New Tim Johnson Photo Released
No sooner do I mention that Senator Tim Johnson is taking visitors in DC, than his office releases another photo. (Yes, Hat tip to the Argus).
This time, it's a photo of Senator Johnson undergoing rehabilitative services.
UPDATE....
I wanted to add a little more to this, because I think this photo is worth noting. I griped in the past that some of the press coming out of the Senator's office seemed pretty selective, and to a degree, staged. But this photo is different. This photo is what I think they've been lacking up until now. It comes off as honest, and allows us to make our own assessment.
Comments
His right side is very weak.
Don't expect him to be on the senate floor or in his office soon. If and I say "IF" in the future he is in his senate office I bet he WILL NOT take meetings nor will he meet with the general population.
I really think we can count on this.
Don't add to my post!
He is an elected official and we as the voters have a right to ask and to keep prompting for a live media event it is not as if we are asking him to stand hold a major press conference with a 10 minute speech!
7:45 is talking about his health issue not how you are trying to SPIN it!
However, I can see why some complain that he is not making the kind of recovery his staff and family wish he was making.
This picture and previously published pictures only show the Senator is able to use his left arm and left leg. This photo and the previous photos give no indication that Senator Johnson's right side has any strength whatsoever.
This photo shows he can stand on his left leg, with assistance, but can he walk?
And anon 11:24, a non-functioning senator was wrong back when Karl Mundt fell ill, just like it's wrong with Johnson now.
I want my senator representing me and voting for South Dakota. We didn't elect his staffers.
Sure there are those who are making it a political game. However, he is an elected public official and in as much the right to know is part of it.
I would say at least people (some) are being honest so give them credit. This is called involvement something both parties want from the base.
I also would say that the Republicans should have their candidate to run against Johnson or the Dems regardless it does not mean people are trampling over his illness finding a candidate is what the party is supposed to do.
By the way I really wonder if it is really Lee S. who is blogging?
Anonymous. Some of us are wondering if that's really you blogging here too. I guess we'll never know.
Those votes are so bad because they either require a level of ignorance or expediency that should disqualify all of them from public office forever.
3000 US soldiers have already died in Iraq in the name of oil and political expediency and cupidity. Perhaps 70,000 Iraqis have died for little if any reason.
The US has squandered enough billions to by now probably replace half of imported petroleum with windpower generated energy and chemicals.
There is no good excuse for either Republicans or Democrats supporting Bush demands for unitary powers when they were all warned by Sen. Robert Byrd of the constitutional problems and damage they would do.
Now we have the horrid mess in Iraq and the story is finally spilling out in DC of the machinations in the Justice Department by Gonzalez in an attempt to push restrictions on constitutional rights that Ashcroft and others opposed for valid reasons.
All the s*** has not yet hit the fan. More of the putrid product of the Thune, Johnson, and Herseth ..and also Daschle votes will be hitting us for years to come.
Some political actions warrant a forgive and forget mindset. The votes for the Bush Iraq war are unforgiveahle.
On the other hand, there is probably nothing Johnson could have done to prevent his current health situation. If nothing else comes out of this, I hope he will realize how lucky he was to have the medical care he got as a consequence of being a US Senator and how unlucky many of his constituents would be in such a comparable health situation.
That is one hope. Even Janklow decided some health problems were not the fault of the victims after those problems hit him. Surely Johnson can use his experience as the basis for strong support of single payer insurance absent Golden parachutes and million or billion a year salaries for insurance and health maintenance organization executive salaries.
Don't hold your breath however.