It sounds more like the Soviet Politburo circa 1982.
Posted on 12/15/2006 6:29:44 PM PST by goldstategop
RUSH: Eleanor Clift (this would be Newsweek but it's the MSNBC website) has a column called, "Dem[ocrat]s and the Johnson Crisis -- Tim Johnson's health crisis is a reminder of the fragility of the Democratic majority. What the party should do now," and let me just read you some excerpts of this. "Just as Wellstone’s untimely death cost the Democrats a key Senate seat, Johnson’s illness should inject a sense of urgency into the Democrats’ agenda. No one would have put the robust-looking Johnson on an endangered list. Democrats have plenty of octogenarians and septuagenarians to worry about making it through to the next election. A health crisis that strikes without warning is a reminder of the fragility of the Democratic majority.
"With the direction of U.S. policy for the next two years riding on Senate control, Democratic leaders can’t afford to sit around figuring out how to position the party for ’08. That doesn’t mean they have to overhaul Social Security, but they should do what’s doable. Don’t delay; raise the minimum wage and try to lock in whatever reform protections they can. Life is ephemeral, and so is control of the Senate... There is precedence for senators to remain in office despite being," decapitated. (Laughing.) Incapacitated, sorry, I told you: giddy day. "Sen. Joseph Biden suffered an aneurysm soon after dropping out of the presidential race in 1988. He was 45 at the time, and it was eight months before he was back at work. Today he’s considered one of the brightest minds in the Senate on foreign policy," not by many, "plus he's a likely presidential candidate demonstrating there is life after brain surgery."
That's debatable, too, Eleanor, at least in his case. Now: "Under South Dakota rules, unless Johnson or a member of his family declares him incapacitated, he can continue to serve indefinitely.... The doctors will soon have their say about Johnson’s prognosis, and assuring him that he remains..." Now get this. She is now dispensing medical advice to the doctors. She writes this: "[A]ssuring him that he remains a U.S. senator could be an important part of his recovery. If that’s the case, however eager the Republicans are to reclaim Senate control, it’s hard to imagine the governor of South Dakota, who is a Republican, wanting to do anything that would jeopardize Johnson’s recovery — like naming a Republican to replace him."
I told you this was going to happen! I knew this was going to happen.
The Drive-By Media mounting a campaign even now to intimidate and influence the Republican governor of South Dakota should he have to name a replacement. Eleanor Clift's tack is: "Don't name a Republican! Why, that would hinder his recovery. In fact, and the doctors need to tell him that he will remain a US senator! That could be an important part of his recovery." Look, I'm not a doctor, but I don't know that the problems here are emotional. When you have the abnormality that Johnson has, and apparently he has had it since birth, and the bleeding on the brain, I don't know that there's an emotional component. That certainly may be part of it, but at any rate, she's giving medical advice now (laughing) and starting the move to make sure that the governor out there gets the message that it would "hinder his recovery" if he appoints a Republican to replace him should he have to resign.
Then, I mentioned this earlier: "The grim reaper may be stalking a couple of other Democrats," John Fund notes in Opinion Journal's Political Dairy, "Hawaii is represented by two 82-year-old Democrats," Daniel In-No-Way and Dan Akaka, "and Hawaii's Republican governor, Linda Lingle would presumably nominate someone of her own party if a vacancy or two developed. Though admittedly ghoulish this new political parlor game is kind of fun. At 89-year-olds Robert ["Sheets"] Byrd is even older than Hawaii's senator," and they mention 74-year-old Ted Kennedy. "Should he be unable to complete his term because of morbidity or mortality, the governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, would replace him with a Republican," but Romney's out. He's not going to be governor for very much longer.
Anyway, this is just a cold town.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Remembering Paul Wellstone...and thinking...Eleanor Clift exhibiting the class democrats are known to have. Jeesh!
Loads of democrat walking cadavers. Which one is next to catch that train-ride to their place in hell?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Wow, the Rats might even start . . . praying! hee hee
No man is on Island!!!....We have a problem!!!!.......
Only because the Democrat Senate is full of total imbicels like Patrica Bin Murray and Barbara Boxer who make Biden look stunningly intelligent by comparison.
Eleanor Clift: obsequious, shameless Democrat shill.
We might never know. They want to hold on to the majority so bad, that I wouldn't put it past them to pull off a "Weekend at Bernie's". :0)
I don't think that Tim Johnson will die. But now it's likely that he won't seek reelection in 2008. So it looks like 2008 will be between Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth and Governor Mike Rounds.
I don't know how valid it is but the guy covering for Mark Levin tonight (Andrew Wilkow) was saying there are rumors "on the street" that Joe Lieberman may jump ship.
Which means Massachussetts could have only one Senator till an election is held. It looks like this is constitutional under the 17th amendment, but it's stupid.
Amendment XVII
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.
Just to throw in a bit of history trivia, I have read that a similar decision was reached by Woodrow Wilson's wife after his stroke. She claimed that she wanted him to resign, but his doctors urged against that course of action, telling her that it was important for his recovery to remain President. And look how well that turned out!
But if he is incapacitated and unable to vote, the DemocRATS will have 48 members and 2 independents to organize the Senate. There 49 Republicans. The Republicans would be in a position to shut down the Senate. The DemocRATS would be hurting their chances of holding onto the SD seat in 2008 if Johnson were unable to represent the state, but the DemocRATS block a replacement. Each state is entitled to equal representation in the US Senate. A prolonged absence would be a serious hardship for South Dakota.
Huh??? If he's not on Island is he on Crack?
It sounds more like the Soviet Politburo circa 1982.
I'm sure they're training dopplegangers for the infirm as we speak.
Kind of a new spin on the Manchurian Candidate, would make for a good movie, I'm going to start my script now.
When he wakes up I hope the doctor tells him he is a Republican, and that Harry Ried hit him with a bat.
It's easy to believe that Ted Kennedy won't survive his coming term; Robert Byrd could be claimed by a cross-burning accident; Nancy Pelosi could be deposed by a recall-happy California, her fellow Senators, or even by a cerebral hemorrhage from, uh, a pharmaceutical miscalculation...
The Friday Senate Line: Early Look at '08
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/12/the_friday_senate_line_2.html
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.