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| Rand Paul picks on Trump, the media and Peter Thiel in annual 'Festivus' rant Rand Paul picks on Trump, the media and Peter Thiel in annual 'Festivus' rant | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The Kentucky senator and one-time Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul staged his annual Festivus “airing of grievances” on Friday, releasing a storm of tweets critical of government waste and other Republicans, in tribute to the sitcom Seinfeld. | The Kentucky senator and one-time Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul staged his annual Festivus “airing of grievances” on Friday, releasing a storm of tweets critical of government waste and other Republicans, in tribute to the sitcom Seinfeld. |
| Paul began with an explanation of the event, which takes its name from a holiday celebrated as an alternative to Christmas by the character Frank Costanza. “The airing of grievances” is one of the traditions of Festivus. | Paul began with an explanation of the event, which takes its name from a holiday celebrated as an alternative to Christmas by the character Frank Costanza. “The airing of grievances” is one of the traditions of Festivus. |
| “On the media & #fakenews,” Paul wrote, “Festivus is real, media, so don’t try 2 fact check it.” | “On the media & #fakenews,” Paul wrote, “Festivus is real, media, so don’t try 2 fact check it.” |
| In reference to a recently suspended and rehabilitated NBC News anchor, he added: “And @TheOnion is more accurate than a Brian Williams report.” | In reference to a recently suspended and rehabilitated NBC News anchor, he added: “And @TheOnion is more accurate than a Brian Williams report.” |
| “New administration is lookin [sic] good,” he continued. “Haven’t seen this many billionaires in 1 place since I staked out Bilderbergs w/ [conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter] Alex Jones. Good times.” | “New administration is lookin [sic] good,” he continued. “Haven’t seen this many billionaires in 1 place since I staked out Bilderbergs w/ [conspiracy theorist and Trump supporter] Alex Jones. Good times.” |
| Subsequent tweets were critical of the tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who shares some of Paul’s libertarian views but who has been supportive of Donald Trump, and potential Trump appointments. | Subsequent tweets were critical of the tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who shares some of Paul’s libertarian views but who has been supportive of Donald Trump, and potential Trump appointments. |
| Of the George W Bush-era UN ambassador and noted foreign intervention hawk John Bolton, much to Paul’s dismay touted as a possible undersecretary of state, the senator wrote: “I know I’ve said a lot about @AmbJohnBolton so you’re probably expecting me 2 say something nice for the holidays. Nope. #AiringofGrievances.” | Of the George W Bush-era UN ambassador and noted foreign intervention hawk John Bolton, much to Paul’s dismay touted as a possible undersecretary of state, the senator wrote: “I know I’ve said a lot about @AmbJohnBolton so you’re probably expecting me 2 say something nice for the holidays. Nope. #AiringofGrievances.” |
| Of Rick Perry, who famously failed to name the Department of Energy as one he would abolish but who has now been nominated to lead it, Paul wrote: “My favorite cabinet pick is what’s his name, umm it’s that guy who wanted to eliminate the Dept of @ENERGY. Hang on I’ll think of it...” | Of Rick Perry, who famously failed to name the Department of Energy as one he would abolish but who has now been nominated to lead it, Paul wrote: “My favorite cabinet pick is what’s his name, umm it’s that guy who wanted to eliminate the Dept of @ENERGY. Hang on I’ll think of it...” |
| Lest proceedings become too riotous, Paul proceeded to aim a barrage of tweets at what he alleged to be examples of federal government profligacy with taxpayers’ dollars. | Lest proceedings become too riotous, Paul proceeded to aim a barrage of tweets at what he alleged to be examples of federal government profligacy with taxpayers’ dollars. |
| Such targets included a state department grant to develop a Pakistani superhero, a study of Ugandan gambling practices, and a National Parks Service study of “Knowledge, Experience and Beliefs of the Supernatural Environment”. The last tweet came complete with a cat gif. | Such targets included a state department grant to develop a Pakistani superhero, a study of Ugandan gambling practices, and a National Parks Service study of “Knowledge, Experience and Beliefs of the Supernatural Environment”. The last tweet came complete with a cat gif. |
| The national Park Service announced a grant 2 study “Knowledge, Experience and Beliefs of the Supernatural Environment.” #AiringofGrievances pic.twitter.com/8XVRwhdKe3 | The national Park Service announced a grant 2 study “Knowledge, Experience and Beliefs of the Supernatural Environment.” #AiringofGrievances pic.twitter.com/8XVRwhdKe3 |
| With what may have been a nod to another Costanza family tradition, the trials of strength, Paul also promised tweets about “nonbinding resolutions against my Senate colleagues”. | With what may have been a nod to another Costanza family tradition, the trials of strength, Paul also promised tweets about “nonbinding resolutions against my Senate colleagues”. |
| Subsequent targets included Tea Party Republicans Mike Lee and Ted Cruz, the New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker, and the retiring Democratic minority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. | Subsequent targets included Tea Party Republicans Mike Lee and Ted Cruz, the New Jersey Democrat Corey Booker, and the retiring Democratic minority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. |
| He also took a balanced shot at a favourite bugbear of Republicans and Trump himself, the supposed failure of liberal Americans to accord the proper respect to Christmas. | He also took a balanced shot at a favourite bugbear of Republicans and Trump himself, the supposed failure of liberal Americans to accord the proper respect to Christmas. |
| “I’m gonna have to stop tweeting about Festivus soon, @FoxNews just asked me to come on & talk about my own personal #WaronChristmas. Rude. | “I’m gonna have to stop tweeting about Festivus soon, @FoxNews just asked me to come on & talk about my own personal #WaronChristmas. Rude. |
| “For the folks at @MSNBC, that was a joke.” | “For the folks at @MSNBC, that was a joke.” |
| Lest anyone grow too excited, the senator also had a message for members of the press looking for something to write about on the last Friday afternoon before Christmas. | Lest anyone grow too excited, the senator also had a message for members of the press looking for something to write about on the last Friday afternoon before Christmas. |
| “For those of you ‘media’ writing serious stories about my Festivus jokes,” he wrote, “I don’t even know what to say, just stop...” | “For those of you ‘media’ writing serious stories about my Festivus jokes,” he wrote, “I don’t even know what to say, just stop...” |