South Dakota Senator Hospitalized and Undergoing Surgery

[UPDATES below]

My time has been squeezed more than I've been expecting lately, so I'm going to set aside my previously intended subject in favor of something that requires less research. Unfortunately, there's a breaking story in Washington that may shake up everything that we've come to expect about the incoming Senate. Senator Tim Johnson of North Dakota was taken ill this afternoon with symptoms that looked very much like a stroke, but a statement from the senator's office later ruled out a stroke. Here's how The Washington Post describes the illness:

Johnson spokesman Noah Pinegar said the senator "became disoriented" during a late-morning conference call with reporters, placed from the Capitol's Senate recording studio. "He had difficulty completing a response to a question," Pinegar said, so aides ended the call and walked with him back to Hart Senate Office Building.

When they arrived, Pinegar said, Johnson "wasn't himself." A team from the Capitol physician's office quickly arrived and sent the senator to the hospital by ambulance. Johnson's wife, Barbara, was with him at the hospital as tests were being conducted last night, Pinegar said.

As of this writing, it's being reported that he's gone into surgery and is still there. CNN is reporting that it's brain surgery.

Aside from the trauma to Senator Johnson and his family, the reason this is national news is that, you'll remember, the new Senate will effectively have a 51-49 Democratic majority. If Johnson is unable to serve, his replacement will be appointed by South Dakota's Republican governor. Although South Dakota Governor Michael Rounds can appoint anyone he wants to, it's a safe assumption that he'd appoint a Republican. That would move the Repubs back to a 50-50 split, with Dick Cheney required to break any ties. This would effectively result in a continued Republican majority and a new, unexpected round of the Do-Nothing Senate.

Via Christina Larson in Political Animal, Steve Benen's Carpetbagger Report explores what South Dakota might mean by Senator Johnson's "being able to serve." If Johnson dies, Rounds would appoint a successor, but if he's alive but incapacitated, South Dakota officials might not make a move. Apparently there's no real precedent for that.

The situation will perhaps be clearer in the morning (when all but one or two die-hard readers will be perusing it anyway). In the meantime, we give Senator Johnson all of our concern and best wishes.

UPDATE--There's not a lot of new information this morning. A recent report in The Washington Post reveals that Johnson is out of surgery but still in critical condition. George Washington University Hospital promises an official statement later today. On NPR's Morning Edition, Nina Totenberg discussed the likelihood of Johnson keeping his seat even if he has some level of incapacitation. She had a number of examples, but the most recent was Strom Thurmond, who, although he was physically present in the Senate for his last couple of years, wasn't really there mentally. As I recall, there was no discussion of his fitness to serve. The Chicago Tribune also mentions Lane Evans of Illinois, a current Congressman who suffers from Parkinson's and did not vote for quite some time this year. He'll leave office when his term expires in January.

UPDATE #2--We got a few answers today. The Washington Post is reporting that Johnson has a congenital problem with blood vessels in his brain, and it started to bleed yesterday. (Red Girl, Blue State has a more detailed explanation.) His physician said that the surgery was successful and the senator "has continued to have an uncomplicated post-operative course. Specifically, he has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required." His family is optimistic. It looks like the speculation of what happens next in the Senate has calmed down for the time being.