How's This For Karma?

Hot off the wires:

Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a hospital, his office said.

If he should be unable to continue to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican....

If the two-term senator, 59, is unable to serve when the 110th Congress convenes January 4, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds would appoint a replacement.

South Dakota Secretary of State Chris Nelson said there are no special restrictions on such an appointment and a replacement does not have to be in the same political party.

Our prayers are, of course, with Senator Johnson and his family for a complete recovery. And if it so happens that that requires Johnson's retirement from the Senate, that'd belatedly answer a few other prayers as well.

UPDATE: It wasn't a stroke.

UPDATE II: Or was it?