Tim Johnson's Recovery

The news on Senator Johnson sounds good, but cautious.  USAToday has this:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two months after his brain hemorrhage, South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson has left a Washington hospital and entered a private rehabilitation facility, his office said Tuesday.

A spokeswoman refused to say whether the senator remained in Washington or was moved to a facility in South Dakota, citing family concerns about media scrutiny. "They just want him to focus on getting better and not worried about outside cameras snapping away," said spokeswoman Julianne Fisher.

. . .

Johnson will continue undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy at the private facility. Dr. Philip Marion, the hospital's chief of rehabilitation, said in a statement released by Johnson's office that the senator has made "great progress" and a final test showed no evidence the tangled arteries that triggered the senator's hemorrhage remain.

Part of Johnson's therapy has been to deal with weakness on his right side. Doctors have said the senator showed that weakness when he arrived at the hospital in December.

Johnson's office has said his recovery is expected to take several months, though he has been doing some work from his bed.

"He's reading memos, but he still needs time for recovery," Fisher said.

Johnson is up for re-election in 2008 and could face a tough race if he runs again in Republican South Dakota.

"That's what he had anticipated doing before and that's what we are working toward," Fisher said of a re-election bid. "We are setting everything up that way. He is determined to get back."

There has been some chatter about the secrecy involved in Senator Johnson's recovery.  I think that the Senator and his family have every right to protect his privacy at this point.  There is no reason the press should demand to know the location of the treatment facility.  On the other hand, South Dakota Voters, and indeed all US citizens, have a right to wonder about the recovery prospects of the senior member of our state's Senatorial delegation. 

I continue to expect that Senator Johnson will remain in office until the end of  his present term, but will not run for re-election.  I hope and trust that the Senator is indeed making great progress, but everything indicates that he has a long road to recovery ahead of him.  I cannot imagine wanting to return to that job if I were in his place.