Ailing Johnson hires top campaign strategist

Sioux City Journal ^ | 7/27/07

[Obadiah]

Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota is still recovering from a December brain hemorrhage, but his office appears to be beefing up his staff for a 2008 re-election campaign.

Drey Samuelson, Johnson's chief of staff, said Wednesday that the office has hired Steve Jarding as deputy chief of staff. Jarding, who will work for the senator's congressional office in Rapid City, S.D., is a veteran political consultant who served as a top strategist for James Webb, the Virginia Democrat who upset Republican Sen. George Allen last November.

[Obadiah]

Though his long-term prognosis is still unclear, doctors have said he is steadily improving. He has been audibly speaking, following commands and understanding speech, said Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher.

Will this guy really get reelected? Would one not rather be at home to convalesce?

[golfisnr1]

If he were a pub there would be a hue and cry for him to step down monthw ago.

[AnAmericanMother]

. . . audibly speaking, following commands and understanding speech . . .

That is a guarded assessment if I ever heard one. Does not sound like he's anywhere near ready to return to work.

And I do hope they are not troubling him with the whole reelection issue while he's trying to recover.

[johnny7]

With all due respect to the Senator... this is a farce!

[MplsSteve]

PING PING PING

[linn37]

Sounds like they are gearing up for the pity vote to me.

[Reagan79]

Sheesh, the unwillingness to give up power is out of control.

[boomop1]

He asked how he would debate and said, Timmy.

[Fishtalk]

I mean....

Obviously the Dems are desperate to keep this seat.

It isn’t about fairness. Or logic. Or the betterment of our country; good governance.

Now they want to elect a fellow who shouldn’t even be in there NOW. But graciousness is such and so allow the man to serve this term.

But to run him again?

Somebody, somehow and some way ought to get a tape of this man going about a daily day, maybe close to the campaign. For this is a guy with serious recovery issues. God bless that he should recover enough to live a simple life but to keep him in congress?

They lie to us all the time.

[Sooth2222]

He has been audibly speaking, following commands and understanding speech, said Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher.

Based on that assesment, he'd seem to be capable of functioning at a higher level than Bobby Byrd or Ted Kennedy -- so then why isn't he voting in the Senate??? And since he's not, he's probably worse off than they're letting on.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

not quite “Weekend at Bernie’s”

[COBOL2Java]

As long as he’s got his staff running things, all he has to do is show up to cast a vote a directed by his handlers (”Say ‘aye’, Senator”). Of course, his staff will consist of DNC loyalists.

[Obadiah]

That's my point! This guy is barely functional and he is somehowapparently voting in the Senate, and now running for reelection. It is a farce! And if he were a Republican (given that the balance of the Senate hinges on him) we would have had nightly news stories on how he is NOT progressing, and the pressure would quickly mount for him to resign.

why haven't any Republicans said anything - at all - to step up the pressure for this guy to resign? This could be done without malice.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Com’on this is nothin’... I mean Lenin worked right up to the day he died.

[boomop1]

timmy

[Slicksadick]

In the upcoming debates, all questions will be yes or no only.

[PAR35]

My guess is that they’ll go for the Lifetime Channel vote.

[counterpunch]

He has been audibly speaking, following commands and understanding speech, said Johnson spokeswoman Julianne Fisher.

Will this guy really get reelected? Would one not rather be at home to convalesce?

He's more coherent than Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd.

 

[Blogatron]

REELECT

[Jim Noble]

His loyal supporters have to behave as if he will be better and will run.

You or I would do the same.