No, it’s not George Bush. Not even Dick Cheney. Or Harry Reid. Or a woman – Nancy Pelosi.

How about Mike Rounds?

Who?

Rounds is the Republican Governor of South Dakota. He could end up with the power to put Republicans back in charge of the Senate if the ailing Senator Tim Johnson can’t serve.

This shows how unpredictable – even ephemeral – politics can be.

I assume that Rounds, who already planned to run against Johnson in 2008, would appoint a Republican. (There is a question about whether a special election would be required immediately after the appointment – or whether the appointee would serve until 2008.)

I also assume that Democrats will do all they can to keep Johnson voting as long as possible. After all, Republicans kept Strom Thurmond voting his last few years, when he was living at Walter Reed Hospital.

Of course, this may mean the balance of power rests in the hands of Johnson’s doctor.

He’s probably a Republican, too.

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