From Denny: Sadly, today a Democratic Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in the head by a crazed gunman at a political rally in Tucson, Arizona. She was there to listen to her constituents about their concerns before returning to Washington. It was democratic politics at it's best. She was the accessible politician where the people could personally talk to her, not having to wade through a maze of aides.
She is in critical condition, after surgery, and the next 24 hours will tell. So far she is responding well to commands which indicates there is little or no swelling of her brain - and that's good news.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords had just won her third term in a close race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate. Remember that vandalism against some Democrats last March after the health care reform bill vote? She was one of the three Democratic legislators who was victimized.
Rep. Giffords' astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, was quick to report she was not dead but had survived her emergency surgery. She had been shot "through and through" on one side of her head.
Giffords and Kelly are one of the most popular couples in Washington circles among both Democrats and Republicans. Giffords is a Blue Dog Democrat, a Centrist, who often clashed with President Obama on the immigration and border issues Arizona was experiencing. Because of these issues, politics have become increasingly toxic in Arizona.
This is why fools like Sarah Palin, Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and other conservative loud-mouth Republicans should reconsider their hate speech politics. Sarah Palin is known for promoting a "targeted" Giffords picture with a kill zone bullseye over her face.
The news is still coming in and so far there are considered to be a total of 19 injured and six killed by this young 22-year-old man, Jared Lee Loughner. This gunman killed a little 9-year-old girl among the adults. Several are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds and their conditions are not yet known.
One of the notable Republicans shot and killed at the rally was federal Judge John Roll who was appointed by President George H. W. Bush back in 1991. He too was targeted by poisonous politics, receiving threats after ruling on an immigration-related lawsuit.
Republican Senator John McCain, Arizona, said the attack was committed by a "wicked person who has no sense of justice or compassion."
"Whoever did this, whatever their reason, they are a disgrace to Arizona, this country and the human race, and they deserve and will receive the contempt of all decent people and the strongest punishment of the law," he said.
President Obama called the attack an "unspeakable tragedy. We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society."
New House Speaker John Boehner said he was "horrified" by the shooting. "An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve," he said. "Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society."
Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts decrying the shootings and the loss of Roll, whom he called a "wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction. Chief Judge Roll's death is a somber reminder of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."
From CNN: Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said an incident like this could have a chilling effect on the frequent weekend listening post sessions many members of Congress have with their constituents.
"It does give you pause," Pingree said.
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