I'm happy for Rep. Giffords, but it must be asked if she handle the work her office demands.

[LLStarks]

I don't care if you guys get angry like you always do when this comes up, you're just avoiding reality.

Regardless of how well her recovery is going, AZ-8 deserves to know whether they'll have a functioning representative before January 2013.

And by functioning, I don't mean meeting constituents or doing events, I mean the meet and potatoes of being a congressman: reading bills, debating bills, and representing the district on the floor. If she can do these things verbally, on paper, or through an assistive technology, that's fine. But everything I've read so far suggests that she won't progress much further than the simple vocal utterances and gestures that she is currently capable of.

Her office staff can't do any of those things even on her behalf while she's rehabilitating.

It's not about getting back her vote in congress or feeling good about how she's still in office. Congress is serious business and it should be treated as such.