Updated 2:50 p.m. ET
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was shot in the head a year ago at a district event, announced in a video posted on YouTube Sunday that she will resign from Congress this week, in order to focus on her medical recovery.
Giffords was upbeat in making the announcement, but it was an acknowledgment that the severe injuries she suffered in the shooting, including profound brain damage and cognitive impairment, had ultimately forced her to relinquish the seat in Congress that had made her a target in the first place.
A combination of luck, top-flight medical treatment and personal strength had enabled Giffords to survive the massive trauma to her brain caused by the shooting that left six others dead, including a Giffords aide and a federal district judge. After the initial shock and once it became clear Giffords would survive her injuries, supporters not only entertained the thought of her running for re-election in 2012, but even seeking the Senate seat of the retiring Jon Kyl, an office for which she would have been a leading contender prior to the shooting.
Today’s announcement was a sober reminder of the damage inflicted by the mentally disturbed lone gunman accused in the shooting, Jared Loughner.
The Arizona Daily Star reports:
Before she leaves office, Giffords will finish her Congress On Your Corner event that was interrupted by a gunman on Jan. 8, 2011. In a private gathering in Tucson, Giffords will meet with some of the people who were at the event, her staff said.
“Arizona is my home, always will be. A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that. But I know on the issues we fought for we can change things for the better. Jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together,” Giffords said in the message.
“I don’t remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover.
“I have more work to do on my recovery so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week. I’m getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country. Thank you very much.”
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
It would be nice to see her eventually recover enough to make a comeback. If she's not tip-top, then I think it's best for her to resign and concentrate on healing. I'm pleased that she was given time to regain enough functionality to make this decision on her own, rather than being forced to leave office immediately. This woman is a fighter, and I respect her for that.
So she has to quit while diaper man and pay for hooker man Rep Senator David Vitter gets to keep his seat.
Dead Beat Dad Rep Joe Walsh also keeps to keep his seat even owning over 100,000 to his freaking kids.
She didn't do anything wrong and yet she is one of the ones punish because so sicko want to use people as shooting targets
So sad
demeat42 Agree
Not to be crass, but what's the likelihood of a Democrats losing or keeping that seat?
Dylan Henrich You're not being nearly as crass as some people on this thread. Tucson is AZ's liberal bastion, but since the GOP-controlled state govt gets to draw up the maps, AZ tends to be badly gerrymandered (look up AZ-2 for a laugh). Tucson is split in two, with huge districts that span way out into the wilderness, so unlike politicians in (conservative - leaning) Phoenix, politicians in Tucson have to appeal to a wide variety of individuals. So despite Tucson's progressive culture, a democrat has to have mass independent appeal, as Gabby has always had. Raul Grijalva is popular there because he's faithful to the liberal base in Tucson, and his outspoken support for the hispanic community keeps him popular in the outlying rural areas. Gabby's district is the more conservative-leaning of the two, as it includes massive swaths of middle-class white cupcake-land suburbs.
So it really depends on there being someone who can step up and appeal to the people the way Gabby did. Otherwise it's likely to flip back to R.
audiarDylan Henrich which is much-better-stated than I commented, which tpm's new filter rejected because I used the S-word. pssh!
(I'm in Grijalva's district)
AZ redistricting is still up in the air as far as I know, what with the lawsuits regarding our gov's interference in the process.
I believe that Giffords should remain in office, even if she sleeps all the time. You can't encourage politicians like Sarah Palin to use rhetoric lnvolving violent imagery by allowing them to succeed by having one of their moronic nutcase base shoot an opponent and thus causing their removal. I am one who believes that Sarah Palin.deserves blame. Call it blood libel if you like; I call her GUILTY!
Whenwillthisnightmareend You are a moron.
dallasguy87Whenwillthisnightmareend Not sure I come down firmly on one side of that argument or the other...but I have to say I can't see this argument as moronic. Is Loughner a nut? Sure. But do you really contend that the explicitly violent rhetoric of the radical right (which, by the way, he is known to have listened to obsessively) has no effect? That ads with crosshairs and speeches that call liberals traitors who hate America don't do anything at all to encourage "garden variety nuts" to act violently in real life?
I won't call the rhetoricians guilty of Gabby's wounding. But I'm not ready to completely absolve them either. I get that this doesn't fit into everyone's partisan box...but shouldn't it be the default position of reasonable people?
Whenwillthisnightmareend Yeah, I'd rather have lawmakers who can do their jobs, thanks.
Flying SquidWhenwillthisnightmareend
Like John Boehner?
mikerushWhenwillthisnightmareend What do you think?
Palin and her repukelican ilk are totally responsible for this,, All the denial by followers of these sick republican bastards will rot in hell for this,, her and her supporters deserve all the scorn they get
It had to happen, but once she fully recovers, I'm sure she'll make a comeback.
Sad to hear this, but wish her the best if this is what she wants. Hopefully she will continue to recover.
I'm not surprised that she's resigning. But unfortunately (not her fault) now it's going to be open season on all members of the Democratic party. Especially the President. The lesson the right wing has learned here is that they don't even need to kill Dems. All they need to do is wound them enough to force their resignation. As I said, it's understandable and inevitable that Gabby resigns. But it's going to send a message that instead of elections, the best way to get Dems out of office is to shoot them out.
sangsue How do I respond to this? Hyperbolic, over the top, from the fringes rhetoric on either side only hurts us all. A lone nut does not a conspiracy make, whether that nut is Jared Loughner, Sirhan Sirhan, John Hinkley Jr, Squeeky Fromme, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, Charles J. Guiteau, Leon Czolgosz, etc. etc. etc. There's ALWAYS a nutcase out there trying to make a (delusional) point.
sangsue I find you comments way overboard.
sangsue That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You seem to be arguing about a distinction so subtle that it would be lost on someone adequately unhinged to shoot a politician to begin with.
sangsue You, also are a moron. The nut that shot her wasn't some political foe out to get a democrat but rather, just a plain, ordinary, run of the mill nut. Hey, there are a few of them running around out there. Always have been, always will be.
dallasguy87sangsue Well, he's a nut, yeah, but I think he's the kind of nut who had heard a lot of Sarah yelling "Reload!" and seen Obama as Hitler posters and was affected. It's my guess; I don't have proof that he's neither plain, nor ordinary, and neither run of the mill.
Beyond wishing her a successful and full recovery, the only comment that I have is that I thought it was pretty absurd that our loacal Democrats were constantly floating her name for the up coming senate race.
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Carla is correct.
It seems some people are unacquainted with the facts of Giffords' shooting-- like how the man who took down the shooter came within a hair's breadth of being shot by another man who nearly mistook him for the shooter. Yeah more guns are good, because guns are magic and know all by themselves when someone is going to shoot you, so they automagically protect you, and are careful to only shoot bad guys and not hit bystanders, not even in dense crowds.
Yeah, that open gun law crap really worked out well for her.
This shouldn't be used as a means to prompted gun bans. I support conceded carry. You can't convince me that if 100 ppl were carrying they would just let her get shot and wait for the police. I believe this gunman would of been greeted by 100 barrels pointed in his direction in defense of Mrs. Giffords.
Mrs. Giffords Ty for all your hard work. I just wish the citizens had the ability to protect you while the police were on their way. I know someone would of stepped up and used their right to carry to protect you.
Aww, man...
I am glad that you are ready to work more on your recovery; however, as a Democrat, I am very sad that we are losing your steady voice of reason.
Another tragic event in the endless series of deaths and injuries by guns to innocent people. Until America changes its gun laws the slaughters will continue. You may be next!
If only her fellow collegues can learn from her, wishful thinking...Best of luck to her and her husband.
Sorry ...we are less another great "Democrat!!
Inspiration and dignity...
Understandable, but will miss so much Gabbi as a US Representative.
She is so strong and positive, and has come so far. I wish her well.
Bless her heart. My heart goes out to her, and hope she will eventually achieve full recovery.
Way to go, 2nd Amendment remedies.
I am so sad that she found this to be necessary but I admire her integrity and courage in taking this action. I hope that being able to devote 100% of her time to her recovery will hasten the day she can return to public life, hopefully back in Congress. Gabby, best wishes to you and your wonderful husband and much happiness!!! You are an amazing role model.
She'll be back strong!!!!
Thank you Gabby for you commitment, and dedication, and most expensive...your sacrifice. You are a Patriot to behold. God Bless You!!!!
This makes me sad, although it is totally understandable. And it makes me angry toward the gunman.
Even with a brain injury, she's still smarter than most Tea Party Republicans!
Sad. I admire her courage and determination.
Too bad but I hope she"ll be back in public service one day.
that's too bad, i hope she does alright.
Go, Gabby! Best of luck to you!
I want to see her come back and run again in a couple of years.
Good luck to her.
our loss for sure, but her health is #1 priority.
Gabby has more class than the entire GOTP. I hope she can use the next couple years to get back to full health.
You go girl.
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