The Tweet Beat: The Best Congressional Tweets of the Week

It must be pretty boring to be a congress(wo)man on Twitter (or to have to pretend to be one). Here they are, obliged to put out tweet after tweet after tweet about healthcare reform and the national debt and taxes, and yet when something truly interesting happens (like revelations of congressional tickle fights and naked confrontations with Rahm Emanuel), nobody says a word. Is it a code of honor? A sign of respect? Or a genuine sense of “thank god this isn’t happening to me”? Either way, we expected at least a brief quip about Massa from Darrell Issa this week but were sadly disappointed.

In other news, Rush Limbaugh is threatening to move to Costa Rica if healthcare reform passes. Which is probably the biggest incentive anyone could possibly need to pass the bill. Jim Himes is going to wear out his shoes at this rate. And we’re curious, John McCain—who exactly is @broomheadshow?

SenArlenSpecter  Strong speech, Mr. President. Health care reform will lower costs and improve access for everyone. It is the right thing to do.
Sen. Arlen Specter, PA.

Senate_GOPs  McConnell: “Americans do not want this bill. They’re telling us to start over. And the only people who don’t get the message” are Dems in DC

GOPLeader  White House Blog treats the American people like they’re Stupid: http://bit.ly/8YGHz8
Rep. John Boehner, OH.

HarryEMitchell  http://twitpic.com/17eotr – Had a great time at the Boys & Girls Club today announcing the charities I’m donating my ‘08/’09 pay raise to
Rep. Harry Mitchell, AZ.

bobinglis  Going door to door on Banbury Circle in Simpsonville. Let’s see how many folks think a cram down of health care reform is OK!
Rep. Bob Inglis, SC.

CongressmanGT  Meeting with constituent regarding HR3240 and children abducted from America. About 2,800 children abducted by 1 parent to other nations.
Rep. Glenn Thompson, PA.

GrahamBlog  This idea the ACLU has that you have to try everybody in Gitmo, that’s not right. We’re not fighting a crime, we’re fighting a war.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, SC.

clairecmc  Oh sure. Everyone is welcome to tweet me. I just make a special effort to read all tweets from Missouri. I work for them.@Okkaiser
Sen. Claire McCaskill, MO.

JudgeCarter  The President’s budget pushes the debet to $9.2 trillion this year (63.2% of our GDP), and the largest in U.S. history.
Rep. John Carter, TX.

repblumenauer  #YouHad10Yrs but stood idly by while health care costs soared, Americans lost their coverage. Where’s the compassion in that conservatism?
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, CO.

SenChrisDodd  By breaking their own record, our Lady Huskies have proven why they have the best program in the history of women’s college basketball.
Sen. Chris Dodd, CT.

DavidVitter  Funny,Melancon didn’t file ethics complaint when Obama used eagle seal in his campaign.Maybe bc Charlie endorsed Obama. http://bit.ly/bEYKxA
Sen. David Vitter, LA.

ThadMcCotter  Robert Davi’s concern for animal welfare is inspirational and active, which is why he brought me the idea of a tax credit for pet expenses.
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, MI.

JudgeCarter  The President’s healthcare plan is a takeover because it imposes 100+ government mandates on private individuals/biz
Rep. John Carter, TX.

garamendica10  After raising rates in California by 39%, Health Insurance lobby holds conference at the Ritz. Roll Call: http://bit.ly/ritzy
Rep. John Garamendi, CA.

HouseDemocrats  Rush Limbaugh promises to move to Costa Rica when we pass #HCR. Hope he enjoys their gov’t run #HC. http://bit.ly/ahv1oh

SenJohnMcCain  welcome @broomheadshow to twitter!
Sen. John McCain, AZ.

jahimes  Wearing pedometer today. Have clocked 1.3 miles at 0930. Figure most days are 5-6 miles hoofing it.
Rep. Jim Himes, CT.

johnboehner  I told my colleagues this morning the time has come for a serious talk about a unilateral GOP moratorium on earmarks.
Rep. John Boehner, OH.

RepGoodlatte  So much for transparency, Speaker Pelosi on health care: “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it”
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, VA.

chelliepingree  Preparing to speak on the House floor about bringing the war in Afghanistan to an end, bringing our troops home and spending the money here.
Rep. Chellie Pingree, ME.

ChiefDeputyWhip  And a special thanks to Flora Belle Reece, Irma “Babe” Story, and Marguerite “Ty” Killen from the Antelope Valley!
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, CA.

JimDeMint  House Appropriations Chair David Obey’s partial earmark ban wouldn’t apply to 90% of earmarks. That’s a fig leaf, not real reform.
Sen. Jim DeMint, SC.

DarrellIssa  @senatorreid caves to teachers unions, denies vote to save DC opportunity scholarship. I hope he knows he’s killing dreams to save his job.
Rep. Darrell Issa, CA.

PatrickMcHenry  With my support, today House Republicans unilaterally banned all earmarks – Change you can believe in, because it will stay in your pockets.
Rep. Patrick McHenry. NC.

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Sophie Gilbert