I just want to say--
The news is reporting how Senate power may not be in Democratic control anymore, because the Senator from South Dakota (a Democrat) just had brain surgery.
Their focus of the story is about the political power shift--NOT THAT HE JUST HAD LIFE-THREATENING BRAIN SURGERY.
I find that really embarrassing.
Sometimes the world really grosses me out.
We live in a sick world...so sad.
Posted by:Chris | December 14, 2006 at 07:38 AM
It is sad. But the truth is that if the power shifts, THOUSANDS of people all over the world (not just America) will die because actions that need to be taken won't even be talked about (!) --- War, no health care, poverty, no education, no gun control, no HIV medicine for the poor, the rich will continue to get richer.....hhhmmm. Yes. It SUCKS for him and his family. But one can't deny that the impact could be felt EVERYWHERE. It ain't a pretty world.
Posted by:Moni | December 14, 2006 at 07:48 AM
It is sad. But the truth is that if the power shifts, THOUSANDS of people all over the world (not just America) will die because actions that need to be taken won't even be talked about (!) --- War, no health care, poverty, no education, no gun control, no HIV medicine for the poor, the rich will continue to get richer.....hhhmmm. Yes. It SUCKS for him and his family. But one can't deny that the impact could be felt EVERYWHERE. It ain't a pretty world.
Posted by:Moni | December 14, 2006 at 07:52 AM
thats like 0.0014987343% of the world. I take it you arent rich or you wouldnt complain about the rich getting rich.. oh wait thats called capitalism=the american way. as GREAT (and communist) as it sounds... how much more in taxes are you ready to pay for health carefor other people, end poverty,better education, more gun control, more HIV medicine for the poor? 50% of your income? 60%?
Posted by:Jose Romero | December 14, 2006 at 08:15 AM
jose - all developed countries in the world have have universal health care - its is a basic need in a capitalistic society to have its work force healthy and able to pursue their individual financial goals. It's why corporations offer healthcare - not just because it is the law.
The use of words like communist and capitalist are distracting and pointless - neither are entirely successful - otherwise there would be no economic or social problems in America, right? and China wouldn't be the world's fastest growing large economy - its about finding a balance that allows for individuals to live freely and pursue their dreams.
And, frankly, if it ever came to that, many of us would rather pay for someone else's medical bills than for their trip to Iraq.
Posted by:sexyr | December 14, 2006 at 08:40 AM
Oh god, I hope he recovers! My thoughts are with him.
Posted by:That Queer Expatriate | December 14, 2006 at 08:52 AM
of copurse i use both words to the extreme just to make a point - the US is not 100% capitalist and china is no where near Communist. Its per capita GDP is still low by world standards so you cant say communism works. But in reality does the averave working family with 3 kids want to give up any more taxes than they are all ready paying, to help the poor? most americans stugle to make it month to month, nor is it fair to put that burden on then. i dont think there will every be a perfect system, but to think that JUST because the Democrats are in power these problems can be solved? ("War, no health care, poverty, no education, no gun control, no HIV medicine for the poor, the rich will continue to get richer") NOT gonna happen, nor will it with the Republicans in power.
Posted by:Jose Romero | December 14, 2006 at 08:59 AM
I agree, Dan. Although control of the Senate still registers as a concern.
Posted by:David | December 14, 2006 at 09:05 AM
First of all I said that these issues would not even be TALKED about -- I never said solved. And it's not about me or a middle class family paying higher taxes. It's about the rich paying their fair share. Tax CUTS for the rich(as per this administration and Congress) is ridiculous. What about the multi BILLIION contracts going to companies like Halliburton without other bids? (And it's already proven that they screwed the govt MILLIONS of dollars)What about the ridiculous profit margins that oil companies are posting and the strain on the middle class because of high gas prices? There is no oversight because of this right wing Congress and it's imbecile of a president. Homeboy and his cronies are the only ones in denial about the civil war going on in Iraq and the costs here and abroad -- humanly, economically and diplomatically. It's not about capitalism vs. socialism. It's about right and wrong. It'a about the damage that these idiots have already done and needs to be stopped.
Posted by:Moni | December 14, 2006 at 11:15 AM
MONI- Love you, you are so right! They are the many far reaching reasons this news story is very important. It is bigger than one man and his illness although we wish him a speedy recovery. It's just another blow none of us needed.
*GEORGE BUSH IS RICHARD NIXON PART II
Posted by:Liz | December 14, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Best of luck to Senator Johnson. Just an FYI on who can declare a Senator incapacitated: nobody. Senator Johnson must die or personally resign before his seat is vacated. If he is in a Schiavo-like vegatative state, he's still a Senator for the remainder of his term.
Posted by:J Koo | December 14, 2006 at 11:43 AM
So you are telling me that with a Democratic Congress these issues will all be resolved? Seriously?
Posted by:Jose Romero | December 14, 2006 at 11:45 AM
You tell it like it is, Moni!
Posted by:sexyr | December 14, 2006 at 12:13 PM
I said TWICE that these issues will not automatically be resolved, but there will be 1.much needed oversight and 2. discussions as to what are real problems as opposed to fabricated problems. Flag burning, constitutional amendement to ban gay marriage?! Homeboyt, we are at WAR. A war that was misguided AND poorly executed AND has shattered our image and diplomatic relations all over the world. Democrats realize this and are willing to TRY to fix it. GW wanted to stay the course! Talking about 'sectarian violence.' No motherfu****, it's called a civil war and it was caused by you, dumbass. Will it be resolved? No. But I'm all for implementing the 9/11 recommendations, stopping the illegal wiretapping, reversing the illegal Military Commissions Act, giving POW due process,and actually working diplomacy. HELLO! Diplomacy! Friggin' wanna be president cowboy probably doesn't even know how to spell it.
Posted by:Moni | December 14, 2006 at 12:31 PM
Oh, and one more thing. If we are the 'most powerful' country in the world, there is absolutely NO reason why people don't have access to health care. Tax cuts my ass. It takes more than talk for real democracy to exist.
Posted by:Moni | December 14, 2006 at 12:34 PM
And what would Gore have done after 911? Plant a tree for peace? yay!
Posted by:Jose Romero | December 14, 2006 at 03:01 PM
im all about better healthcare for everyone. but the voting majority of the US does not want it. or else they would have supported Hillary back when it was her baby. Id love to see Hillary and Condi run in the next race. HOT!!!
Posted by:Jose Romero | December 14, 2006 at 03:03 PM
Note the following AP story from this afternoon,Dan...further proof of what you said.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson lay in critical condition Thursday after undergoing emergency overnight surgery to repair bleeding inside his brain, raising questions over whether his illness could cost Democrats their newly won control of the Senate.
We live in a society where human life no longer has the sanctity it once had and should have, and it is reminiscent of the phrase, "Power corrupts, and absoolute power corrupts absolutely."
Posted by:Steve Kravitz | December 14, 2006 at 03:44 PM
The Senator has been diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation. I had a similar condition called cavernous malformation a few years ago. Both are malformed blood vessels in the brain that can cause severe problems. My condition caused seizures when blood started leaking into my brain. Fortunately, surgery to cauterize the area stopped the blood seepage and seizures completely. Hopefully, his condition responds to surgery as well as mine did.
Posted by:James Williams | December 14, 2006 at 07:33 PM
Gore might have planted a tree for peace. He also might've thought twice about starting a war with a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 and no weapons of mass destruction to speak of. He also might have not lied about the reasons to start that war, and he also might not be waffling worse than IHOP on Sunday after church while trying to think of a viable reason to keep our troops there when we've obviously already lost said war. Dan, do you think Mr. M would be willing to give Dubya a blowjob so we FINALLY have a reason to impeach the incompetent, braindead, lying motherfucker?
Posted by:Yummsh | December 14, 2006 at 07:51 PM
Dan, this is why I love your blog. You always post thought-provoking things. Well, except when you're just being funny, but then funny is good too!
I am sort of disgusted by this as well. I understand that the shift of power is newsworthy, but should it be in the same SENTENCE as a rather dire description of this man's health? It should be a seperate article, at least.
Posted by:Christine | December 15, 2006 at 04:49 AM
All I can say is if there are any Republicans that go to visit Senator Johnson, there better be a fookin' security guard with the senator at all times.
As for not paying for health care, GUESS WHAT... you already are in countless ways. People with health care don't go to the dr. when they start to feel sick or need just a preventative health checkup, they end up going to the emergency room when their illness gets so bad it is lifethreatening. People without healthcare get sick, and debilitated - qualifying for either Social Security disability or welfare... which ends up being MORE expensive than giving that person healthcare over the period of their entire lives. It makes ECONOMIC, capitalistic sense to have universal healthcare coverage.
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