Democrat John Dingell, longest-serving member of US House, says he'll run for re-election

Cox News ^ | 2-20-10 | Associated Press

[cajuncow]

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Associated Press) -- The longest-serving member of the U.S. House is running for re-election.

Michigan Democrat John Dingell of Dearborn told a College Democrats breakfast at the University of Michigan on Saturday that he plans to run again.

Dingell says the state needs experienced leaders in Washington to help get it out of its economic woes. He added, "Now is not the time to walk away."

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Solid union and welfare turf.

Re-election guaranteed.

[BatGuano]

Uh, make that “experienced crooks”, Mr. Dingell. You and your ilk are the problem, not the solution. Your running for another term indicates, to me, that you have not squeezed enough cash and influence yet to sate your evil appetite.

[JohnLongIsland]

Defeat him!

There are certain congressional districts that are untouchable: Pelosi, Rangel, Waters, Dingel, etc.
And in these districts if they oust the incumbent, someone more radical will replace them; i.e.Pelosi's last opponent was Cindy Sheehan.

[Brilliant]

He’s owned by the labor unions.

[CaptainMorgantown]

I was at U of M from 1986 through 1991 and don’t remember that Dingell was my representative at the time. The district may have shifted some through the years. He’s got Ann Arbor (population 130,000 & Very Liberal college town) and the solidly union ‘Downriver’ areas in his district, so he’s probably very safe. The 2 or 3 districts that include central Detroit are also very blue. There’s more hope for challenging Democrats in the northern Detroit suburbs of Oakland and Macomb counties.

It’s amazing that a university town that should be the site of a fierce competition of ideas has the same Congressional represntative since 1955. This dudes outlasted Stalin, Kruschev, Breschnev, Andropov, Gorbechev, Yelstin and Putin, not to mention predating Fidel Castro.

[DrC]

“The 83-year-old Dingell entered the U.S. House in December 1955 to replace his late father.
Please, if you don’t think it’s time for term limits, read and re-read the above.”

It’s worse than that. During the Roosevelt administration, his daddy introduced the single-payer that was trounced when Truman try to ram it through Congress against stiff Republican opposition (not to mention the opposition of nearly every doctor in America). John Dingell the son has “proudly” introduced that identical bill in Congress for every year he has been in office—notwithstanding the mountains of evidence that the public is firmly opposed to this “progressive” approach to health reform.

In short, the man and his ideas are dinosaurs in the 21st century, yet it is this antiquated vision that continues to inspire progressives from Ezra Klein to DailyKos. Talk about a party that is out of new ideas!!!!

[madison10]

What is not apparent is that John Dingell is an avid hunting/right to carry supporter. THAT is the other reason why he hasn’t budged and it’s a good one.

[cripplecreek]

One of those things that people consistently overlook about Michigan politics. Even most of our democrats are pro gun to some extent.

Bart Stupak’s son killed himself with one of Stupak’s guns and it didn’t change Stupak’s “OKish” gun stance. It could be better but what can you expect from a democrat.