I * heart* Gabby Giffords.

[no_hypocrisy]

She is my hero.

[MADem]

1. Her husband is no schmuck, either. What a pair. This is a fascinating piece on TV. nt

[midnight]

2. She will have so much to inspire us and lead us on in the way of health care..

She is leaving proof that if given the right resource these tramatic head injuries can be a series of successful hurdles... It's a tough roll, but this women is doing it with lots of help.... Thank you Gabby..

[snacker]

3. I really wanted to watch...

but our local ABC station is carrying Monday Night Football because the Packer/Vikings are playing. I think they are replaying the show on Saturday so I'll have to catch it then. From the bits and pieces I've seen in previews, it certainly looking touching.

[Lint Head]

4. What an inspiring human being!

[JohnnyLib2]

5. This should give hope to thousands with brain injuries.

Incredible TV.

[frazzled]

10. It was an incredible show, very well done

And there were many tears and laughs on our sofa tonight.

Yes, it will bring hope. But it made me extremely sad, too. We spent more than a year telegraphing as much communal hope as we could to the son of our good friends, who suffered a serious brain injury a year and a half ago (not from a gun shot, but a fire: by the time he was rescued his brain had been deprived of oxygen for too long). He was just 24 when this happened, and for the first three months all our hopes centered around him just living. It was horrible. But we all kept channeling this incredible spirit of friends and family--positive feelings that he would make a recovery, citing all the wonderful mysteries of the brain--to his remarkable parents, whose strength and wisdom and tenacity has been steadfast and overwhelming. He's received all the kinds of therapy you saw tonight: speech, music, physical. His parents never gave up and were (still are) there 24/7 to push and help. But finally the main therapies have had to end, because he just couldn't respond or make any gains. He cannot speak, he cannot walk, it's not even clear whether he is processing anything. Although when we visited him earlier this year, it was hard not to feel that he was "there" somehow, however deeply buried. The worst has been the terrible pain of muscle spasms--fortunately, he had surgery a few months back to implant a medical pump into his spine, and that has helped with the physical comfort. For the last several months we are all coming to terms with the fact that there will be no "miracle," that we are dealing with a new and different person who will be confined to a nursing home for the rest of his life. And the pain and sorrow is very deep.

That is why this made me so sad. And yet so happy at the same time: Gabby Giffords was tremendously lucky, and she truly is making a miraculous recovery. And yes, it CAN happen if the conditions are right. No one should ever give up. But sometimes one has to make peace with the bitter truth as well.

[JohnnyLib2]

11. It can be so hard.

We've seen one friend severely limited by an aneurysm, while another came way back. The same with young men who had accidents.
I greatly admire the family -like your friends - which works with what (who) they have, no matter what.

Another extremely hard part of it is that doctors, etc., usually can't make knowing predictions because the brain is so complex and damage is hidden.

Sigh....

Despite the downside, I hope that program is honored for the tough, realistic look at the early months.

[onehandle]

6. She beat assault clips.

She's amazing.

[Confusious]

7. Blue dog.

[lonestarnot]

8. Now you gona get it!

:spank: :spank: :spank: Even though it's true! :spank:

[ellisonz]

14. Human being.

:eyes:

[Confusious]

16. Time to buy reading glasses

I said 'blue dog,' nothing more, nothing less.

In your opinion, it seems, if I don't lavish praise on her, I don't think she's a human being.

Really, where did I say that...? Oh, let's see 'blue dog' doesn't sound anything like 'Not a human being' so....I didn't!

You assumed that's what I meant.

Making assumptions like that makes you look like an ass.

[ellisonz]

17. It's just so not a political thread - enough division...

...what's your point?

[Confusious]

18. You can't figure out what I mean when I say

'blue dog?'

[ellisonz]

19. What do *you* mean?

Beyond that she was a member of the Blue Dogs and that they're often scorned here. I'm not a mind-reader of Confusious.

Do you not understand that this is still a very raw wound for many of us?

[Confusious]

20. You project to much

You didn't get shot.

Hell, you don't even live in the same city as her. I do. She was my rep. I voted for her. (My uncle lived right around the corner from that store 20 years. )

But I was getting more then a bit disappointed before she got shot.

She survived, she's making it through. Making her into some sort of hero is ridiculous.

What the hell was she suppose to do? Lay down and die?

I got shot. What the hell was I suppose to do? Lay down and die?

Too many people getting tied down in hero worship. It's been long enough.

Time to remember who she really is.

AND THAT MEANS, a human being, a democrat, but also a BLUE DOG.

[ellisonz]

22. You really don't understand...

She's a hero because she kept making public appearances despite death threats and someone putting a bullet through her office window...she voted for health care reform - she was often considered one of the most popular member of Congress because of her gracious personality. She has made a rapid recovery - why shouldn't DUers be allowed to be proud of her? What point is there in raining on this parade?

I've been to Tucson and canvassed there in several different neighborhoods. Just because you're from Tucson doesn't mean you have some special right to promote Democratic political division. If anything - this whole tragedy should remind us that we all agree on the basics of democracy. The Republicans are going to try and take that seat away from her - if that happens Jared Lee Loughner and the people who think like him will view it as a victory. They employed violence and stopped good Democrats in Tucson - I think we can both agree that violence and politics have no place together in this country.:mad:

You're entitled to your beliefs - but really get a grip.

[Confusious]

23. People in the public eye always get death threats

Goes with the territory.

As for democratic division, saying she's a blue dog is reality. Sorry you don't agree with reality. Lots of people around here don't like the "blue dogs," specifically because they agree with Republicans ALL THE TIME.

She voted, with the rest of the 'blue dogs' and the Republicans, to censure "Move on."

She also has expressed a willingness to do away with net neutrality.

You can keep your "party integrity" I'll keep my principles. If anyone needs to get a grip, it's you, on reality.

Oh, it's also not just "proud." It's creepy Hero worship.

You getting so up in arms when I just happen to mention "blue dog" is proof of that.

[TheKentuckian]

24. You and your policies! Why can't you just get behind a personality, be partisan, and be happy?

This is a great human interest story and that should more than enough for you!!!!!

:sarcasm:

[ellisonz]

25. That's not true.

People like you are what is wrong with this country. It's not about you. It's about all of us. If we don't work together the result is victories for politicians George W. Bush. You can keep your principles, I want my country back.

"specifically because they agree with Republicans ALL THE TIME."

Which is why she voted for healthcare reform? Are you that blind with rage that you can't gather the facts?

I and many others here don't demand lockstep agreement from our elected officials because to do so is not healthy for democracy.

[Confusious]

27. Why are you a democrat?

because it doesn't seem that your principles dictated it to you.

My principles dictated it to me. The minute the democratic party doesn't stand for those principles, I leave.

It not a freaking team sport. It's people's lives.

Sounds like you would vote for anyone with a D after their name, not because they stand for certain things.

That's what's wrong with this country. To many people listen to words and don't look at actions.

A cult of personality.

[ellisonz]

28. Dude...

Why are you here if you want to see Democrats out of office? Sounds like you've already left the Democratic Party a long time ago.

Don't enable Republicans - people with your line of thinking brought us 8 years of George W. Bush.

[Confusious]

30. Why do you want to see people elected

Who don't stand for the principles of the democratic party. FDR principles.

I hold my nose and vote for the only choices I'm given. Some require more holding then others.

You don't seem to care. The D is a symbol for a team sport for you.

And no, my line of thinking didn't, yours did. Your line of thinking gets blue dogs elected, who vote for wars without end. and tax cuts for the rich.

If more people took my line, then that bullshit wouldn't happen, because they would know they couldn't be reelected.

You just enable that stuff to happen.

You also didn't answer my question. Why are you a democrat if you don't believe in the principles.

[justiceischeap]

29. You know what you can do with your Blue Dog comment?

Common sense and logic dictate that in some areas of this country, if you want to get a Dem of any kind elected, they have to serve the people they are elected by. I totally believe Giffords is doing just that by being what you folks like to call Blue Dogs. If she were more liberal, do you think she would have ever gotten elected in that area? Nope.

[nobodyspecial]

9. What an amazing story

of love and courage.

[applegrove]

12. vibes to her that she continues to recover.

[GoldenOldie]

13. So proud to call her my neighbor and my Congresswoman.

Even at this point of time in her re-hab and with further work to do, she is far superior to her Republican competitor in both understanding and communicating. Go Gabby!

[ellisonz]

15. Spectacular.

:grouphug:

[Zax2me]

21. She is a hero to many. So proud of her.

n/a

[tomp]

26. me too!

she is one shining spirit.