Another Iraq Casualty

Frankly, my brain would bleed too. By now I imagine most have heard about the unfortunate health condition of Senator Johnson (D-S.D.) In the wake of Oregon Senator Gorden Smith's recent declaration of opposition to the Iraq War strategy, I have concluded that the South Dakota Senator's brain hemorrhage was probably also caused by the War in Iraq.

Senator Johnson "was found to have had an intracerebral bleed caused by a congenital arteriovenous malformation," Adm. John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, this kind of malformation is usually formed at birth and bleeding can be st off by stress. What is more stressful than trying to figure a way out of the mess our President has gotten us into in Iraq.

If you've followed this in the media at all, or even read the link above you know that if the Senator has to leave office (which would be understandable to this blogger) then the Republican Governor of South Dakota would appoint the replacement for the remaining two years of Johnson's term. I now appeal to Gov. Michael Rounds to respect the people of his state and his fellow South Dakotan and if for some reason he must appoint a replacement to find someone who would echo the Senator's views. It's one thing when a Senator themselves finds it necessary to abdicate party in order to maintain a balance of power ( e.g. Jim Jeffords I-VT formerly R-VT, he switched in 2000 to give the government some balance after the election had been stolen...um...finalized) but a governor of a state that has a lower population than the District of Columbia should not be so activist as to change the make up of a congress that was elected to restore a balance of power.

Please send you thoughts, prayer, well wishes, mid hugs to the ailing Senator and for his swift recovery.