# South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson - How is he? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 3, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560 "2007-01-03T17:10:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/1 "2007-01-03T17:10:16Z")
In the middle of December, Senator Tim Johnson (D) from South Dakota had a brain hemorrhage leading to surgery. If he steps down from office, the SD govenor, a republican, choses the replacement, which could swing the majority in the US Senate. How how is Senator Johnson? I haven’t heard anything since just a few days after his hospitalization. I don’t see any news reports since then. Is he better? Is he just hanging in there? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/2 "2007-01-03T17:15:08Z")
Last I heard, he’s still in the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/3 "2007-01-03T17:34:50Z")
I’ve been wondering about him myself. I wonder if the deafening silence means he’s doing well, or if it means he’s a vegetable. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/4 "2007-01-03T17:39:09Z")
Last I heard on NPR his staff said he was improving every week. Take that as you will. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/5 "2007-01-03T17:52:56Z")
As of the December 28th, he was [still in hospital](http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/NEWS/61228022). > [@](#): > > Doctors weaning Johnson off sedatives > By Megan Myers > Argus Leader > PUBLISHED: December 28, 2006 > > A doctor for Sen. Tim Johnson today said the senator is gradually being weaned off medication that has kept him sedated since brain surgery Dec. 13. > > “Senator Johnson’s overall general medical condition has improved and he is gradually being weaned from the sedation,” Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, a neurosurgeon at The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, said Thursday. “He is opening his eyes and is responsive to his wife.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/6 "2007-01-04T01:55:53Z")
While your question is certainly not mundane or pointless, it doesn’t really belong in General Questions. Moved. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-dakota-senator-tim-johnson-how-is-he/386560/7 "2007-01-10T00:49:34Z")
Just a quick update. He’s no longer critical, but he’s been [upgraded to fair condition](http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/01/09/news/latest_news/74a179af2d1aa4c78625725e0074b89c.txt).