by
John Dingell was like America's coolest grandfather, especially on Twitter.
He skewered the president with stiletto-sharp tweets, points dipped in sarcasm, ridicule and derision. The 92-year-old, who died Thursday, also promoted his 2018 autobiography, bantered about sports and cracked wise about his age, pop culture and newsmakers. Here's how he reacted two weeks ago to a possible 2020 White House run by past Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz:
Someone told me that the man behind everyone's favorite cup of coffee might run for President and I just want to wish @TimHortons the very best. You have my support.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 29, 2019
The feisty flow earned 252,000 followers for a guy who was born in 1926, joined Twitter in 2010 and became a social media rock star -- mainly by mocking Donald Trump mercilessly. Last Dec. 24, he tweeted: "All I want for Christmas is January 20th, 2021."
And when the president agreed in late January to end the five-week federal shutdown without border wall funding, Dingell posted: "Trump caved and called it a deal."
Shortly after his death was announced, CNN contributor Ana Navarro (who also co-hosts "The View") tweeted: "I know he was an icon, a legislative giant. I know he leaves behind a meaningful legacy. I know his loss is heartbreaking for Debbie and their loved ones. But man, I am really going to miss John Dingell’s tweets."
Just six weeks into the president's term, USA Today contributor John Sattler saluted the retiree as "the world’s greatest 90-year-old Twitter user" and observed:
Dingell doesn’t ever have to worry about ever getting a job again. This gives him a freedom to swing back at Trump’s wild accusations, proclamations and ejaculations.
Plus, he — like the president — seems to have a fair amount of spare time:
John Dingell was more active on Twitter than Facebook, where he posted this last Christmas Day as a greeting to more than 13,000 followers.
Back then, two years ago this month, the House retiree had nearly 91,000 followers -- a flock that has grown by 176 percent. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, has said her husband composed his own tweets and dictated some to her or an assistant.
Among his final ones were a pair last Saturday -- a University of Michigan football retweet and this shut-up advice to the tweeter-in-chief:
Buddy, I think you might want to sit this one out. https://t.co/tURD30IYNj
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 3, 2019
The pokes and slaps began in 2016, shortly after Trump's nomination. Our first compilation presented a half-dozen @JohnDingell gems two months after the Republican National Convention.
Here are jewels from 2017-18, in tribute to a legendary Metro Detroit politician with ageless wit:
The American people wait with bated breath as their idiot president announces something he could have done 35 days ago to avoid this national disgrace of a shutdown. The Art of the Deal.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 25, 2019
Big Macs. Small hands. A nation’s embarrassment. pic.twitter.com/bwI7qlXWgg
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 15, 2019
Comparisons to Nixon's Saturday Night Massacre are a bit misguided, in that Nixon at least had a general idea of what the hell he was doing.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) January 31, 2017
Sit on it, you imbecile. https://t.co/R4jOyjxsqv
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) December 21, 2018
Make Depressions Great Again https://t.co/n5yCDqcJti
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) February 3, 2017
What if I told you there’s more to life than ratings? https://t.co/KdIJdAtBE6
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) September 24, 2017
Inauguration-sized crowds for Trump in Ohio today. https://t.co/pFYuG34DUr
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) June 7, 2017
You know, it's almost like maybe this President is a pathological liar. https://t.co/g2xEjDQ7kn
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) June 22, 2017
Our president, the hysterical pants-wetter. https://t.co/AMwqzimzpd
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) June 27, 2017
