Let's settle down. We don't know anything yet.

[Maddy McCall]

With the senate at such a precarious balance and tilting our way just a smidge, any illness of any Democratic senator will be blown out of proportion. The speculations have been rampant today.

Keep this in mind: no one knows anything, and if they do, they ain't talkin'.

Senator Johnson might have an illness that is life-threatening and career-ending, or he might not. He may have been in exploratory surgery, or he may have had a major, life-saving surgery, which could or could not restore him to health, which could or could not make him well enough to retain his seat.

The situation may be "grim," but it may not be.

Bottom line: We really don't know anything yet, and likely won't until "bizness" time today.

:hug:

[Ken Burch]

1. Is Senator Johnson still in surgery?

n/t

[regnaD kciN]

2. That's yet another thing we don't know...

n/t

[Bluebear]

3. The surgery "lasted past midnight"

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061214/LOCAL17/612140457/1012

Sounds like the surgery is over but no other news.

[Maddy McCall]

4. What's really bothered me today...

is that there's been NO news reports about his sudden illness without those reports spending at least half the time talking about how the balance of the senate would be affected, should he keel over.

It's like news of the SENATOR'S HEALTH has taken a back seat to speculations about the balance of power in the senate.

It's just so cold-hearted. :(

[Bluebear]

5. See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2915505&mesg_id=2915505

I totally agree. The newscasters were all doing formulas and how the Republicans take this back and that back. Vultures.

[Maddy McCall]

6. Exactly the word that crossed my mind today.

Vultures.

:(

Thanks for the reference to Mundt. I didn't know if there had been precedent, but I was sure that Johnson could retain his seat without being "present."

Wouldn't you hate to be him tonight. Weight of the world on your shoulders, when your only concern should be getting well.

[Bluebear]

7. I hope he is sedated, The news can live without him for now.

They will be able to put together their charts and shift-in-power graphs in the meantime. Riiiiight?

[Maddy McCall]

9. Riiiiiight.

:)

[bobbie]

8. I don't think it's cold hearted, it's propaganda

I believe we're being desensitized for the replacement of him in the senate. That's how the regime does things.

[spoony]

10. It's been the same on here, though.

It isn't just the news media stuffing the health of a human into the back seat of a political vehicle.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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