By the rules of the Senate, a Senator's seat is only vacated by death or resignation; no other person or body can declare a Senator "incapacitated." Now Sen. Johnson of South Dakota's condition is presently unknown to the public, but he entered hopsital with symptoms of a stroke. In the event of his death or resignation, the Republican governor of South Dakota would presumably appoint a Republican to the Senate and tip the Senate back into GOP hands at 50-50 with the Vice-Presidential tie-breaker. So what are we facing?
If he lives, nothing changes, Democrats control the Senate 51-49.
If he dies, the Republican governor of South Dakota would presumably appoint a Republican to the Senate and tip the Senate back into GOP hands at 50-50 with the Vice-Presidential tie-breaker. So what are we facing?
If he resigns, same as if he dies.
But if he is in some sort of, oh, I dunno, "persistant vegetative state", well that's where things get interesting. This would go way beyond Schiavo levels of hysteria and madness. All of America would have a stake in the incapacitated Senator's life or death. Senate Democrats would have to be extremely careful not to be too eager to continue his life in a coma in the hopes that he survives just to maintain a 50-49 edge or else witness a backlash from the American populace beyond the "GET THE FUCK OUT OF SCHIAVO'S LIFE!" the American people expressed during that affair.
A tricky situation, tricky indeed.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
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6 comments:
I wouldn't worry. I think the governor is smart enough to know that he should pick another Dem as the replacement, lest the public have yet another reason to hate the current GOP.
A more interesting scenario would be if the governor appointed an independent to the position. It's a long shot, but it would be good for the country, and give me hope that we can finally move past the two party system.
Patr, you're living in some sort of dreamworld. More power to you. I wish I could be that idealistic.
As for the Senator, let's hope he pulls through. And NOT just because it would help the democrats keep control. He is a person, he is dying, and that does suck.
I'm actually rather surprised Patrick that you would think that Governor Rounds would do the gentlemanly thing. Senator Thune, a Republican, is the most recently elected senator from South Dakota who you may remember took Tom Daschle's seat in the 2004 elections. Governor Rounds could use that result as his rationale for appointing a Republican Senator.
I tend to agree with Pat, actually, but for a different reason. If Rounds wants to run for Senate in 2008, as some people are speculating, he'd have a much easier time running against an incumbent Dem in the general than against an incumbent GOPer in the primary. Thus the gentlemanly course of action and Rounds's political future dovetail quite nicely.
Of course, hopefully, Sen. Johnson will recover and this discussion will be completely academic.
Of course, Rounds could just resign, let LTG Daugaard, and have him appoint Rounds to the Senate.
But that would be too evil.
If Senator Johnson dies or resigns, I respectfully don't think the governor will throw away such an opportunity.
The governor spits in the face of his electorate if he reverses their wishes, but also spits in the face of his party if he doesn't take the once in a lifetime opportunity to return the Senate to Republican control.
Senator Johnson, if I recall correctly, is a pretty moderate democrat. If the governor sticks in a moderate Republican, he can at least mend the wound by saying he elected someone in the centrist camp - but saves the Senate while he's at it.
It seems like a tough choice, but I personally think he'd lean towards sticking in a Republican.
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