Don't get too excited, Democrats

Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) has been hospitalized in serious condition. He has been suffering from leukemia that has been resistant to chemotherapy and now is battling an infection as well.

Naturally, Blast Off! wishes the Senator well, and my thoughts are with him and his family, wishing him a speedy recovery. However, since the MSM was foaming at the mouth over Sen. Tim Johnson's (D-S.D.) brain hemorrhage several months ago, it would be irresponsible not to speculate (per Peggy Noonan) about the effect on the Senate should Sen. Thomas be unable to serve for whatever reason.

The typical response from Democrats likely would be positive (again, speaking strictly in the abstract; not taking delight in Sen. Thomas' illness), because the Democratic governor of Wyoming, Dave Freudenthal, would have the authority to appoint a successor. As ESPN's Lee Corso might say, though, Not so fast!

According to Wyoming law, the governor must appoint a successor from the last incumbent's political party:

W.S. 22-18-111(a)(i): If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or in any state office other than the office of justice of the supreme court and the office of district court judge, the governor shall immediately notify in writing the chairman of the state central committee of the political party which the last incumbent represented at the time of his election under W.S. 22-6-120(a)(vii), or at the time of his appointment if not elected to office. The chairman shall call a meeting of the state central committee to be held not later than fifteen (15) days after he receives notice of the vacancy. At the meeting the state central committee shall select and transmit to the governor the names of three (3) persons qualified to fill the vacancy. Within five (5) days after receiving these three (3) names, the governor shall fill the vacancy by temporary appointment of one (1) of the three (3) to hold the office.

So, Gov. Freudenthal would have to appoint a Republican. And so, should Sen. Thomas be unable to serve, we're still stuck putting up with that asshat Joe Lieberman.

But only, FSM willing, until January 2009 ...

UPDATE (9:21 am 6/5/07): Sen. Thomas died last night at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He was 74. My condolences to his family and friends.