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Septuagenarian Twitter Flame War: Grassley Warns Specter He Never Said "Death Boards"
Well, Grassley never picked up. So Specter tweeted all about it.
And Grassley is not pleased.
And in a narrow sense, Grassley's right. He didn't use the term "death boards" or "death panels." He said "There is some fear because in the House bill, there is counseling for end-of-life. And from that standpoint, you have every right to fear.... We should not have a government program that determines if you're going to pull the plug on grandma."
But in the broader sense, Specter's got Grassley pegged.
And in the broadest sense, it's easy to imagine these guys starring in an Internet-themed sequel to Grumpier Old Men.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Grumpy Old Twits?
August 14, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grump and grumpier?
August 14, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
New nickname:
GRASSHOLE
Use it!
August 14, 2009 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
How old are you people?
I mean, what does the fact that they're old have to do with it? I'm 58, I guess I only have a few years left where I can say something without being shouted down for being a grumpy old person.
August 15, 2009 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't say anything about age.
August 15, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, right. You never used the word "age". Just like Grassley never used the words "death boards".
August 15, 2009 12:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
the 1st reference in the thread referred to a movie as did mine (which has nothing to do with age). Don't put words in my mouth.
August 15, 2009 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm 75, so I'm well qualified to tell you that at 58 you have no business bitching about being or getting old.
Besides which, us old grumps have plenty to do getting ready to battle the dread death panels rather than to be wasting time arguing with whippersnappers like you.
Chill.
August 16, 2009 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't say anything about age. The other guy is 58.
August 16, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
or the Boys From Brazil death match....
August 14, 2009 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
They remind me of those two old farts in The Muppet Show -- the ones who sit in the balcony & argue.
August 15, 2009 4:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh lord, I'm rooting for Arlen Specter in a Twitter flame war. Worst "world gone mad" moment I've had since I saw Dennis Hopper in a Gap commercial.
August 14, 2009 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROFL
August 14, 2009 2:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is super funny to me. I was an intern for Grassley in college (he was an actual old school conservative then, not a social issue Rush Rightie) and Grassley and Specter would pal around all the time. Once while riding in the Senate subway, Arlen joked about people always confusing the two of them since they did vaguely look a like.
Interesting how one drifted toward some semblance of the good side, and the other to the Rovian Dark Side. Sad.
August 14, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let it not be said that the Sestak Depty Director of Communications, would let a chance for a gratuitous ad hominem go by
August 14, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Close Circus Baucus
GO ARLEN...where's Sestak???
August 14, 2009 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
• ABC, This Week: Sec. of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius; Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
August 14, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or, more accurately "Hatch - RUT".
August 15, 2009 4:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Aside from the comedy of seeing these two go at it using new technology, I am glad that Specter is trying to call Grassely on this. I wonder why Schumer or Kerry or others aren't raking Grassley over the coals about this. And why aren't they skewering Bachus for including Grassley in his committee of six.
August 14, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have seen Grassley speak and I want to know who is really "tweeting". It can't possibly be him on his own.
August 14, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): "When mama falls and breaks her hip, she'll just lie in her bed in pain until she dies with pneumonia because her needed surgery is not cost efficient."
Well, under the Republican health care plan, when mama falls and breaks her hip, she'll just have to lie there in bed in pain ALONE AND WITHOUT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE until she dies with pneumonia because all medical counseling will be prohibited as potentially encouraging euthanasia!
August 14, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mama won't even get a ride in the ambulance, that would be socialism.
August 14, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grassley is an idiot and liar.
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/health_care_reform2.html
August 14, 2009 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
An even bigger liar than that....
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/08/13/oh-those-death-panels/
August 14, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a Grass-hole...
August 14, 2009 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious.
Gargantuan hypocrisy.
August 14, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off topic but hilarious:
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=10&year=2007&base_name=guess_the_author
August 14, 2009 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's comforting to know that Malkin isn't making enough money to afford health insurance.
August 14, 2009 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL.
August 14, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
More helpful factchecking on HCR myths:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/211981/output/print
August 14, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I find this repuke use of twitter laughable. They are looking like fools to be "tech savy." Pathetic.
August 14, 2009 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
NPR had a segment on new uses of Twitter, including revising Shakespeare (The Twitter of the Shrew. One of the conclusions was that comedy benefits far more than anything else that gets subjected to transTwitteration. Politicians should take note.
August 14, 2009 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget that Grassley voted FOR end of life counseling, proposed by Republican Isakson, in 2003, as did Boehner, McCotter and others now mouthing this 'deather' stuff. I guess they aren't tech savvy enough to know that records are not only kept but quickly and easily disseminated these days over the internet.
August 14, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Twit for twat....Grassley should be censored by the Senate for lying! lying is not accptable but we need the dems to have balls and prinicpals before they would anything like hold his spiny ass accountable!
August 14, 2009 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grassley has consistently been an asshole on Twitter. He's one of those people who should just stay away from new media because it makes them flame out.
August 14, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
what's that say about me (a 50 yr) who doesn't even HAVE a twitter account.
(do you really think those 2 actually do the tweetin'?)
August 14, 2009 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone believe that Grassley himself typed "ur" as a short form for "your"?
Or that he would not refer to him as "Senator Spector"? Look at the contrasts in the tweets. With all those years of senatorial politeness I am not ready to believe that was really Grassley writing, although I can easily see him as a horse's ass at this point.
August 14, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, that's him. He's infamous for tweeting like a teenybopper. He's got a frighteningly good handle on Internet-speak.
August 14, 2009 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
When he speaks in public he seems like someone that has suffered a brain injury, or is just reallllly old. I won't belive it is really him tweeting til I see his bony fingers on the Blackberry.
August 14, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grassley's response is worthy of a five year old. Honestly, this is what it's come to. i just find it depressing.
August 14, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who was it that said Hollywood is high school with money? That makes Washington Junior High with money (supplied by lobbyists.)
August 14, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
So if we had government haircut insurance, which gave you the right to a free haircut every 6 weeks, long hairs would have every right to fear.
August 14, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job, Specter!
August 14, 2009 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I know I've got my can of whoop-ass in here somewhere. Wait a minute. Here it is. No, wait, that's Metamucil."
August 14, 2009 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
My advice? Take the Metamucil BEFORE the whoop-ass.
August 14, 2009 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just in case anyone is wondering where the tow hall protesters learned their manners.
Watch this clip and pass it on.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2540
August 14, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Specter's only error was in putting "death panels" quotes. He was bulls-eye accurate otherwise, whereas Grassley is literally quibbling over this: ""
August 14, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Put your money on Specter, he'll eat Grassely alive.
August 14, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am starting to have more respect for Specter. I used to think he was a used douche, now I am thinking he might be of the springtime fresh variety.
August 14, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I told people that Spector will move where his voters are. He always has. As a Dem in a Dem primary, he will move steadily left.
btw How do we pull the plug of Grasshole?
August 14, 2009 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget the health care bill, I'll chip in to get Grassley some end of life counseling!
August 14, 2009 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This whole health care imbroglio has been a blessing in disguise for Arlen. He gets to prove his new Democrat credentials and vote his conscience. I bet there are other (moderate) Republicans out there now who envy him.
August 14, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
What section of the bill says that laughter is the best medicine? Go Arlen Go.
August 15, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
One might accuse Grassley of being shameless, but that pre-supposes that the man is capable of shame to begin with. Regardless, he and his cohorts are vile slugs, and no less culpable that one who yells "fire" in a crowded theatre.
August 16, 2009 7:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
He is a member of the secret cult "the family" naturally! Must watch interview with Jeff Sharlet@ DemocracyNow.org, AUG. 12 report.
August 16, 2009 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone really believe Grassley and Specter are calling each other out on Twitter? I can see some junior staff members going at it, and of course the senators are responsible for their own twits.
August 16, 2009 1:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a lawn mower for Grassley -- my John Deere.
August 17, 2009 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink