Control of the 110th Senate could be in Republican hands

[bullmoose88]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Hah...not a bad plan.

[Tender Branson]

How about George McGovern?

[okstate]

Chafee? That would be bizarre

[Smash255]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Hah...not a bad plan.

As long as its after Jan 5yh, in which it would have no impact on Majority leader and Commiitieships thas not a bad idea.  Unfortunley the chances of Rounds appointing someone even remotley moderate is rather slim.

However, hope this discussion is all mute & Johnson makes a speedy & full recovery.

[jimrtex]

If he were unable to serve as Senator, the new majority leader could actually be Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) instead of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).  South Dakota Governor, Mike Rounds, a Republican, would likely appoint a Republican replacement for Johnson, thus bringing the Senate to a 50-50 tie and giving Vice President Dick Cheney the tie-breaker.

South Dakota law is rather odd.

First, it states that if there is a primary or general election within 6 months of a vacancy for a representative or senator, that the election be held concurrently with those elections.  If there is no near term regular election scheduled, then the special election is held with 80 to 90 days of the vacancy.

But then it later states that a election to fill a senate vacancy will be held at the next general election, and that no election be held to replace an appointed Senator whose term ends just after a general election.  So in the case of Johnson, there would be no election since his term ends in 2009.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

If he were unable to serve as Senator, the new majority leader could actually be Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) instead of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV).  South Dakota Governor, Mike Rounds, a Republican, would likely appoint a Republican replacement for Johnson, thus bringing the Senate to a 50-50 tie and giving Vice President Dick Cheney the tie-breaker.

South Dakota law is rather odd.

First, it states that if there is a primary or general election within 6 months of a vacancy for a representative or senator, that the election be held concurrently with those elections.  If there is no near term regular election scheduled, then the special election is held with 80 to 90 days of the vacancy.

But then it later states that a election to fill a senate vacancy will be held at the next general election, and that no election be held to replace an appointed Senator whose term ends just after a general election.  So in the case of Johnson, there would be no election since his term ends in 2009.

Yeah, I'm not sure if anyone has figured out what would actually happen. In most states, the governor gets to appoint a replacement, and then since the next federal election is when the seat is up, anyways, there might not be a special election (at least Coleman didn't take office early).

[jimrtex]

The people of South Dakota chose a Democrat at the last election and it would be subverting their will to replace a Democrat with a Republican.

The last time the people of South Dakota elected a senator, they chose a Republican over a 3-term Democrat incumbent who was at the time Senate minority leader.

Presumably, they chose Johnson as a person rather than as a Democrat.

The people of the United States voted in November to give the control of the United States Senate to the Democratic party, and their votes should be respected.

There are only 49 members of the US Senate that were elected as Democrats, 49 as Republicans.  In Connecticut, the voters rejected the candidate nominated by the Democrat party.  In Vermont, the Democrats did not even nominate a candidate (the Democrat candidate for Governor was defeated by 15 percent).

[jimrtex]

How about George McGovern?

How about Larry Pressler?

[Padfoot]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Didn't Chafee say he was gonna switch parties?

The people of the United States voted in November to give the control of the United States Senate to the Democratic party, and their votes should be respected.

There are only 49 members of the US Senate that were elected as Democrats, 49 as Republicans.  In Connecticut, the voters rejected the candidate nominated by the Democrat party.  In Vermont, the Democrats did not even nominate a candidate (the Democrat candidate for Governor was defeated by 15 percent).

The people of Connecticut also rejected the nominee of the Republican Party.  Schlesinger wasn't even able to net more than 10% of the vote!  At least Lamont was within 10 points of Lieberman.  What CT voters DID choose to elect was a self-declared Independent Democrat so essentially they voted for another Democrat.  In Vermont the Democrats DID nominate a candidate and he won the general election, however he declined to accept their nomination.  So again, another Democrat is elected.  To even suggest that the people of CT and VT or the majority of the US didn't want the Democrats in control is absolutely ridiculous.

Furthermore, the Vermont Governors race has absolutely no relevance to the topic at hand whatever the result.  Its like mentioning the Freudenthal (D) landslide in the Wyoming Governor's race in the same sentence as Senator Thomas's (R) win there.  Totally irrelevant.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Didn't Chafee say he was gonna switch parties?

It sounded like he might consider it in the future, but he hasn't jumped ship yet.  That's why he's a FF, and not the HP he would be if he gave in to the enemy.

[Smash255]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Didn't Chafee say he was gonna switch parties?

It sounded like he might consider it in the future, but he hasn't jumped ship yet.  That's why he's a FF, and not the HP he would be if he gave in to the enemy.

He would be a HP if he became a Democrat because extreme nutballs in your party drove him away??

[Nym90]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Didn't Chafee say he was gonna switch parties?

It sounded like he might consider it in the future, but he hasn't jumped ship yet.  That's why he's a FF, and not the HP he would be if he gave in to the enemy.

For the record, I've never called the opposite party the enemy.

In addition, I don't see why someone would go from massive FF to massive HP just because their opinion of which party they fit in changed, when their actual views didn't change at all.

Chafee is a Republican out of some sense of duty and honor rather than because they are the party that actually fits him best ideologically. The same reason that Zell Miller is a Democrat; it's a family tradiition for both of them I'm sure, and a lot of people feel like it would dishonor their parents and ancestors to be in a different party than they were, I think.

So long as Johnson doesn't die, I highly doubt he'd resign, given the implications of the possibilty that would give the GOP the Senate. If he does pass on, Governor Rounds is certainly free to appoint a Republican and I won't begrudge him that if he does, but hopefully at the very least he'd appoint a caretaker who would refuse to run for the seat in 2008. In addition, I feel it would be fair to have even numbers of seats on all committees for both parties and a power-sharing agreement rather than a GOP majority (since the majority itself would only be dependent on the Vice President's tiebreaking vote to begin with, added into the factor that Democrats won 51 of the 100 seats).

I do agree that voters vote for the man just as much if not more than they do for the party in Congressional races, but thusly a very conservative Republican certainly shouldn't be nominated as they would be very unlike Johnson.

I think it's all moot anyway (moot, not mute....that's one of those pet peeves of mine). Johnson almost certainly will survive, but the main implication here is that he almost certainly will retire in 2008, thus giving the GOP a possibility of a pickup. Hopefully Herseth runs.

[HardRCafé]

And Rounds better appoint Herseth to this seat if it becomes vacant...

Good news!  Your threat here convinced him.

[Democratic Hawk]

sh**t,he is not even 60...

Anyway,as the article says,he could be removed only in the event he died...even if he had to spend a year in that hospital,he'd be a senator and democrats would have control of the senate.

Correct. Everyone seems to be overlooking this. Unless Johnson actually dies, the chances of a replacement being appointed to fill his seat are next to zero. The Senate throughout its history has often held seats for Senators who are forced away by illness for months, even years.

There may come a time when the senator feels that he can't continue his duties on health grounds and vacate his seat. Be that the eventual case, then he should request Governor Rounds appoint a Democrat to serve out his term. And if the Governor has any integrity, he'd do exactly that

Dave

I was sure you'd say this. Why should he? The people of South Dakota voted for Tim Johnson because he is Tim Johnson...I find it highly unlikely they voted for him because he was a democrat. In this case (unlike other states) Tim Johnson has a mandate, not the democratic party.

You know me fairly well then

Were Tim Johnson to resign on health grounds and request that Rounds appoint Stephanie Herseth to replace him, given the margin of her statewide re-election victory for the House seat, she is clearly popular with South Dakotans. Still, it's all hypothetical

Anyway, I most sincerely hope that it doesn't even come to this and the senator will make a speedy recovery and continue to represent South Dakota in the Senate

Dave

[Big DaddyTX]

How about George McGovern?

How about Larry Pressler?

I never thought about that one. That would be an intersting one.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

He would be a HP if he became a Democrat because extreme nutballs in your party drove him away??

For the record, I've never called the opposite party the enemy.

In addition, I don't see why someone would go from massive FF to massive HP just because their opinion of which party they fit in changed, when their actual views didn't change at all.

When someone is fighting along side you in the trenches, he is an FF.  When he decides that he wants to go fight for the opposition and start hurling arrows back at you (as he would presumably be used by the Dems to defeat moderate Republicans), that would make him a huge HP.

[True Federalist]

I think that Rounds should do exactly what Roy Barnes did.  Appoint a very very moderate member of his own party.  Someone call the moving van to help Lincoln Chafee move to Sioux Falls

Hah...not a bad plan.

As long as its after Jan 5th, in which it would have no impact on Majority leader and Commiteeships that's not a bad idea.

Not quite.  Unlike the House, where the Speaker once elected stays the Speaker no matter what, the Senate leadership does change if the Majority Leader no longer commands a majority.  Surely June 6, 2001 is not so long ago that you've forgotten what happened when Jeffords crossed the aisle and Lott went from being Majority Leader to Minority Leader.  For the GOP to retake the Senate does not depend on when the Senate goes from 51-49 to 50-50, if such an event should happen during the 110th for any reason.

[HardRCafé]

When someone is fighting along side you in the trenches, he is an FF.  When he decides that he wants to go fight for the opposition and start hurling arrows back at you (as he would presumably be used by the Dems to defeat moderate Republicans), that would make him a huge HP.

Chafee is about the last Republican I would trust in a trench.

As soon as the morning light has broken
Then we attack
If nobody tries too hard to kill you
I got your back
Across the desert
Back to brave the burning sand
Back to question to every effort
Back to challenge your command

[Harry]

Could Johnson say something like "I resign, effective when Gov. Rounds appoints Stephanie Herseth to my seat?", thus gauranteeing a Dem seat?

[jimrtex]

How about George McGovern?

How about Larry Pressler?

I never thought about that one. That would be an intersting one.

Abourezk is still alive as well.

[jimrtex]

There are only 49 members of the US Senate that were elected as Democrats, 49 as Republicans.  In Connecticut, the voters rejected the candidate nominated by the Democrat party.  In Vermont, the Democrats did not even nominate a candidate (the Democrat candidate for Governor was defeated by 15 percent).

The people of Connecticut also rejected the nominee of the Republican Party.  Schlesinger wasn't even able to net more than 10% of the vote!  At least Lamont was within 10 points of Lieberman.  What CT voters DID choose to elect was a self-declared Independent Democrat so essentially they voted for another Democrat.  In Vermont the Democrats DID nominate a candidate and he won the general election, however he declined to accept their nomination.  So again, another Democrat is elected.  To even suggest that the people of CT and VT or the majority of the US didn't want the Democrats in control is absolutely ridiculous.

Furthermore, the Vermont Governors race has absolutely no relevance to the topic at hand whatever the result.  Its like mentioning the Freudenthal (D) landslide in the Wyoming Governor's race in the same sentence as Senator Thomas's (R) win there.  Totally irrelevant.

Did the DSCC send any money to Lieberman?  Did any Democratic senators campaign for Lieberman during the general election?  Did Harry Reid do any joint campaign appearances?

Further, the people of Connecticut elected a Republican governor, knowing that she would appoint a Republican in case Lieberman was appointed Secretary or Defense. 

Similarly, the people of Vermont elected a Republican governor in case that something should happen to Sanders.  If they really wanted to ensure the Democrats held power nationally, they would have elected a Democrat governor.

[Deano963]

There are only 49 members of the US Senate that were elected as Democrats, 49 as Republicans.  In Connecticut, the voters rejected the candidate nominated by the Democrat party.  In Vermont, the Democrats did not even nominate a candidate (the Democrat candidate for Governor was defeated by 15 percent).

The people of Connecticut also rejected the nominee of the Republican Party.  Schlesinger wasn't even able to net more than 10% of the vote!  At least Lamont was within 10 points of Lieberman.  What CT voters DID choose to elect was a self-declared Independent Democrat so essentially they voted for another Democrat.  In Vermont the Democrats DID nominate a candidate and he won the general election, however he declined to accept their nomination.  So again, another Democrat is elected.  To even suggest that the people of CT and VT or the majority of the US didn't want the Democrats in control is absolutely ridiculous.

Furthermore, the Vermont Governors race has absolutely no relevance to the topic at hand whatever the result.  Its like mentioning the Freudenthal (D) landslide in the Wyoming Governor's race in the same sentence as Senator Thomas's (R) win there.  Totally irrelevant.

Further, the people of Connecticut elected a Republican governor, knowing that she would appoint a Republican in case Lieberman was appointed Secretary or Defense. 

Similarly, the people of Vermont elected a Republican governor in case that something should happen to Sanders.

Yeh......I'm sure that's exactly what the people of Connecticut and Vermont were thinking when they elected Rell and Douglas......

B/c people who knowingly vote for an avowed socialist like Sanders usually vote for a Republican Governor with the specific intent of having him name the socialists' replacement....

That was the dumbest argument ever.

[zorkpolitics]

If needed,  maybe Rounds can appoint Zell Miller:  A Democrat who would vote to support the Republican as Majority Leader, a perfect compromise, better than Chafee!

[Democratic Hawk]

Imagine I was a Democrtatic Senator from Georgia and I was asked by the President to, for example, accept a Cabinet nomination and Georgia had a Republican governor, then my accepting that nomination would be conditional on me privately recommending a fellow Georgia Democrat, for example, Rep. Jim Marshall, to be my replacement until such time as an election to fill the seat

It's either that or I'd be staying put in the Senate

For that matter, in the event, of severe incapacity forcing me to resign or in the event of my passing, the Governor would have a letter from me requesting he appoint a Democrat of my recommendation

I'd feel the same way were I Republican

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

In fact, I think there should be a law common to all states mandating the Governor to make an interim appointment from the party with which the previous incumbent was affiliated. That way the Senate does not change and the will of the electorate stands until such time as they elect a new senator

What can be any fairer than that, I ask?

Dave