Washingtonians were quick to take to the Internet after Tuesday afternoon’s 5.8-magnitude earthquake. Here’s how the chattering class interpreted the quake and its political repercussions via Twitter and beyond: “In D.C. the buildings emptied out for about an hour. Commerce Department reports American productivity jumped up briefly.”
– Americans for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist in an email to Yeas & Nays
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“Bracing for a tsunami on the Potomac …”
– David Frum, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush
“DEVELOPING: Earthquake turns Gallup offices upside down. Obama now at 62% approval.”
– Slate.com political reporter Dave Weigel
“If you’re looking for an AEI scholar to comment on a story, they’re all standing outside the building.”
– The American Enterprise Institute’s Twitter feed
“God clearly displeased that Paul Ryan didn’t run for President.”
– The Weekly Standard’s John McCormack
“I was underground on the D.C. Metro when the quake hit. You know [what] it felt like? A typical ride on the D.C. Metro: Slow and bumpy. #yawn #quake.”
– D.C. journalist Ken Bazinet tweeting under the name @BazmanianDevil
“Happy to have been here for the most freakish earthquake Washington, D.C. has ever seen.” — Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine. He followed it up with this comment: “Ok. Even GOD is pissed off at Washington now.” Maroon 5 is scheduled to perform at Merriweather Post Pavilion Wednesday night.
“Who said August was not a big news month?”
– Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier, who was forced to briefly broadcast from outside Fox’s D.C. bureau because the building had been evacuated.
“I can confirm CNN’s Chris Lawrence’s reporting. Pentagon water damage 1 floor above best Peruvian chicken in town. No word on the chicken.”
– Stars and Stripes Washington bureau reporter Kevin Baron
“Earthquake epicenter practically under our house. Definitely one for the memory books! #strangeoccurances #girlsfreakedout”
– “Real Housewives of D.C.” cast member Mary Amons
“Was that an earthquake or did Newt Gingrich step down?”
– Conservative commentator Ann Coulter
“Maybe the #DebtCeiling finally collapsed #DCQuake #BreakingNews”
– Fox News Channel’s Shepard Smith
“That wasn’t an earthquake, it was the city of DC beggin for my f—in return! #dontmissthatplace”
– “RahmTheMayor,” the fake Twitter account for Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel
“This is all dan snyder’s fault!”
– Doug Thornell, former press handler for Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
