Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is one of the best new Senators elected in 2014, and we at RedState were proud to support him in the primaries. After keeping a low profile his first few months in the Senate, the 43 year old freshman has gradually been building a higher profile as a conservative reformer, and has recently started grilling Donald Trump on Twitter. Today, Trump fired back – and Sasse responded in kind, giving The Donald a taste of his own medicine.

Sasse started bearing down on Trump on Sunday, beginning by noting – as many elected Republicans have – that Trump has indeed raised some important issues and questions in this campaign. But Sasse has far more serious questions on his mind about Trump as a potential Leader of the Free World.

Mr @realDonaldTrump: You've struck a chord w/American ppl. (My folks email me abt u weekly). I think because you’ve rightly diagnosed (cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
…much of what’s wrong in DC. Youre very talented&on a huge roll. If I were betting–youre likely next POTUS. Congrats. But

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
In our house we've talkd abt your phenomenal campaign a lot. Good to see people talking directly abt DC's big mess. But…

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
…At the same time, we have questions about how you would govern. Would like to ask you some questions, if you are willing?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Questn1. You said you want single-payor “govt pays4everyone" HCare. If that isnt your position now when did it change?Why?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Q2: You’ve said you “hate the concept of guns.” Why the change? When did it happen? What’s the 2nd Amendment mean to you?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Q3: A few yrs ago u proposed $6trillion tax hike. Still want to do that? Agree w/ Biden that higher taxes=more patriotism?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Q4: You brag abt many affairs w/ married women. Have you repented? To harmed children & spouses? Do you think it matters?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Q5: I believe 1 of the most damaging things POTUS Obama did is ignore Constitution, act on his own,& bypass Congress(cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Next GOP POTUS must roll this back & reaffirm a Constitutional system b4 we lose this special inheritance forever (cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

(timeout) Let's pause to offer credit where it'ss due: @CameronNewton is the @realDonaldTrump of #nfl tonight. He is totally dominant. wow

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
Do you agree that exec unilateralism is very bad? Because you talk A LOT about “running the country” as though… (cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
…as tho 1 man shld “run America."
Questn5: Will you commit to rolling back Exec power & undoing Obama unilateral habit?

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
These r sincere questions& I sincerely hope u answer rather than insult. Many gr8 Americns r in your camp &they desrve…

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
…they deserve str8 answers. America doesnt need a strongman. We need a Constitution. Someone who knows the meaning(cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
…meaning of America isnt what happns inDC–but what happens when free people come together 2secure ordered liberty(cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
America isn’t about our bureaucrats are. And isn’t who is in the Oval“running the country.” WE THE PEOPLE run this country

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
The whole point o America is that THE PEOPLE r bigger than the govt.It's THE thing that makes us exceptional across histry

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

.@realDonaldTrump
The President's job is NOT 2"run Amerca."This is precisely Obama's error. The "presiding officer" of the Exec Branch(cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 25, 2016

As you can see, some of these questions were serious policy issues, some were questions of personal character, but all were serious matters a presidential candidate should be ready to address. Getting no response, Sasse upped the ante two days later after Trump bailed on the debate in Iowa, which neighbors Sasse’s state

Wow, I hope Russia never thinks of hiring @megynkelly
1. @realdonaldtrump loves Putin &
2. He has a yuuuge fear of M.Kelly

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 27, 2016

Trump, being Trump, responded to one of the brightest and most serious, practical yet idealistic men in the United States Senate with playground insults:

The great State of Nebraska can do much better than @BenSasse as your Senator. Saw him on @greta – totally ineffective. Wants paid for pols.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2016

.@BenSasse looks more like a gym rat than a U.S. Senator. How the hell did he ever get elected? @greta

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2016

Sasse took those in stride

Thanks. As the sonuva football &wrestling coach, this is high praise
MT"@realDonaldTrump: @BenSasse looks more like gym rat than US Senator"

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

BTW, since we're friends now, when you get to answering my Questns, mind if I add a 6th?
MT"@realDonaldTrump: @BenSasse looks like gym rat"

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

Mr @realDonaldTrump Q6: Obama Admin has used Nixon-style tactics on opponents. You say, If someone screws you, screw them back harder (cont)

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

(Q6 cont) As Pres, would you use the tools of the federal govt against opponents?
We don't a Republican version of Obama, or another Nixon.

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

Mr @realDonaldTrump
Lots of really great Americans are considering supporting you.
They deserve real answers.
Please consider it.
Goodnight.

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

And then Sasse went in with the heavy artillery:

Good grief. With a response like this you'd think I asked Mr @realDonaldTrump abt the length of his fingers or something important like that

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 30, 2016

If you don’t get the reference, you can read this Sonny Bunch post at the Washington Free Beacon about how hypersensitive Trump is about having short fingers. Petty as Sasse’s target is, it hits Trump where his fragile ego is weak, which is the point; George Washington would not have been so sensitive about such a minor vanity.

If all this leaves you feeling dismal about our democracy, I offer as a palate cleanser Sasse’s serious and thoughtful inaugural speech in the Senate, and an Atlantic profile of him and his ideas: