Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow this morning and saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter for America.
What the famous groundhog couldn't have predicted was the discourse that has erupted across social media around the long-standing tradition.
When Groundhog Day comes around, the 1993 film “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray inevitably starts to trend. In case you forgot, the premise is that a man gets stuck reporting on Groundhog Day in an endless loop. Today, Twitter did what Twitter does best and both sides of the political coin have co-opted the phrase to air their grievances against the other in the latest battle in their seemingly never-ending war of words.
Responses across Twitter ranged from shots volleyed at Democrats to criticisms against the GOP, with a few timely jokes from bipartisan users sprinkled in for good measure.
Democrats Take Shots at The GOP
This user takes a shot at the collective intelligence of the GOP, declaring that Punxsutawney Phil is more informed about climate change than any Republican:
Happy Groundhog Day. A rodent with a brain the size of an acorn knows more about climate change than the entire GOP.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) February 2, 2023
Elizabeth Warren strikes a familiar tune, attacking many of the GOP's proposed policies in the name of Groundhog Day. The Senator has historically been firmly against many Republican proposals, such as cuts to Social Security and Medicare:
No, we’re not stuck in a #GroundhogDay-style time loop—the GOP is just releasing the same awful proposals over and over again: cutting Social Security and Medicare, handing even more tax breaks to the wealthy and well-connected, and restricting abortion rights even further.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 2, 2023
Democrats have been quick to point out alleged inconsistencies in the thinking of Republicans. As Kaylan_TX points out, the GOP is more likely to trust Punxsutawney Phil than actual scientists:
Happy Groundhog Day! pic.twitter.com/xAFmVM91Xf
— Kaylan_TX (@Kaylan_TX) February 2, 2023
Biden Firmly in Conservatives' Crosshairs
President Joe Biden found himself embroiled in the Twitter discourse over Groundhog Day, as users like johnrackham82 accuse him of “looting the treasury and destroying our country.”
It's Groundhog Day, and Biden is still the installed buffoon and his handlers are looting the treasury, destroying our country, and laying the foundation for techno-tyranny.
— American Soldier for Christ (@johnrackham82) February 2, 2023
Twitter user seanspicer managed a clever take on Groundhog Dog, declaring that since the groundhog saw his shadow, the American public will be greeted with “6 more weeks of finding classified documents in Biden's home,” a direct reference to the current investigation into the president's Delaware homes:
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) February 2, 2023
6 more weeks of finding classified documents in Biden’s home#GroundhogDay
There's Still Opportunity for Bipartisan Comedy
Not all users turned this unofficial American holiday into an excuse to share politically-charged tweets. Twitter user kingoftheducks cleverly unveiled the way Columbia Pictures could re-release Groundhog Day in theaters:
I think Columbia Pictures missed a trick in 1994 by not putting Groundhog Day 2 into theatres, but it just being the first film again.
— OCP (@kingoftheducks) February 2, 2023
Not even newly-retired Tom Brady is safe from scathing Twitter jokes. User Melissakay68 takes a well-aimed comedic shot at the multi-time Super Bowl champion with this Groundhog Day tie-in:
Happy groundhog day😜😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/7LiniQBkNj
— Melissa kay (@Melissakay68) February 2, 2023
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.