Friday, December 16, 2011

"I Nearly Died." Time Magazine's interview with Gabrielle Giffords.

Photograph by Dan Winters for TIME
Courtesy of Time Magazine:

Writing such an honest book is an act of bravery. Was it hard for you to relive the events this year in order to write it? 

"It was really hard to relive those days. At times it was a bit scary."

What do you remember about the shooting? 

"I don't remember anything." (Personally I hope she NEVER remembers what happened to her that day.)

Mark waited a while to tell you how many other people were hurt or killed in the shooting. Did you realize that even before you were told?

"I had no idea. I didn't even know what happened to me. I didn't know I was shot until I was told." 


Do you think what happened to you was partly the result of the bitter divisions in the country or entirely the act of a disturbed individual? 

"Politics has been very nasty recently, but this was clearly a sick person."  (Yes a sick person who could have been partially inspired by another sick person.)

President Obama went to see you several times after the shooting. What did you talk about? 

"First time he visited, I was in a coma. Other time I saw him, I was in Florida before Mark launched into space. I don't remember what we talked about, but it was probably about my recovery and rehab. He did say he wanted me back in Congress."

I think that the interviewer probably edited together Gabby's halting responses a little bit to make them flow a little better, but it does seem she is increasingly improving her ability to speak. (Correction, Gabby actually responded to questions via e-mail. I originally missed that sentence in the article. As my hero Rick Perry would say, "Oops.")

By the way I have to say, I really love that picture they used.

24 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:18 AM

    Sarah says, "damn, she ruined my f'in plans! If she would have kicked the bucket I could have had her seat in Congress; now I'm stuck with 2 houses in that piece of shit state Arizona."

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  2. Tom Joad3:36 AM

    This will surely get a response from Dirty Wig.
    Watch for similar wardrobe and or hairstyle.

    Dirty Wig is obsessed with Congresswoman GG.

    Dirty Wig is afterall a mean, junior high school girl trapped in an old hags body.

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  3. WakeUpAmerica3:57 AM

    Yes, it is a lovely picture and seems to capture her inner light that shines so clearly in her face.

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  4. I am just now getting around to reading "Going Rogue". I find it a very compelling well- written account of what anyone who has followed the Palin saga knows to be true. Yesterday I wrote a review for Amazon.com.

    Would you believe that there was a troll already there waiting in the wings to shoot me down?

    Might be a good idea for those who have read the book to leave their own reviews. This troll pointed out that there were over 1,000 e-mail released with no smoking guns. Head over to Amazon and take a look. Amazing.

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  5. fromthediagonal4:29 AM

    A beautiful picture of an indomitable woman.
    She has my admiration.
    No matter how halting her speech, she has much to teach.
    May she live long to do so.

    Christopher Hitchens is free of the constraints of the body.
    Long live his teachings.
    His wrath and wisdom have inspired thinkers and seekers alike.
    His teachings will long survive.

    He will be missed.

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  6. Anonymous5:30 AM

    That's a beautiful photo. I just keep reading more and more great things about her. She truly is a beautiful person inside and out.

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  7. Anonymous5:58 AM

    She is a sweetheart with a lot of grit.

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  8. GhostbusterTX6:11 AM

    Article says her responses were emailed, so any editing was done on her end.

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  9. Anonymous6:16 AM

    I believe TIME mentioned that the interview took place via email, so, unfortunately, us outsiders can't tell yet about any hoped-for improvements in Gabby's speech. Hopefully, we will have the chance to hear her talk again in the very, very near futre.

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  10. Anonymous6:25 AM

    See that pic, Queen Esther? THAT is one with a servant's heart. Choke on it.

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  11. Anonymous6:42 AM

    Wanna bet there'll be a photo of the wasilla witch in black and white coming soon? Then again - Black and white photos tend to show things more clearly and I'm guessing the wrinkles, botched plastic surgeries, crow feet and blotchy skin will show more clearly so unless she can get some serious photoshop work she might want to pass on anyone seeing through her mask

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  12. Anonymous6:46 AM

    Speaking of Rick Perry: http://www.tmdailypost.com/article/bum-steers/our-bum-steer-year

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  13. Anonymous7:00 AM

    Bless her heart. She's looking wonderful!

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  14. Anonymous7:00 AM

    In a post yesterday, there was discussion about when Sarah lost it. Some said the Rogue book etc. For me, personally, these shootings were the end of Sarah. When she issued the lie about those targets only being surveyors marks and then came out with that horrible blood libel video, she sunk to the absolute lowest anyone could sink in my opinion.

    Sarah loves to come on here and call us "haters". I didn't hate her until these shootings. Hate was just too strong a word for the dislike and distain I felt. But I will honestly say that after that, I absolutely do hate her.

    If you haven't read Gabby's book, I strongly encourage you to do so.

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  15. Anonymous7:33 AM

    O/T reply to Margot @4:00M

    I read your review at Amazon and saw the Bot jump on it. I left a comment of my own and gave you a thumbs up. The Bot "reviews," for the most part, are just attacks on Joe (you know, he is a pervert... and so on). They just mindlessly support their "Great Leader." I seriously doubt that any of them have read the book (or any book). With them it is just fingers in the ears and La La La La La.

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  16. This is a beautiful picture of Gabrielle Giffords. Her humanity shines. It is also very poignant.

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  17. Anonymous8:23 AM

    Gabby was going to start invitro 2 days after she was shot, Screech ruined something else for her

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  18. Anonymous8:36 AM

    @Margot, the title you mean is THE ROGUE. GOING ROGUE is Palin's book.

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  19. Anonymous8:49 AM

    Aren't you discriminating against her for her speech? Who cares if it is perfect or not?

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  20. Gabrielle Giffords may never be able to speak fluently. That she has gotten this far is a testament to her grit. But that does not mean she can't be a gifted politician. I keep thinking of Stephen Hawking, arguable the greatest physicist in the world. He can't speak, or do much of anything else for that matter. But when he "talks" people listen. Gabby could teach the political world that less is more.

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  21. Anonymous9:56 AM

    Anon @8:49 AM

    "Aren't you discriminating against her for her speech? Who cares if it is perfect or not?"

    Gryphen is not discriminating against Gabby. He is just pointing out the reality of her brain injury. There is nothing discriminatory in what he is saying. He is speaking to the reality of what she is struggling to overcome. No one cares if she is perfect, we just want to see her regain has much as she can.

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  22. Anonymous12:26 PM

    I love that picture too, she's beautiful, and the picture captures her beauty.

    She has grace and beauty and elegance, all things sarah does not and will not ever have, even with her millions.

    Thanks for posting this Gryphen. I hate that the MSM posts crap about Lilo and the Kardashians, and pass by stories like these.

    I appreciate all that you do.

    R in NC

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  23. Anonymous3:41 PM

    Darling photo of her. I sincerely hope that as she improves and talks about the shooting to other media, that she does include the name of Sarah Palin being responsible. (Crosshair map!)At least, her husband had the balls to include Palin in his/their book.

    As I've said before, Sarah Palin has a place in hell awaiting her!!!

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  24. Anonymous9:01 PM

    As someone who's friend suffered a traumatic brain injury, the fact that Gabby can put two words together so soon , alone, is a miracle. I hate to say this, but it's true, Gabby has a long, hard struggle ahead of her. She has an excellent support system and a strong will to overcome this injury, and she's truly a hero, there just isn't another word that works but miracle.

    My friend suffered a head injury in a car accident, and like Gabby, they put a balloon between his scalp and skull to stretch the skin, removed a piece of skull and slid it in to keep it living with a blood supply, and put in a coma. It took him a year and a half to be able to move a spoon from a cup to his lips, he slipped into a deep depression, which is common, and it delayed his recovery. He's five years along and doing extremely well, Gabby's injury must have been much worse, and I wish her a speedy recovery and triumphant return to the job she loved.

    And I hope Sarah overcomes the tramatic blood libel. I hear it makes you lose any shred of credibility and any chance of ever being famous again.

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