Suddenly, Twitter's the rage with D.C. politicos

Did Missouri's U.S. senator, Claire McCaskill, just use Twitter to blab the timing of President Barack Obama's choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services?

On Saturday afternoon, McCaskill left this post on the microblogging site: "A little anxious about the announcement of HHS Sec. Hopeful that my pal Gov of Kansas will get the call. It should happen today or tomorrow."

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill likes to twitter.

Obama's initial choice for the post, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew his candidacy after he acknowledged failing to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.

Actually, the announcement--whenever it gets made--comes as a bit of an anticlimax. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has, indeed, been widely reported to be Obama's choice for the post, according to press leaks over the last couple of days. Still, there is that small matter of presidential prerogative to consider.

Oh well. I'm sure that McCaskill can "tweet" her apologies to the Twitter-in-chief, and all will be forgotten.

Besides, McCaskill has carved out a reputation as one of the most avid Twitter users in the Senate. When she noticed that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg showed up for President Obama's speech to Congress Tuesday night, following an operation related to her pancreatic cancer, McCaskill posted the following: "I did big wooohoo for Justice Ginsberg (sic). She looks good."

Last week, much was written after several members of Congress were found to have twittered during the president's nationally televised speech.

[joppinkaru321]

I'm imagining Obama's Twitter status...

"Spending truckloads of your money and pretending to be efficient."

[areopagite]

a remarkable change already from "Carting off truckloads of our money with ruthless efficiency."

[Alwarming]

Obviously an article paid for by the VC's money - some subtlety would be appreciated.

Whassup Charlie ? Know which side your bread is twittered ?

[A_Wave]

Twitter is just the latest example of technology encouraging shallow, co-dependent, self-obsessed, intrusive behavior. I don't care what you are doing. You don't need to know what I am doing.

Come to think of it I do care what you are doing. If you are Twittering on the taxpayers dime, cut it out.