Thursday, June 09, 2022
PMT: The Senate at Work
Chuck Grassley posted this tweet a few days ago, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I really have a lot of questions about the Sparlin Family and their trip. I realize that the 240 characters that a tweet allows doesn't allow for much explanation, but Sen. Grassley leaves a lot to the imagination. For example:
-- Did the Sparlins drive to DC to complain to their senator about gas prices? That seems... well, you know. Or did they drive to DC for a vacation from Iowa and then just decide to pop in on their Senator?
-- And what is the family relationship here? I think the Sparlin on the right is the daughter of one of the other Sparlins, but it is hard to tell.
-- I think if they knew they were meeting with their Senator, they might have gone with something other than the shorts/t-shirt/novelty sunglasses look. But if they weren't going to visit their senator, how did they end up in his office? I kind of imagine Grassley looking out the window, spotting them and yelling "Hey! It's the Sparlins! From Preston! Get your raggedy Iowa asses on up here and let's get a picture!"
-- Also, how long can you keep a conversation about high gas prices going? That seems like a one-minute subject, tops. I imagine it went something like this:
Grassley: How did you get here?
Lisa Sparlin: We drove the whole way! It cost a fortune in gas!
Jen Sparlin: It's like almost five dollars in Pennsylvania.
Grassley: Those gas prices are really high.
Shana Sparlin: Yeah.
[end scene]
At any rate, it's good that members of Congress meet with actual constituents, and there is certainly value in hearing what they care about. I just wish it mattered more!
