It was an interesting discussion, with both sides (stay or go) presented clearly.

Bolling called the interview “heart-warming,” but suggested that now may be time to vacate Giffords’ seat in Congress. “In the risk of sounding very callous — these are tough times, the economy’s on its ear, we really need all hands on deck,” he said. “For me, it seems like forget next year, maybe even now say ‘Hey look, maybe they should hold a special election right away to see if he we can get someone who is really capable and able to make the right decisions.'” After saying that the interview made him “well up,” co-host Bob Beckel also asked if running for re-election would be in her best interest. Meanwhile, co-host Brian Kilmeade came out strongly in favor of Giffords keeping her seat, noting that a capable staff is a worthy substitute while she is in rehabilitation. He remarked, “If she formed a staff in her likeness, people that she believes what she believes, if they can do a lot of the work for her while she rehabs, if that is something she wants, she took a bullet to the head for this country! At least she can finish her job if she chooses!”

I suspect it’s considered crass to suggest what the Fox host did, and he did present his views in a rather direct manner, but putting all that aside for a moment, does he have a point?

When I saw Rep. Giffords interviewed on TV yesterday I was heartened to see her alive and recovering. But I have to admit I wondered if she was up for the job. Congress seems to be the only job where no matter what happens to you, or what condition you’re in, it’s considered poor form to ask whether it’s time for you to move on. Which is interesting, since it’s such an important job.

Strom Thurmond comes to mind. Not exactly on the ball in his final years in the Senate, which isn’t surprising since he was 100 years old. It was considered impolitic to suggest that a 100 year old man just might be ready for retirement. I remember the time I met Thurmond at a reception in the Senate that G.H.W. Bush was attending, around 1990 or so. I was standing next to a blonde female staffer from my office and next to her was Thurmond, we were all shoulder to shoulder. Suddenly I felt a hand massaging my elbow. It was Strom. He apparently thought I was the blonde.

I can’t remember if it was Thurmond, or another Senator, but I do clearly remember being told that one particularly infirm Senator was no longer doing his job, and his chief of staff had taken over the position entirely. And for some reason, that unconstitutional power grab was okay because it wouldn’t have been impolitic to suggest that being a United States Senator is a tad more important than ceremonial.

It is never considered acceptable to suggest that a member of Congress ever step down for health reasons. But in regular employment there’s no such expectation of life tenure on the job. As for the other Fox host who said her staff can do her job, well, we didn’t vote for her staff. There are some fundamental democratic questions involved in voting for one person and having someone else replace them de facto rather than de jure.

I hesitated to even post this post, which goes to my point that, for some reason, we don’t like suggesting that members of Congress be held to the same standard the rest of us face, namely that when we become incapable of doing our job, we leave.