The Advertiser reports that Representative Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo has been activated for National Guard duty. Fellow politicians Mark Takai and Charles Djou are also in the Guard but have not (yet) been activated.
On the one hand, sure, she could phone or email her votes in to the Legislature. But if I was one of her constituents, I would be concerned that she would not be sufficiently accessible to me. I'd definitely vote her out this fall for that reason, and I guess it's a good thing that the election is so soon. But if this were to have happened earlier in her term, should she be considered capable to fulfill her duties as an elected official? By comparison, this seems similar to having your elected official on extended travel and never available in her home district.
I don't know how this has been handled in the past - has it happened before at all? Any political/military historians out there who know?
On the one hand, sure, she could phone or email her votes in to the Legislature. But if I was one of her constituents, I would be concerned that she would not be sufficiently accessible to me. I'd definitely vote her out this fall for that reason, and I guess it's a good thing that the election is so soon. But if this were to have happened earlier in her term, should she be considered capable to fulfill her duties as an elected official? By comparison, this seems similar to having your elected official on extended travel and never available in her home district.
I don't know how this has been handled in the past - has it happened before at all? Any political/military historians out there who know?
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