NBC reports Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrat, has had a stroke.

According to Reuters, U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrat of South Dakota, had an apparent stroke on Wednesday at his office in Washington and has been hospitalized, NBC News reported.

The condition of the 59-year-old Johnson was unknown, the network said.

When the 110th Congress convenes on January 4, there will be 49 Democrats in the Senate, 49 Republicans and two independents. But the two independents will align themselves with the Democrats, giving them majority control of the Senate.

South Dakota’s governor, Michael Rounds, who would appoint any successor if there is a vacancy, is a Republican.… Read More

A friend sent this to me…I thought FR readers would enjoy this too!

For My Democratic Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to observe religious or secular traditions at all.

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures.

… Read More

The Federal Election Commission just issued this statement on today’s settlements of cases against the SwiftBoat Veterans and MoveOn.com for alleged 527 committee campaign act violations:

"The Federal Election Commission announced today that it has reached settlements with three 527 organizations accused of violating the federal campaign finance laws during the 2004 presidential election. The League of Conservation Voters 527 and 527II, MoveOn.org Voter Fund, and Swiftboat Veterans and POWs for Truth have collectively paid almost $630,000 to settle charges that they failed to register and file disclosure reports as federal political committees, and accepted contributions in violation of federal limits and source prohibitions. The Commission approved all three conciliation agreements by a vote of 6-0."… Read More

I’m out and about today, but wanted to post up (via PDA) these appointments (3 Dems, 7 Reps) right away. More analysis to follow I’m sure, from our FR Team…

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Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Senior Staff Appointments Continuing to build his leadership team following the election, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced appointments and promotions within his office for the new term. Governor Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Cynthia Bryant, deputy chief of staff and director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research; Alice Dowdin Calvillo, chief deputy cabinet secretary; Dan Dunmoyer, deputy chief of staff and cabinet secretary; Margaret Fortune, senior advisor to the Governor; Chris Kahn, deputy chief of staff and legislative secretary; Ross LaJeunesse, deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to the Governor; Luis Portillo, director of constituent affairs; Michael Prosio, chief deputy legislative secretary; Sean Walsh, senior advisor to the Governor and Daniel Zingale, senior advisor to the Governor and chief of staff to Maria Shriver. “As we begin a new… Read More

I don’t blame Congressman Gary Miller for not wanting to talk to the Los Angeles Times. Would you? Miller did, however, talk with Erica Werner from the Associated Press. Here’s Werner’s story: Rep. Miller disputes report he used office for personal benefit By Erica Werner with the Associated Press GOP Rep. Gary Miller used congressional staff for personal errands and tried to get a federal appointment for a city councilman about to vote on buying Miller’s land, according to a published report Tuesday that Miller angrily denied. … Read More

Congressman Gary Miller continues to garner some unwanted attention — today the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund heaps on in the WSJ’s Political Diary e-mail:

Not ‘The Donald’

GOP Rep. Gary Miller of California was unopposed for re-election last month, so reports that surfaced last year about how Congressional earmarks he sponsored increased the value of real estate he owned in his district never became a campaign issue.

But now Republicans in his overwhelmingly conservative Orange County district will have to start asking hard questions about whether Mr. Miller, who came to Congress in 1998, deserves another… Read More

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has agreed to create and run anew project to be entitled "Coalition for a Conservative Majority" under the auspices of the American Conservative Union, the national conservative organization that is best know for its annual ratings of Congress and sponsorship of the yearly Conservative Political Action Conference. DeLay is known as a prodigious fundraiser, and was called "the most effective majority leader of the last 50 years" in terms of influencing legislation, by journalist Bob Novak. He will develop and implement a legislative strategy for the nonprofit ACU, and will join the Board of Directors of the organization.… Read More

Over at the San Diego Union Tribune’s America’s Finest Opinion Blog, FR friend Chris Reed has penned his own critique of Senator Perata’s expansion of government’s role in California healthcare. You should read it here.… Read More