Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) may have suffered a stroke...

[Keystone Phil]

Ok get ready for a very Nasoesque situation...

I'm in the bathroom and the idea of a Senate vacancy comes to mind (remember, I am odd). So for some reason I think of Claire McCaskill's seat being vacant (maybe because that seat is cursed). I think to myself that Republican Governor Blunt will make the appointment. Ok so that was the end of my thought.

I walk out and my dad calls me into the other room. He says something about Tim Johnson being rushed to the hospital, I turn to the TV and there it is. Very, very weird.

I pray that the Senator gets better. I will also keep his family in my prayers.

[Keystone Phil]

Discussing the politics of this situation is wrong but I am not going to lie and say that I haven't thought about it. In all honesty, though, don't anyone think that a Republican would be appointed anyway. If this situation takes a turn for the worst and there must be an appointment, I bet Rounds will be under a lot of pressure (from South Dakotans and others) to appoint a Dem. Now he could ignore it since he can't run for a third term but I wouldn't be surprised if he went with a Dem.

Politically, this is a real bad situation for Rounds (not that anyone should be weeping over that considering what is going on with the current Senator's health). If he appoints himself, there could be major backlash. If he appoints a Dem and wants to run in 2008, he looks foolish for running against his appointed Senator (kind of like then Governor Casey not endorsing Wofford in 1994). Then again, he could just appoint some Republican who will step aside for him in 2008 but anger over appointing a Republican may still exist. However, let's remember that the political aspect of this is not what is important now.

[Keystone Phil]

Discussing the politics of this situation is wrong but I am not going to lie and say that I haven't thought about it. In all honesty, though, don't anyone think that a Republican would be appointed anyway. If this situation takes a turn for the worst and there must be an appointment, I bet Rounds will be under a lot of pressure (from South Dakotans and others) to appoint a Dem. Now he could ignore it since he can't run for a third term but I wouldn't be surprised if he went with a Dem.

I'm not sure if the pressure from South Dakotans would be enough for Rounds to appoint a Dem. Probably the majority of South Dakotans would prefer a Republican Senate anyway. On the other hand, a majority of South Dakotans voted for Stephanie Herseth, so I guess if Rounds were to appoint Herseth, a lot of people would be satisfied.

Of course, we should all hope that Sen. Johnson gets better and that the political ramifications would be irrelevant.

They'd be angry and would probably want Herseth appointed. Again, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Rounds went with a Dem for the seat. I don't think it matters though. Johnson will be fine.