Politicker » Chuck Grassley

Tweets From The Trail: Viva Las Vegas

Hunter Walker — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:46:22 -0400

Today, political types were chatting about Bob Dylan tunes and fear and loathing at Donald Trump's Vegas fundraiser. Here’s our roundup of the day’s best Tweets from the campaign trail.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation had New York Post editorial writer Robert George singing a few bars of "Like a Rolling Stone."

Question everyone wants to ask Bob Dylan after he received Presidential Medal of Freedom? "How does it FEEL...?" nyti.ms/LCRflz
—
Robert A George (@RobGeorge) May 29, 2012

Reuters reporter Sam Youngman was in the press pool for Mitt Romney's fundraiser in Bat Country.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the birtherism began to take hold.
—
Sam Youngman (@samyoungman) May 29, 2012

Politico's Alex Burns mused about the White House's response to Donald Trump raising questions about the president's citizenship.

"criticizes, is thrilled by" RT @politico: More from @dylanbyers -- White House criticizes Donald Trump coverage: politi.co/KUhnH9
—
Alex Burns (@aburnspolitico) May 29, 2012

Talking Points Memo reporter Benjy Sarlin accused Mr. Trump of bogarting the news cycle.

Mitt Romney: Let's talk about education. Trump: INTERCEPTED
—
Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) May 29, 2012

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley corresponded with a constituent.

@tmkrause
—
(@ChuckGrassley) May 29, 2012

(Disclosure: Donald Trump is the father in law of Jared Kushner, the owner of Observer Media Group)

Tweets From The Trail: ‘Why Nothing Happening In Comgress?’

Hunter Walker — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:47:28 -0400

Today, political types were focused on the "high" President Obama gets from campaigning, empty seats and the blood of Ronald Reagan. Here’s our roundup of the day’s best Tweets from the campaign trail.

Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley thinks President Obama should focus on the business of government.

PresO "high " comes fr campaigning and doing political stuff as opposed to governing. Why nothing happening in comgress
—
(@ChuckGrassley) May 22, 2012

Our very own Colin Campbell noted empty seats at Congressman Jerry Nadler's latest event.

TONS of media so far for Nadler's 4pm anti-Romney press conference. #FalseTweets twitpic.com/9o3wsc
—
Colin Campbell (@BKcolin) May 22, 2012

Politico's Roger Simon was disgusted by the purported auction of President Reagan's blood.

The only person sicker than the person selling a tube of Ronald Reagan's blood is the person who buys it.
—
Roger Simon (@politicoroger) May 22, 2012

RNC Research Director Joe Pounder was keeping a close eye on the Republican primary in Kentucky.

"Uncommitted" has nowbeat Obama in the KY primary in 14 counties.
—
Joe Pounder (@PounderFile) May 22, 2012

The goings on in Kentucky reminded Slate's Dave Weigel of federal inmate Keith Judd's improbable victory in West Virginia.

Judd/Uncommitted 2012
—
(@daveweigel) May 22, 2012

Tweets From The Trail: Huntsman For Mayor?

Hunter Walker — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:10:52 -0400

Today, political types were focused on the demise of Ron Paul, obsessions and puppies! Here’s our roundup of the day’s best Tweets from the campaign trail.

Abby Huntsman suggested her father, Jon Hunstman, would make a worthy successor for Mike Bloomberg.

Politico's Dylan Byers needed some *sexual healing.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley lost a race against New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte.

Politico reporter Alex Burns heard about an intriguing investment opportunity.

Houston Chronicle blogger Kathleen McKinley shared an interesting observation about the death of RFK Jr.'s ex-wife.

Senator Chuck Grassley Hacked On Twitter (Update)

Hunter Walker — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:14:13 -0400

Senator Chuck Grassley (Photo: Twitter)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley withdrew his support for the controversial Protect I.P. Act, better known as PIPA, last Wednesday, but that didn't stop an angry PIPA opponent from hacking into his Twitter account today. As of this writing, over 20 Tweets have been sent from Senator Grassley's account this afternoon that appear to be the work of a hacker.

"Yes I was hacked," one of the Tweets said.

A few of the Tweets posted on Senator Grassley's account indicate the hacker is upset over the senator's initial support for PIPA, a bill designed to protect intellectual property and curb piracy that has drawn the ire of internet users.

"Chuck is a supporter of SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA, meaning he wants no privacy for private accounts," read another one of the Tweets.

Someone claiming to be a different person claims to have changed Senator Grassley's password, which the hacker said was "chuck123," and invited his staffers to get in touch with them if they want the account back.

"Someone from the Senators office contact me at the email i set up at grassleytwitter@gmail.com and I'll give you the new password," they wrote. "To clarify, I'm not the person that originally hacked the account. I think that person got their point across."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shelved PIPA on Friday after the growing controversy over the bill caused it to shed supporters. In the House, the related Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, was also shelved.

Though SOPA and PIPA seem to have been stopped, the fight over intellectual property on the internet is far from over in Washington. Congressman Darrell Issa introduced a new bill aimed at combating online piracy in the House last Wednesday.

Update (3:06 p.m.) -- Senator Grassley's communications director, Jill Kozeny sent us the following statement about the Twitter contretemps:

Here's what happened here today. Grassley staff noticed the hacking after the first false Tweet was posted, and the office immediately called Twitter to obtain access to the account so the password could be changed. The password has been changed, and Senator Grassley controls the account again. Senator Grassley posts his Tweets from his BlackBerry. He's traveling from Iowa to Washington this afternoon.