This past Sunday January 22, 2012, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, made the announcement that she will resign from Congress this week. She said haltingly in a video on her website that she needs to focus her time on trying to fully recover from the brain injury that resulted from the gunshot to her head over a year ago. She said she thanked her constituents in Arizona for their support. She felt she couldn't give the time and energy she needed while trying to recover. On January 8, 2011, she met with her constituents in Tucson, which is in the 8th Congressional District in Arizona. She held a "Congress on Your Corner" to meet with her constituents to discuss issues important to them. While she conducted the event, she was shot in the head by Jared Lee Loughner. Six were killed and several others were wounded on that dreadful day.
On Tuesday she attended the State of the Union Address. President Obama and several members of Congress paid her tribute for her service to Congress and her bravery in the strong recovery she's made thus far. Members of Congress such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Congresswoman and head of the Democratic Party Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, (Gabby's best friend) gave their accolades. Giffords submitted her resignation to Boehner and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. Brewer will be setting a date for a special election to replace Giffords sometime this Spring. On Wednesday, October 25, 2012, Giffords submitted a bill concerning the U.S.-Mexico border. She cast her last vote on this piece of legislation. The vote was unanimous 408-0. She introduced this bill with fellow colleague Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
Even though I didn't agree with many of Congresswoman Giffords political views while in Congress, I do admire how well she's recovered and the spirit she has to recover. I also applaud her in thinking about the well-being of her constituents in deciding to step aside so she can recover. That's more than I can say for many career politicians. We've had career politicians such as Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd, and Strom Thurmond that stayed in the Senate far longer than what they should have. I give Giffords credit for that. I wish Giffords the best in a full and speedy recovery.
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