In an attempt to elevate the level of discourse I am going to start posting a comment of the week. NostraDemus posted it on the entry of Rep. Giffords reading the Constitution. All of us involved in politics are responsible for the current level of our political discourse. We should reward responsibility at the ballot box and on blogs.

Here is most of his comment:

I have had the personal pleasure and professional honor of meeting Congresswoman Giffords last year in D.C. during a symposium sponsored by the New Democrat coalition. Her thoughtful, caring and compassionate commitment to public service was as palpable, as was the infectious smile and good natured personality that she so naturally demonstrated to all who met her. Congresswoman Gifford's commitment to bed-rock Constitutional principles, as well as her caring and compassionate service to her congressional constituents is well demonstrated by her record.

And your video clip of Congresswoman Giffords reading the First Amendment text during the opening meeting of the 112th Congress last week was both poignant, and uncannily ironic.. Further, Gabby's unbridled passion for active public service to her district, her beloved state, and the nation has been courageously demonstrated many times during her short, but memorable political career. Especially now when she is fighting for her very life with every breath she takes. For the sake of Congresswoman Giffords and her family, the constituents in her Arizona 8th Congressional District, and indeed for all Americans of good will, I hope and pray that she will recover and return to the "People's House", as soon as is possible and practical.

Brian, if you have not yet seen it, I strongly recommend that you, and ALL Dennett bloggers, watch the discussion that took place today on NBC's Meet the Press. Five of Ms. Giffords' Congressional colleagues, Republican and Democrats alike, including two of her colleagues from the Arizona Delegation, spoke truth to American political power, at all levels, with clarity, compassion and great wisdom. Additionally, David Gregory, NBC's program moderator, played a video of President Clinton's words on lessons-learned from the Oklahoma City tragedy, during a symposium held last year, well before this weekend's tragic events. Anyone interested in seeing and hearing those words spoken for themselves can click on the URL above, which will take you to portion of today's Meet the Press program in which President Clinton's video clip is featured. But for those who don't choose to take the time to view the video, for whatever reason, here's what President Clinton said.. "What we learned from the Oklahoma City disaster is not that we should gag each other, or reduce our passions for the positions we hold. But rather that the words we use really do matter, because there is this great echo chamber. And they go across space and fall upon the serious and the delusional, and the connected and the unhinged.." President Clinton's thoughtful admonition is well worth reflecting upon, deeply, by all of us.. Let us all hope, pray and wish for the best for Congresswoman Giffords and her family, along with the friends and family of all the other victims of the senseless violence which was propagated this weekend in southeastern Arizona. God Bless Congresswoman Giffords. God Bless all the other victims and their families. And God Bless America...

NostraDemus