BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !

Subject: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:00 PM

Due to a stroke of a Democratic Senator from SD the Republican governor gets to chose his replacement.

That gives Cheney the tie breaker.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Cruiser
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:04 PM

State your source man! Breaking News?

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Tweed
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:06 PM

...or Breaking wind??

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:10 PM

Its up to the docs to determine if he is incapcitated.
If so, a Republican gets to choose his replacement.

So far there is no evidence of Polonium 210 poisoning.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:15 PM

Talk about a stroke of bad luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Slag
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:25 PM

Go chase you wasscally wabbitt Fudd, God gets the last word.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: mrdux
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:36 PM

As of 4:30 PM EST, CNN is reporting that Johnson was taken to the hospital with "stroke-like symtoms."

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 04:51 PM

Let's not cry wolf until a wolf is seen. IF there was a stroke, it could be minor -- and people recover from strokes all the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 05:03 PM

It is interesting to see where people's priorities lie.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,MarkS
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:21 PM

It has been reported on Drudge but so far no news of the seriousness of the condition or whether or now he will be able to continue in office. Too soon to draw any conclusions.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:39 PM

I never understand how USA politics works.
You have had a President who has been obviously brain dead for the past two elections. Why should a stroke disqualify the opposition?
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:41 PM

Speaking of priorities: When Don Rumsfeld was asked yesterday, "What was the toughest day you ever faced while you were Secretary of Defense?"
He said, "It was the day the Abu Gareb story hit the front page.:

note... He did not mention 9-11.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:55 PM

What's the problem with having a by-election? (I believe in the States they are called "special elections")

Of course when a member of the Upper House in the UK has a strike or even dies, they don't have any election at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:59 PM

Duck, there is still concern that W has had many transitory minor strokes.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 07:07 PM

Whoa Nellie & hold yer horses there folks!

First, he was "rushed to GWU" - a pretty good hospital, and if he got there right away his recovery chances are excellent.

Second he is ony 59 years old--young for a stroke, but that probably works to his advantage.

Third, how despicable and low can the media whores go? Jesus, this speculative reporting crap is out of control.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: kendall
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 07:12 PM

He got to the hospital well within the "safety" time limit of three hours. Plus, HE will decide if he is fit to serve, not the Governor.
This has happened before in 1969 a Senator had a stroke and he refused to resign. He failed to go to the Senate for the next four years. I believe he was a republican.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 07:31 PM

Besides, who can take pleasure in someone having a stroke?

Echhh!!!!

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 08:00 PM

Geez, Don, give us a break! The story is evolving, but at this point his staff says he didn't have a stroke. So don't give US a stroke by making such precipitate announcements!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 08:33 PM

There is ****no***** law that would reqire this Senator to resign and given the slim Dem advantage, it is doubtfull that he will, even if the effects of the stroke rneder hi unable to resume an active role in the Senate...

What this means is that the Seante will still be run by the Dems with comittee chairs being Dems and sopena powers in Dems hands...

Yeah, this is a setback for the Dems but not a deal buster...

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 11:12 PM

Don-

Your initial post was way out of line. I would think that you've been around here long enough to not need the extra attention of trolling for negative feedback. But suit yourself.

Yes, there is a story but you were just shooting from the hip.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 08:20 AM

The Senator was on a conference call when his speech became incomprehensible.

I heard the recording of the precise moment on the phone.

Sad to say after surgury he has been pronounced to be in critical condition.

May he have the best possible recovery.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 09:21 AM

Early reports, as linked at CNN and as reported by MSNBC, indicate only that the Senator had "stroke like" symptoms, and was taken to a hospital. There have been conflicting reports as to diagnosis, with one doctor involved stating that stroke had been ruled out, and another saying they were scheduling surgery.

Even if incapacitated, a replacement can be appointed only IF AND WHEN he resigns - or dies, of course. There have been a couple of cases in the recent past when obviously incapacitated members of Congress have refused to resign in order to avoid having a replacement named.

It's far too soon to make any predictions, and of course it's hoped that his health problems are quickly resolved - in his favor.



_{(And I didn't know that Polonium caused stroke-like symptoms.)}

John

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 10:11 AM

"It's far too soon to make any predictions" ??

Predictions are meant to come before the event.

And as to the criticisms directed at speculations of a political nature that arise from health problems, just imagine if W had just had surgury and was in critical condition. Such speculations are not only correct to make but essential questions to ask.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 10:21 AM

One ought to get their facts straight before making assertions. Actually there is no certainty that the Governor gets to pick a replacement. The law was meant to deal with the death or resignation. The area of incapacitation is filled with murky water.

I don't like your thread title. The Republicans haven't won anything. The Democrats carried the day, and if the Repubs get the majority it will be on a technicality. If this Governor were honorable, and if he has the chance to appoint, he would appoint someone who reflected the will of the electorate. Not much chance of that happening.

I also don't like your opening post. It makes a gratuitous assertion that isn't even factual.

But I do like your cartoons....

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 10:31 AM

Donuel-

A better thread title might be "Republicans Have Stroke of Luck?"

Still in poor taste but why don't you consider contacting the Joe Clones on the Quick Links and have them change it.

I also enjoy your cartoons, while agreeing with Mick on your initial post.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 11:09 AM

"A congenital brain condition"

This probably means he has a mass of tangled blood vessels in the brain that are prone to aneurism.

Indeed there should be vetting process for thread titles. The committee should convene on a daily basis. This may however conflict with the 3 times daily meetings of Obsesive Compulsive Annonymous.
I too find certain titles incorrect and or off color. Moby Dick comes to mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 11:21 AM

btw

the cartoons have ceased. I still think in cartoons but I am too demoralized to do them anymore since the erasure of my website, the IRS audits, the egging, stoning and fire bombing of our house... among other oblique attacks.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 11:24 AM

I'm sticking to portraits and landscapes for now.
Besides the cartoons were pathetic compared to the Daily Show or Colbert Report.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 11:30 AM

It seems too early to make judgments. I used to be the chaplain on a neuro unit that handled a lot of cases like this, and a large percentage made a full recovery. According to the news this morning, the problem is an Arteriovenous Malformation, which is as described above. Depending on how severe it was, they could clip it or coil it. If it's small enough to clip, then he'll be in the hospital awhile but probably be just fine. Coiling can be fine too, but usually is done when the situation has progressed a little more. Or at least, that's what I can remember. It's been awhile.

The current updates sound like the surgeons are fairly optimistic - they say the surgery was successful, but it's too soon to tell the long-term prognosis. I don't think the doctors would be that publicly optimistic if they weren't feeling good about the way things went.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: jeffp
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 11:50 AM

And "critical" condition is routine for post-brain surgery. It is routine for a stay in the ICU.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 12:01 PM

I think Donuel is getting slammed around a titch too much here. This is a personal tragedy for an individual and his family. It also may possibly have some national and international consequences depending on the outcome of the man's illness, which sounds very serious. Premature gloating or mourning for the nation may be ghoulish and tasteless, but speculation is natural. Maybe Donuel's thread title listed a bit towards "ready, shoot, aim," but cut him a little slack. A lot of us feel uneasy about our overall Senatorial representation.

As to the nasty post that followed mine, there is a Bob Dylan song about that sentiment: "With God on our Side."

Elmer

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 12:04 PM

Let's start the conspiracy buzz. My guess is that the Republicans did something to cause his stroke. They picked a mostly unknown senator from a State that very few people in the U.S. really know much about. You couldn't find a better target. It's like killing prostitutes in England. How many people really care? My guess is that he will go progressively downhill and have to resign or will suffer a larger stroke and die. The Republicans couldn't win the 2000 election fare and square. They also can't hold the Senate fair and square. Just one person's assumptions.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 12:21 PM

Senator Reid (who had a stroke a couple years ago himself) announced that Johnson looks fine.

The bleeding has been stopped and the blood removed.
It is my best far fetrched guess that the Senator will not be incapicitated but after 90 days will have a speech affectation that will be noticable but not uninteligible.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 01:31 PM

Guest, no amount of Polonium 210 could cause this. A conspirator would have had to get inside the Senator's head, muck about with his brain to make it LOOK like an uncommon, but not incredibly rare, congenital condition, and operate some sort of remote control to make it burst at just the right moment. Somehow I don't think so.

Sometimes things just happen. Most people who have AVMs never even know about it unless they burst or they have an MRI of the brain for some other reason. The neurosurgeons who work with these generally do several a week, so I think they know what they're seeing. It's just thrown the press and the public for a loop because most people haven't heard of it.

Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,13 Dec 06 - 07:07 PM
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 02:42 PM

I have no problem whatsoever with Donuel, the thread title, or the fact that he brought this to my attention with his thread title & opening post. He was merely the messenger of what we would all know by the next morning anyway.

jesus, some of you have dainty friggin' sensibilities. To say you are thin-skinned and too easily offended is an understatement.

In my post saying 'whoa' I was commenting on the media whores at the NY Times, et al who drive stories like this onto the front page, not Donuel.

Anyone who comes out of neurosurgery is almost automatically placed on the critical list for the first 24-48 hrs.

I'm still confident he'll make a full recovery, as GWU's doctors aren't preparing us for a negative outcome at this point. They are the government's hospital, after all, and know a thing or two about how to handle the media whore hordes when a suddenly significant member of government shows up in the emergency room.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:04 PM

What's "dainty" about pointing out that Donuel's thread title and initial post contain inaccuracies?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the new Senate comprised of 51 Dems and 49 'pubbers? If so, y'take away one Dem and it's still 50-49; therefore, there's no tie for Cheney to break.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:06 PM

...unless Tim Johnson resigns, which I'm sure he won't.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Peace
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:19 PM

I think the new Senate contains 50 Dems, 49 Reps and one Independent (or Socialist?). I may be wrong. Don't follow American politics much.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:26 PM

You take away 1 democrat and the governor appoints a republican to take his place. All of a sudden it is 50-50.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:47 PM

Yeah, GUEST, except for that little detail about Johnson's resignation having to come first.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: pdq
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 03:52 PM

Both Bernie Sanders (socialist) and Joe Lieberman (ex-Dem) are independent, but will caucus and vote with Dems.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 04:04 PM

It should be noted that Senator Johnson battled prostate cancer in 2004 and that, according to his website, "all tests now show him clear of the disease." So he's one tough cookie. Since he didn't quit the Senate for the prostate cancer, I doubt that he'd quit the Senate for this.

Tim Johnson's bio from his site

It also should be noted that South Dakota's junior Senator (elected in 2004), John Thune, is a Republican. His website says he lost "a Senate race" by a narrow margin in 2002 -- does anyone know if this was the race in which Johnson was most recently re-elected? This could turn into a battle royale in the state as well as in the Senate. Whether Johnson resigns or not, keep an eye on the South Dakota Senator's race in 2008!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 05:37 PM

The Redemocrapublicant Party is a single corporate-financed entity. The Republicans may be the uglier half of that entity, but it's still a single entity. As long as they can keep you fooled that you have a real choice at election time, they've got you right where they want you. It's like a football game. 2 Teams. 1 game. You pay the entrance fee. They rake in the proceeds. One gets to play "winner" at the end of every season. Big F-ing deal!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Genie
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 06:10 PM

Maybe Daschle will take over (win back) Johnson's Senate seat next time around, even if Johnson doesn't run again.

Anyway, as long as Johnson is still breathing, the R governor can't replace him with a Republican. He can legally stay in the Senate in a coma if it comes to that and those who have his power of attorney say so, and I'd rather see that happen than have the seat (and the Senate) go back to the Publicans. (Hey, Strom stayed in the Senate for years after being brain ded.) ;)

The two major parties may share a lot of corruption and wrong-headedness, but it wasn't the Dems who instigated throwing out most of the Bill Of Rights (except for the 2nd Amendment) and trying to stack the Federal Courts with right-wing fascist-leaning judges who would rubber stamp such efforts.   

The perfect is the enemy of the good, and right now I'd rather have some right-wing Dems like Landrieu, Salazar, and Bayh in the Senate than "moderate" Republicans like Snowe, Spector, and Chafee.   Committee chairmanships matter a lot!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 06:37 PM

Leukemia hasn't stopped Cheney.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 07:42 PM

SharonA, apparently you are in need of an irony transplant. As soon as I saw the headline, clicked on the thread & saw it was Donuel, I smiled knowingly.

As to the state of politics in SD, you really can't make any predictions about anything there. I was really shocked to see Daschle lose, and I'd be very shocked to see Johnson lose. The out of state Republican money machine defeated Daschle, no doubt about that. But South Dakotans are now pretty fed up with the Republicans, especially over the war and (the greatest sin in South Dakota), the squandering of the nation's resources fiscally.

There is also this sense of decency that people mistakenly attribute to South Dakotans that is quite odd, considering the political choices people in that state make. A good example of that was the SD legislature banning abortion. Continuing to re-elect Bill Janklow is another bizarre trait of SD voters. The guy is corrupt, vindictive, and suffered from kingly delusions until the last time he ran the stop sign by his house and killed a guy on a motorcycle.

But most So Daks found Janklow's tendency to get off scott free for speeding far exceeding the limit (which everyone does in SD) and running stop signs (far less common driving behavior) to be admirable and amusing. Until he killed a good ol' guy out for a motorcycle ride.

Don't forget, SD historically has sent the most liberal and most conservative Congressional representatives to Washington of any state in the union (except maybe Alaska), often at the same time. The majority party in SD, unlike most states, is "independent". And they really mean it.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Genie
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 08:53 PM

Being prouncedly affected by Alzheimers didn't stop Regan during the last 4 years of his second term, and being verbally and cognitively impaired hasn't stopped Bush from staying in the white house.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 08:59 PM

What? who sez you need anything but a lot of brass to be a politician!

Anyway I don't think it matters one way or the other, gas prices will go up again until 08 and Maul Wart will begin to fall apart.

Talk about Conservatives getting pasted by the younger generation AFTER they were pasted by the rest in the election.

Gee do you think they are getting some kind of message about NAFTA and illegal immigration?

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 12:04 AM

This is premature speculation.

Dr Eisold said Mr Johnson was responding "appropriately" to "both word and touch" and "no further surgical intervention has been required".

Mr Johnson's wife, Barbara, said his family was "encouraged and optimistic".


and,

There is little precedent for forcing a living senator to stand down against his will.

A predecessor of Mr Johnson, Karl Mundt, continued to hold his Senate seat for three years after a stroke that incapacitated him in 1969, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Slag
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 03:47 AM

I have to apologize for my previous post. It was off-hand and flip. I was having moare fun with "Elmer Fudd" than I was paying attention to the situation. I wish no harm to the senator and pray for his speedy and complete recovery. I was shocked and saddened by the death of Senator Coverdale a few years back and the political ramifications all took a back seat to the personal trajedy. Ultimately God DOES have the last word and I think His word has little to do with our political biases and desires.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Cruiser
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 10:25 AM

What Genie said it 2 previous posts.

Still a reg Republican.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 10:39 AM

I also wish Sen. Johnson a healthy recovery, and hope he takes as long as he needs before he returns to the Senate.

It's probably foolish to expect some folks at Mudcat not to jump on such breaking news like so many harpies, and I have done the same from time to time but usually with more frivalous news. Maybe it's the stress of the holiday seasons that's reduced my tolerance for "irony."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Genie
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 12:09 PM

What Charley said.

Oh, and the biggest "irony" -- or should I just say "misnomer" -- is in the thread title itself.   Should Sen. Johnson pass away or resign (perish both of those thoughts!), the Republicans would no doubt retake control of the Senate, but they would not have "won" it. They would have merely benefitted from someone else's bad luck.

G

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 12:46 PM

McGrath said something about, why not run a special election?

You should know that, strange as it may seem, elections (even national elections) in the US are entirely in the hands of the States. In this case, the state law that's involved places the replacement power in the hands of the current Governor.

Originally, the practice was for each State legislature to choose the Representatives and the Senators, and all States did it that way at that time. Over a period of many years, the legislatures have given that function over to elections, but constitutionally a state--say Nevada, Iowa, Idaho--could place the choosing of congressmen back in the hands of the legislature. Or I suppose they COULD place the appointment of all congressmen directly in the Governor's hands. Not politically possible, I think, but constitutionally it could happen. Similarly, the choosing of Electors in the presidential election could constitutionally be done by the legislatures, as it was originally done.

Similarly, the arrangement of the elections themselves--such as how many polling places, how staffed, whether by paper ballot or what kind of machine(s), and other details, is in the hands of the legislatures.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 01:15 PM

Because there is no need to run a special election. The system is in place. Should he resign, or should he die, or should some legitimate reason vacate the office, then the Governor selects the replacement. None of those circumstances exist. No need to get ahead of ourselves.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Amos
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 02:25 PM

Mundt's wife was a principal in steadfastly regfusing to surrender his post (or give permission for others to consider it surrendered) while he was recovering; and she held out for three years. So any declaration of a tilt to the right in the balance of power is premature.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 03:57 PM

Hey Slag,

Don't tell Shambles but your last post has been deleted.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,14 Dec 06 - 07:42 PM
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 07:06 PM

Yeah, and I'm still waiting for offended South Dakotans to log on and tell us how tactless and tasteless we all are.

None of you even knew who Tim Johnson was until CNN told you when he landed in the ER at GWU. So how about y'all get off yer phony high horses about all this righteous indignation over our tactlessness and bad taste.

God, phonies and hypocrites. They drive me insane.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 10:34 PM

Irony, eh? Hey, I take my multivitamin plus irony every day.

But if it's irony you want, let's get WAY ahead of ourselves scenario-wise: let's say Johnson resigns, the Republican governor of South Dakota appoints a Republican in Johnson's place, and then 76-year-old Arlen Specter (senior Senator and Republican from Pennsylvania, which just deposed their junior Senator, Republican Rick Santorum) falls ill and has to resign, and Pennsylvania's Democratic governor Ed Rendell appoints a Dem in his place!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Peace
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 10:36 PM

This could become a Soap Opera extraordinaire.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Genie
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 12:03 AM

Uncle Dave said, "Originally, the practice was for each State legislature to choose the Representatives and the Senators, and all States did it that way at that time. Over a period of many years, the legislatures have given that function over to elections, but constitutionally a state--say Nevada, Iowa, Idaho--could place the choosing of congressmen back in the hands of the legislature. "

OK, I could be wrong. (I was once before.) ;)
But I'm pretty sure the Representatives were always elected by the vote of the people in their districts. That's the whole POINT of the House Of Representatives. They each represent the people in their district.

What you say about how the Senate seats were once decided is right.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 10:23 AM

As a Senator as long as you don't die or resign you can be carried into the Senate to vote.

Clair Bengel from California was paralyzed and was carried into the Senate for a crucial Civil Rights vote.
"Mr. Bengel how do you vote?"
Mr. Bengel unable to speak pointed feebly to his eye.
"Mr. Bengel votes Aye"

We all know about Strom Thurmond but with the advent of new technology we may live to see the day when Senator Robert Byrd is wheeled in on a cart with nothing more apparent than a glass jar and electrodes with a brain inside.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 10:41 AM

The reason why nearly dead senators can serve for years (and you don't even have to show up to vote) is Senate Tradition. Not state or federal law. Tradition. With a big fucking capital T.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: pdq
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 02:33 PM

Close there, Donuel. The senators name was Clare Engle, a man, and the "eye" vote broke a filibuster attempt, allowing the final vote to take place. I think Clair Bengal was an exotic dancer who dressed in a tiger suit.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 04:12 PM

Indeed she was!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 05:41 PM

Republicans don't win anything, they steal it.

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 06:39 PM

Has the US adopted enduring powers of attorney? The common law position would have been that supervening incapacity (to which these stroke-like symptoms might or might not amount) would revoke a power of attorney. Of course US common law might have moved on since we were a common jurisdiction but that would be a pretty radical bit of evolution.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 09:03 PM

Thompson has been a strong proponent of investigating the anthrax attacks of 2001. The strongest pusher of an investigation in the U.S. Senate.

GWBush and his people were on Cipro on Sept 11, 2001. Weeks before the anthrax showed up in the mail. Cipro is the drug of choice to fight anthrax:

September 11, 2001: Some White House personnel, including Vice President Cheney's staff, are given Cipro, the anti-anthrax drug, and told to take it regularly on the evening after the attacks. [AP, 10/24/01] Judicial Watch later sues the Bush Administration to release documents showing who knew what and when, and why Presidential staff were protected while Senators, Congresspeople and others were not. [AP, 6/9/02]

The anthrax was mailed to Bush's opponents, including Tom Daschle, Senator Thompson's colleague from South Dakota, and Thompson won't let go of the issue. Well, until now.

The anthrax was mailed to congress and to the Florida hdqtrs of The National Enquirer. The old guy who owned the newspaper was about to run pictures of the drunken Bush daughters. Anthrax hits, kills him, and the FBI seizes his "infected" records. Thompson knows all this. All the senate does, but Thompson is trying to do something about it. Sure looks like he was Wellstoned to me.

WASHINGTON -- The terrorists who perpetrated the 2001 anthrax attack on Congress likely were US government scientists at the army's Ft. Detrick, MD., bioterrorism lab having access to "moonsuits" that enabled them to safely process and manufacture super-weapons-grade anthrax, an eminent authority on the subject says....

http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20061211-033912-3373r

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 09:52 PM

Be careful or you'll be Wellstoned.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST,The Dreaded Anti-Guest
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 12:28 PM

GUEST, it's just one conspiracy after another with you, isn't it? What an interesting life you lead!!

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 02:14 PM

Professor Boyle teaches international law at the University of Illinois, Champaign. He holds a Doctor of Law Magna Cum Laude as well as a Ph.D. in Political Science, both from Harvard University. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Amnesty International (1988-1992), and represented Bosnia- Herzegovina at the World Court.

Okay, if creditials get your attention, that should have done it. This man says the U.S. govt was behind the Anthrax Attacks:

"...After the September 11th 2001 Terrorist attacks, the Bush administration tried to ram the USA PATRIOT Act through Congress, that would have, if already had not, set up a police state. And we know for a fact that the PATRIOT Act had already been drafted and was sitting on Ashcroft's desk as of September 10th.

Senators Daschle and Leahy were holding it up because they realised what this would lead to, indeed the first draft of the Patriot Act, they would have suspended the writ of habeas corpus. And all of a sudden out of nowhere come these anthrax attacks...."

http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/boyle_esteemed_prof_and_law_expert_warns_of_police_state.htm

The article goes on and on. Pretty conclusive stuff. Boyle's laison with the FBI on the anthrax issue was Col. Spike Bowman, the same man who "bungled" the FISA warrant for access to Zacarious Moussaoui's computer, thus keeping that complete picture of the upcoming 9-11 airplane attacks under wraps until after the event. Bowman has since been promoted.

Fascinating reading. And Thompson knows all about this and was pushing for an investigation into the PROVABLE destruction of evidence and coverup in the anthrax matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: IvanB
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:34 AM

Just as a note of pedantry, SharonA's analysis of the possible vote situation given above was technically incorrect. In parliamentary law, the principle governing the presiding officer's vote is that it is cast only when it will have an effect on the outcome. Thus, in the situation of a 50 aye/49 nay vote, the presiding officer could vote "nay" to create a tie, which would cause the motion to fail.

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: SharonA
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 05:41 PM

IvanB, you're being pedantic about parliamentary law, but we're talking about the U.S. Constitution here. The trick here is that the Vice-President is not really a member of the Senate even though he presides over it; he does not participate in Senate votes except in one special circumstance:

"The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote unless they be equally divided."
[U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 3, clause 4]

Also see this site: The Senate and the U.S. Constitution: President of the Senate

Subject: RE: BS: Republicans WIN THE SENATE !
From: Slag
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 05:27 PM

"From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff - PM
Date: 16 Dec 06 - 05:41 PM

Republicans don't win anything, they steal it.

Peter"

You've got to be kidding! The stupid Republicans are still trying to fight by the Marques of Queensbury rules. The Democrats are the real street fighters, as your statement proves.