The Tweet Beat: The Best Congressional Tweets of the Week

State of the Union? Pah. Here at the Tweet Beat, we’re much more concerned with the State of the Twittersphere. Firstly, Chuck Grassley has all but disappeared and we miss him dearly. Secondly, we understand the urge to criticize your opponents, John Boehner, but do you know how many times you’ve bitched about the administration in the last week? 73! It’s exhausting for us just reading it, not to mention depressing. Thirdly, Jason Chaffetz is without a doubt our favorite tweeting congressman. He’s polite, he’s candid and he’s never afraid to kiss ass on both sides of the table.

In other news, Kirsten Gillibrand is taking the gloves off. That “parakeet” comment was unnecessary, Harold Ford, you… you…. Republican! Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is proud that her constituency is gaining the first alcoholic McDonalds in the country (although we have to add that in Greece you can have a beer AND a cigarette with your Big Mac). Frank Pallone is at the Jersey Shore (the real one), Ron Paul is being left out again (it’s like a repeat of the 2008 debates) and Virginia Foxx is just unimpressed.

HouseDemocrats NYT offers a dose of reality: GOP policies created a fiscal mess, now they don’t want to help clean it up. http://bit.ly/4AWbZ9

SenGillibrand Today, the 37th anniv of #RoevWade, let’s remember the women and men who fought for women’s reproductive freedom & let’s continue that fight
Sen. Kirsten Gilibrand, NY.

GOPLeader Republican leaders praise Right to Life marchers, criticize Obama (via @thehill): http://bit.ly/6tUYbt
Rep. John Boehner, OH.

RepDanBurton I stand w/the passionate majority of Americans who still believe in the sanctity & dignity of human life, born & unborn – http://j.mp/6YweAn
Rep. Dan Burton, IN.

JohnCornyn Twenty thousand American troops in Haiti; no country but USA could launch such a massive humanitarian effort http://bit.ly/8jdUe4
Sen. John Cornyn, TX.

IRL My Cong district will have the 1st Burger King in the US to serve beer with Whoppers. Opens mid Feb. Where? South Beach, of course…
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL.

JudgeCarter Great program on now Hope for Haiti Now . God bless all involved.
Rep. John Carter, TX.

FrankPallone At Bruce Springsteen benefit show at Stone Pony, Asbury Park. Southside Johnny here too. Just like old times. Best place to be at the shore.
Rep. Frank Pallone, NJ.

clairecmc Wind power in US grew 39% last year. That’s a good thing,especially in a recession.
Sen. Claire McCaskill, MO.

SenGillibrand “Parakeet?” I wouldn’t allow my 6 yr old to engage in this kind of namecalling. And HF thinks he should be Senator?
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, NY.

garamendica10 Now I am a member of a successful single-payer US health care system- called Medicare. Working for access & affordability for all.
Rep. John Garamendi, CA.

RepDaveCamp Today is Michigan’s 173rd Birthday! To find out about some of our state’s great history, please click here http://bit.ly/bFlxzw #news
Rep. Dave Camp, MI.

GOPWhip Happy Birthday @ChiefDeputyWhip
Rep. Eric Cantor, VA.

ChiefDeputyWhip @GOPWhip Thanks!
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, CA.

jasoninthehouse I will try to Tweet about the State of the Union, but not during the Pres’ talk. BBerry won’t be out when the Pres is speaking, a bit rude
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, UT.

HouseDemocrats GOP Leader John Boehner (R-OH) keeps asking “where are the jobs?” Really? 79K jobs funded by Recovery Act are in *OHIO* http://bit.ly/cK4fxs

RepRonPaul even though I was approved by unanimous consent to question Geithner in today’s hearing, all of a sudden, time was cut short.
Rep. Ron Paul, TX.

repaaronschock Yes. But I’m available RT@TheFix RESOLVED: Sending emails to reporters offering yourself/your boss up for SOTU commentary is, um, lame.
Rep. Aaron Schock, IL.

jahimes Postmodern moment: talking to reporter about tweets right now.
Rep. Jim Himes, CT.

FrankPallone Bald eagles have taken residence in a pine tree in Old Bridge & raised a eaglet, a sign of a healthier enviro: http://tinyurl.com/ydz3h94
Rep. Frank Pallone, NJ.

repaaronschock My previous tweet must have worked. I’ll be on Larry King LIve tonight on their special midnight show reacting to SOTU
Rep. Aaron Schock, IL.

SenGillibrand Looking forward to the #SOTU tonight. If HF were here, he would probably be sitting on the Republican side.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, NY.

jasoninthehouse Teleprompter is set. Dogs swept the room. I opted for seat behind Boehner and Can
tor. Did I mention how cold it is?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, UT.

repblumenauer I hope Candidate Obama shows up tonight.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, OR.

michaelcburgess No tweets during speech, but they ask us to be here early. And it is cold as can be in the chamber. I can not recall it being this cold.
Rep. Michael Burgess, TX.

jasoninthehouse Joe Wilson sitting in the same seat. I brought some duct tape. 🙂
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, UT.

jasoninthehouse Walked over to say hi to John Kerry. He’s been very nice to me.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, UT.

SenArlenSpecter I agree, Mr. President – it’s time to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with patriotism.
Sen. Arlen Specter, PA.

HouseDemocrats Republicans / Bob McDonnell talking about deficit reduction = Sarah Palin teaching geography

virginiafoxx SOTU not inspiring. People are asking “where’s the beef”. Talk is cheap. Need more than rhetoriic
Rep. Virginia Foxx, NC.

RoyBlunt The President wants to wait until next year to freeze spending. I know he likes the White Sox but he sounds like a Cubs fan.
Rep. Roy Blunt, MO.

jahimes Constitutional scholars no doubt a-twitter 🙂 about the President’s swipe at the Supremes and the Senate last night. Both deserved IMHO.
Rep. Jim Himes, CT.

jaredpolis Howard Zinn and JD Salinger, both dead Zinn: http://bit.ly/aibF8F Salinger: http://bit.ly/9Fn820
Rep. Jared Polis, CO.

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