Twitter became (hilarious) John McCain body language experts before the healthcare vote
Ah, the ol' "will he/won't he [leave millions uninsured]."
Before the late-night failure of the "Skinny repeal" of Obamacare on July 27, political Twitter, desperate for signs of how the close vote would go, became borderline obsessive about watching Senator John McCain's body language on C-SPAN.
Since McCain's vote was unknown (rather than give a hint, he told Politico to "watch the show" before heading into the chamber), the fate of millions of peoples' healthcare became a nail-biter season finale on a bad show.
Journalists and regular viewers became McCain body language experts, watching the Republican Senator's every move, smile, blink, and nose scratch.
All I can say right now is Chuck Schumer and John McCain had a conversation and Schumer left smiling.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) July 28, 2017
I don't know what to make of this but McCain's body language is not that of someone wanting this to pass. But this is just speculation.
— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) July 28, 2017
John McCain just applauded for Chuck Schumer's floor speech calling for senators to vote against skinny repeal, so there's that.
— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) July 28, 2017
Chalk it up to the drawn-out vote, late-night delirium and the absurdity of hundreds of thousands of people being forced to stay up and speculate about whether their representatives will vote to drastically change their lives twice a week, but body language tweets soon became very weird and very, very funny.
wow mccain just blew a kiss at schumer who caught it & put it in his pocket to save for later?? mcconnell is spinning in circles shrieking!!
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) July 28, 2017
I'm bad at this body language stuff — what does it mean that all the senators and staffers are lying motionless on the floor?
— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) July 28, 2017
Schumer just lifted McCain up over his head while "I Had the Time of my Life" blared over the Senate PA system. Is this a good sign?
— Troostwornall (@TroostWornall) July 28, 2017
John McCain vulgar gesticulation at Schumer. Twerking. Senators crying, vomiting
— Ed Zitron (@edzitron) July 28, 2017
The hopeful reading of body language around McCain on the floor combined with the cynicism of twitter is creating weather.
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) July 28, 2017
Lotta y'all ain't been reading this much body language since prom night
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) July 28, 2017
A raven just appeared and alighted on McCain's head
McCain didn't react
Looks like McConnell mouthed "Get that raven outta here"
HMMM https://t.co/RTaRObfzY6— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) July 28, 2017
huge ups to people going in on reading john mccain's body language on the senate floor. tomorrow you can come over and read my dog's mind
— Nicole Silverberg (@nsilverberg) July 28, 2017
It's hard to read too much into body language, but McCain's back looks limber and he's tying his hair back in a ponytail.
— Lew Morton (@LewMorton) July 28, 2017
Now McCain and Schumer doing the OA movements at each other. What does it mean?
— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) July 28, 2017
Nihilistic, delirious Twitter is the best Twitter in 2017.
