Gabby Giffords Steps Down… Then Up

Well, I got emotional.

You’d have to have a pretty cold heart not to feel the ache in each transition in the between Giffords then and Giffords now. At the same time, however, this video does feel all that much like a thank you and farewell. Try watching the first fifteen seconds again, with the Western montage, and then Gabby beginning: “Arizona is my home.”

Given the format, the music, the length, it’s almost indistinguishable from a campaign video. Now, you might say the ad style simply pays respects to her passion, dedication to the role, and her reluctance to let it go. I think it’s a lot more savvy than than that, though. (You recall the famous: “Hello, I must be going!” line?) Given how the recovery and rehab have been as heedful media-wise as medically, this reads like a formal re-introduction — and notice that,  if and as soon as it’s humanly possible, Gabby’s back in the ring.