U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) Friday afternoon posted an angry tweet complaining he will be missing his annual family reunion this weekend after Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer scheduled a vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, major, historic legislation to combat inflation and climate change, lower Medicare prescription drug prices and the federal deficit, and increase the energy supply.
It's not going well for the 88-year old Republican who is running for re-election this year.
Leader Schumer in the past two weeks has pulled out a series of delicately balanced yet absolutely massive wins, convincing both Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to support the bill which they previously poised to oppose in different forms. It is a huge win for President Joe Biden and his agenda, the Democrats, and the American people.
Senator Grassley apparently thinks otherwise.
First elected to Congress in 1974, Sen. Grassley has a well-known and unique style of tweeting.
"Each Dec Schumer puts out schedule for Senate I set Grassley family reunion based on schedule," he wrote in his complaint. "For 2nd yr in row I won’t be at reunion I’m in DC to fight Dems irresponsible tax&spend bill. Need a Republican majority to hv schedule we can count on & A RESPONSIBLE FISCAL AGENDA."
Not many were pleased with the Iowa Republican's remarks.
"Sir, I could not care less about your vacation," wrote Charlotte Clymer, a well-known writer, LGBTQ activist, and veteran. "Ask any service member who's had leave approved for a family vacation and then had it cancelled at the last minute because of needs of the unit. If our military can be called on to do this, so can you. Stop whining and do your job."
Attorney Luppe Luppen unleashed his own anger: "Sorry kids grandpa can’t be here this weekend. He loves you very much, but, even though he’s 88 years old, he has no other options in his life but to remain in Washington to performatively protest any action on climate change and oppose Medicare negotiating lower drug prices."
Benjamin Dreyer, the copy chief at Random House and the popular author of "Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style," offered this suggestion: "So retire."
"Sir, this highly coherent tweet will catch fire with middle America!" mocked Josh Marshall, the founder and editor of Talking Points Memo.
Brian Tyler Cohen, a popular political commentator and podcast host tweeted, "Nothing says 're-elect me' quite like tweeting how your government position gets in the way of your vacations."
"Oh no, you were inconvenienced," mocked journalist Christopher Harress. "Welcome to the real world. It happens to regular people all the time."
Award-winning journalist Steven Greenhouse offered the Senator no solace, mocking him to his grandchildren:
"Dear Grassley Grandchildren," he wrote. "Sorry but Grandpa is missing the reunion so he can go to Washington to vote against the most important measures ever taken in the US to fight climate change. Sorry, grandkids, but Grandpa is battling to make the climate worse for your generation."