With all the speculation regarding Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ political future in light of the recent articles about her recovery, the Pima County Republican Party has released a brief statement that they will not make any effort to push Giffords out of office:
The Pima GOP has not and will not support or pursue efforts to remove Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords from her seat in Congress prior to the end of her elected term. Our prayers for a full and speedy recovery are with Ms. Giffords. We remain committed to fielding a quality candidate for the 2012 election cycle, and our efforts are and will remain focused on the normal election process.
This article appears in Jun 23-29, 2011.
Too bad for her constituents… our voice is effectively silenced until someone is elected who can speak for us……no matter their political affiliation.
im one of her constituents and it would be nice if Giffords would just step a side and have someone take over her district, doesnt matter at this time if its a dem or a repub. All this talk thats she is doing good in her recovery is great, but if she really cared for the district, she would step down, when she is fully recovered, then she can run for any office she wants to, but for her to leave us hanging day by day is not good for the people of the 8th district
This tragedy has made her unbeatable no matter what happens next. Even if she had been tragically killed, she would still win re-election in 2012. There is no way anyone can beat her now. She is untouchable forever.
The idea that we don’t have any voice at all in congress right now isn’t completely true. Giffords staff is still active and engaged with other members of congress. If she were to resign we wouldn’t even have that until after a special election which wouldn’t happen for months, at the very earliest. Giffords probably won’t be well enough to be voting on legislation before then, but what if she is in four or five months? Do we really want to be the jerks who kicked her out of office just before she could return to work?
What happened in January was an absolute tragedy and those who died and those injured should always be remembered. Our Congressional seats are not places to be held as a memorial of what has been done wrong to Congresswoman Giffords. That is doing her district a disservice. No house votes can be recorded until she is able to return to the D.C. Proxy votes may be allowed in committee but that will not be extended to Chamber votes. That has not been changed in the existence of our Congress, and neither will they remove her from office. What this shows is that the Republicans have zero interest in the good of the people. They just don’t want any bad P.R. by attempting to gain representation for District 8. This is an absolute damned if you do damned if you don’t situation. However now is the time to prove what is really important. The good of the people, or the good of a parties reputation.
rjbushnell wrote: “What this shows is that the Republicans have zero interest in the good of the people.” How utterly disingenuous to place blame on Republicans. If the DEMOCRATS were so lovey-dovey with their constituents should it not be they who step in and assure a voice for their district? That is the problem today. The blame game rules our lives and the Liberals are masters of that game!
Yup, and I just saw a pig circling overhead.
What this shows is a Republican party with compassion and class. It is a good example for us all.
P.S. I am liberal democrat – so no partisanship here.
No I blame the current party system locked in place by both Democrats AND Republicans. I make a note of the Republicans as it was a traditionally Republican seat. The Democrats have just lost control of the house so there is zero hope they will pursue this. The Republicans are scared of the black eye they will undoubtedly receive nationally and locally in the press. There is nothing compassionate in this situation, just calculation.
IF there was compassion and class involved both sides would have passed a resolution covering Rep Giffords medically and paying her salary indefinitely. Then make a BIPARTISAN push for a special election. That unfortunately will never be the case. Sen Kennedy, Sen Thurmond until six months before his death. Rep. Gladys Spellman as well as others who served extended times while incapacitated make my case. Call me insensitive, call me any name you wish. What I am tired of hearing are pathetic excuses for the status quo. It is an absolute shame this happened to her and our city and nation. The question is, are we nothing more than a cult of personalities who are unable to move on without the same people running our government year after year? With few exceptions giving us nothing different but the same garbage. This honestly speaks more for our Senators of 16 plus years and Rep Pastor who is now counting 20 years in office. Surprisingly the rest of our Representatives in the house are relatively new but that has not always been the case and definitely not the case in other states.
We are ultimately at fault for not pushing for alternatives. I am no longer a Republican and could never have be a Democrat. I am an Independent. The problem is my options are generally limited to two sides of the same coin when it comes to political parties. I have a very deep respect for Rep Giffords and what she has done for us as a district. She has carried on with the same care and dedication for our district that former Rep Kolbe did for many years. I am saddened that the alternatives to her in this district now are the likes of Randy Graff. Who is not much of an alternative at all. Each district is has approximately 640k people in it, we are soon to be faced with a new round of redistricting. The sad fact is it will still be a long time before our Rep Giffords will be ready again for the grind of DC. It doesn’t take a note from her Doctor to see that. What I also see is one of the few moderate districts in the nation facing extinction. Will that be in our best interests? Having a Santorum or Pelosi take her place? What I’m hoping for is something to take the seat and protect our interests NOW. Nothing more.
Ryan J Bushnell
I apologize for leaving out a point We have 640k people in each district yet we are repeatedly assailed by the same faces each election cycle. WE as a district will be ultimately at fault for not stepping forward and demanding a fresh face once more like we did when Rep Giffords was Elected the first time. We are slitting our own throats by giving the redistricting board a free pass to carve up our district because we do not have a active voice for us.