Rand Paul Airs 'Festivus' Grievances on Twitter, Hints at 2016 Run

Sen. Rand Paul engaged in his annual "Festivus" Twitter tirade today, airing his grievances with government and not-so-subtly hinting that he is running for president in 2016.

Festivus is a fake December holiday invented on the TV show Seinfeld; its most beloved tradition is the "Airing of Grievances," where family members take turns explaining how other people at the table have wronged or disappointed them. Each year, in honor of Festivus, Paul takes to Twitter to air his grievances with the federal government and other politicians.

Here were some of the highlights for 2014:

First, politics in general: As a Doctor, I was trained first to do no harm. Wouldn't it be nice if politicians started from that premise?

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

Your government spent $387,000 of your money on Swedish massages for rabbits. #AiringOfGrievances

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

Did you know you could go to jail in DC for 90 days for giving a tour without a license? #AiringOfGrievances (h/t @businessinsider )

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

And don't even try to sell raw milk without a license. #AiringOfGrievances

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

Paul is also making headlines for a tweet about his wardrobe that strongly implies he will be running for president:

Of course, everyone has to be themselves, and I have my own style. I think this will be a popular item this year pic.twitter.com/ejuPwOAb6E

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

Paul is up for re-election to the Senate in 2016 as well, of course, so this could merely be an acknowledgment of that. But I wouldn't count on it.

Comments

[BilboTeabaggins]

He's going to get choke-slammed in the primary. I'm going to be optimistic, though, and donate once its official.

[Mike M.]

Don't underestimate how tired people are of the Bush family, even many republicans.

He'll have a chance if Reason doesn't stab him in the back like they did his father, which unfortunately I'm about 99% sure they will.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I think you're extremely overestimating Reason's influence. Extremely.

[Sudden]

The libertarian teabagging rethuglican cabal that runs the world has been taken over by TEH COSMOTARDIAN BILDERBURGERZ at REASON!!1!11!!!

[Puddin' Stick]

You missed a reference to the Koch Brothers who donate to Reason (and I think one of the sits on the board of the Reason Foundation)...

[MJGreen]

He was so close! Iowa was in the bag, and then Reason Magazine put him on the cover!

[tarran]

Reason did not kill the Ron Paul presidential bid.

He really didn't have much of a chance to begin with. The Republican Establishment wanted him killed but didn't really have to act because the New Republic struck the fatal blow early.

Reason affected the trajectory of Ron Paul's campaign at best only a few degrees.

[Cytotoxic]

Ron Paul was the reason Ron Paul couldn't win.

[Redmanfms]

Not enough of a murderous interventionist for the psychopathic Canadian chickenhawk...

[thom]

At this point in the 2008 election cycle the strong frontrunner for the nominations were Clinton and Giuliani. It's simply too early.

[Paul.]

Don't underestimate how tired people are of the Bush family, even many republicans.

Wasn't everyone also suffering from Clinton Fatigue? Or has enough time passed that we've forgotten?

[Cytotoxic]

They'll try but Rand Paul does not have a glass jaw. Further, pissing off his support base is unwise.

[sarcasmic]

I think the eye doctor should wait until 2020 to run, but that's just me.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Perhaps. I see reasons to wait 4 more years, but I'm impatient.

[Florida Man]

I think it's time for Fd'A to get humorometer recalibrated.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

*Fd'A shakes bowed head in utter humiliation and skulks away in uncharacteristic silence*

[sarcasmic]

Sudden too.

[Scarecrow Repair]

He said he saw reasons ... saw, Saw, SAW!!!

[DEATFBIRSECIA]

2016 is better in visual acuity terms.

[Sudden]

The concern is that the GOP actually succeeds in getting Santorum* splattered all over America for the next four years, thereby ruining any GOP candidate for a generation.

*Note that I actually think Santorum could beat Hilary in a hypothetical matchup (but only Hilary). I think people are that done with Clintons and Bushes. Plus Hilary is a shit candidate as well. She makes Mitt Romney look downright charming.

[R C Dean]

Really, if he passes in 2016, he needs to expect that he will have to wait until 2024 to run again.

For planning purposes, he has to assume a Repub will win in 2016 and be running for re-election in 2020.

[Steve G]

bravo

[Charles Easterly]

"I think the eye doctor should wait until 2020 to run, but that's just me."

Bonus level nice, in my opinion.

[CE]

Rand Paul 2020
A Clear Vision for the Future

[Spencer]

Thread KILLED.

[Jordan]

*Furiously performs thread necromancy*

[Spencer]

THREADKILLER WILL NOT BE DENIED!!

[Florida Man]

I only raise chickens from the dead, but I'll try.
"Arise chicken thread!"

[Spencer]

HOW DOES THAT WORK?! THREADKILLER EATS CHICKENS.

[Sudden]

STOP KILLING THE THREADS THAT ARE USED TO CREATE RAND PAUL'S AWESOME STEVE JOBS/RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT CROSS OVER BLACK TURTLENECK SHIRT!!!1!1!!1!!!!!!

[Spencer]

THREADKILLER RELEGATES STEVE JOBS/RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT CROSS OVER BLACK TURTLENECK SHIRT TO 1990'S FASHION HELL!

[Almanian!]

Wow, this thread went RIGHT of the rails. That might be a record.

I approve.

[Lady Bertrum]

One of my grievances: Rand Paul has awful hair.

He needs to consult Paul Ryan's stylist prior to making it official.

[Spencer]

THREADKILLER DOES NOT APPROVE OF CANDIDATES APPEARANCE IMPACTING ELECTABILITY!

[BilboTeabaggins]

So much this. The mock turtlenecks aren't really cutting it either.

[Puddin' Stick]

He's gotta go the full Steve Jobs turtleneck.

[CampingInYourPark]

"Senator Rand Paul ?@SenRandPaul 3h3 hours ago
"I am also kinda mad that you seem to think @LyleLovett has better hair than me. #AiringOfGrievances"

[Spencer]

IF THREADKILLER HAD A BOAT THREADKILLER WOULD GO OUT ON THE OCEAN. IF THREADKILLER HAD A PONY THREADKILLER WOULD RIDE IT ON THREADKILLER'S BOAT. JUST THREADKILLER ON THREADKILLER'S PONY ON THREADKILLER'S BOAT.

[CampingInYourPark]

I mean it looks nothing like these things. #AiringOfGrievances pic.twitter.com/hjDqOaOMAl

? Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 23, 2014

[removed][removed]

[Michael]

Alright, I am totally sold.

[Marshall Gill]

Rand Paul has awful hair.

No shit? I thought that Rand's hair was a big positive for him with the ladies.

[Spencer]

THREADKILLER THINKS IT'S PROBABLY SEXIST TO ASSUME ALL LADIES ARE ATTRACTED BY THE SAME FEATURES...

[antisocial-ist]

I get the impression that you're having a very merry Christmas. Probably with chemical help.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Paul Ryan's hair is a little Ken Doll, but it's OK. I think Rand should go for the one-length buzz. Just because I like baldies and short hairs.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Looking on Google images, this Markwayne Mullin has great hair. But WTF kind of name is Markwayne?

[Kaptious Kristen]

And Justin Amash. Let's go with the Justin Amash updated Caesar.

[AlmightyJB]

Rand Motherfuckin' Paul!

[Spencer]

THREADKILLER THINKS THAT IS A BUMPERSTICKER HE WOULD BUY!

[userve32]

Dude this makes a ll kinds of crazy sense man.

http://www.AnonWayz.tk

[Robert]

Festivus is a fake December holiday invented on the TV show Seinfeld

Not if the writer who introduced it (and family who backed him up is to be believed). It was invented by his father (originally to cheer the family up after a death), had no fixed date in the calendar, and was of duration according to his whim.