McCain the Twitter-master
I follow several public officials and political analysts on Twitter, perhaps none more entertaining than Senator John McCain. While he has admitted he gets a little help from staffers, the fact that he has embraced such social media is both surprising and uplifting.
One of McCain’s most recent threads is his best Letterman impression, which offers Top 10 Lists of the “Porkiest Projects” in the 2009 omnibus spending bill. Here is his list from 2/27 [Note: This list has not been edited by the NH in any fashion]:
- $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa
- $2 million “for the promotion of astronomy” in Hawaii – because nothing says new jobs for average Americans like investing in astronomy
- $332,000 for the design and construction of a school sidewalk in Franklin, Texas – not enough $ for schools in the stimulus?
- $2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York – quick peel me a grape.
- $650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi
- $1 million for mormon cricket control in Utah – is that the species of cricket or a game played by the brits?
- $300,000 for the Montana World Trade Center – enough said
- $200,000 “tattoo removal violence outreach program to could help gang members or others shed visible signs of their past” REALLY?
- $475,000 to build a parking garage in Provo City, Utah
- $1.7M “for a honey bee factory” in Weslaco, TX
And for more porky fun, here is McCain’s list from today (3/2):
- $951,500 for Sustainable Las Vegas
- $250,000 to enhance research on Ice Seal populations
- $150,000 for a rodeo museum in South Dakota
- $143,000 for Nevada Humanities to develop and expand an online encyclopedia – Anyone heard of Wikipedia?
- $238,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Hawaii – During these tough economic times with Americans out of work, why shouldn’t we “float” a Hawaiian voyage for others?
- $100,000 for the regional robotics training center in Union, SC – Does R2D2 or CP30 know about this?
- $1,427,250 for genetic improvements of switchgrass – I thought switchgrass genes were pretty good already, guess I was wrong.
- $167,000 for the Autry National Center for the American West in Los Angeles, CA. Hopefully for a Back in the Saddle Again exhibit, Autry’s most popular song for those of you too young to remember America’s Favorite Cowboy.
- $143,000 to teach art energy – Art can produce energy? If so, then investing in the arts may lead to energy independence.
- $100,000 for the Central Nebraska World Trade Center
You can argue the merits of lampooning projects that (1) May actually benefit the American economy, and (2) Only represent .0034% of the entire $410 billion bill, but the one thing you cannot argue is that McCain on Twitter is anything short of awesome.
- Matt
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March 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.
Allen Taylor
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:21 PM
How could he have failed to connect with todays youth with that quick wit and hilarious sense of humor?
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I agree with you Matt about it being a small percentage of the package, and that McCain does rock Twitter. But when you read the titles of those projects you can’t help but say: “what were they thinking”? I would like, however, to check out the Montana Trade Center. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Good work.
March 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 PM
His humor is apparently more Jay Leno (ugh) than David Letterman.
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Thanks Allen! We always appreciate new RSS readers!
- Matt
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March 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 PM
“Senator McCain, Mr. Chappelle is here for today’s lesson.” Sound about right counterpoint?
- Matt
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March 3rd, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Thanks for the comment, Roni!
While I’m definitely not a proponent of wasteful government spending, calling into the question the validity of a project simply because it has an abstract title is low hanging fruit. Just because “tattoo removal” and “genetic improvements of switchgrass” do not resonate well with Joe Six-pack, it does not automatically mean they represent frivolous spending.
Don’t get me wrong, Republican and Democrat earmarks can be a painful burden on pending legislation. McCain’s intent to point out unnecessary pork is honorable and likely effective. However, I’ve never been a fan of belittling science, art, and cultural programs simply because they have funny names.
Hey, even volcano monitoring might actually serve a purpose!
- Matt
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March 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Thanks for the comment, Brehmer-seh. However, take it easy on Leno…he’s practically required watching around here.
- Matt
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