In her first event among constituents since January 8th, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is spending part of her Thanksgiving among the airmen of Davis-Monthan today.
From her office’s press release:
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords helped serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner today to airmen as well as military retirees and their families at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
It was the first constituent event for the congresswoman since she was critically wounded in a Jan. 8 shooting. She was accompanied to the midday meal by her husband, Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain who also served as a NASA astronaut. Kelly retired from the Navy and from NASA last month.
More than 400 people were expected to attend the Thanksgiving meal at the Desert Inn dining facility at Davis-Monthan. The meal featured turkey and all of the traditional Thanksgiving fixings as well as prime rib, baked ham, shrimp, assorted cheeses and deserts.
Giffords and her husband are joining Brig. Gen. Jon A. Norman, vice commander of the 12th Air Force, and his wife for the event. Norman and Col James Meger, vice commander of the 355th Fighter Wing, will welcome the congresswoman to the event.
The congresswoman has been in Houston since January, undergoing therapy as part of her recovery from a shooting in which six people were killed and 12 — in addition to Giffords — were wounded. She traveled to Tucson on Tuesday evening to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family.
Base officials originally asked a member of the congresswoman’s staff to take part in the annual Thanksgiving dinner. But when the staff member told Giffords about the event, Giffords decided she wanted to go herself.
This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2011.
What happened to Ms. Giffords was horrible. But I would want a representative who is capable of operating up to speed and at her best. This is now impossible and she needs to forget about politics. Anyone who pushes her to run has their own motives and anyone who votes for her deserves what they get.
Out of all the recent politicians who have represented Tucson and Pima County, which ones have come out to spend time with our local military personnel the way that Gabrielle Giffords has?
Jim Kolbe?
Jon Kyl?
John McCain?
Terri Proud?
Vic Williams?
Al Melvin?
Antenori?
Jon Paton?
Not one of these people — not one — has spent any time with local veterans and active soldiers in Tucson. I give John McCain a pass because he has served under the worst conditions and has dared to call out his fellow Republitrolls on the issue of torture. The rest have no standing to call out Gabrielle Giffords on anything. She is a warrior who has been wounded in battle on the domestic front instead of the war front.
That’s terrific. Nothing can hold her down. I am thankful today for the power that drives the human spirit to achieve the impossible.
@beefrits, they would deserve what they get? Damned right , because what we’d be getting is one of the only honest politician this country has left. Disability doesn’t change that about her. If she’s capable of continuing and if she chooses to, she has my vote without any qualms whatsoever.
@lunazen111
Perhaps I should have been clearer. Honesty is not the issue, ability is. People with half a functioning brain deserve a representative reflective of their ability.
common decency. simple enough. time to dismiss those without any.
Just another dog & pony show. Watche her interview recently, I am convinced that she is incapable os fulfilling her oath of office. Her shooting was tragic and inexcusable, however the fact remains that she has done nothing except be paraded around by her staff and the democratic party. She should do the honorable thing and resign until she is capable of holding office again.
Gabby is like Tucson, tough and resilient. She is also one in a million when it comes to politicians. Struck down in the line of duty, only a curmudgeon would demand her to step down. She is recovering and I have faith that she will continue to do so, making us proud of her and an inspiration to people facing immense challenges. So what if she misses a few votes? In this Do Nothing Congress, we can count on her showing up on those very rare occasions when her vote actually matters…..like the debt crisis. She was there for us when it mattered, as she will continue to do in the future.
If I can’t vote for Gabby, let me vote for Mark.
Giffords may not yet be hitting on all cylinders, but whatever she can use is a damn sight more than most of the nitwit teabaggers, single-issue know-nothings, bible-thumpers, homophobes, and no-tax increase pledge slaves that make up the majority in Congress today…
First time i have ever seen a Democrat smiling while helping OTHER people.
Did Raytheon’s Frank Antenori help with this?
Nope.
Gabby has shown more than just her policy but the determination to continue to serve her country in this time of need. As stated earlier our country is in a downward spiral because we have politicians that refuse to work together to get the major issues fixed in our country. Every other American is forced to compromise in their day to day routine but those on the hill don’t? I would take gabby even If she was not at full strength because we already have enough politicians that firing at all cylinders and still refuse to give up a little to accomplish a lot. We need more people who are willing to break away from their party and interests to get things accomplished. Gabby has proven she is willing to do that and is an inspiration for others to do the same.