A Festivus for the rest of us: Rand Paul airs grievances with presidential candidates

 By 
Emily Cahn
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Rand Paul is airing his grievances in honor of Festivus -- and it turns out he's got a lot of problems with his fellow presidential candidates.

In what's now become an annual tradition for the Kentucky senator, Paul is making public all the ways Washington and politics have disappointed him this year -- a true Festivus for the rest of us.

The "Airing of Grievances" is a full day effort for Paul, who is lagging behind his rivals in the race for the Republican nomination. But the complaints he's made to honor the Seinfeld holiday so far have focused on other presidential candidates.

Donald Trump, whose "schlonged" comment has dominated headlines this week, got "more of a kvetch than a grievance" from Paul.

Where to start but @realDonaldTrump. If u bring the Yiddish, know what it means. Guess that's more of a kvetch than a grievance #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Ben Carson took heat for all the things he doesn't say.

I have no grievances against my fellow doc @RealBenCarson because I have not heard a word he has said in any debate. #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Paul also poked fun at fellow Sen. Ted Cruz for his Canadian birthplace.

My friend @tedcruz has still not pledged to issue exec order declaring Canadian "bacon" is not real bacon. Makes me suspicious. #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Sen. Marco Rubio's attendance record was among Paul's grievances — so far one of the sickest burns in the bunch.

to my absentee friend @marcorubio, I didn't put your $170k+ salary in my waste report today. But I could have #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Paul's grievances weren't just for Republicans. He also took issue with Bernie Sanders over his "Democratic socialism."

to my comrade @SenSanders: Unless you're Santa Claus, Socialism runs out of other people's money #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Paul's issue with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush stems from the debates.

.@JebBush is always trying to change the debate rules to allow extra time for awkward pauses in answers. Not gonna happen. #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a Dallas Cowboys fan, and Paul was having none of that.

I think I speak for all in NJ when I say @GovChristie I don't care how much $ u spend at Met Life, Cowboys fans should stay out. #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Paul also got in on the potty politics of the week, making fun of Hillary Clinton for her bathroom break during Saturday's Democratic debate.

.@CarlyFiorina has ZERO trouble making it back from commercial breaks @HillaryClinton. Just saying. #Festivus #waronwomensrooms— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Only South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who dropped out of the race on Monday, was safe.

I hereby retract grievance I was going to air about @GrahamBlog today. Respect for the recently departed #EarlyFestivusPresent #Festivus— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2015

Rand Paul's annual Festivus tradition isn't all fun though. He's also reminding his Twitter followers to donate to his cash-strapped campaign.

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