By Bekka Supp | Politics | March 30, 2017 |
By Bekka Supp | Politics | March 30, 2017 |
It has to be hard to be a Republican right now. We’ve got a president* who is barely a Republican by party title only, House Republicans pulled their “Repeal and Replace” health care bill, and now the President* is declaring war on conservative Republicans. And for everyone, to keep our sanity, we have to seek out some levity or bananapants statements. Which is why the breaths of fresh air I’m bringing you are from two very unlikely sources. Personal politics aside, it’s good to know that people in power know and recognize when situations goes sideways. In a brilliant move of non-diplomacy, we have John McCain, who is running out of fucks to give when it comes to North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un. In an interview on March 22, McCain told MSNBC’s Greta van Susteren that the “crazy fat kid that’s running North Korea” is far worse than some of history’s worst dictators. “He’s not rational, Greta,” he explained. “We’re not dealing even with someone like Joseph Stalin, who had a certain rationality to his barbarity.”
McCain describes Kim Jong Un: “this crazy, fat kid that’s running North Korea” pic.twitter.com/FS6oiXRnR7
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 23, 2017
He’s not wrong. So when other news outlets used the sound byte to report on the story, they had a field day. And North Korea responded in kind.
North Korea Flips Out After McCain Calls Kim Jong-Un A ‘Crazy Fat Kid’ https://t.co/WP4UJ6EprN pic.twitter.com/HXYXav66jO
— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 29, 2017
But McCain’s not having it. He’s leaning into his Statler and Waldorf stage of his life and delivers one hell of a crotchety old man clap back:
What, did they want me to call him a crazy skinny kid? https://t.co/Ym3juRfBev
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 29, 2017
I can only speak for myself, but it’s refreshing to see someone we’re so used to being all business and diplomacy speak with an air of frankness and candor. Especially when it comes to calling a batshit crazy dictator what he is. Speaking of which …
We all know that former President George W. Bush went to Trump’s Inauguration. The Clintons were also present, and both parties were there to honor the peaceful transfer of power. Bush’s appearance was only exacerbated by the fact that we all took delight in watching him try to figure out how to put a poncho on.
According to New York Magazine, we missed the best part of Bush’s appearance.
Following Trump’s short and dire speech, Bush departed the scene and never offered public comment on the ceremony.But, according to three people who were present, Bush gave a brief assessment of Trump’s inaugural after leaving the dais: “That was some weird shit.” All three heard him say it.
A spokesman for Bush declined to comment.
To be 100% clear, this isn’t an endorsement of either man. This is just a reminder that once in awhile, we can find some solace in how abnormal and absurd this is.
Follow Bekka Supp on Twitter and on the podcast, Debate Club.