Reading the Pictures: <i>Gabby Giffords Steps Down ... Then Up</i>

Well, I got emotional watching the video. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it here:

You'd have to have a pretty cold heart not to feel the ache of every switch between Giffords before and Giffords now.

At the same time, however, this felt like anything but a thank you and farewell. Watch the first eleven seconds again, with the Western montage, and then the next four as Gabby begins: "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 and dedication to the role, and 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 has been as heedful media-wise as medically, this reads like a formal re-introduction -- the announcement that, (if and) as soon as it's humanly possible, Gabby's back in the ring.

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