Former Rep. John Dingell died yesterday at age 92. The ex-Congressman represented the Detroit area for a record 30 terms in Congress, from 1955-2015, and his wife and now widow succeeded him. A Democrat who helped write the original fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles (although he later opposed raising them), he was the Dean of the House — i.e., the longest-serving current member at that time — for a record 20 years.
That’s a lot of constituent love. In addition to releasing a memoir with a foreword written by the late President George H.W. Bush, Dingell was also quite the expert tweeter. Biting, savage, and occasionally nihilistic-blasé in the way some of the best Twitter users are, here are some of his best zingers.
Well, go Warriors I guess. https://t.co/1OYUHKMCLI
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 29, 2018
Big Macs. Small hands. A nation’s embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/bwI7qlXWgg
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 15, 2019
People tweet this photo at me all the time & I never truly understood it until they announced that today’s @tigers game is delayed for rain. pic.twitter.com/jjieu0YJNu
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) April 3, 2017
Hard pass. https://t.co/4vkrLFI91K
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 7, 2019
Don’t you kind of want to buy this book now? What a smartass.
Just left a hipster coffee shop where everyone was whispering about how my book, THE DEAN, makes a wonderful holiday present and currently has a 10% off coupon on Amazon, bringing the price down to just $17.74: https://t.co/wSPkC9MepW #TheDean
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) December 6, 2018
I’ve made it nearly a century without knowing who Jordan Peterson is and I’ll be damned if you internet miscreants ruin that for me.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 21, 2018
Happy New Year or whatever.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 1, 2019
Oh yeah? You tweet this from your landline? https://t.co/Llmm7ahDmX
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) October 25, 2018
I’m continuously impressed by @staceyabrams. She’s running circles around the guy she’s up against. His efforts to disinfranchise Georgia voters is shameful and goes against the very foundation of our democracy. Learn more about Stacey or donate here: https://t.co/LlrXhcaDl8 https://t.co/PXBKCF5wbu
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) November 1, 2018
That Banksy fella has nothing on this. pic.twitter.com/OpGRAAnEjy
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) October 15, 2018
I REALLY DON’T CARE. DO U? https://t.co/L2o6H2KXC2
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) June 23, 2018
I always hear how powerful and mighty that teabagging “Freedom Caucus” is, but every time I tune in for a big vote all I see is them rolling over.
As a man with chronic back pain, I must admit I’m jealous of their spinelessness.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 18, 2018
Nearly 24 hours later and “Be Best” still makes no sense for a number of reasons, chief among them the fact that being the absolute worst is the only thing this president and his administration have shown they’re any good at.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 8, 2018
I’ve now lived through two completely unrelated Ty Cobb retirements. The latter was infinitely more hilarious than the former. Nice mustache, pal.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) May 2, 2018
To my Republican friends in Congress:
Retirement is a blast. Naps. Snacks. Join me.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) April 26, 2018
The following two must be read together:
44 out of 45 ain’t bad.
Happy Presidents’ Day.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 19, 2018
Cut the damn “dilly dilly” crap
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 5, 2018
Lighten up, nerd. https://t.co/SZxWbB2iTm
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) April 13, 2018
The Lovely Deborah is insisting I rest and stay off here, but after long negotiations we’ve worked out a deal where she’ll keep up with Twitter for me as I dictate the messages. I want to thank you all for your incredibly kind words and prayers. You’re not done with me just yet.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 6, 2019
This was his last tweet. Who wouldn’t want their last words to be “You’re not done with me just yet”? R.I.P., Congressman Dingell.
