# Gabby Giffords returns to the House **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108 "2011-08-01T23:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/1 "2011-08-01T23:14:38Z")
She came in at the end of the debt limit vote. She looks OK. Kind of wan and skinny, but seems to have energy and is standing up and recognizing people. Great news! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/2 "2011-08-01T23:19:54Z")
I guess they need every possible vote for the Debt Ceiling plan. Nice to hear that she is able to make the trip. I wish her the best. Realistically, I wonder if she’ll continue in politics. Debate and advocacy is such a critical part of the job. You have to think fast and articulate your arguments. A part of Gabby’s speech center was destroyed by that bullet. They say she can speak a little bit. Short sentences. That’s not the same as debating complicated policy issues or giving a campaign speech. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/gabrielle-giffords-returns-to-congress-for-debt-ceiling-vote.html](http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/gabrielle-giffords-returns-to-congress-for-debt-ceiling-vote.html) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/3 "2011-08-01T23:26:10Z")
My post got beat by 4 minutes. ☹ :smack: I talked too damn long. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/4 "2011-08-01T23:29:15Z")
i think she may be way ahead of some in thinking fast and articulating arguements. at least from what i’ve seen in the last week or 2. she just turned this day into fantastic. no matter how you feel about all that went on, you can celebrate her return. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/5 "2011-08-01T23:52:39Z")
Totally agree. 😃 I just saw the clip of Nancy Pelosi welcoming Gabby back to the House. It’s fantastic seeing her up and waving. She’s been through so much these past six months. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/6 "2011-08-02T01:05:50Z")
Agreed. I live in Giffords’s district, very close to where she was shot. The fact that she was able to return to Congress to cast a vote barely seven months after being shot in the head is not only heartening, but simply amazing. She has shown great grit and determination in her desire to return to a normal life. I don’t think anybody expected her to be close to doing anything like this in such a short period of time. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/7 "2011-08-02T01:35:25Z")
Two threads about the same topic merged. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/8 "2011-08-02T01:55:11Z")
Good for her. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/9 "2011-08-02T02:11:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wish her the best. Realistically, I wonder if she’ll continue in politics. Debate and advocacy is such a critical part of the job. You have to think fast and articulate your arguments. A part of Gabby’s speech center was destroyed by that bullet. They say she can speak a little bit. Short sentences. That’s not the same as debating complicated policy issues or giving a campaign speech. She could join the Tea Party. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/10 "2011-08-02T02:19:12Z")
It did my heart good to see that clip; don’t let the crazy cowards who try to assassinate people win! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/11 "2011-08-02T05:14:30Z")
In the video, she looks to be saying “Thank you” over and over. Does anyone know how her speech is coming along? Fucking brilliant recovery btw. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/12 "2011-08-02T08:00:40Z")
Way to go Gabbie, you rule! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/13 "2011-08-02T18:51:11Z")
I hate to be the one to throw cold water on this because I am glad she’s continuing to recover, but I expect that for the most part this is political theater intended to tamp down the public’s disgust at Congress’ abysmal performance throughout this debt ceiling fiasco. I also think it’s unlikely that Giffords will return to politics, although I’d be happy to be wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/14 "2011-08-02T21:51:25Z")
I didn’t notice it until some commentator pointed it out, but she didn’t appear to be moving her right arm much. Still, after taking a bullet to the brain, it’s an amazing recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/15 "2011-08-02T22:14:28Z")
It’s great political theater, and I am glad she is up and walking (a bit) at least. May she continue to recover, by God’s grace. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![JoThrive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@JoThrive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoThrive)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gabby-giffords-returns-to-the-house/591108/16 "2011-08-03T02:10:42Z")
I was so glad to see her return. She really beat the odds. May she go on to a complete recovery. 🙂