She is a wonderful symbol of so many who have suffered life altering injuries and who struggle to move forward.Often it isn't until a famous person suffers a particular injury that some people finally realizes deeper problems associated with those injuries. With her courage and determination, she has opened so many doors to allow others to walk through and reach out to their own loved ones who are struggling. Helping real healing to take place where road blocks had prevented it before. Some good can come from tragedies. Way to go Gabby!

love her! stay awesome, gorgeous!! xo

I'm so glad to see her come up from this smiling! Gotta admire that.

Yuck. You are really a worm of a human being Arieus. Can't understand a person who gets kicks out of being a troll...which in my view is even worse than the person who really believes the things you write. Someone who really believes such stuff can at least be pitied..

Aerious......you are right.....A federal Judge was assasinated that day...he was the real target....and what about the other people that died that day??? gabs wasnt the target at all...

There is much more here .....like all Lone Nut assasin " stories "

She is an amazingly strong person... He husband is what all marriages should be made of...

I wish them both a long, happy, healthy life...

Obviously it is Gabby's decision but I for one would like to see her run for congress again. She would be a living example of courage under duress that that "August" body (sarcasm intended) is sorely lacking.

YOU GO GIRL!

You already ROCK!

@fb-1473462

The federal judge was not the target that day, Gabby was! Loughner walked right up to her and shot her. The judge was not scheduled to be there. He was in the area and just happened to stop by.

----------

Nothing but best wishes for Gabby & Kelly!

That smile gives me strength. You are a courageous woman. May you and your family enjoy many years of peace, happiness, tranquility and good health. You are an inspiration and your courage helped the entire nation pull through the tragic events that occurred. Thank you!

First, I'd like to say how nice it is that she's going home and recovering from the horrific injuries she sustained at the hands of an obviously mentally ill person. I sincerely wish her and her family well, as I would all victims of this senseless event.

On the other hand, part of me is jealous. Jealous because the care she received is obviously much better that the average American can afford. I have no direct evidence to support my feeling, other than what I've read about the private health plan that our elected officials receive. I have to wonder, was this really a miraculous recovery, or was it first rate health care that only congressmen and women have? Was it both? I'll probably never know for sure, but I would like to see this practice abolished, in favor of a system where elected officials must use the same health care system they push to the rest of America......namely Medicare and Medicaid. I would love to see the American people demand that elected officials use Medicare, or Medicaid, and purchase supplemental insurance on their own (no taxpayer subsidy).

I totally agree, and you could not have said it any better, Congratulations, and enjoy you retired life with your hubby, you both deserve all the happiness you can muster.

I'm seeing comments from many disparaging her care ('at taxpayer expense') or favorable treatment she may have received, etc.

You may have a point, but I think since she took a bullet to the head while doing her job, there may be room for leniency here.

As an elected representative of the US government, whether you like it or not, she took a bullet for you.

Please note I don't live in her district or vote democrat or in any way directly support her, I just respect the position of elected office that she holds, and the sacrifice that she has made that cannot be denied.

@josh brogan

You, sir, are now on the watch list as an unstable lunatic conspiracy-minded individual. Your comments leave no other conclusion. Don't believe you can actually hide behind your fake moniker as we all try to do.

I live in Canada so maybe it is different in the US but I do know here that anyone in office, doctors, lawyers etc. etc. use the same Medical Service we have here. If they require treatments that arent covered under our Medicare then just like everyone else they have to pay for those treatments. I know cause when my doctor's wife was battling breast cancer he talked to me about an advanced drug that he wanted her to have and it cost 2,000.00 for every needle she got. We dont discriminate - everyone carries the same Medical Card and gets the same coverage. The only difference is that these people probably pay higher premiums because of how much they make and I think that is a fair way to do it. Yes we get all surgeries covered and x-rays covered and any CT Scans or MRI Scans are covered as is our stay in the hospital unless you want a private room. Rehab is covered only if you go to a place that does regular rehab - if you want what Gabby got you have to pay for it. So I cant believe that people would complain about a representative of the government who was meant to be killed by this guy but miraculously survived should have gotten any and all rehab she needed to get well again. But the biggest thing here is people are assuming they paid her bills but dont know for sure. So dont judge something until you have all the facts.

It speaks volumes that the Federal Judge is never mentioned in the Pravda Press!

What happened to her is terrible, and America has a real problem with this kind of recurring horror. And it's inspiring to see her recover. But getting shot doesn't make one great. Her politics are still misguided.

So if I am to understand your warped logic:IT IS o.k. to attack someone you don't agree with???Very typical, ignorant rant from our wonderful Gas and Oil Party.

I can't believe the hate on this vine.

It really makes me sad. Good luck Gabby, welcome home.

I'd say Gabby more than paid the price for her "primo" health care.

I am tired about all the talk of "primo" health care. Yes, she has a good plan. Yes, they are personally wealthy. So what?

One reason I'm tired of hearing about this is that many health care plans from major employers would have been as good. My sister was a high school teacher in a southern state. Her plan provider is one of the major health care providers with a name everyone recognizes. When she was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, we did our homework and called Duke, where she was treated by the same surgeon who operated on Teddy Kennedy. Yes, her insurance paid. And instead of 6-18 months, she lived for 5 years..and continued to teach school for 2 years after the diagnosis. the problem for us was not the health care plan...it was all of the other costs that were incurred that weren't covered by medical insurance...particularly her last months when she was in a nursing home at a cost of over $5000 a month.

I agree, KG.

Personally, I don't care for AZ politics. BUT, when I was returning home from visiting family there, I had pains in my chest. I pulled into an urgent care center, and I was in the back getting help before they knew my name or whether I had insurance. I received the best care both at the center and the hospital where I stayed for observation.

Yeah, I have insurance. I'm lucky. I also pay quite a bit for it. And I paid for some of the $14,000 bill. I'm lucky, too, because I have a job.

The problem isn't that Giffords has "primo" care. The problem is that not everyone has "primo" care. So why denigrate her because she has it? Why not promote a system where everyone has the health care they need?

The problem isn't that Giffords has "primo" care. The problem is that not everyone has "primo" care. So why denigrate her because she has it? Why not promote a system where everyone has the health care they need?

I think it has more to do with the "TAXPAYERS" paying for her "primo" care that is the problem.

There were many others that were shot and some even killed, but no one gave them the flowers, money, cards, or attention like this Gabby received. This was a tragic event, and made even worse when the media focused only on this one politician and ignored all the others.

Gabby wasn't the only victim in this shooting, but people seem to think she was.

Giffords and Kelly PAID for their "primo" healthcare, just like all other Federal employees.

It's not free; it cost them the same as it costs me to provide healthcare for my husband and me: about $450 a month.

Yes, the government contributes (like other employers). But there are NO free plans for Congress, astronauts or civilian employees. The only ones who don't pay for their healthcare, are the military.

Where did this "it's FREE" rumor start? Chain-letter anti-healthcare reform hoax emails?

This 'PRIMO' care she received is a standard part of the Federal Employee Healthcare Benefits Plan. Since she was injured doing her job, Workmen's Compensation kicked in too. In a year or two, when Obamacare fully kicks in, Congress will switch to it! Of course taxpayers pay for it. Taxpayers pay for everything. If you pay taxes, and go to the supermarket, you are a taxpayer paying for groceries. If you pay taxes and go to a concert, you are a taxpayer paying for music. Since Senators and Representatives also pay taxes, you could say they are also paying their own salaries. And NO, Gabby doesn't collect her entire salary for life. Her pension, which she paid into, wasn't vested untill she served 12 years. That entitles her to 2%, and will go up for additional years served, capped at 80%. Been that way for almost 30 years.

I agree with HappyinCA. The problem is that not everyone has access to such great care and rehab. Congressmen and Senators alike share the top most perfect insurance that money can buy, and if you look at it closely it is a form of "socialized" medicine provided to them on the taxpayers dollar. Its a blanket of security that conservative republican congressmen enjoy and would deny others. The horrors of losing everything because insurance stops paying or will not pay "new" treatment forces many into foreclosure. And no insurance at all? Better forget owning a home ever! You will lose it down the line. Far better to get the actual "welfare queens" of America (the very wealthy individuals and corporations) to pay their fair share for raking in the benefits of The American Dream. "Bank of America did not pay a dime in federal taxes last year. Or the year before. In fact they got a $1 billion refund last year. They claimed it was because they had pretax losses of $5.4 billion in 2010. They paid out $35 billion in bonuses and compensation that year. You do the math"- Matt Taibbi,'The Crimes of Bank of America' RS, Issue1153. Walmart owners are Greed Gone Wild on steroids, and their employees are all to poor to contribute to a healthy economy. No spending money- many need heating assistance, food stamps, you name it, likewise tossing them into the taxpayers laps.

I drift. I am very happy for Gabby Giffords and would also like to commend her husband for being an ideal husband/ partner. Home is where the heart is!

My, God! Katherine M has posted the single greatest examples of WHY the Greed Only Party is fighting against everything the President wants!

THEY get to have it, but they'll be DAMNED if they want anyone else to have it!.

Why is no one asking them why they don't want average Americans to have health care?

could have happen anywhere ! glad she's rolling home! best to her & her hubby!

I'm glad Mrs. Giffords is making such a wonderful recovery. She still has a long way to go, but the fact she has come this far is amazing. Best wishes for a continued recovery.

KG in midwest;

You clearly have not seen the contents of the Congressional and Senate health care system. No deductions, no exclusions, no pre-existing conditions, no out of pocket, no premiums. Show me a SINGLE policy like it. If Obamacare is so great, why did they opt out as soon as they passed it for everyone else? If private policies are as good, why don't they use them? Theirs is an all inclusive, no exceptions, totally FREE system, free to them anyway. WHO do you suppose pays for it? That's right, We the people pays for it while denied access to it. What is the total out of pocket and deductible on your health care? I'm betting it isn't totally free of charge to you.

@Arieus

Actually the little six year old girl who was killed has been memoralized in various ways, at different times, since she died. All the others were not ignored and definitely have not been forgotten. Mr. Barber who was injured during the shooting won the election to replacement Gabby when she resigned from the post.

These people don't want to be in the limelight continually. They all needed to, and have, moved on and hopefully are doing well, but never forgotten.

parallelcooler

Giffords and Kelly PAID for their "primo" healthcare, just like all other Federal employees.

The taxpayers pay for her enormous salary which pays for her primo care.

It's not free; it cost them the same as it costs me to provide healthcare for my husband and me: about $450 a month.

You are fight. It's not free. The taxpayers are billed for it since they pay for all these politicians salary from the get-go.

Yes, the government contributes (like other employers). But there are NO free plans for Congress, astronauts or civilian employees. The only ones who don't pay for their healthcare, are the military.

bs... have you seen congress salary, and the taxpayers subsidize the salaries of astronauts, and it always (once again) falls on the backs of the taxpayers.

Where did this "it's FREE" rumor start? Chain-letter anti-healthcare reform hoax emails?

Maybe you should learn where these overpaid politicians steal their monies from.

Slap Gabby's azz on medicare and 800 mth SS benefits and see how she likes it. I know people collecting that much that worked their azzes off and barely making ends meet.

Gabby wasn't the only victim in this shooting, but people seem to think she was.

Believe me, Arieus, no one here in Tucson has forgotten that there were other victimes. We're just grateful that the actions of a few brave people at the event, combined with the top-notch medical facilities here, kept Loughner from claiming even more victimes.

EVERY citizen of America COULD have the exact same medical coverage as Congress IF WE DEMANDED it as a MAJORITY !

But NO!, we ALLOW congress to TELL us what we should NEED...Americans only have themselves to blame for the current mess in Washington, we employ egomaniacs, the perverted rich & idiots & then wonder WHY? is everything all messed up !

America cannot keep it's eye on the ball because it's too busy texting, trying to make a living or surviving on SS .

Shalyse:...I lived in Arizona for 12 years....Got tired of the "gun crazy" people that seemed obsessed with guns.....Extremely paranoid people that are looking for trouble in every aspect......I won't even get into the fact that a lot of Arizona is a "war zone" where it isn't safe to be out at night......And the people get the illusion that if they are armed to the teeth, this protects them.......Strange thinking to say the least.

Just got tired of hearing police sirens at night, and helicopters flying overhead with search lights........Now you might say that Obama has done nothing about the illegals, and you are right.....But tell me Sir, what did Bush in his 8 years, or Mc Cain in his decades, do about the problem?...Nothing.

Arizona could be a beautiful state to live in, but unfortunately YOU people just want a Wild West state.....

Who has the bigger gun! DUH back to you.

I still live in Arizona and it is a redneck state indeed. Don't get so defensive @shaleyse17. I love this state but the truth is the truth.

Yep, thanks to all those illegals running drugs.

See.....there you go again.....thinking people are going to be reasonable. Just by virtue of what I've read here....damn scary if you asked me! Have a good day! I agree with you though, by the way! There have been WAY too many and 1 is (to me) WAY too many "mass" shootings.....it is a plague just as bad as AIDS or cancer. Violence does not know any bounds and NOBODY is truly safe. I DO think for myself....a rarity in this age!

The 2Nd amendment does allow people like Loughner top do some harm, but it exists solely to protect the American people from Government and after 4 years of Obama the need has never been greater. Its always Progressive Fascists calling for removal of all guns so they can then tell you what to think, how large of a soda you can buy, etc.

OK, Jeff, try to set aside your paranoid delusions for a moment and give us one concrete example of where President Obama threatened your 2nd Amendment rights.

Go ahead, we're waiting...

In the meantime, people keep dying doing ordinary things like attending a gathering with their representative, or watching a movie, or worshipping, or going to school. And all the while the NRA leaders feed the public mumbo jumbo about their rights being curtailed, while simulataneously (and conveniently) ignoring the "well regulated" part of the amendment.

You noticed that too!

It would be nice to hear about the condition of the other victims. However, not only is Giffords a public figure, the severity of her injuries was not typical. It was inevitable that the media would focus so much on her and not the people who had "typical" bullet wounds

Not to mention she was a congress member- a group who votes itself annual pay raises (despite the economic condition), historically gets influential 'perks' under the table, and takes full pay for life after retiring with full benefits. But hey, she's likeable so we can ignore all that.

And was able to opt out of Obama care. Different outcome I am sure if she had the name Jane Smith and Obamacare.

The other victims are private citizens and their condition is none of your business unless they choose to tell you. They prefer not to. Gabby and her husband are both public figures and are not accorded the same level of personal privacy by the media.

Wow. What a bunch of UNINFORMED people!

"opted out of Obamacare"

WRONG. Congress' healthcare plans (which are NOT free) fall under the Affordable Care Act and must cover the same things.

"takes full pay for life after retiring with full benefits. "

WRONG.

Congress has a retirement plan very similar to that of other Federal employees. NO ONE gets "full pay for life" under that plan.

It is shocking to find out how uninformed the American public is. Even worse, I suspect some of you vote.

parallelcooler - and the fact that some of those uninformed vote is the scary part.

Also what folks missed is since her husband is currently retired military and was still technically active duty military at the time of the shooting - his military coverage could have kicked in for her also as his spouse, I do not know if they used this or not.

Yo, ProFreedom, Where the 'f' do you get your 'facts'? Full benefits for life? Do you really believe the glurge sent around anonymously on the internet? Members of Congress, that is both Senators & Representatives, pay into a pension fund that is not vested for 12 years. Giffords didn't serve 12 years, so she only can get back the money she paid in. If she had stayed in for 12 years and was vested, she'd get a whopping 2%! The amount goes up the longer she'd have served, and is capped at 80%. Been that way for almost 30 years. If you don't believe me, check it out yourself. Start with the National Taxpayers Union web site.

parallelcooler, if you're truly shocked at Republicans being uninformed (or misinformed), then you just haven't been paying much attention! :)

Yes Republicans are stupid because the least well educated groups in America are Blacks, Hispanics and poor people and only 90% of them vote for Obama. Oh wait those are facts. Not allowed on Progressive news "sites" lol.

Gas Oil Party is for the rich, by the rich and the rest can eat the crumbs they so graciously throw from the table. I am not ignorant, just tired of the only goal you guys have had was to NOT WORK ALONGSIDE a Democrat. I don't even think it is solely because of his mixed race. It is because your people can't stand it when you're not in total control. Never mind how your antics have kept us little people from seeing much improvement. I also blame Obama for thinking he could work with your party. He needs to stand up for who voted for him, and not try to be reasonable with a group that shows no reasoning capabilities

Jeff-1570172 said,

"Yes Republicans are stupid because the least well educated groups in America are Blacks, Hispanics and poor people and only 90% of them vote for Obama. Oh wait those are facts. Not allowed on Progressive news "sites" lol."

And statements like the above are why Republicans are called racist, yet get defensive when called out as such. Obviously education does not always equate to intelligence.

Yo,debbie maybe one day you'll fall off the turnip truck and not believe everything you f'n read.

Perhaps if we quit going after "Obamacare" and focus on what is right for the people we will eventually get tot he point where we get good treatment for everybody.

We all know the answer to that Ben. But frankly everyday there are people in this country thru no fault of their own are injured and will lose everything they have to the health system. Still Gabby was a congresswoman and doing her job when attacked, she deserves special treatment.

No she deserves the same standard of care just the same as all Americans.

Ben and everyone forget the fact that she was in congress - her care would have been covered by the NAvy anyway because her husband was an active duty serving member of the NAvy at the time, and he has since retired but the military medical plans cover spouses. So are you all going to begrudge her that coverage.

Those shot in the theatre and I notice no one mentioned the Sikh temple (hmmm wonder why) - those folks if they have coverage will be covered those that dont will get their care via medicaid and other taxpayer plans - maybe not the extensive rehab in Houston but they will get care.

I agree, she deserves the same as any other citizen, like the drug addled addict down the streey, or Warren Buffet. But since she was injured doing her job, - meeting with the public, her constituents, at a public meet and greet, Workmen's Compensation also kicked in. BTW, congress has NOT opted out of Obama care, they are specifically included.

If Obamacare is preserved, they will, since Congress is specifically included.

Because that is what the navy wanted to name the ship? What difference does it make? Is the ship going to be less effective because you don't agree with the name? They named one after Bob Hope, should they have named this one after another entertainer? They name ships all sorts of things, if they wanted to name this one after her they have that right.

Enough - I agree with your sentiment but I really wish the Navy would go back to naming ships after DEAD peopla as they traditionally did. Naming after the Living - GHW Bush, JImmy Carter, ROnald Reagan (he was alive when that ship was named), Gabby Giffords - no matter your politics or ideology naming the ships after the living is just wrong.

Letusreason - Jesse Jackson has been away form his seat what 4 - 5 months - Ms Giffords took a year to resign.

Holly -

Jesse didn't take a bullet to the brain.

As someone who lives in Tucson, I can assure you that people voted for Ron Barber because they support progressive policies, not the regressive ideas that want to take us backward by decades.

Well said, Fric! What I see is a miracle recovery, a devoted and loving couple, and a community that loves her and welcomes her home with open arms. God bless them both.

How long have you been small minded and vicious?