Sen. Johnson's Wife Makes No Mention of Husband's Political Future

A letter emailed to supporters from his wife this week gives no clearer indication of whether Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) plans to run for re-election in 2008.

Mrs. Johnson made no mention in her letter of her husband's political future. She spoke instead of family and friends, and the "goodness and decency" of the people of South Dakota.

"Planting our feet in South Dakota will be our Christmas morning this year, and we are thrilled to receive the best gift we could ever hope for," wife Barbara Johnson writes. "We couldn't be happier to be traveling home later this month. We have missed our friends and family, and cannot wait to thank you in person at Tim's homecoming celebration."

Doctors have given Johnson the green light to travel to South Dakota next week for the first time since suffering a debilitating brain hemorrhage last December as he and his wife were preparing to fly to South Dakota to celebrate Christmas and the senator's 60th birthday, which was Dec. 28. But his political future, and that of the Senate Democratic majority, hangs in the balance.

His homecoming celebration, which is open to the public, is scheduled to be held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center on Aug. 28. Johnson aides say the "Thank You South Dakota" celebration will give him a chance to do just that - express his gratitude to his constituents face to face for the first time in eight months - not to discuss any decision on his 2008 re-election plan.

According to the most recent information from Johnson's Senate office about the event, no other U.S. senators are scheduled to attend. But Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), whose name has been bandied as a likely Senate candidate if Johnson retires, is a confirmed speaker, as is GOP Gov. Mike Rounds, who also would be a likely candidate if Johnson were to retire.

Mrs. Johnson aid the Johnson family has two new members she and the senator are eager to welcome into the fold. "Our son Brendan and his wife Jana have just adopted two beautiful children from Ethiopia, Trualem (10) and Peneal (8). They arrived in South Dakota earlier this month, and were introduced to their new brothers, Sutton and Cooper," she wrote.

Johnson is expected to return to Capitol Hill next month, though in what condition is still unclear. The senator has been living at his home outside Washington, getting intensive physical, speech and occupational therapy on an outpatient basis at National Rehabilitation Hospital.

His wife gave this assessment in her update: "While this is not the end of the journey on Tim's road to recovery, it is a significant milestone."

Comments

I live in Representative Graves District. He always uses that "I was a farmer" hogwash to frame himself as a regular Joe. Sam went straight from college to the state legislature just as his wealthy family had designed for him to do. Sam was the member of a corporate farming family...not a farmer by the definition he hopes to imply.
Sam has a reputation for turning elections into dog fights. In the last one he ran against a middle aged woman in a wheel chair and accused her of sexual impropriety. It was a complete lie and some media outlets (including the Kansas City Star) looked into the allegations and confirmed it was false. Since most people don't read the news, the public never realized it was all a lie. The smear worked for him because his opponenet (Sara Jo Shettles) didn't have the money to counter his huge television advertising campaign that was designed to make her look immoral.
Reading that Graves voted against animal protection comes as no surprise to me. He voted against humans having medical bankruptcy protection. I won't go on trashing him (although I could)....but I am glad to see that Graves dark side is finally seeing the light.

Posted by: Fishingriver | August 24, 2007 10:20 PM | Report abuse

Sen. Johnson should immediately retire. He is not representing South Dakota at this time. He has not cast a single vote all year. Perhaps the S.D. Democratic Party can work out a deal with the governor on who his replacement should be.

But the man needs to rest and spend some time with his family while there is time to be spent.

Posted by: Judson | August 26, 2007 11:52 PM | Report abuse

Judson, Yes it is sad that Senator Johnson cannot perform his duties to South Dakotans to his fullest capablilities. But, he has the legal right to continue serving in his current capacity. Even by not voting, he is voting. And he is ensuring a Democratic Senate majority by remaining in office. Also, what is Senator Johnson's current health care and financial position. Would you quit your job if it was needed as a source of income and health care? Senator Johnson is not a wealthy man and now has limited earning capability. And undoubtedly huge medical expenses. Senator Johnson is resting and spending time with his family. To suggest he change course and cut his life lines, as you suggest, for the sake of casting votes (the most imprtant vote he can cast is remaining in office) is purely a political stunt. What issue was decided by one vote, anyway? Shame on you for picking on a person when he is ill.

Posted by: The Decidicator | August 27, 2007 1:15 PM | Report abuse

Senator Johnson is typical of what's wrong with those in government. He's never held job outside of government and is virtually unemployable outside of government. Being a mandarin, he actually believe he has an entitlement to office and to exist off the toil of the taxpayers.

Posted by: individual | August 28, 2007 11:17 AM | Report abuse

Senator Johnson is extremely important now as Bush/Cheney impeachment is so densely in the air.He got stroke, everybody could havd gotten. So, what? However, he is the democrat, he would vote PRO impeachment, if the question is finally aroused, and that is why he is so important to be discredited currently for all pro Republicans (mainly pro Bushies, of course), including this blog's runner. Get a grip, at least, if you can't get more brain and inventivness in order to be even a bit less transparent!!! Bush/Cheney SHOULD GO. One more year with all of them is much too much! Republicans, expecially those due to re-election in 2008, realize it very vividly also.

Posted by: aepelbaum | August 28, 2007 11:50 AM | Report abuse

Do you think, Judson, that Johnson would retire because you and all Bush dependent people want it, though the constitution allows him to obtain his full recovery, if he didn't obtain it already, without leaving his position? If so, then I kindly recommend you to think AGAIN!

Posted by: aepelbaum | August 28, 2007 11:55 AM | Report abuse

Right now, every Senator counts more than at any time in history. The Democrats won a 51-49 majority in November of 2006. Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY) died in June, and was replaced by another Republican, as Wyoming law requires.

Tim Johnson's South Dakota seat doesn't have that kind of "party protection" built into law. The governor, a Republican, could appoint anyone he chose.

This is why Republican ghouls are so eager for Johnson, a Democrat, to resign.

This is why the Republican party failed to remove Louisiana Senator David Vitter for his involvement in prostitution in the D.C. Madam case revealed this summer.

This is why the Republicans will only act against Idaho Senator Larry Craig, convicted because he solicited a cop for sex in an airport bathroom, if they are dead-sure they can put a Republican replacement in his seat.

Republicans want the Senate back at any price, even if it means keeping notorious adulterers, johns, and potty-Lotharios in the Senate and calling them "the Honorable" every time they're introduced in public.

Posted by: Ankhorite | August 28, 2007 10:16 PM | Report abuse

Yes, Johnson should retire. But Larry Craig should continue to be able to troll for johnson and keep his job.