The real reason the Gabby Giffords is resigning her congressional seat

[leroy]

Heard on the news today that Gabby Giffords was resigning here AZ 8 seat after the great Nobama State of the Union Message.

Got interested in this again and took a look at the 2010 election results. Here is the real reason she is resigning:

Democratic incumbent Gabrielle Giffords won her race for reelection, after a challenge from Republican nominee Marine veteran and businessman Jesse Kelly and Libertarian nominee engineer Steven Stoltz (campaign site, PVS).

In the Republican primary, Kelly defeated former State Senator Jonathan Paton 49-41%, with 2 other candidates picking up the remainder of the vote. Giffords and Stoltz ran unopposed in their respective primaries. District 8 has been represented by Giffords since 2007. Prior to her win, the seat had been held by Republicans since the creation of the district in 2003. Giffords' re-election allows the seat to be retained by the Democrats.

[TABLE]

[TR=bgcolor: #E9E9E9]

[TH=colspan: 5]Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2010

[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR=bgcolor: #EEEEEE]

[TH=colspan: 2]Party

[/TH]

[TH]Candidate

[/TH]

[TH]Votes

[/TH]

[TH]Percentage

[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR=class: vcard]

[TH=bgcolor: #3333FF][/TH]

[TD=class: org]Democratic

[/TD]

[TD=class: fn]Gabrielle Giffords (incumbent)

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]138,280

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]48.7%

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: vcard]

[TH=bgcolor: #FF3333][/TH]

[TD=class: org]Republican

[/TD]

[TD=class: fn]Jesse Kelly

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]134,124

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]47.2%

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: vcard]

[TH=bgcolor: #FFCC00][/TH]

[TD=class: org]Libertarian

[/TD]

[TD=class: fn]Steven Stoltz

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]11,174

[/TD]

[TD=align: right]3.9%

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

The 2010 election was decided by less than 5,000 votes and less than 1 1/2 percentage points difference. Data link here: (....United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona, 2010 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ....).

Remember, there is an election later this year. Gabby would have to run against a republican again (...probably Jesse Kelly....).

Politics is an interestin business, even in a place like Tuscon, AZ.

leroy

[Garufa]

What happened to that woman is awful. She is resigning because she is brain damaged and will be for life. That's really all we need to know.

[greenego]

Haven't keep up with her condition. I am sure they will say she is not running because of that. Hate to see her give up their seat because of some nut job shooting her, but don't think she could represent her district.

[NRA]

What happened to that woman is awful. She is resigning because she is brain damaged and will be for life. That's really all we need to know.

nuff said!

[Guest bkelm18]

What happened to that woman is awful. She is resigning because she is brain damaged and will be for life. That's really all we need to know.

Well said. I don't care if she has an R or D next to her name or who she's facing in an upcoming election. The woman survived an assassination attempt and will be scarred/damaged (literally and figuratively) for the rest of her life. She can take whatever career path she thinks is best.

[Erik88]

I wish her the best. I hope she has a peaceful retirement.

[mikegideon]

It was pretty depressing last time I saw her on TV. I doubt that she will ever fully recover.

[hornett22]

I don't wish the stress of politics on her. Surviving is probably taxing enough even without the media pestering her. Let her and her family live out the rest of her life in peace. The lady and her family have been through enough.

God Bless Her!

[Paladin132]

My only thought is that the people of Arizona have been without representation during nearly a year. It's awful yes, but really it should have been decided earlier without politics figuring into it.

[Guest lostpass]

I think she had to stay through 2011 to get a congressional pension (and maybe the insurance). So it would be foolish to leave before the vested date.

I know, you'll say "she's brain damaged, how can she represent folks when she is mentally challenged?" And I'll say "Have you looked at congress lately?"

[FJCrusing]

Didn't her husband also recently retire from NASA? I suspect that might also tie into her decision along with being mentally/physically damaged by the failed assassination attempt on her life. Hopefully she can assume a peaceful and normal life with good health while Jared Loughner meets his end at some point soon.

I don't think there is anything dishonest by her saying - "I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week."

[Guest klwehunt]

Its a shame that there are nut cases running around everywhere,that said he had threatened her life more than once, in shoping center where she was making a speech that was well advertised she and her staff had NO security at all.Yet all of the lib nut jobs want to make more gun laws,also the sherrifs dept. had been to his house numerous times on demestic violence calls yet no charges.I hope she gets well and lives a long life but her people should have put a little more thought into what she was doing and where she was doing it.But we all know what a big deal the news media and the dems made out of it.

[kieefer]

I wish her the best in whatever she decides.

Now, it's on with business and it sounds like this Jesse Kelly would be a good replacement.

[Guest PapaB]

I don't wish what happened to her on anyone and hope she continues an amazing recovery.

That being said, regardless of party affiliation, time in office or anything else. When you're incapacitated and unable to perform the job you were elected to for 6 months or more, your position should be automatically vacated. In the case of Gabby Giffords, she was incapable of making decisions at the time so I don't blame her for staying for the first few months, but it took too long imho. Politicians don't seem to have enough honor to step down when they should, we need controls in place to require their office be vacated when they can't continue to fulfill their responsibilities. It should also occur if they're convicted of a crime and, in the case of a felony, ban them from ever holding office, or working in government again.

Edited January 23, 2012 by PapaB

[Guest Spurhunter]

Your trying to use common sense in this situation, tsk, tsk, you know better than that! (banging head)

I don't wish what happened to her on anyone and hope she continues an amazing recovery.

That being said, regardless of party affiliation, time in office or anything else. When you're incapacitated and unable to perform the job you were elected to for 6 months or more, your position should be automatically vacated. In the case of Gabby Giffords, she was incapable of making decisions at the time so I don't blame her for staying for the first few months, but it took too long imho. Politicians don't seem to have enough honor to step down when they should, we need controls in place to require their office be vacated when they can't continue to fulfill their responsibilities. It should also occur if they're convicted of a crime and, in the case of a felony, ban them from ever holding office, or working in government again.

[Guest HvyMtl]

Had she stayed, I would think she would have easily won re-election. Who in their right mind would have tried to beat her? Think of how they would have been portrayed? Think of the sympathy vote she would get.

Nah, the fellow who wrote it was writing something to say, well, she would not win, or really should not have been there in the first place... Kind of trying to take power away from the event.

[eapking]

God bless her and her recovery.

[Guest Skeeter]

Ms, Gifford is a very classy Lady.

Almost unheard of in this day ( Hillary, Pelosi, Feinstein, )

Her recovery has been an inspiration not only for her strength , endurance.

This sweet spirited Woman with a positive forgiving attitude ,lack of self pity , blaming or complaining is humbling and is a lesson to me.

God Bless

.

Edited January 26, 2012 by Skeeter

[JAB]

Had she stayed, I would think she would have easily won re-election.

That is pretty much what I got from the articles I read about her stepping down. It seems she wasn't super popular during the last election but her courage and fortitude in the aftermath of the tragedy have brought her such respect and good will that she would likely have won re-election in a landslide had she chosen to run again.

There were also some things said by her and/or her 'people' that led to speculation that, if she recovers enough to be able, she plans to return to the public sector (politics?) one day - but not in the near future.

[leroy]

In order to stir this hornet's nest up again, lest we forget what kind of polititian Ms. Giffords is, and to do a bit of analysis as to "electibility" based on other than her unfortunate situation; let's take a look at her history of contributors. It always gives some interestin insight in to what folks believe.

I lifted this from Gabrielle Giffords: Campaign Finance/Money - Top Donors - Representative Career | OpenSecrets ... .

Top Contributors

Representative Gabrielle Giffords

[TABLE=class: tablesorter]

[TR]

[TH=class: header]Contributor

[/TH]

[TH=class: header]Total

[/TH]

[TH]Indivs

[/TH]

[TH]PACs

[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]EMILY's List

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$165,033

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$150,108

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$14,925

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]University of Arizona

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$128,550

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$128,550

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$111,483

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$111,483

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]Lewis & Roca

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$57,411

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$57,411

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Pederson Group

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$57,300

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$57,300

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]Apollo Group

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$49,293

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$41,793

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$7,500

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$41,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$1,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]League of Conservation Voters

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,158

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$27,193

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$12,965

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]New Democrat Coalition

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]PAC to the Future

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$40,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Calendar Club

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$39,900

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$39,900

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]Raytheon Co

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$37,600

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$14,600

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$23,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$35,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$35,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]National Air Traffic Controllers Assn

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$35,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$35,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$34,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$1,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$33,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]National Education Assn

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$34,000

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$34,000

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Fennemore Craig PC

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,700

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,700

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]American Federation of Teachers

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: rowTint]

[TD]Carpenters & Joiners Union

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: odd]

[TD]International Assn of Fire Fighters

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$0

[/TD]

[TD=class: number]$32,500

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Just a few observations. Emily's list: Pro-abortion women. ....University of Arizona: Needs no explanation.... Demorats Congressional Campaign Committee: Again, needs no explanation. ..... About $200K from various union brotherhoods. .... ---LATE EDIT: PAC to the future: Nancy Pelosi. Noted demorat operative in congress. .... AmeriPAC: Stenny Hoyer, considently, another demorat luminary and congressman to boot.

Grabrielle Giffords is a delightful, winsome, and recently very corageous woman whose politics are run of the mill demorat; depending on special interest groups and outside dollars to hold a political office. She is what she is. Being "never forgetting partizan political apparatajic" that i am; I will grant that she didnt deserve shooting. Neither did the other folks who were killed, including a child and a federal judge (....eighteen others shot, six died....).

It's ok to have compation on others. It aint ok to believe that they are something they are not. There are those who say "Dear Sweet Brother Barak" (....as the great Rev. Louis Farakhan says...) is a very personable and windsome individual. That trait, while very winsome and delightful, does not erase nor excuse his political views and actions.

leroy

Edited January 27, 2012 by leroy
More stuff to think about..

[Guest 6.8 AR]

You weren't stirring anything up, Leroy. you just put the backroom story on here that I guess no one has heard.

I read that same article and I don't think the writer was deriding her or writing for anything other reason than

stating a political reality.

It reflects only her political reality, not what kind of woman she is or anything else. I can't believe some of you people

reading anything else into that.

[Guest Skeeter]

Grabrielle Giffords is a delightful, winsome, and recently very corageous woman whose politics are run of the mill demorat; depending on special interest groups and outside dollars to hold a political office. She is what she is. Being "never forgetting partizan political apparatajic" that i am; I will grant that she didnt deserve shooting. Neither did the other folks who were killed, including a child and a federal judge (....eighteen others shot, six died....

leroy

.

The Seat is open lets do what we can to pick it up.

* without kicking the old, lame, blind or infirmed if possible.

.

Edited January 27, 2012 by Skeeter
spelling

[JAB]

I wasn't saying she would have won by a landslide because of her politics. I wasn't saying that her politics were/are any good or that she would be the 'right' person to hold the office. I was simply saying that the public goodwill and support she has garnered in the aftermath of the tragedy would likely have resulted in a huge win for her had she decided to run again.

I was not yet born or even conceived when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. In fact, I was negative eight, give or take. However, judging by his brother Ted and the politics of many of the other Kennedy's as well as New England politicians, in general (Romney being one), I can't imagine there would be as much goodwill for him, based solely on his politics, had he survived to serve two full terms and were living in retirement, now. My guess is that, from a PR standpoint, getting shot in the head did more for his public image and how society as a whole feels about him (and his brother Bobby, too, for that matter) than any amount of political achievement. I don't say that to be callous, it is simply what I believe.

Edited January 27, 2012 by JAB

[Oh Shoot]

....I was not yet born or even conceived when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.... I can't imagine there would be as much goodwill for him, based solely on his politics, had he survived to serve two full terms and were living in retirement, now....

Of course, we'll never know, but indications during his term show he was a political realist, understood importance of private biz determining economy, promoted lower taxes, etc. And his standing up to Russiaa on Bay of Pigs proved he was far from being an Obamaesque apologist regarding national defense.

Plus, he captured the imagination and optimism of the national ethos. He was actually inspirational and stirring, like no other national leader since. Until, sort of, Obama, oops.

Will always be debatable, but back then neither JFK nor the Democrat Party equaled socialism in any significant measure as today. JFK was above all a pragmatist and not an ideologue. And quite the golfer and cocksman, even with a bad back

- OS

[leroy]

JAB, your point in the first paragraph of post #23 is well founded and i aint tryin to beat ya up. There is, indeed, a sympathy felt for this poor woman, as well as others thoroughout history, like the Kennedys. Arizona is a hotly contested state; and that was the point i was makin. There was no intent to "rebuff" but, instead, to put forth a political proposition, just as you have done.

Arizona has some problems that we can begin to imagine. Among them are the problems down on the border where old time ranchers are afraid of getting killed by coyotes and drug runners; the radical La Raza movement that postulates that Kalefornia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas were "stolen" from the mexican people (...which, by the way, i think we can probably quibble about a bit, but not now...) and should be turned into a soverign mexican state and the "anglos' thrown out; an overload of illegals swallowing up tax dollars and overloading government services such as schools, etc, on and on. ...

Arizona district 8 contains both rural border territory as well as metro areas. That always makes for an interesting mix on politics. Additionally, i believe that political control of Arizona is being hotly contested between the Nobama administration on the one hand and the republicans on the other with governor Jan Brewer. Arizona is, for the most part, a republican state. The nobama administrations goals are on trial in arizona, and it looks pretty much to me like the arizona electorate is siding with Jan Brewer.

It's my observation that the Giffords elections (...two terms...) were won based on a combination of Ms. Giffords wonderful persona, her claim to be a "conservative democrat", and a ton of outside the state demorat money. All this was done to beat a homeboy who had no real political machine behind him.

I firmly believe that voters are not as stupid as many of us political junkies and career political operatives may think. Americans are kind, but they also have eyes; and i believe that the average voter in Ms. Gifford's district were (...and are...) waking up. Take a look at the votes in the 2006 vs 2010 election in that district and you can see what im sayin. Another thing that is goin on here is that this particular district includes the city of Tuscon and the University of Arizona is very near (...or may be in...) this district. All this stuff came together to give a demorat win in 2006 and 2010, but just barely.

RE: The Kennedy thing. I still remember when JFK was shot (...i was 18 years old...) and i remember being at home sick. JFK also had a great clarisma as well as some degree of competence (...quite unlike most of the demorats today...). He was much closer to todays "big government republican" (...think George Bush here...) than he was a democrat; and that seemed to be the norm in those days. He was a reasonably conservative fiscal conservative and was strongly pro american. In all honesty, i do not believe that JFK could be in the demorat party today; he would have to be a republican. Look what they did to Joe Lieberman.

I believe JFK's manner, charm, and confidence came together to capture the imagination of the american electorate like no other figure in the 20th century in america. That is why he is so revered today. JFK's coattails and this memory (...both real and imagined...) were big enough to last for over 60 years; and that is, indeed, powerful sfuff. This "JFK" nostalga and aura; the JFK Coattails, if you will; has covered some horrible atrocities. JFK's brothers (...Teddy, RFK...) and his kinsmen that came after him were for the most part reprobate socialist pygmies; but that didnt seem to matter to the new england electorate and to the contry at large. JFK still looms larger than life in the minds of many.

Hope this little epistle gives ya a bit of insight both into my little view of politics and political history.

leroy

Edited January 28, 2012 by leroy