I predict major problems for the Republicans if they try and gain some type of "power" in ANY way, shape, or form via result of Johnson not being able to attend.

The post should be run out of town on a rail. This kind of article and what it said is over the top.
"dems only one death or illness away from losing power". That is really nice when someone is ill. How bout putting pressure on the guy.
Heartless pieces of crap.
How bout John Warner. Old as the hills and senile. Or McCain, cancer ridden. Or the old Dole lasy, hip replacement.
and the writer is only one death away from dying.

Everyone knows he is ill, and everyone (for the most part) wishes him a SPEEDY recovery.  There is only so much you can say about that though with the limited information that his staff and family are releasing.  The *FACT IS* that this has serious political implications, which deserve to be discussed AND debated.

that the fight that might happen and the reasons why, then I am with you.
This type of post is the reason I would not listen to Wolf, Tucker, Chirs, Keith and Joe last night. All that bull shit when a mans life is on the line and in recovery is a bunch of heartless people who will do anything to make news. What a bunch of heartless bastards and any body else who speculates before the man is over the hill or the doctor announces really bad news.

Rob you should pull the fight in congress out of this post and stick to how Tim's health is.

That's ridiculous.  Discussing political implications of something that 2 days ago seemed to be a real possibility is not WRONG.  You all make it sound as if people are saying "well he's a gonner let's make plans to replace him."

Like I said, with the limited information being released about his health, there is only so much you can say other than to wish him the best, and update when updates are available.  The political implications need to be, and SHOULD be discussed whether you like it or not.  Besides, the talk about the GOP taking control in the Senate has died down significantly since yesterday, since it appears as though Johnson is recovering well considering the situation.

I wrote about how I felt about all the talk that I felt was putting a person on their death bed just because others can not see the future. Then I made a suggestion. The way this is being discussed is sickening. I will repeat it is sickening.

Thank goodness the reports are starting to flow and Tim's future is looking brighter.

I understand your sentiment, and when I think back to the maudlin Schiavo spectacle, it's doubly sickening. 

But check out what *can* happen --

http://www.dailykos....

I'm leaving it up, though, because I'm just providing news about the upcoming battle that will happen regardless of anybody's health. The GOP will want this rule in case they have any chance - for example, if a Senator caucusing with the Dems changes his or her mind.

Politically, it's disastrous. Procedurally, I think it's easily defeated.

There have been fights over opening day organizing before, but there's pretty solid precedent for a constitutional objection to any Republican filibuster of the organizing resolution.

When a fight broke out in the 83rd Congress over cloture reform, then-Senate President Dick Nixon ruled that anything that would tend to prevent a new Congress from organizing itself and adopting procedural rules at the opening of its session could be considered a violation of that House's constitutional right to "determine the rules of its proceedings," as provided for in Art. I, Sec. 5, cl. 2.

He went on to note that constitutional questions are not supposed to be decided from the chair, but rather put to the body for a vote. That's a vote Dems win. And if Darth Cheney decides to buck precedent and rule for the Republicans, the ruling can be appealed and reversed by majority vote. Another vote the Dems win.

So I can't see exactly where the GOP squeaks by on this, as long as a Democrats objects, and the Caucus hangs together. Which on an organizing resolution, should be an automatic.

just wanting the same rule that benefited the Dems when Jeffords switched?

is one of the phenomenal Next Hurrah writers who posts on DK.  Here's his analysis:
http://www.dailykos....

Thanks for stopping by, Kagro X!

I gotta come here more often, and not just because of the reception I get.

I am a Virginian, after all.

Nice to see you over here. You are right, you should drop by more often. I enjoy your writing and your efforts in the real world too.

It was nice meeting you last summer at Sorensen at the bloggers summit.

Keep up the good work.

(dems2004 on Dk)

Does that mean you can get me emptywheel's autograph? 

Just teasing ya:)  Although she's amazing, too.

She's got a book tour coming up, which may include a party in DC.

She's supposed to lend me Glenn Greenwald's book, too. I could (and should) just buy it, but there's something much cooler about reading emptywheel's copy that Greenwald sent her.

Note to self: learn to read.

Nor do we know what we should be willing to give them.

If they want nothing more than reciprocation, they may well get it. If they want to somehow squeeze Johnson out of the Senate, fuhgeddaboutit.

I heartily invite you to post and diary here more often!

Will you guys come over to my house and tell my wife and kids that there's a part of the world in which I'm cool?

a good article on why Daschle is wrong and why the '00 and '01 precedents may give Repubs something to whine about but don't really give them much room to manouver:
http://www.mydd.com/...