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Resigning from Senate never an option. Mike Rush,“That never even crossed my mind”
By Anonymous on Thu, 01/20/2011 - 1:34pm
Timothy Robertson at the Dedham Patch takes the stenography:
"A downside of Rush’s deployment: no vote will be cast for the district he represents..."
Downside indeed. Is it too much to ask the reporter to pose the obvious question: Might citizens reasonably expect to have a voting Senator represent their interests? After all, a revolution was fought for that right on the premise, no taxation without representation.
A leader would put the interest of his constituents ahead of his own.
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Comments
Journalism #fail
Journalism #fail
Brad Williams beat Rush in Westwood
...just sayin' that the argument Rush won big and people knew Rush was in the reserves doesn't hold water.
Rush cannot do this job in the Senate from Afghanistan. He'll be out of the country for more than one year of a two year term. He should put the interests of the people in the district ahead of his own interests.
It doesn't
And Rush won in Norwood, Dedham, West Roxbury, Roslindale, Hyde Park and JP. What does that tell you. He barely lost westwood.
He should resign
Rush cannot do this job in the Senate from Afghanistan.
He'll be out of the country for more than one year of a two year term.
Who is Brad Williams
Who is Brad Williams? Isn't he the guy who used to be on NPR?
Who?
Is this guy Williams?
Guest posters
Is there a way of filtering these and kicking them back for editing before posting? This is pretty far beneath UHub's usual standards. I'm not against other writers at all, but this is pretty weak.
It Does Raise An Interesting Question, Though
At what point of non-service to constituents should state reps and/or state senators be forced to give up the office?
I understand that deployment is certainly service of a different sort; actually, one hell of a lot more service than being an elected representative, IMHO. However, the folks who live in the district do deserve representation, don't they? While having his staff serving them is helpful, the fact remains that he won't be there. And being there is pretty much part of the job description for elected reps and senators, isn't it? If not, then what's to stop any rep or senator from being elected to the post and then moving out of the district while retaining his or her seat?
Say he wasn't going to do military service, but was, instead, going to Bermuda on personal business.
(Don't get any panties in a bunch, folks. I know he's going into danger, as opposed to on a vacation. The principle is the same, though. He could conduct business just as well, either way. As a matter of fact, he could probably conduct it one heck of a lot better from Bermuda than where he's actually going. So, why does this get a pass, aside from his being in uniform?)
(Disclaimer: I don't live in the district. I wouldn't know Mike Rush if he was sitting across a table from me. So, no personal axe to grind, or personal agenda to push. I just think it's a good topic for conversation.)
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Do taxpayers still have to
Do taxpayers still have to pay his salary as senator during the year he can't do his job in the Massachusetts Senate?
I won't be surprised if the
I won't be surprised if the Commonwealth pays the Senator for what will be -for a year- a no show job. Next time there's an newspaper article singing the praises of the selfless service-minded guy named Rush, I'll know the truth - he refused to resign even though he knew he had a one year commitment that would keep him from his duty as Senator.
I'm not a big fan of Rush man myself but...
what if he got drafted? Would the people who get drafted have to give up certain jobs? And what about those that would fill in that weren't drafted and the reasons they weren't?
I think it basically comes down to military exemptions for certain jobs. The military has decided that being a state senator isn't important enough of a job to not call someone up because of who they are, just like they don't call up thousands of other military personell that work in the United States for certain jobs.
And some of these state reps have other jobs and others just work as state reps. Should we make them live in Boston and clock in and clock out of the state house every day (minus 3 weeks of vacation)?
And some people think Rush joined the military for himself and not for his country. Many think he is just doing it for a future political resume. If that is the case then just say so.
Which one is Mike Rush?
Which one is Mike Rush? Anyone know who the other three are?
Three out of four
Rush is second from left; on his left is City Councilor Rob Consalvo and the Councilor from Northeastern, John Tobin.
I believe the man on the far left...
is Mr. Gormley, of the Gormley funeral home in West Roxbury.
I shouldn't say I believe it is.
It is Mr. Gormley.
Anonymous, you're laying it
Anonymous, you're laying it on pretty thick here. Taxation without representation? Invoking the Revolutionary War? Cmon, now. This guy just got called up to Iraq for a year while he has a wife and young daughter. Cut him a little slack. Your vehemence on this issue smells like you have a political ax to grind with Rush unrelated to this honestly.
A leader would put the
A leader would put the interest of his constituents ahead of his own.
So you didn't deny you have a
So you didn't deny you have a political issue with Rush. I don't like his politics much personally, but also am fine with him doing this.
Do you think he should get
Do you think he should get his Senator's pay during the year he's gone?
You're clearly avoiding my
You're clearly avoiding my inquiry about a political bias on your end here so I'll let this stand, and answer if you feel so compelled.
Do you think he should get
Do you think he should get his Senator's pay during the year he's gone?
If you're not gonna address
If you're not gonna address my point, then I'm not gonna answer your deflections. Based on your previous postings, it seems pretty clear you don't like Rush based on his politics. That's fine, he's too conservative for me too. But shouldn't you just say that instead of going after him for this and acting like this is the same cause as the American Revolution or similar nonsense? You're not coming from a place of principle, you're being politically opportunistic. Why not start your campaign now against Rush and bash him for this if you're so outraged?
He's choosing to be a Redcoat overseas
instead of representing the citizens of Boston in our own Legislature.
Wow, Ron, that's cold
Wow, Ron, that's cold
70%
70% of the voters chose Rush knowing full well he is in the military and that he could be called up. End of story. Quit whining about it. It is pathetic but then again what do you expect from places like this. A whole 9 people chimed in. I guess the 119,991 out of 120,000 people who live in the district have better things to do than read UH. The guy is an American Hero along with everyone else who serves in the military. Must be tough to swallow that he won by such a large margin.
His resignation should not even be a question
I have no problem with Rush being called up. He chose to be in the reserves and that's part of the deal. He would have resigned from the reserves if he couldn't do his duty when called up.
Now that he's called up he can't do his duty as Senator. He should resign so that citizens in the district can be represented in state government. If he does not, he's putting his own interests ahead of his constituents. A leader would never do that-officers always eat last.
He's going to miss more than half his two-year term unless they extend his tour of duty, then it would be longer.
His job is to represent the people of the district. He cannot do that while he is in Afghanistan for at least one year.
His resignation from office should not even be a question.
He's young. He can run again and he'll probably win.
What he shouldn't do is make the commitment to serve in the Senate and then back out on the work but keep the authority, waste it, and leave his constituents without an advocate or a vote in the senate.
LOL
The district loves the fact that he serves our country and is an American Hero. He beat the two boobs he ran against handliy. He is being backed by democrats and repbublicans.
Then I guess you'll be running for office in two years then? I look forward to you coming out and running for office. Good luck with that. I guess you'll hide here in moonbat land and complain alot.
He won. The people in his district don't want him to resign. He isn't going to. Except for the 5 people on this blog everyone supports him. I know that probably bothers you but that is the reality.
Stop crying.
Another point...
What if a military leader had a political agenda and decided to call up certain units that had certain people in those units? In theory you could trasfer all people from one political party to certian units and call them all up at once forcing them to resign their posts.
Rush understands that being
Rush understands that being called up to active duty is not optional. If you're in the reserves and you get called up, you must go. If he knew he could not go, then he would have resigned from the reserves in advance.
Now, Rush knows he cannot serve as Senator for at least one year. He knows that the people in his district will not be represented on the floor of the senate in debate or votes. Whereas he would have resigned in advance from the reserves if he could not serve in active duty he will not even resign from the Senate as of the moment he learned he cannot serve in the senate.
A leader would resign so that his constituents would be represented in the senate in debate and votes.
Anyone who says the people of the district are unanimous in support of Rush' selfish decision to hold the office he cannot serve, is a liar.
Isn't it also obvious
that many people do not care if he got called up and that they knew this before hand?
he didn't know
How could they have know he was going to be called up when he didn't know?
Besides what voters knew is water over the damn.
The question is whether Rush is going to acknowledge the interests of citizens in the district, that they need and have a senator engaged in senate debate and one who can vote for their interests during the year he is in Afghanistan.
good point
Is Rush going to acknowledge the interests of citizens in the district; their need to have a senator engaged in senate debate; one who can vote for their interests during the year he is in Afghanistan.
American Hero
The district is on board 100%. They support him all the way. My advice to you is you should stop crying about it.
That's a lie.
"The district is on board 100%"
That's a lie.
It is true.
It is true. No one has come out into the public and said otherwise so it is true. He continues to get a ton of support from the people in the district. Perhaps you should come out right here with your name and address so people will know. Well I take that back. No one will really no or care since no one really reads this stuff anyway.
You may be a moran if you
You may be a moran if you think any assertion not subject to challenge would necessarily be true.
No
You are the moron and a liar. Just stating the facts here. You are!!
80%+
In two years he'll win easy.
I agree "liberaljoe"
Which is exactly why, since he's going to miss at least one year of his two year term, he should resign.
He could earn his office back in the next election and give his constituents a senator who can debate and vote for the district when he cannot. He cannot due to his PRIOR commitment to the reserves.
Then
Come on out and say something with your name on it. 10 progressive haters vs 119,990 folks. I'll stick with the 199,990 who are right and support Mike Rush 100%. He is an American Hero. Perhaps anon and adamg could go with him and start a corny blog in the warzone he's going to. That way they'll be in two places and still no one will care what they write. HaHa!!!!
"Charlie" you sound like "Hortence"
What about taking $58,000 in Senate pay for a year's work, and not doing one bit of that work, is heroic?
Charlie
I hate that guy. He sucks!!!
Anon you sound like Anon and the two other people who go as anon.
This is real fun. I bet AdamG is Anon as well but also AdamG.
Mike Rush's no show job on state payroll
It looks like Mike Rush has announced his intention to cash Senate paychecks for at least one year while he is working halfway around the world in Afghanistan, and therefor not working in the MA Senate. That can't be right.
Even political opponents can make strong arguments against unprincipled positions. Anyone who says its ok for Mike Rush to take Senate pay for a year during which he cannot do the job has the burden of proof: On what principle is it acceptable for Mike to take the senate pay - taxpayers dollars - when he cannot do the work?
Well then
Come out publicly and say something. Why here in no man's land?
WTF are you talking about
WTF are you talking about liberaljoe? People who self-identify as liberaljoe don't have the moral authority to call out people who self-identify as Will.
You can try to distract and make it an argument about me or you can address the issue.
If he's not going to resign so that the people in the district can have a senator during the year he's gone, should he at least not take the $60,000 pay for the work he can't do?
I'm not the one complaining
You can cry all you want but no one is listening. If you feel so strongly about it then stand up publicly. Again I'm not the one crying. You are. 1 of 9 people. BooHoo
Should he at least not take
Should he at least not take the $60,000 pay for the work he can't do?
"I'm not the one complaining"
You're complaining his argument is without merit because he's posting under the name Will, and you don't know who he is.
Complainer
No you are the complainer. You have been complaining since the beginning. All you have been doing is complaining. But it really doesn't mean anything because no one knows who you are which is a good thing because all you do is complain.
THEFT
Rush plans on taking home
$58,237.15
for doing NOTHING
while he's in Afghanistan for a year.
source
http://www.empirecenter.org/html/legislative_salar...
Really?? not 1 person thinks
Really?? not 1 person thinks Mike Rush keeping $60,000 pay for working as a Massachusetts Senator, while he's away in Afghanistan for a year, is A OK?
Everyone supports him
Until someone says something publicly all this means absolutely nothing. Zero. Plain and simple. For all anyone knows everyone who blogs here is probably from out of town. Until someone from the district steps up and says something here or in a newspaper that means everyone is ok with it. But that isn't going to happen because everyone supports Rush 100%. He is a True American Hero all the way. Unlike this blog.
Everybody is jumping off a tall building
You should jump off too. Only people not from here would not jump off a building everybody else is jumping off of! Everybody knows that. No need to do any thinking or nothing, just jump!
Sounds good
I'll meet you there. You can go first though.
Ha-Cha-Chaaaaa
I'm from his district, and he always struck me as
a bit of a jerk. This is the first interesting or noble thing he's done, IMO. Bad timing, I suppose, but better for him to be away than trying to outlaw gay marriage or something.
I am too
I'm also gay. Didn't agree with his position but I spoke with him directly. We spoke for over an hour face to face. He listened, was totally respectful, etc. Just one issue. I have supported him ever since. Real good guy.
I dunno. You think Rush won't
I dunno. You think Rush won't be conflicted about fighting the Taliban when he probably agrees with them about gay marriage?
Obama
Obama is against gay marriage as well. My guess is you voted for him. You are pathetic!!!
Probation
The good news is he will probably not be brought into the whole probation scandal since he will be overseas.
Has anyone else heard Mike
Has anyone else heard Mike Rush is contemplating not taking the paycheck one earns for working in the MA Senate but giving it to Jeff Perry so that Jeff can earn some extra pay during the year Mike is abroad?
Can you people really be this
Can you people really be this naive? Rush is fleeing the probation scandal. In outstanding political hack form, he is nobly and "with a heavy heart" going to serve his country. Puhleeese! He is a political payback bully of a politician posing as freakin Opie, using his growing power to make good for his father and friends. Let's not forget about that fat, taxpayer-funded paycheck he just won for mommy.....I'm sorry, was that run-on sentence?