A reporter called me a little while ago, and told me that 
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had been shot at a public event. 
She is in critical condition.

I'm going to let others comment on what this means for 
America. I just want to say what it means to me.

Gabrielle Giffords and I served together on the House 
Committee on Science and Technology. She was the 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics,
and I was a member of that subcommittee. Her D.C. office 
was one floor above mine.

I saw Gabby dozens, if not hundreds of times, during our 
two years together. And nearly every time that I can 
remember, she was smiling.

Gabby is one of the most cheerful, charming and engaging
people I have ever known. She's always looking on the 
bright side. She has something good to say about pretty
much everyone. Bad news never lays a glove on her. She
loves life, and all the people in it.

No matter what is going on in your life, after fifteen minutes 
with Gabby, you'll feel that you can touch the stars.

Everyone knew that Gabby would have a tough race in 2010.
(She actually won with 49% of the vote.) But I always thought 
that if each of her constituents could spend that fifteen minutes
with her, and see what she is really like, then she would win 
with 99.9% of the vote. (Same thing about Harry Teague of 
New Mexico, who lost, and a few others that I could name.) 
You would want her as your Congressman, because you would
want her as your friend.

I know nothing about the man who shot Gabby, and what was 
going through his mind when he did this. But I will tell you this - if
he shot Gabby out of hatred, then it wasn't Gabby he was shooting,
but rather some cartoon version of her, drawn by her political 
opposition. Because there is no way - NO WAY - that anyone who
really knows Gabby could hate her or hurt her. She is a kind, 
gentle soul.

My heart goes out to Mark Kelly, Gabby's husband, and the 
many, many people who love her. Gabby, we don't want to
lose you. Please stay here with us.

Alan Grayson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````
Day 2.  Gabby is still holding her own.  She has survived 
the first critical 24 hours.  Candle light vigils are being 
held at the hospital and at her headquarters.  Two churches 
are holding prayer services for her today.

The Arizona Daily Star's cartoonist, David Fitzsimmons, 
was interviewd on CNN and he said what most of us are 
thinking,  He said "the shooting was inevitable in a state
with an intense gun culture and politics that are to the
rabid right."  Although truer words were never spoken 
he had to write an apology in this morning's paper. 
I am sure the editor required it. I don't have an editor so
I will gladly repeat his words.  A state that allows concealed
weapons to be taken into a bar has lost it's soul and is
asking for tragedy.  


Not all Arizonan's are as unbalanced as Russell Pearce 
(The author of that disgusting immigration law) 
and Gov. Jan Brewer (the one who lets the poor and 
helpless die by not funding transplants).  Blame 
Maricopa County for foisting these unconscionable 
bunch of hard hearted Hannas on us.
outrage.