You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Annual 'Dingell Jingle' lampoons political paralysis in Congress
By AnnArbor.com Staff
U.S. Rep. John Dingell is better known as a legislator than a lyricist, but every year he releases a politically themed holiday carol.
This year's version of his "Dingell Jingle'' was sent to the media on Friday. Written to the tune of "Winter Wonderland,'' it spoofs political inaction in Washington and touches on such topics as tax policy and health care.
"We can work together,'' Dingell, D-Dearborn, said in a statement released along with his ditty. "We have done it in the past and I stand ready to work with any and all of my colleagues on matters that will help solidify America’s greatness.”
Here is his holiday offering. Feel free to sing along.
Washington Is Stuck In Neverland
(To the Tune of “Winter Wonderland”)
House bells ring, are you listening
On the floor a job plan’s missing
A terrible sight
A horrible blight
Washington is stuck in never land
Gone away, cooperation
Here to stay is stagnation
They sing a pure song
Plotting all along
Washington is stuck in never land
On the Hill Obama is a strawman
Republicans love to keep him down
He'll say: stand united
They'll say: no man
You can’t do the job
While we’re in town
Sadly still they'll conspire
To ensure he gets fired
Making us afraid
With the plans that they've made
Washington is stuck in never land
In the meadow we can build a tax plan
And pretend that it will trickle down
We’ll write off the yacht and the gulfstream
While the GOP is still in town
Repealing healthcare, ain’t it thrilling
No UI benefits, though it’s chilling
They'll frolic and play with no EPA
Washington is stuck in never land
The Congress is still without a plan
Washington is stuck in never land
If this is your kind of holiday frivolity, you might also want to watch this YouTube video of Dingell's 2005 offering, written in the spirit of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas.''
Comments
talker
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
Safety regulations are important, but that's not why millions of jobs moved from the U.S. to China and other low-wage countries. CEO's and other corporate executives moved jobs to countries in order to reduce pay by more than half and in some cases 90%. As it is, some of the CEO's who send jobs abroad earn more in six months than U.S. manufacturing employees earn inn 40 years.
Companies who send jobs abroad and cut manufacturing costs are praised and rewarded by Wall Street.while American jobs are lost.
It's not because of Government regulations, taxes, etc. that more jobs aren't being created. It's the lack of demand by people who can't find jobs that pay enough to stimulate the economy. The richest are more likely to invest money here or abroad instead of spending more.
The only "jobs bills" Democrats vote against are those that experience has shown will fail. During the Bush administration and the temporary continuation of the tax cuts that favor the richest, evidence shows that cutting taxes on the richest doesn't create jobs. The Republicans need to compromise with the Democrats, who have gone from proposing ending the tax cuts of couples' income over $250,000 a year to putting a tax surcharge only on annual income above a million dollars. The tax cuts would continue on everyone's income of one million dollars a year or less and only annual income above one million dollars a year would be taxed more. That would help the middle class, which would help demand and job creation. Yet Republicans in the House refused to atbid for that bill which gave them most of what they wanted, just not all of what they wanted.
Scott
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
" Washington Is Stuck In Neverland'
Congressman Dingell was raised in Washington, IE, Neverland
To the Tune of "Winter Wonderland"
One Wonders what the congressman does in Washington as he has nothing to show for it
House bells ring, are you listening
The house passed a Budget. What happened to the Democrats in the Senate for the last 6 years?
On the floor a job plan's missing
DIngell has fought the Job Creating Keystone XL Energy project. Why?
A terrible sight
Democrats in the Senate continue to stall all Job Creating Bills the House Passes.
A horrible blight
Michigan and Dearborn continue to suffer as Obama and Dingell Fiddle as Rome Burns
Washington is stuck in never land
John DIngle is still in Office and Doing Nothing to Help Dearborn
Gone away, cooperation
Democrats in the Senate continue to stall all Job Creating Bills the House Passes.
Here to stay is stagnation
Obama/Dingell Stimulus plan money was all wasted on Union Pensions and Pay Raises
They sing a pure song
Obama/DIngell Fiddles while Rome Burns
Plotting all along
John DIngell and John Conyers worked to destroy to Firewall that protects the Social Security Trust Fund. They Spent all the money in the fund now they want to reduce the money coming into Social Security by 2% with a phony tax cut.
Washington is stuck in never land
John Dingell is still in office and doing nothing
On the Hill Obama is a straw man
Obama has become the worst President since Jimmy Carter
Republicans love to keep him down
Republicans for the first time have some say in the Legislature but the Senate and President still block all Republican Job Creation Bills.
He'll say: stand united
That would be nice if the Democrats had more on their minds than just getting re-elected
They'll say: no man
The Democrat Senate has not passed a budget in 6 years and have blocked all job creation Bills passed by the House
Dog Guy
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:23 p.m.
I am greatly puzzled. I have always been told that "Dingell jingle" was what Debbie Dingell carried home in a bag.
clownfish
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
Don't like Dingell?
Don't ever use the new stadium bridge! It is gosh darn "Obama money"!
Gordon
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
AH, fresh blood to Congress, just what we have experienced. Brazen young whippersnapers telling the old elected guard in Congress how they are going to change things. Well they have. At least three times they have used the budget of the U.S. as a club. I don't call that negoationating I call that bully tactics.
Yes, Dingell's remarks are funny as one of the elements to good humor is the truth. We are experiencing one of the worest Congresses in modern History. They should look up the definition of 'Politics'.
How can they do their responsibility if they don't pay any attention to their own created 'Office of the Budget'? Governmemt finance is different then a home budget; but somebody remind them that the value of governmemt land has gone down too.
motorcycleminer
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
He should have been put out to pasture 30 yrs ago..a prime example of lack of term limits ..the $$$ he's pulled out of your wallet in the real world is " life without parole " ...
towny
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Thank You, right on.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:30 a.m.
What Congressman Dingell doesn't mention in his song is the fact that he voted this week for (the ACLU writes) "the Defense Authorization bill, which is on its way to President Obama's desk. In addition to continuing to fund the futile effort to build a nation state in Afghanistan, the bill contains dangerous, sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provisions."
"Leading members of Congress have already indicated that they believe that these provisions could be used by this and any future president to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial — even American citizens and others picked up within the borders of the United States."
"According to reports, the President's advisors are recommending that he not veto this legislation despite earlier promises to do so. We need to tell the President to listen to the American people" and we should let Congressman Dingell know how disappointed we are that he would vote for such a violation of basic human rights! See <a href="http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-veto-indefinite-detention" rel='nofollow'>http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-veto-indefinite-detention</a>
Arborcomment
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
Nice to see you have expressed your opposition. The original bi-partisian proposal met concerns from the Obama administration and apparently those concerns were addressed.
We've gone around the track before re: Afghanistan, so I'll not trouble you with a rehash. For an update however, this week another three districts went from ISAF to local Afghan control and the Afghan Army launched their first totally internally led ground operation. One loose end from our earlier discussion did come to light in the past week, the RQ-170.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
@arborcomment: actually before the revised language was finalized during the Congressional conference committee, I contacted my classmate from Exeter and Yale who serves as Senator Levin's chief legal counsel on the Senate's Armed Services committee to express my strong concerns (he assured me that it would be fixed). Before this week's final vote i also contacted Senator Stabenow's Michigan chief of staff on her personal email, Congressman Dingell's chief of staff and local rep on their personal email and called the President's citizen comment line to urge them all to act against the bill unless the offensive language was first changed. No one has yet responded, I am sorry to say!
Arborcomment
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Stephan, the provision you cite was authored by Senator Levin and Senator McCain. I suggest you contact your Senator.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:36 a.m.
Sorry, the words inside the quote "In addition to continuing to fund the futile effort to build a nation state in Afghanistan" are mine not the ACLU's - I forgot to edit that before submitting. The rest of the words inside the quotes are from the ACLU's website that i provided the link to. I miss the edit your post before submitting function that AnnArbor.com used to have when it first started!
Diagenes
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:28 a.m.
Was this actually written by Mr. Dingel? Or a staff person? Either way it shows he is as much a part of the problem as his coleagues in Congress. Can anyone document one time in the last 4 years when Mr. Dingel made a proposal to curb government waste, reform the out of control entitlement programs, or encourage private sector job creation? A bus stop and a bridge do not count as private sector jobs.
He lampoons his colleagues but what has he done to reach across party lines and build concensus to solve problems?
When was the last time he sponsored legislation with a Republican to bolster the auto industry, or increase domestic energy production?
Where was the ranking Democrat on the energy committee when Solindra got $500 million in tax payer money just before declaring bankruptcy? Did he call the Whitehouse and tell them it was a bad idea? Or did Mr. Obama even bother to tell Mr. Dingel what he was about to do?
Mr. Dingel can mock his fellow members of Congress ( and himself, after all, he too is part of Congress) but he should look in the mirror and ask himself if he is part of the solution or part of the problem.
Donna
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
Apparently some people don't like to hear the truth no matter how it's presented. The fact that the Republicans are only worried about a Merry Christmas for themselves sure says a mouthful - whether it comes out in prose or any other way.
Norman Alred
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 11:28 p.m.
It seems our Republican minded friends are unable to understand "sarcasm". At least John can point to a long and productive career. What will folks like Eric Cantor be known for? Putting Grandma out of her house with no income and no health care?
leaguebus
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Is he wrong? He didn't sign Grover Norquists No Tax pledge, but 97% of the Republicans did. We just found out today that half of the families in the US are under the poverty level. Yet the Republicans can only think to cut Medicare, Social Security and unemployment benefits so they can give more tax breaks to the rich and move more of the middle class under the poverty levels. Mr Dingle has done a lot for AA this year, especially helping to find funding for the Stadium bridge project. I like the jingle, Mr Dingell, Merry Christmas.
towny
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
Sorry, I do not seem to be mean. But, Dingell is part of the problem with the government of this country. He is not part of the solution to fixing it. He represents the same old same old.
towny
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
With all the important legislation regarding this country to work thru before the holiday break this is what is important to this dinosaur. Shows what is important to him and how much he cares.
Just retire already so some fresh blood can come in and do something important work for this country.
Sparty
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
One of the most accurate things coming out of Congress in a long time!
Martin Church
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
Hope Dingell is looking in the mirror. The senate still has yet to pass a budget. The house without dingells assitance has passed at least three this year. during the first two years when Dingell and the Democrats controlled the house, nothing got done.
He says he is for compromise. then let's see the compromise. Stop taking our money start being like millions of families in this country who have to balance their books monthly.
Since Dingell has been in office the poor has grown both in numbers (due to taxation) and in obesity (federal food stamps that discourage proper food being bought (lobsters anyone))
Our manufactoring has left the area due to his environmental reguslations and the cafe standards for cars have cost lives. Intereseting in the Last six years of Clinton's term we balanced a budget while the democrats complained. they get 4 years and the economy tanked.
but after Washington is stuck in never land.
clownfish
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
1: There is no such ting as "Obamacare". That is a made up term.
2: Dingell is not in the Senate, deriding him for what happens there is ridiculous.
3: taxation is at 60 year lows. Where are the jobs?
4: The economy tanked in 2007, who was the Dear Leader then?
5: Health care costs rank at the top of business complaints. At least Obama did what he promised, and gave the insurance companies the plan they wanted, a plan formerly championed by Newt, The Heritage Foundation, Orin Hatch, John Chaffee, Bob Dole, Richard Lugar and Ted Stevens. In 1993 the GOP proposed a bill that The National Federation of Independent Business, a conservative small-business group, praised the bill "for its emphasis on individual responsibility.", a bill that included MANDATED insurance for all.
Sparty
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
The 2.5 million insured adults under 26 would disagree, as would the children whose pre-existing condition barriers have been eliminated, the seniors who have seen their Part D donut hole cut by 50%, everyone allowed free preventative healthcare visits, everones elimination of lifetime maximum caps on our health plans, etc. already in place and the majority of Obamacare doesn't start until 2014. Dodd-Frank passed Congress on a bipartisan basis, with 60 Senators approving, and is already providing consumer protections against wall street greed. Wonderful, isn't it?
Sparty
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
You are misinformed: a budged was passed by the US Congress recently. During Clinton's terms, some compromise existed, but when Gingrich shutdown the Government it didn't work out too well for him did it? Clinton won his budget battle and left a surplus that Bush squandered on his unjustified wars costing $5 trillion and thousands of American lives.
Diagenes
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:41 a.m.
Rob, bad legislation like Obama care and Dodd Frank are worse than no legislation. The House which originates all spending bills was under GOP majority during the last 6 years of Clinton. Harry Reid will not let a buget come up for a vote in the Senate. Democrats call it compromising when the GOP agrees with them.
Sparty
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.
Actually, the prior Congress under the Democratic Speakership of Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid was one of the most most productive Congress sessions in history as noted by the House parliamentarian, in terms of legislation actually passed into law. This session has been noted as one of the least productive in US history in terms of legislation passed into law. Since Republicans hold the majority in the House, Democrats are held hostage to the tea party and are unable to pass legislation on their own. Republicans in the minority in the Senate have filibustered more legislation this session than any other session in history. You do realize that Clinton was a Democrat don't you -- it was he that left the surplus that Bush squandered with his wars that have cost $5 trillion dollars and thousands of American lives.
average joe
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9 p.m.
For someone who has been in what he calls neverland for 50 years, Mr Dingle is just as much of the problem as any other rep., & needs to spend his time more constructively on the serious issues of the country, instead of trying to make the country laugh at him & his co-workers.
USRepublic
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
This is supposed to be funny?
Don't these guys know their approval rating is around 8%....which is the same percentage of the population that suffers from some sort of mental disorder?
There is no humor when it comes to the Dingell Berries and the rest of the fruitcakes in Washington!!
gild
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
I only want the media to be an echo chamber repeating views I agree with! If AnnArbor.com quotes somebody I don't like, I'll take my ball and go home!
Tex Treeder
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 3:55 a.m.
You have a subscription to the internet?
USRepublic
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.
BTW......publishing an "article" such as this is nothing more than pure liberal propaganda!!!
You guys have lost your perspective.....cancel my subscription!!!
Comments
talker
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
Safety regulations are important, but that's not why millions of jobs moved from the U.S. to China and other low-wage countries. CEO's and other corporate executives moved jobs to countries in order to reduce pay by more than half and in some cases 90%. As it is, some of the CEO's who send jobs abroad earn more in six months than U.S. manufacturing employees earn inn 40 years. Companies who send jobs abroad and cut manufacturing costs are praised and rewarded by Wall Street.while American jobs are lost. It's not because of Government regulations, taxes, etc. that more jobs aren't being created. It's the lack of demand by people who can't find jobs that pay enough to stimulate the economy. The richest are more likely to invest money here or abroad instead of spending more. The only "jobs bills" Democrats vote against are those that experience has shown will fail. During the Bush administration and the temporary continuation of the tax cuts that favor the richest, evidence shows that cutting taxes on the richest doesn't create jobs. The Republicans need to compromise with the Democrats, who have gone from proposing ending the tax cuts of couples' income over $250,000 a year to putting a tax surcharge only on annual income above a million dollars. The tax cuts would continue on everyone's income of one million dollars a year or less and only annual income above one million dollars a year would be taxed more. That would help the middle class, which would help demand and job creation. Yet Republicans in the House refused to atbid for that bill which gave them most of what they wanted, just not all of what they wanted.
Scott
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
" Washington Is Stuck In Neverland' Congressman Dingell was raised in Washington, IE, Neverland To the Tune of "Winter Wonderland" One Wonders what the congressman does in Washington as he has nothing to show for it House bells ring, are you listening The house passed a Budget. What happened to the Democrats in the Senate for the last 6 years? On the floor a job plan's missing DIngell has fought the Job Creating Keystone XL Energy project. Why? A terrible sight Democrats in the Senate continue to stall all Job Creating Bills the House Passes. A horrible blight Michigan and Dearborn continue to suffer as Obama and Dingell Fiddle as Rome Burns Washington is stuck in never land John DIngle is still in Office and Doing Nothing to Help Dearborn Gone away, cooperation Democrats in the Senate continue to stall all Job Creating Bills the House Passes. Here to stay is stagnation Obama/Dingell Stimulus plan money was all wasted on Union Pensions and Pay Raises They sing a pure song Obama/DIngell Fiddles while Rome Burns Plotting all along John DIngell and John Conyers worked to destroy to Firewall that protects the Social Security Trust Fund. They Spent all the money in the fund now they want to reduce the money coming into Social Security by 2% with a phony tax cut. Washington is stuck in never land John Dingell is still in office and doing nothing On the Hill Obama is a straw man Obama has become the worst President since Jimmy Carter Republicans love to keep him down Republicans for the first time have some say in the Legislature but the Senate and President still block all Republican Job Creation Bills. He'll say: stand united That would be nice if the Democrats had more on their minds than just getting re-elected They'll say: no man The Democrat Senate has not passed a budget in 6 years and have blocked all job creation Bills passed by the House
Dog Guy
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:23 p.m.
I am greatly puzzled. I have always been told that "Dingell jingle" was what Debbie Dingell carried home in a bag.
clownfish
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
Don't like Dingell? Don't ever use the new stadium bridge! It is gosh darn "Obama money"!
Gordon
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
AH, fresh blood to Congress, just what we have experienced. Brazen young whippersnapers telling the old elected guard in Congress how they are going to change things. Well they have. At least three times they have used the budget of the U.S. as a club. I don't call that negoationating I call that bully tactics. Yes, Dingell's remarks are funny as one of the elements to good humor is the truth. We are experiencing one of the worest Congresses in modern History. They should look up the definition of 'Politics'. How can they do their responsibility if they don't pay any attention to their own created 'Office of the Budget'? Governmemt finance is different then a home budget; but somebody remind them that the value of governmemt land has gone down too.
motorcycleminer
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
He should have been put out to pasture 30 yrs ago..a prime example of lack of term limits ..the $$$ he's pulled out of your wallet in the real world is " life without parole " ...
towny
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Thank You, right on.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:30 a.m.
What Congressman Dingell doesn't mention in his song is the fact that he voted this week for (the ACLU writes) "the Defense Authorization bill, which is on its way to President Obama's desk. In addition to continuing to fund the futile effort to build a nation state in Afghanistan, the bill contains dangerous, sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provisions." "Leading members of Congress have already indicated that they believe that these provisions could be used by this and any future president to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial — even American citizens and others picked up within the borders of the United States." "According to reports, the President's advisors are recommending that he not veto this legislation despite earlier promises to do so. We need to tell the President to listen to the American people" and we should let Congressman Dingell know how disappointed we are that he would vote for such a violation of basic human rights! See <a href="http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-veto-indefinite-detention" rel='nofollow'>http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/president-obama-veto-indefinite-detention</a>
Arborcomment
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
Nice to see you have expressed your opposition. The original bi-partisian proposal met concerns from the Obama administration and apparently those concerns were addressed. We've gone around the track before re: Afghanistan, so I'll not trouble you with a rehash. For an update however, this week another three districts went from ISAF to local Afghan control and the Afghan Army launched their first totally internally led ground operation. One loose end from our earlier discussion did come to light in the past week, the RQ-170.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
@arborcomment: actually before the revised language was finalized during the Congressional conference committee, I contacted my classmate from Exeter and Yale who serves as Senator Levin's chief legal counsel on the Senate's Armed Services committee to express my strong concerns (he assured me that it would be fixed). Before this week's final vote i also contacted Senator Stabenow's Michigan chief of staff on her personal email, Congressman Dingell's chief of staff and local rep on their personal email and called the President's citizen comment line to urge them all to act against the bill unless the offensive language was first changed. No one has yet responded, I am sorry to say!
Arborcomment
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.
Stephan, the provision you cite was authored by Senator Levin and Senator McCain. I suggest you contact your Senator.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 11:36 a.m.
Sorry, the words inside the quote "In addition to continuing to fund the futile effort to build a nation state in Afghanistan" are mine not the ACLU's - I forgot to edit that before submitting. The rest of the words inside the quotes are from the ACLU's website that i provided the link to. I miss the edit your post before submitting function that AnnArbor.com used to have when it first started!
Diagenes
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:28 a.m.
Was this actually written by Mr. Dingel? Or a staff person? Either way it shows he is as much a part of the problem as his coleagues in Congress. Can anyone document one time in the last 4 years when Mr. Dingel made a proposal to curb government waste, reform the out of control entitlement programs, or encourage private sector job creation? A bus stop and a bridge do not count as private sector jobs. He lampoons his colleagues but what has he done to reach across party lines and build concensus to solve problems? When was the last time he sponsored legislation with a Republican to bolster the auto industry, or increase domestic energy production? Where was the ranking Democrat on the energy committee when Solindra got $500 million in tax payer money just before declaring bankruptcy? Did he call the Whitehouse and tell them it was a bad idea? Or did Mr. Obama even bother to tell Mr. Dingel what he was about to do? Mr. Dingel can mock his fellow members of Congress ( and himself, after all, he too is part of Congress) but he should look in the mirror and ask himself if he is part of the solution or part of the problem.
Donna
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
Apparently some people don't like to hear the truth no matter how it's presented. The fact that the Republicans are only worried about a Merry Christmas for themselves sure says a mouthful - whether it comes out in prose or any other way.
Norman Alred
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 11:28 p.m.
It seems our Republican minded friends are unable to understand "sarcasm". At least John can point to a long and productive career. What will folks like Eric Cantor be known for? Putting Grandma out of her house with no income and no health care?
leaguebus
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Is he wrong? He didn't sign Grover Norquists No Tax pledge, but 97% of the Republicans did. We just found out today that half of the families in the US are under the poverty level. Yet the Republicans can only think to cut Medicare, Social Security and unemployment benefits so they can give more tax breaks to the rich and move more of the middle class under the poverty levels. Mr Dingle has done a lot for AA this year, especially helping to find funding for the Stadium bridge project. I like the jingle, Mr Dingell, Merry Christmas.
towny
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
Sorry, I do not seem to be mean. But, Dingell is part of the problem with the government of this country. He is not part of the solution to fixing it. He represents the same old same old.
towny
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
With all the important legislation regarding this country to work thru before the holiday break this is what is important to this dinosaur. Shows what is important to him and how much he cares. Just retire already so some fresh blood can come in and do something important work for this country.
Sparty
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
One of the most accurate things coming out of Congress in a long time!
Martin Church
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
Hope Dingell is looking in the mirror. The senate still has yet to pass a budget. The house without dingells assitance has passed at least three this year. during the first two years when Dingell and the Democrats controlled the house, nothing got done. He says he is for compromise. then let's see the compromise. Stop taking our money start being like millions of families in this country who have to balance their books monthly. Since Dingell has been in office the poor has grown both in numbers (due to taxation) and in obesity (federal food stamps that discourage proper food being bought (lobsters anyone)) Our manufactoring has left the area due to his environmental reguslations and the cafe standards for cars have cost lives. Intereseting in the Last six years of Clinton's term we balanced a budget while the democrats complained. they get 4 years and the economy tanked. but after Washington is stuck in never land.
clownfish
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:49 p.m.
1: There is no such ting as "Obamacare". That is a made up term. 2: Dingell is not in the Senate, deriding him for what happens there is ridiculous. 3: taxation is at 60 year lows. Where are the jobs? 4: The economy tanked in 2007, who was the Dear Leader then? 5: Health care costs rank at the top of business complaints. At least Obama did what he promised, and gave the insurance companies the plan they wanted, a plan formerly championed by Newt, The Heritage Foundation, Orin Hatch, John Chaffee, Bob Dole, Richard Lugar and Ted Stevens. In 1993 the GOP proposed a bill that The National Federation of Independent Business, a conservative small-business group, praised the bill "for its emphasis on individual responsibility.", a bill that included MANDATED insurance for all.
Sparty
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
The 2.5 million insured adults under 26 would disagree, as would the children whose pre-existing condition barriers have been eliminated, the seniors who have seen their Part D donut hole cut by 50%, everyone allowed free preventative healthcare visits, everones elimination of lifetime maximum caps on our health plans, etc. already in place and the majority of Obamacare doesn't start until 2014. Dodd-Frank passed Congress on a bipartisan basis, with 60 Senators approving, and is already providing consumer protections against wall street greed. Wonderful, isn't it?
Sparty
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 1:34 p.m.
You are misinformed: a budged was passed by the US Congress recently. During Clinton's terms, some compromise existed, but when Gingrich shutdown the Government it didn't work out too well for him did it? Clinton won his budget battle and left a surplus that Bush squandered on his unjustified wars costing $5 trillion and thousands of American lives.
Diagenes
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:41 a.m.
Rob, bad legislation like Obama care and Dodd Frank are worse than no legislation. The House which originates all spending bills was under GOP majority during the last 6 years of Clinton. Harry Reid will not let a buget come up for a vote in the Senate. Democrats call it compromising when the GOP agrees with them.
Sparty
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.
Actually, the prior Congress under the Democratic Speakership of Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid was one of the most most productive Congress sessions in history as noted by the House parliamentarian, in terms of legislation actually passed into law. This session has been noted as one of the least productive in US history in terms of legislation passed into law. Since Republicans hold the majority in the House, Democrats are held hostage to the tea party and are unable to pass legislation on their own. Republicans in the minority in the Senate have filibustered more legislation this session than any other session in history. You do realize that Clinton was a Democrat don't you -- it was he that left the surplus that Bush squandered with his wars that have cost $5 trillion dollars and thousands of American lives.
average joe
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9 p.m.
For someone who has been in what he calls neverland for 50 years, Mr Dingle is just as much of the problem as any other rep., & needs to spend his time more constructively on the serious issues of the country, instead of trying to make the country laugh at him & his co-workers.
USRepublic
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 8:46 p.m.
This is supposed to be funny? Don't these guys know their approval rating is around 8%....which is the same percentage of the population that suffers from some sort of mental disorder? There is no humor when it comes to the Dingell Berries and the rest of the fruitcakes in Washington!!
gild
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
I only want the media to be an echo chamber repeating views I agree with! If AnnArbor.com quotes somebody I don't like, I'll take my ball and go home!
Tex Treeder
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 3:55 a.m.
You have a subscription to the internet?
USRepublic
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.
BTW......publishing an "article" such as this is nothing more than pure liberal propaganda!!! You guys have lost your perspective.....cancel my subscription!!!
Tony Dearing
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 8:42 p.m.
A comment was removed because it was off-topic.
David Briegel
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.
Happy Holidays!
Diagenes
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 5:21 a.m.
Merry Christmas