Donald Trump And The Warmbier Paradox
It’s been another horrible week for Donald Trump. Not only did his former lawyer and ‘fixer’, Michael Cohen, testify before Congress against him, but he also went to Vietnam for his second summit with North Korean leader and fashion icon, Kim Jong-Un, and came away with nothing.
Under normal circumstances, I’d be ripping on Trump for either one of these two events. For instance, nobody on the panel asked, “If Michael Cohen was such a scumbag lawyer, (redundant) what does it say about the scumbag who hired him?” Or is that too subtle an observation?
As far as Trump’s trip to Vietnam, it’s nice to see that he finally made it as part of the government military. The only problem? It’s sixty years TOO LATE. The Vietcong are all either dead or in wheelchairs by now. Good job, Trump! Somewhere in Hell, John McCain is shaking his head in disgust.
Though Trump and Kim Jong-Un may be ‘in love’, Kim has proven far from being easy. He cut the summit short when he refused to capitulate to Trump’s demand to give up his nukes. What, the Great Negotiator couldn’t liquor him up first? Trump should be taking seduction lessons from Bill Cosby.
On a quick note, am I the only one who finds it odd that Kim Jong-Un has no problem assassinating his generals and family members, yet he continues to let his hairstylist live? That guy should have been the first one to die.
But anyway, I didn’t come here to write about that.
No, I wanted to talk about the shitstorm Trump brought down on himself when it came out that he took Kim Jong-Un at his word when he claimed that he wasn’t aware of what happened to Otto Warmbier.
Are you F*ing kidding me?
For those of you who need a refresher, Otto Warmbier was a 21-year old college student who was arrested and sentenced to fifteen years of hard labor in North Korea because he attempted to steal a propaganda banner as a college prank while visiting there. When they finally let him go, he came back in a coma and died soon after.
First of all, though I have every sympathy for the kid’s family, I don’t have a lot of sympathy for him. Otto Warmbier is the essence of a dumbass. North Korea does NOT screw around. If you’re caught doing ANYTHING suspicious, you’ll be lucky if all they do is beat the holy SHIT out of you. Judging from his condition as he was shown coming home, it looked like the North Koreans went to town with Otto.
That said, do you REALLY think it’s possible that Kim Jong-Un wasn’t aware about it? Otto Warmbier started an international incident, for Christ’s sake! Of course the leader of the country would know about it!
For Trump to take Kim’s word is just plain idiotic! It shouldn’t surprise anyone. Trump believed Putin when he said he didn’t interfere in the 2016 election, and he believed MBS when he said he had nothing to do with the death of Jamal Khashoggi.
Apparently, all anyone has to do is say, “I didn’t do it!”and Trump believes it. The Central Park Five should have tried that instead of going through all the trouble of a trial.
I really think the FBI and CIA have so much trouble with Trump because they don’t stroke his ego.
Countries hostile to the U.S. are having a field day knowing that our president is a gullible moron. I find it simply amazing that Iran is still considered an enemy at this point. Because I guarantee you- if the Iranians started to kiss Trump’s ass, he would be singing their praises, too.
The press in this country really needs to start getting their act together and holding Trump accountable for the insane things he says and does. What sense does it make to hold an entire country accountable for the death of a college student and not it’s leader?
I guess in Trump’s case, all it takes are a few love letters and some sweet nothings whispered in his ear.
Excuse me while I throw up.
[…] From Gregory B. Gonzalez at MadMikesAmerica: […]
I’m in complete agreement.
Greg, this was a good piece. I really do not understand why anyone, given all the other places on earth that one might go, would choose North Korea as a vaca spot. I mean, hell, I am sorry things ended like they did, but Jesus Christ on roller skates, why there. Memo to any friends I may have: If anyone ever hears or sees me say that I am going to even consider being in the neighborhood of North Korea Please, please fill out papers to have me committed for observation because I have lost whatever senses I ever had. I have given up all hope of living or I am going on a suicide mission to kill Little Kim and Donald Duck also if he happens to be there. In other words there is no reason for me to be in that part of the world. Asia, the lost continent need not worry about me at all.
I come here for articles like this and I love the back and forth discussions. Thank you.
Just to be clear- my characterizing Otto Warmbier as a ‘dumbass’ has nothing to do with him pulling a stupid college prank. It’s the fact that he did it in North Korea. Those people are crazy.
Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young, but the trick is to make the kind that you can walk away and learn from. I have no idea what caused your son’s death, Mike, and I never said anything negative about him, not that I would. Otto Warmbier’s death was his own fault in that he did it in a place where I’m sure he knew the consequences and blew them off. That’s on him. Did the North Koreans overreact? Yes, but they’re a country filled paranoia and sadism. I feel horrible for his family and even worse that Trump is just using them.
I’m not comparing anything. If Warmbier had done this anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But even I know not to do something like that in a place like Noth Korea, which is my point. Warmbier was 21, not 12. I am truly sorry that you lost your boy, Mike, but there is no comparison here. Warmbier shoild have known better.
Not certain I understand all this. The author calls out the late Otto W. for being a dumbass and then comparing what he did to the death of Mike’s son? Am I making too much of this? Probably, but I lost a daughter in 1995 for doing something silly, but not because she was a “dumbass.” I suppose I took umbrage to that.
No offense to you, Mike, but I think this qualifies in that he should have known better than to do such a stupid thing in NORTH KOREA of all places. Being stupid with your own life is one thing, but he obviously wasn’t thinking about how it would affect his family. Whatever happened to your son, I think he would have known better than to create an international incident.
No. He wouldn’t have!!!!!! What arrogance you demonstrate here. The kid took a poster off a wall!!! He had no clue about international incidents. And NO! My son, and most kids his age would have no concept of ‘international incidents.” WTF is wrong with you?????
‘No offense to you Mike?’ What is wrong with you man?
There was a poster of KJU attached to the wall across from the kid’s room, and he tore it off the wall, as a lark, planning on taking it back home. A prank. Something anyone in American could easily do and worry about it later, yet you expect the kid to think it could have started an “international incident?”
I’m with Jess on this one because I’ve no fucking words, you arrogant XXXXXXXXXXX. (Sorry Mike)
ED: I had to edit this Tim. I don’t allow attacks on my contributors’ man. You know that.
Not sure I would characterize this kid as a “dumbass.” He was just young and didn’t consider the consequences. That makes him a fool, but not a dumbass. Unfortunately, that little bit of foolishness, pranks pulled by college students all over the world, cost him his life. As one who lost a son due to “foolishness” my heart weeps for his parents.
My condolences
Huggggggs
Thanks my dear friend <3
I’ve got no words anymore, NOTHING
I needed the laugh – thank you!
Actually, after watching a small bit of the Oscars, I suspect Kim’s hairdresser is moonlighting, but to think there’s one damned little thing that goes on in NorKor he doesn’t know about is ridiculous. He’d be long dead if he didn’t. Yep, this is a guy who executes people with anti-aircraft missiles and flame throwers and siblings with nerve agents just for suspected errors and starves millions for no damned reason at all. If you have sympathy for him you’re. . . Donald Trump. Nobody else does.
And speaking of the Devil – what do you think would have happened to any American, not just a president, who told us that a Communist dictator was to create a miracle of economic success through Communism and repression?
And I’m sure he’s going to be re-elected. Nothing is true any more because it doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t.
“Nothing is true any more because it doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t.”
Mr. Geist, I believe you have coined the truth of our current situation.
Sadly