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From the
Tribune:
"On the eve of her re-election bid, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii District 2, announced that she has been activated by the Hawaii Army National Guard.
The congresswoman serves as a Military Police Captain in the Guard, and will be supporting response to the ongoing Kilauea lava flow.
“She will join about 80 National Guard soldiers and airmen already on the ground,” reads a press release issued by her office Monday afternoon."
- See more at:
http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/loc...eOFfw.dpuf
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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hm... this news makes me feel a bit unclear and groggy, like i just recently woke up, ..which i have.
putting the usual noble, stirring feelings of serving in uniform aside, does something about this situation seem a little incongruous? ...the timing of this announcement seems a little convenient as well. odd to me at the moment.
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I'm glad to see she'll be stationed here. Hopefully it will be long enough so she can see what most of us see every day. Often politicians become isolated from their constituents, this is a great opportunity for her to see Puna, the effects of the lava, the emergency roads, etc up close. If we're on our best behavior, she'll see what we have to offer during a time of crisis. Maybe government will then respond in kind when we really need it.
Welcome Tulsi!
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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I thought you couldn't do both,be on active duty and be in congress at the same time.
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that's a constructive and positive way of looking at it, HOTPE, i like it. just wondering how in some cases members of Congress being called up for duty in the National Guard while they are in office might create some odd situations. trying to think of a good analogy of where a person in a position of top responsibility is officially called away from their very uniquely important duties to perform some other task. ...
(my questioning has absolutely nothing to do with my political support for or against Tulsi Gabbard)
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Welcome, Tulsi. You can't get more hands-on then that. No photo ops for this rep. I think it is pretty cool.
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If she gets activated and serves on the line like her fellows, it would be refreshing to see.
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"Welcome, Tulsi. You can't get more hands-on then that. No photo ops for this rep. I think it is pretty cool.
regardless of how much it really matters, just how do we know that no photo ops will be occurring for this representative?
was hoping to discuss the bigger picture of this unusual arrangement than basically "this is cool, go Tulsi".
i'd like to know how this is supposed to work if it conflicts with some sudden and urgent development requiring her attention in U.S. Congress. whisked away from duty manning the barricades in Pahoa?
i suppose this from the article answers in part another question i have:
“During this time, she (Gabbard) will be unable to accept media requests or make public statements related to her official congressional duties,” reads the release.
was wondering how her duties here might be very awkwardly intermingled. wonder how her position as Congressperson affects her relationship with subordinates and superiors. ...you know in actuality it can't be entirely ignored.
if there is a deployment of US troops into armed conflict, might a member of congress enlisted in the National Guard be called away to, say, man a machine gun or perhaps perform mess hall duties, etc?
__________
adding to my previous disclaimer: (my questioning has absolutely nothing to do with my political support for or against Tulsi Gabbard. in fact, i had been planning on voting for her today)
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Isn't there a conflict here? I thought congress members weren't allowed to be employed in state or federal job positions?
Not while a sitting congress member... same applies to the POTUS.
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Us Constitution article 1 section 6 clause 2
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/...1_6_2.html
"No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."
Effectively appears to disqualify her as a member of congress.
ETA - but as a reservist she doesn't technically fall under the articles application.
