Technology is great and everything, but sometimes we can’t help but miss the days when outrage was expressed through op-eds and cable news soundbites, not tweets. These days, if it isn’t healthcare it’s the deficit; if it isn’t the deficit it’s federal funding for abortion; and if it isn’t federal funding for abortion it’s the trying of terrorists like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in civilian courts rather than military tribunals. It’s Twitter, y’all! How can you possibly delve into complicated policy matters in 140 characters or less? Plus, all the back-slapping, sycophantic RT-ing between party members is getting really old.

In other news, David Vitter saved raw oysters! We’re starting to worry about John Shimkus—when he isn’t constantly quoting passages from the Bible, he’s repeating himself. Repeatedly. Chuck Grassley is back! Zach Wamp knows his strengths, Bob Goodlatte is eating chips, Paul Ryan knows who your daddy is, Denny Rehberg is checking his facts (better late than never), Mary Fallin is looking forward to “Going Rogue” and John McCain is sarcastic. Only one question remains: What is this “stimulous” you speak of, Joe Wilson? It sounds fabulous.

What: Celebrity Pet Night on Capitol Hill.

Where: Cannon House Office Building Caucus Room.

When: Wednesday, September 30, 5 to 7.

Attire: Dark suits and businesswear dominated the straight-from-the-office crowd.

Who: The Animal Health Institute invited members of Congress and their staff to socialize and celebrate the positive impact of pets at its annual reception. Headlining the event’s 12th year were four-legged “celebrities” Rocky—the rottweiler that plays Ahnold on HBO’s Entourage—and Raleigh, the Persian feline better known as Sprinkles on NBC’s The Office. Guests mingled and took pictures with the guests of honor, while a few brought their own purse-size dogs along. Congressional members such as Representative Shelley Berkley, who was eager to pose for a picture with Rocky, and Ralph Hall, who gave Raleigh a scratch behind the ears, made the rounds.

Welcome back to Washington, poli-twits! The President’s address to Congress Wednesday night was undoubtedly the biggest event of the week, unleashing a maelstrom of tweets that, like our members, just don’t agree. Mark Warner and Claire McCaskill admired Obama’s “bipartisan tone,” but Kevin Brady thought it was “needlessly partisan.” Arlen Specter and Chris Dodd thought the speech was “inspirational,” while Jason Chaffetz and Roy Blunt yawned their way through it. Everyone got mad at Joe Wilson, who, despite his sheepish apology last night, seems to have been spurred on in his crusade of rudeness by Sean Hannity. But more important, why can’t any of our representatives spell “disappoint” correctly?

In other news, a guest tweet by our esteemed editor, Garrett Graff, was too good not to include. McCaskill, ever the matriarch, has been cooking up a storm, Rick Perry is loving Roy Orbison, and John McCain has been schmoozing world leaders again.

Ted Kennedy passed away late Tuesday at the age of 77. Here's an October 2008 piece we wrote on what would be his lasting legacy:

In a 1979 photo by Time’s Diana Walker, Ted Kennedy and Strom Thurmond lock horns at a Senate Judiciary Committee session. A young Kennedy aide slips into the frame, just over his boss’s shoulder. The caption doesn’t identify the aide, but it’s 41-year-old Stephen Breyer, 15 years before his appointment to the Supreme Court.

Among the legions who’ve worked for Kennedy during his 46 years in the Senate, dozens like Breyer are near the top of Washington’s hierarchy of power. This network of former aides, which reaches nearly every field, is Kennedy’s legacy to Washington.

>> Read the full piece here

With so much drama in Congress this week it’s a wonder there’s time for any lawmaking. The news of Mark Sanford’s infidelity has provoked far more response tweets than the news of John Ensign’s did, although predictably David Vitter and Newt Gingrich are keeping quiet on this one. Funnily enough, neither Ensign nor Sanford has tweeted since news of their extra-marital affairs came out. No sign of a “cryin for 5 days in B Aires” tweet or a “doug hampton sux,” but we’ll keep an eye out just in case.

In other news, kudos to Mike Pence and Rick Perry for turning their Twitter avatars green in solidarity with the Iranian protesters, even though it makes them look less than healthy. John McCain seems to think he’s a battleship, Claire McCaskill makes a smokin’ brisket and Susan Collins is much less excited by the sight of Nick Jonas than most of the House interns were.

This week in Congress: Claire McCaskill has dinner in a cloakroom; John McCain visits an old haunt while continuing on his world tour (probably still bitter he’s not at the G20) but still gets misty-eyed for home; spring fever seems to be hitting Chuck Grassley, Leonard Boswell mortifies a relative; and Bob Inglis faces facts. Oh, and even though he’s not a Congressman, we’re including Newt Gingrich this week because his tweets are funny if you have a bawdy imagination.

clairecmc: Cloakroom is small. Funny to watch everyone balance paper plates on their laps and stand while eating. Everyone more cheerful when full.
Senator Claire McCaskill, Missouri.

SenJohnMcCain: vote-a-rama goes on... - hang on to your wallet!
Senator John McCain, Arizona.

bobinglis: Spoke on the House Floor this afternoon on the Budget Resolution. Our Republican alternatives are losing--unfortunate but not unexpected.
Representative Bob Inglis, South Carolina.

ChuckGrassley: Can’t bleve it!!! A reporter came all way to Senate floor to ask if I do my own tweetin. Of course I do.
Senator Chuck grassley, Iowa.