Giffords: Primary contender?

[AZRedhawk44]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/08/24/arizona-democrats-furious-at-special-ed-teacher-considering-a-run-against-giffords/


A special ed teacher is considering running against Giffords.


A question I've been meaning to ask for awhile, but it seems insensitive to ask:

Has Giffords done an interview since being shot in the brain?  If so, was the interview so tepid that the questions were slow-pitch softballs... or perhaps even more like T-ball?  Could she even perform in a debate?

I've not heard her make a speaking engagement, announcement from the House floor, or acceptance of a debate, since her attempted murder.

I wish her well in life, except for the fact that I don't think the mentally deficient have any place in Congress.

(But then again, we'd have to get rid of 544 other people up there, too...)

[makattak]

Democrats crave symbols more than competence, e.g. our current president.

[MillCreek]

Based only on what I have read in the media, I don't think she is going to have the memory, communication or cognitive skills necessary to return to Congress. 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/06/09/20110609gabrielle-giffords-health-issues.html

[makattak]

Based only on what I have read in the media, I don't think she is going to have the memory, communication or cognitive skills necessary to return to Congress. 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/06/09/20110609gabrielle-giffords-health-issues.html

That won't stop the Dems from encouraging her to run for her seat. (And then vote for her.)

[grampster]

Mak expressed my views exactly.

[lee n. field]

Based only on what I have read in the media, I don't think she is going to have the memory, communication or cognitive skills necessary to return to Congress. 

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/06/09/20110609gabrielle-giffords-health-issues.html

Sad, but this

Is she ready to do that?

No.

Is she close?

No.

Means she really should resign.

[MillCreek]

Sad, but this

Means she really should resign.

I have read some articles suggesting that the reason for not resigning now is that she would lose her healthcare coverage, and could not afford the expensive rehab on her own.  Thus, any resignation would be after she has gained maximum recovery.

[AZRedhawk44]

Makes me sick that she returned to Congress after the shooting to vote in favor of the debt ceiling increase... given her mental incompetency.

[makattak]

Makes me sick that she returned to Congress after the shooting to vote in favor of the debt ceiling increase... given her mental incompetency.

Democrats crave symbols more than competence, e.g. our current president.

(Yes, I know I said it before, but I like it. Succinct.)

[HankB]

I have read some articles suggesting that the reason for not resigning now is that she would lose her healthcare coverage, and could not afford the expensive rehab on her own. 

As a duly elected official who was targeted for assassination because of the position she held, she ought to have rehab paid for regardless whether or not she remains in office.

As for remaining in office, I wish her well - I really do - but if her mental capacity is impaired, she ought not continue in office.

That she has given no interviews strongly suggests that she is no longer able to fulfill the duties of a Representative.

[Perd Hapley]

That won't stop the Dems from encouraging her to run for her seat. (And then vote for her.)

Because if she ever loses her seat, then Loughner wins. In fact, anyone who would run against her is probably an accomplice of Loughner's, along with anyone that would refuse to denounce such a heinous act of terrorism.

Well, OK, the Democrats probably won't go that far. I'm going to guess that she won't file for re-election. Money won't be an issue, as she is far too sympathetic and high-profile a figure. People will donate, or some other way will be found.

[AZRedhawk44]

I have read some articles suggesting that the reason for not resigning now is that she would lose her healthcare coverage, and could not afford the expensive rehab on her own.  Thus, any resignation would be after she has gained maximum recovery.

Um... her husband is an astronaut.

I'm fairly sure that NASA and/or the Air Force have pretty good health plans for space explorers and their dependents.

As a duly elected official who was targeted for assassination because of the position she held, she ought to have rehab paid for regardless whether or not she remains in office.

As for remaining in office, I wish her well - I really do - but if her mental capacity is impaired, she ought not continue in office.

100% agree.

[AZRedhawk44]

Money won't be an issue

But those pesky "debate" things will be.

And radio/tv interviews.

[Perd Hapley]

No, I mean for treatment, after she finishes the present term, without running for re-election.

I don't see her running again. It sounds like she's having a pretty tough time, so she'd have to be awfully dedicated to the political career, to keep going.

Besides, there may be opportunities for her elsewhere in the political machine, or as the head of a disability advocacy organization. Or, heaven forbid, the next gun-shot victim to head the Brady Campaign.

[MillCreek]

Um... her husband is an astronaut.

I'm fairly sure that NASA and/or the Air Force have pretty good health plans for space explorers and their dependents.

I don't know, but I wonder if it is as good as the coverage available to members of Congress and their dependents.  I wonder if there is double-coverage here, under both plans.  Or was this considered an on-the-job injury and is being covered by some sort of Federal workers' compensation? 

[longeyes]

Liberals love victims. They need victims.

She will always be a symbol, for them, of how guns are bad.

Whether she can do the job effectively doesn't matter.  Looking around the ranks of liberals in power in America today we see that most are disasters in action.

[P5 Guy]

That won't stop the Dems from encouraging her to run for her seat. (And then vote for her.)

Edward "Ted" Kennedy?
Wasn't there a big stink about aVP that had been to a shrink and had to pull out of the race.
?

[lee n. field]

Edward "Ted" Kennedy?
Wasn't there a big stink about aVP that had been to a shrink and had to pull out of the race.
?

Thomas Eagleton, is my recollection.

[TommyGunn]

Edward "Ted" Kennedy?
Wasn't there a big stink about aVP that had been to a shrink and had to pull out of the race.
?

I recall that, it was back in the '70s.  My father, always one to think "outside the box," quiped, "that might be a good thing, most politicians could probably stand to be psycoanalyzed to see if there's anything going on in their noggin's."

[Monkeyleg]

Two words: Carolyn McCarthy. And she doesn't even have the excuse of being shot in the head to explain her stupidity.

[RoadKingLarry]

Makes me sick that she returned to Congress after the shooting to vote in favor of the debt ceiling increase... given her mental incompetency.

What are you basing her competency level on?
I haven't followed her enough to have an opinion.
But, not being able to speak well or having motor function problems or other physical impairment does not equate to being mentally incompetant.

[longeyes]

Competency means you can vote as you're told.  Who is kidding whom?

[AZRedhawk44]

What are you basing her competency level on?
I haven't followed her enough to have an opinion.
But, not being able to speak well or having motor function problems or other physical impairment does not equate to being mentally incompetant.

OK... let me rephrase:  I have no evidence yea or nay pertaining to mental incompetency.  You're right.

But GSW to the brain has a tradition of leaving survivors with fewer mental resources than before.  Given the fact she has not done an interview, a radio announcement, or any indication that SHE has control over her vote in Congress, rather than serving as a semi-vegetative puppet for someone else's interests... it seems inappropriate for her to vote in Congress unless she can demonstrate mental competency.

[dogmush]

OK... let me rephrase:  I have no evidence yea or nay pertaining to mental incompetency.  You're right.

But GSW to the brain has a tradition of leaving survivors with fewer mental resources than before.  Given the fact she has not done an interview, a radio announcement, or any indication that SHE has control over her vote in Congress, rather than serving as a semi-vegetative puppet for someone else's interests... it seems inappropriate for her to vote in Congress unless she can demonstrate mental competency.

None of the others had to demonstrate competency.

[makattak]

None of the others had to demonstrate competency.

None of the others had been shot in the head since the voters had elected them.