The news today about Sen. Johnson much better than in December

By the Rapid City Journal Editorial Board | Tuesday, February 20, 2007

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The two-column headline on Page A10 of Friday’s Journal told readers: “Johnson co-sponsors bill to help farmers.”

But the subhed revealed the real significance of the event: “It’s his first official action since suffering a brain hemorrhage.”

The news about Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was indeed much better in mid-February than it had been in mid-December, when Journal headlines said, “Sen. Johnson undergoes surgery,” followed the next day by “Johnson responsive; recovery possible; next two days critical.”

There wasn’t much good news coming from Johnson’s family and office those first few days and weeks after he underwent brain surgery on Dec. 13.

But the news gradually got better, as the senator subsequently regained consciousness, responded to those around him, and was transferred from intensive care to the rehabilitation unit at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

South Dakotans of all political persuasions wished the hard-working senator well, as did his congressional colleagues. President Bush wished him well in his State of the Union address.

And South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds shunted aside speculation that he might have to appoint someone to take over Johnson’s Senate seat if he did not recover. It was not just idle speculation. With a slim 51 to 49 Democratic edge in the Senate after the Nov. 7 elections, the balance of power could have been shifted.

Now it looks as if that is not going to happen, and a more recent story reports that Johnson’s staff is busy preparing for his re-election campaign in 2008.

His chief of staff, Drey Samuelson, said Thursday his boss was co-sponsoring a bill to pay farmers for losses due to drought and other disasters, adding: “...He spends much of his day in therapy sessions, but as time allows, he has begun reviewing work,” Samuelson said. “The process will be slow, but we are excited about crossing this hurdle.”

The hurdle has been crossed, and the finish line to recovery lies ahead.

Godspeed, Sen. Johnson.