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Just Hear Those Dingells Jingling…

Flint, sports and Trump make it on this year’s jingle

Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell continues her husband’s Christmas legacy. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell continues her husband’s Christmas legacy. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell on Thursday released this year’s edition of a holiday classic: the Dingell Jingle.

Former Dean of the House John D. Dingell began the tradition while he was in Congress and his successor and spouse picked up the tradition last year.

The Dingells reference politics and current events in the poems, which echo Clement Clark Moore’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

For John Dingell’s final jingle before retiring in 2014, he included his most recent hospital visit and some early thoughts on the 2016 election. And the Kardashians.

Last year, Debbie Dingell talked about the visit of Pope Francis and former Speaker John A. Boehner’s retirement.

This year’s edition references the fight for funding to address the Flint water crisis, sports and how Michigan’s teams did, jabs at Donald Trump’s tweets and John Dingell’s advice for the president-elect, and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. possibly running for president in 2020.

Check it out:

’Twas the day before the government would shut down for business

When the House came together — we passed a budget before Christmas!

While Congress moved slowly, in its usual fashion

One issue in particular wasn’t getting much traction

“Sell ice to an Eskimo,” some said with a glint

Do that and then finally we’ll give you money for Flint

We fought tooth and nail and reason finally prevailed

We passed funding for Flint families, the waiting curtailed

Now that the partisan tug of war is complete

We reflect on a year of both challenges and treats

From Cures to Great Lakes, we did make some progress

A Medal of Honor for a hero was done in the process

In Rio, we showcased the best of the best

For Team USA, Simone vaulted above all the rest

Michael Phelps took home his 23rd gold medal

From basketball to rowing our team was incredible

We were all celebrating, but then turned to despair

When Lochte showed up with bad behavior, and worse hair

At home, Michigan’s sports teams continue to shine

Jumpman debuted while Harbaugh racked up some fines

While EMU and the Lions have newfound success

We know that first down in Columbus was truly a mess

But not to worry, this holiday we have two bowl games to see

EMU in the Bahamas and in Miami, the Wolverines

As the New Year approaches, we’ve seen stark divisions

Our country has spoken, we’ve made big decisions

We all have moved forward in our own way

In our office, we chose a Christmas display

But good news for Trump and his Twitter vice

Even at 90, the Dean’s still tweeting advice

So we say goodbye to a President who lifted us up

To be sure in these eight years, he’s earned his new look

No one will be sadder to see him go

Than his friend and our favorite Vice President Joe

But maybe just maybe a new announcement we’ll see

Happy holidays to all, and Biden 2020

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