the primary. I don't think he's run won negative ad. Anyway, Sen. Johnson is a popular senator-- one of the most popular in the country. If Rounds appoints a Republican, it may tarnish his image as a "nice guy." In South Dakota, niceness matters (this isn't New Jersey). So, just a glimmer of hope. I wouldn't neccessarily "count on" Rounds appointing a Republican. But, who knows, I mean, it'd be hard for Rounds to turn down a GOP for appointment. Cross your fingers."
"Cross your fingers"? "In our own ways, let us all pray"? These people are suddenly downright evangelical.
But the winner is (drumroll please)...
"But you still must ask why do only Dem Senators get hit with "accidents" or health problems.
Wellstone
Carnahan
Daschle and Leahy anthrax attacks
Now Dem Johnson.
Coincidence? I will also point out for all the conspiracy-minded among you that there are rf radiation weapons (2d generation being tested now) that disrupt blood vessels and breakdown body tissue. They can be in cellphones and cameras. Arafat and even Sharon may have been a couple of recent victims."He forgot JFK and RFK.
Though the Governor is obligated to set a special election date
within 90 days, he still may appoint a successor in the meantime...
"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, vacancies in the office of senator in the Senate of the United State"
From the SD statutes
page.