It's of course cruel to find the illness of someone a source of amusement but after hoping that Tim Johnson, the Senator from South Dakota, makes a full recovery, there is then this:
U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was critically ill but stable on Thursday after brain surgery for a potentially deadly bleeding that could deprive his fellow Democrats of their razor-thin hold on the new Senate.
Doctors said Johnson had needed no additional surgery and was having an uncomplicated recovery. A Johnson spokesman cautioned that could change and the next 24 to 48 hours was "a critical benchmark."
Democrats narrowly wrested control of the U.S. Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans in last month's elections, gaining a thin 51-49 majority in the Senate when it convenes in three weeks.
If Johnson, 59, were to leave office, Republicans could gain control of the Senate, with Vice President Dick Cheney having the power to break tie votes.
If he dies or resigns then the Governor of South Dakota (a Republican) gets to appoint his successor. That would, naturally, be a Republican. Of course, there would then be huge screaming from the Democrats. The voters have spoken sort of thing, over riding the results of elections....
Well, yes, but that is what the system says should happen. Also, I don't quite remember Democrats making the same noises when Jim Jeffords left the Republicans after his election.
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