One year after being injured in an assassination attempt, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) announced that she is resigning to focus on her recovery.

Interestingly the announcement was made on Youtube, perhaps the first time such an announcement has been made in that way. In the video she still shows signs of her injury but has made remarkable progress. She calls on members of both parties to work together to find solutions to the problems that we face. It is a shame she could not be running for the US Senate this November.

Her resignation will require a special election to fill the vacancy sometime in the spring or summer. As to the prospects for that contest, I think we can focus on them later.

For now I think people of all political stripes should pay respect to someone who has made a difficult choice that is in the best interests of both herself and her country.

UPDATE: HERE IS HER MESSAGE ON YOU TUBE: