Is this not a battle for the proper classification between an "Egoist and an Egotist"?
Sadly this quantification has consequences which will tarnish the history of the world we know!
W
1
If his weren't so frightening, it would be really amusing.
Two immature, insecure child-men slinging insults at each other ....
With their fingers on their nuclear triggers.
3
Kim is right about Trump. He is a crazy old man. and he should stop talking inappropriately fin order to secure the dignity and safety of our country.
1
Mr. Kim may well be right about Mr. Trump in several ways. Is Trump in his dotage? Is he playing with fire?
We may not yet have a definitive answer for the first question, but the answer to the second question is "yes." Diplomacy is a far better tool than threats. The more Mr. Trump threatens, the more Mr. Kim will believe his must protect his country by a show of power.
5
They are both deranged in an ego contest oblivious to statesmanship, depth or deliverance. They both should be out of office and get some mental help. The world cannot be victims of these cartoons characters with lots of power to use nuclear weapons; little brains and, zero knowledge of the words humanity or empathy.
All have all to lose.
3
It is time for a regime change in North Korea. Nobody likes talking about it, however, Kim Jong Un has to go! Hopefully, some of his generals will decide that it is time to neutralize this immature mad man. Perhaps a coup could be initiated and Rocket Man can be placed in prison. I am just saying!!!!
Kim has nothing to recommend himself to this earth but he ought to know what the sound of a ‘barking dog’ is as he hears his own jejune phrases repeated by Trump. A veritable pair of ‘barking dogs’.
1
"Truthful Hyperbole" - which guy is crazier?
1
OH come on! OK, Mr Kim time for you to go to your corner and think about what you did! You may even have to do without your daytime snack. Now, let's let cooler heads prevail. Go find your happy place and stop reading the outside news!
Trump is losing a battle of wits with the 30 year-old leader of a rogue nation. Trump's supporters should turn in their voting cards.
it is highly unfortunate for all of us, that mr trump has lowered the bar of diplomacy or political rhetoric to his campaign style name calling and insults..really mature world leader behavior isn't it???I wonder how his "base" of voters will feel if we become engaged in a war that involves nuclear weaponry,the sure destruction of south korea, and possible strikes on guam or japan..but then again, trump was warned by obama to watch out for north korea,and his solution is to act like a school yard bully..
3
The pattern is this: when Kim goes low, Trump goes lower ... the stature of our presidency shrivels, while the risks, for all sentient beings, rise.
4
Kim is putting on an obvious show to his 23 million subjects. Trump is putting on a show for his estimated 40 million person base. These two childish, bottomless pits of self-adoration are putting countless millions at risk for their asinine charade.
6
Bannon's view of the schoolyard bullying led by our President simply acknowledged that the military action constantly threatened by Trump would result in the death of 20 to 30 million South Koreans. That is a true and accurate prediction (perhaps Bannon's first!) With that in mind, Trump's tyrannical rantings accomplish nothing productive. Can he not stop? Can he not see the wrongheadedness of his strong-arm yelling? What pushes him on? Can no one talk reason to him? If not, he must be, therefore, deranged. A deranged President is an impeachable one. Let's go!
4
And Trump's response was to call Kim, "...a madman who doesn't mind starving or killing his people."
Look in the mirror Mr. Trump. You are pushing for the destruction of the ACA, defunding Planned Parenthood, cutting the SNAP (food stamp) budget, ending DACA and possibly sending kids to countries where they have no place to live.
Do you see a madman staring back at you?
5
Here is the NK leader looking calm and serious, using a word that indicates a good education and one that perfectly personifies Trump, the Dotard, an old person becoming senile or mad. The one that looks like a madman is Trump, not Kim. Would that another had reacted to his juvenile name calling and put a slap in the face of that bully, she might be President. Wouldn't make a difference you say. You know that's not true.
5
Well we have two juvenile delinquents engaged in name calling. Remember the school yard in elementary school? "I know you are but what am I?" So this is the level of immaturity we have to witness from two world leaders. It's so embarrassing and humiliating to be lead by a snarky name caller.
How did you like his trashing the Emmy's? When he sees he is persona non grata in Hollywood, that he is clearly detested and despised by the creative arts community, he carps about their viewer ratings. But unlike his lies about crowd size on inauguration day, the TV community did not try to falsely inflate their numbers. They are not so insecure as Trump is.
Have you noticed that Trump never takes the high road,?
That he never rises above any insult or slight no matter how small. Oh no, he must retaliate, he must try to get even for
any derogatory thing said about him. Nothing is too petty that he won't get even more petty with a snarky comeback. He can never let it go. Sadly his sniping back at KJ or at hollywood never really salves the wound he feels when he is not loved and admired, when he is not popular.
Is this the kind of needy insecure petty to for tat kind of person we want negotiating with NK? Hardly. Put a muzzle on him and let Tillerson and the state department take over. We've seen more than enough of his childish peevishness.
1
North Korea is the first nation to have a nuclear program they shouldn't have, not the last. We need to keep that in mind as we strategize and plan. Trump clearly hasn't considered any of that with his obnoxious Iran rhetoric and threatening North Korea. US reputation and image is critical if we hope to have any chance of being leaders as the world's smaller regimes gain nuclear technology. Think long game.
It's not like other countries aren't watching how very differently North Korea & Iraq are playing out!
Every US President since Clinton has bent to appeasement and delt with North Korea threats with an open checkbook. President Obama even reminded the North Koreans that we can and would destroy their country, before he agreed to write a big check. So far all Trump has done is laugh at them. I guess he will get around to writing the big check soon enough.
3
For the leader of the world's most powerful nation to get down on the kindergarten floor to debate the leader of a tiny Korean nation gives pause to the world's diplomats about the mental stability of both debaters. What sane individual would threaten to destroy a whole small nation even as a bullying boast? That two of the world's top leaders turn out to have two-year old threat mentalities suited to kindergarten doughnut grabbing contests is some daunting measure of the mal working of the private enterprise governed system of leadership elections.
2
NK has an annual GDP equivalent to one year of our National Football League. Does anyone REALLY feel threatened by Kim ? I surely hope not.
Should you feel threatened for your safety and that of your loved ones serving in harm's way by DJT? Absolutely!
NK has every right to defend themselves against the dotard and his morass of a brain.
Ignore Kim - period. This is what he wants the least!
Mr. Mueller? Please hurry!
10
Interesting that one "madman" describes the other so well. It frightens me that I agree with Kim
5
As one who wanted to spend his dotage in peace and quiet here in Oregon (already bombed by air in WW II), I resent these two "leaders" engaging in insult hurling of the type that runs the risk of being followed up by bomb throwing. It is ridiculous and dangerous behavior. All that need be said by either side is that we are capable of defending ourselves. If there is a tiny bit of sense in either country, war can be avoided. It is starting to appear that neither government has a bit of sense and war will occur. The result will be disaster for all.
6
Though a classic case of pots and kettles, one does have to applaud the excellent use of an English idiom.
10
Somebody please give 'Rocket Infant' a new Korean to English translation dictionary. He seems to be using one that was copyrighted in the 1800's. I'm 73 years old and have never once used "dotard" in sentence. Is the Rocket Infant a student of late Middle English as that is the derivation path for dotard. I have to at least thank Rocket Infant something to laugh about.
1
Kim and his generals know very well what the US posture and capabilities are (I imagine they get regular briefings from China and Russia). Trump has no need to educate them about our ability to retaliate.
Trump's bombast is targeted to his "base" and for general domestic consumption. When under attack ay home, build up an international enemy to distract domestic attention away from Russian investigations, a lack of legislative results, a lack or policy, etc. It's all so much simpler to just push a button. And, once you're at war, the President gets a pass as everyone is supposed to rally around.
I think we're going to another war for no other reason.
5
Finally we have a President who will stoop to any level in dealing with foreign and domestic issues. That his base eats this up shows how base they really are. Deplorable.
8
Based on Mr Kim's comment, I am forced to agree with him, at least this time.
7
And of course, Trump replies on Twitter, threatening to blow more stuff up.
Is it possible to be a juvenile dotard? In Trump's case, the description is not mutually exclusive.
Save us from these men.
8
Here we have a Möbius strip of the pot calling the kettle black ... a president who tweets at the crack of dawn about a madman who squawks back. Round and round we go.
5
Kim Jong-un is getting more attention than Trump – lesser people have been fired. What next?
3
They certainly share common ground in terms of their stylish hairdos -- maybe they can work from there.
8
Hah! This is a classic example of "the pot calling the kettle black".
2
Mentally they both are unfortunately are same!
3
I always vaguely understood "dotard" from 19th century literature to mean a sort of blathering old man who just doesn't "get it." I think Kim's grasp of the English language seems pretty on the mark and probably better than Trump's. Covfefe, anyone?
12
I think perhaps putting these two dotards on some unoccupied Pacific island and letting them duke it out would be the best solution to this issue. It's already like two four-year-olds in a sandbox fighting over who has nicer sneakers. Unfortunately, these four-year-old have nuclear weapons.
Trump needs to be locked up in a long-sleeved jacket with buckles while America solves its problems - if only the dotards in Congress could get their acts together.
We are rapidly becoming a country of dotards.
4
Thank you again to the dotards running the Republican Party for bringing us all to this ridiculous and terrifying moment in history. It started with Sarah Palin and went downhill from there. Hillary makes my skin crawl but tell me again how she would be a much worse choice than this fool.
Very possibly the turning point in world history when this great experiment in democracy self destructed.
13
As childish and vulgar as Trump is, it never occurred to me that he would
stoop to insulting a head of state in such a ridiculous fashion. Clearly I gave him too much credit.
It still amazes me that the GOP leadership ever allowed this fool to get as far as the nomination in the first place. Surely they knew that he wasn't even remotely qualified and at least some of them must have been repulsed by his childish vulgarity. They chose instead to remain willfully blind to all of it and now here we are, stuck with a bully-in-chief instead of a commander-in-chief.
8
What "GOP leadership"?
11
We have a 30 year old mad man and a 70 year old imbecile calling each other names. Where's Barack? We need him please! Take a break from your $400000 speaking engagements and somehow become the voice of reason.
5
Do we need any further evidence of the immediate need for Congress to get going and pass the 'no first strike' bill H.R. 669? At least bring it to the floor! Only Congress has the power to declare war (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11). Presidential overreach at its worst. Our president can certainly dish it out, but I am very concerned he can not take his own medicine.? At least bring it to the floor! Only Congress has the power to declare war. This is Presidential overreach at its worst with the potential to affect all life on earth for tens of thousands of years as everyone plays food fight with their thermonuclear toys. Hurricanes and earthquakes pale in comparison to the potential of this global crisis.
1
Being a "rocket man" is generally a complement, and the current CNCNA is, well, a dotard tweeting at all times of the day and night.
The sad part is that this could end badly as these children fumble around in the vicinity of the red launch button.
2
While this banter between Trump and Kim may be amusing on its face, we can't lose sight of the fact these two men control weapons of mass destruction. While we have no control of Kim, Americans have some say about how our country is governed. It's absolutely unacceptable for our Congress to sit silently on the sidelines while Trump continues to engage in behavior that puts Americans and our allies at risk. Trump is a lost cause on both the domestic and foreign policy. Congress needs to use its legislative powers to limit the executive branch's power and shut down Trump's propaganda machine.
5
Trump calling Kim the Rocket Man is in keeping with the tradition of American presidents and politicians demonizing foreign leaders who dares to challenge the US. Reagan calling Libya's Gaddafi "mad man." Bush I calling Saddam Hussein the "Bucher of Baghdad" or just Saddam. McCain calling Putin "thug.'
The media seems to forget that demonizing unfriendly foreign leaders is part of the US' playbook. NK is one country that is ready to hurl back what is hurled at them.
4
In 2015, Donald Trump bragged about his intellect, linguistic skills, and mastery of insults:
"I went to an Ivy League school. I’m very highly educated. I know words, I have the best words. I have the best, but there is no better word than stupid. Right? There is none, there is none. There’s no, there’s no, there’s no word like that.”
In 2017, Kim Jong Un shut down Trump's game and brilliantly branded him, all with a single word: dotard.
Dotard. Turns out there is a much better word than stupid. And I think it is going to stick. Thanks for your question, dotard. Now you know.
25
These two need to elevate their dialogue. Move on to insulting each other's mother, for example.
4
Now that Trump has satisfied his conservatives that the US is "Strong" again by talking tough and is willing to risk its allies... and now that he has earned his destined new subsection in history textbooks... we should move on as a country after decades of being Great.
All the while praying that all countries in this fray remain unharmed, otherwise...we have our own souls to search from the highest playground on what it means to be "tough".
I hope that Everyone gets to be a part of that conversation.
1
I couldn't have put it any better myself. After the great Philip Roth called Trump "the jerk of 77 words," alluding to his deficient knowledge of the English language, nothing could describe better the sorry excuse for president we are saddled with than Kim's turn of phrase. It takes one to know one.
11
Now we have two guys both raised into privilege trying their best to act like street toughs. It reminds me of two school kids not really wanting fight each but not really knowing how to back down.Both Trump and Kim really wish someone with more wisdom than they have step in and get them out of the mess their big mouths have gotten them in.Now in this childish game they are playing they are daring the other guy to knock the chip off their shoulder.We have passed the bravado stage and now we are in the name calling stage. Trump has threaten fire from the sky and Kim has shot a few missiles into the sea. This week Trump threaten to annihilate North Korea and now Kim threatens to blow a hydrogen bomb at sea.if we didn't know the names of the participants we could blow it off as the rite of passage for two spoiled little boys trying to prove something to the each other.Sadly it is not two kids in the school yard but two men who are leaders of countries with nukes.It is time for the adults on both sides to call a time out so saner heads can prevail.
9
For a self-proclaimed master negotiator, every one of Trump's efforts seems to backfire. Only he could take a deranged despot like Kim Jung-un and, ever so slightly, humanize this international menace butcher of his own people. Kim's bellicose and unhinged rhetoric is now indistinguishable from that of the supposed leader of the free world. And the "mentally deranged dotard" comment ... he might be on to something.
14
It looks like we are going to have to live with the fact that
NK has nukes. It's a done deal. So its time to move on, and open
up a dialogue with them. I believe that Mr. Kim does not want to die at such a young age. He enjoys the power and influence he has over his
country and wants to be a player on the world stage.
3
‘Mentally Deranged U.S. Dotard’?
Sadly, most of the world agrees with Kim --- as does an increasingly large majority of people in the USA!
The real point is how major world affairs -- including those relating to nuclear war -- has been turned into a name-calling reality TV show, thanks to Trump's malign influence.
20
Woke up to a beautiful sunny morning only to learn that the world is in the hands of two immature narcissists. If only it were laughable. It is not fair that our destiny lies with them. Neither deserve such power.
15
What's Trump's next move? Yelling "your mother wears army boots" at Kim Jong-un. Note to Trump: she probably did. Seriously folks.
7
Rest assured that China, The Puppet Master, is in firm control of both Trump and Kim-Jung-Un with a magician's prowess for misdirection.
2
The worst thing Trump said is that Kim is a "madman," and "suicidal." This means he's likely to launch nuclear bombs on any unpredictable whim. This means he can't be reasoned with, so we should just go ahead and take him out.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Kim and his retinue are as sane as anyone else. Importantly, they want to go on living and enjoying the fruits of despotism from milking their country dry. Negotiation, no matter how frustrating, is the only option.
Does Trump even begin to comprehend this?
36
I disagree. I think Kim is definitely not sane.
4
And just what major potential war in the history of our 'failed' mankind can you point to that did not occur because of 'negotiations' and diplomacy? When did the world experience a millennium or two of peace and humanity as we wished it were because of negotiations? Wake up and smell the stink of rotting flesh. We are a failed species. It's only a matter of time. The best you can do is- 1. Buy a great bottle of wine, 2. Enjoy it with a good friend or lover, 3. Find something to really laugh about! Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. If it cheers you up, think of it this way- What a great privilege to be here at the end of days for mankind after the 3-billion years or so we evolved to the point where we could annihilate our self. We couldn't be here at the beginning, but we sure can expect to be here at the end.
1
As much as I dislike Trump, this seem to me like the first serious dialogue with North Korea. So far they were playing the Chinese and the US, while getting stronger and stronger militarily . Trump and Kim are cowards, bullies and liars and they speak the same language. It is not completely clear what we're seeing are bad news.
4
The situation is terrifyingly serious but it's beyond me that anyone would perceive this ridiculous insult-trading as "serious dialogue."
2
Donald Dolt is a petulant bully child acting out, severely distressed that another child won't do what he wants. And he has a loaded gun in his hand. He's already threatened, in front of his entire school, that he wants peace but he will kill the other child.
The other younger and smaller child is very scared, and retorted back by calling Donald Dolt a DOTARD, and threatening to "Fire" him.
It's beyond funny. It's sad. It's true. And it's dangerous.
We need to ensure OUR petulant child, Donald Dolt the Dotard, does not have a loaded gun (our nuclear launch codes) in his hand. Today no one can stop the Dolt from killing millions of innocent North Korean peasants.
Please tell your congressman to put a muzzle on this nuclear escalation.
7
Not to mention that there are some 25 million allies in greater Seoul endangered by the fallout and/or retaliatory strikes from the north.
4
It is absolutely fascinating to see NYT commenters siding with Kim due to their unhinged absolute hatred of President Trump. But will they stop chuckling and mocking when Kim lands a nuclear warhead in downtown San Francisco?
3
I noticed that too. They are blinded by their pure hatred of Donald, incapable of seeing what a grave threat this is to our nation.
1
Should we be standing behind a president who is inflaming a nuclear weapons confrontation that may well lead to the bombing of the United States and its allies? With a dotard at the helm in a nuclear stand off, a gallows sense of humor is entirely appropriate.
8
Joseph, no one's siding with Kim Jong-un: everyone knows he's a dangerous lunatic who has no business threatening the world with his nuclear arsenal. But Donald Trump has no business antagonizing this unstable, juvenile dictator with name-calling and blatherings about annihilation. That's what most of us are upset about - Trump's incompetence in this area. The handling of a rogue nation like North Korea requires intelligence, an understanding of international relations, and some genuine concern for this country and the wider world, none of which Trump displayed in the atrocious speech at the U.N. He is not the right leader to guide us through difficulties with North Korea, including some difficulties that he is helping to manufacture. I will repeat: this is why commenters are upset, and they're voicing their concerns not because they side with Kim or because they have a blinding hatred for Trump, but because he's proving himself to be dangerously incompetent.
3
Should this really be a headline? I know you're trying to sell papers but there's a fine line between that and instigating a war.
1
So basically the Great Leader, Donald Trump, is dragging the entire world of international relations down to his third grade level of juvenile chit-chat.
8
We must congratulate the 62 million idiots who put a five year old in the Oval Office and gave him the Nuclear Code. Now the kid is playing with and enjoying his new toy while the World awaits the first volley of a nuclear armed missile which will make America great again!
9
And where is our Republican-led Congress? Where they always are - secretly plotting behind closed doors thinking of ways to cut health care and taxes. I suppose dealing with this world crisis requires a level of competence they simply don't have.
20
And what, exactly, do you want Congress to do -- nowadays?
1
Dotard. Nice ring to it. Describes Trump to a tee. I cannot believe I agree with Kim on anything, but I do on that. Added to my vocabulary as well.
17
It really pains me to say this, but the most recent statement from Mr. Kim is so much more coherent (as scary as it is) than anything Trump has tweeted or publicly stated. Trump's ego will never let him admit that he has played right into the long-held fears and internal dialog in North Korea and only has emboldened their case for self-preservation via the nuclear option.
Whoever believed Trump had the acumen to understand and succeed on the global stage needs to reassess how they qualify Presidential candidate in the future...Should there be one.
15
This should be the stuff of parody - not real life in 2017.
I unfortunately have to agree, unreservedly, with each gentleman's assessment of the mental state of the other.
"Sad" situation indeed.
12
This is just SO FUNNY!!! Kim's debut as a comedian, such a killer word since days of Seinfeld's 'Bimbo'. Next time we might see him on SNL and he will kill the crowd (seriously why not capture him alive and put him there, which would be the Dotard's ultimate return to it.) I am sure that NSA at this moment is having a meeting to come up with a new word to counter burn!
4
This morning in the White House:
Trump: "He called me a what? A dotard? What does that mean? Somebody look it up."
This cannot end well - the more accurate people are at highlighting his shortcomings, the more erratic he gets. It's the same reason he hates the 'dishonest media.' Trump will distract or shock in order to shift attention.
18
Kim himself is not "right in the head" but he sure can recognize the like of himself!
First time ever I agree with Kim. dt is deranged.
17
Seeing Trump’s childish, unbecoming, aimless, mindless behaviour at the White House, the UN, Europe, anywhere pretty much, one hopes he’s not in possession of the actual nuclear football, but maybe a toy replica, a nuclear shuttlecock of sorts, while the real suitcase is in responsible hands, far away from his.
19
Dotard - Who would have thunk it. Dear Leader Kim has come up with a perfect portmanteau for our National Embarrassment in Chief - a doddering old retard. The moniker Rocket Man pales in comparison. All this would be hilarious if the situation weren't so lethal.
24
"Dotard" seems like a very mild insult from Kim Jong-Un considering the horribly racist insults he used to hurl that Obama should go “live with a group of monkeys in the world’s largest African natural zoo and lick the breadcrumbs thrown by spectators.”
15
As disgusting as they were, Kim Jong-un's words were just that: only words, and only to be expected from somone of his ilk. Trump's attempt to disprove Obama's US citizenship was just as bad and even worse was the fact that the Republican party made almost no effort to stop or even disavow him. In the US, we're supposed to hold our leaders to a far higher standard -- or at least we used to.
5
Two Insane blowhards trading barbs with a real option to trade bombs - even PeeWee Herman, with his go-to retort, “I know what you are, but what am I?,” would have quit with the name calling and ridden away on his bicycle by now.
17
It is shocking when it takes a raging sociopath (not our actual elected officials) to call out our president out for what he is.
20
Yes, I don't find much to argue with his characterisation:
“He is surely a rogue and a gangster fond of playing with fire, rather than a politician”.
The rest of his actions are something else of course.
3
I love it. This is what it comes down to, O Pampered Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cosmopolitan Coasts. Raw power. Blood and Iron. You thought that history was made by bystanders, while you evolved beings create new etiquette and rules in your bubbles of sophistication and prosperity? Wrong! Your existence was always made possible by raw power, backed up by the willingness to be killed and to kill by the Deplorables in the background. You suggest here, even now and draw false equivilence between your President and the Dictator, not realizing the former only hurts your sensibilities, the latter wants to kill you. Let this crisis be a humbling moment that for all our pretensions, our existence remains fickle, our civilized behavior a shallow veneer, and at its core, we are still primal beings.
3
Kim doesn't really want to kill us. He wants to scare us. He can barely lob an inert chunk of metal half the distance to HI never mind to the mainland. Starved by further sanctions, he'd have to row a warhead to another country. Want him to stop? Cut off his means. Want him to keep going? Fuel his ire.
Trump doesn't recognize that until someone with some sense in the DOD and congress pull him up by the belt and tell him to knock it off. He has shown that he is insecure enough to threaten to do something impossible: destroy a place the size of Pennsylvania with twice as many people. Mind you he could chip away at it over a long period of time, but at the risk of sending any and all survivors streaming into China. Now you have two enemies, one of which has the entire US retail economy on a very short choke chain.
By the way, the "deplorables" do not have a corner on the defense of our nation. Most are decent people who - especially if they have seen combat - do not take the waging of war lightly. That luxury is reserved for those who have not seen war and only know it as a movie scene. Force of death only comes in when cooler heads are ignored or fail.
4
Trump does the impossible. Mr. Kim's command of language is commendable even if his bluster and nuclear program are not. Possibly that purported Swiss education he had. Face it, Trump is exposed, once again, for the ignorant blowhard he is.
17
Both are deranged. Both are madmen. Both have no sense of right and wrong except as words to manipulate others. Both are childishly unable to slough off insults.
But one is absolute dictator of a tiny, impoverished nation smaller than our 2 most populous states, with a few weapons we developed and have by the thousands for 75 years. He's a minor threat to our allies, but not a serious threat to us.
The other would LIKE to be an absolute dictator, and is commander-in-chief of the most powerful military the world has ever seen, and the biggest economy the world has ever seen.
Yet both act like children with 8 billion lives in the balance.
10
"Mentally deranged U.S. dotard" is considerably more hard hitting than "Rocket Man" which is quite flattering. Too bad Trump thought it was so clever that he couldn't help but repeat it in his speech to the United Nations. It's actually quite empowering like 'Superman.'Dotard' not so much. Luckily for Trump few are as elementary in their bullying as himself or 'Dotard Donald' would be all the rage now.
The fact that these two people both have the ability to start a nuclear war is frightening
9
wow, this has the makings of a great south park episode.... only bad part? when everybody dies at the end.
10
From his description of our President, I have changed my opinion of the North Korean Leader. He certainly has old Donald pegged.
7
President Trump -
Wow. The thing I most feared when I found out that you would become president is happening. You've managed to apply the same name-calling, schoolyard theatrics that you apply to nearly everything else you do to the single-most combustible foreign affair facing us. One where - instead of a black eye or a bloody lip - the consequences are a full-on nuclear escalation. Kim Jong-un couldn't have dreamed of a better recruiter amongst his country's people. Your threats are the fuel for the rhetoric that he already uses on them. Undoubtedly, every news story in North Korea over the past week has echoed and heightened the direct threat you leveled against their nation at the UN on Tuesday. What people would ever see a statement like "totally destroy (insert country name here)" as anything other than a reason to suit up?
I must ask - what is wrong with you, sir? And, even more vexing, what is wrong with the American people that any number of us would ever think that you might be able to keep us secure in a world needs more nuance, restraint, and clearheadedness than ever to navigate the problems we face.
7
As outlandish and cynical as it may sound it must be said: Trump, and his kids, are part of an unprecedented investigation. Mueller has him cornered. This bluster w N Korea and the threat of nuclear war is the ultimate distraction and misdirection. How far will he take it? What is a frightened and desperate Trump capable of?
All of this is apart from the fact that N Korea is a growing problem & that we continue to engage in proxy wars w China & Russia. We need world-class leadership, not a bully trying to deploy his real estate business savvy in a game of threats, insults, double-talk, stare-down and who's crazier.
8
A terrifying escalation "on both sides."
Even more terrifying: A despotic and unbalanced leader like Kim Jong Un has described our president accurately.
A reflection on our ever-weakening public education system: that people have had to look up the word "dotard".
6
Trump & Kim share a coddled upbringing, a narcissistic personality, an overweight and soft physique, a strange haircut, a penchant for bullying, a bombastic language, a love of militarism, and a willingness to blow up the world to protect their position and ego.
14
As I read this I wondered whether Kim wrote it himself or whether he had it translated from the Korean. From what I've just been reading, he was educated abroad, so he probably does speak Englsh. This reads as something an awkward English speaker might write. Given the man's obvious ego, he probably thought it would demean him to have to rely on a translator.
2
Most anyone educated abroad has likely read Shakespeare.
1
Kim clearly lacks Shakespeare's literary abilities - though "dotard" is a word that Shakespeare probably would have liked.
I feel as though I'm in a surreal world where two leaders are saying, "i know you are, but what am I?"
2
Dotard may now become THE word of 2017.
13
Never though I would agree with Kim Jong-un, but I am going to have to admit that he hit the nail on the head with this comment.
9
Linda McMahon will get her, husband Vince to set up a pay-per-view WWE event featuring Rocket Man vs The Dotard. Donnie's share of the gate can be used to pay the share of his legal bills that the RNC and Trump 2020 campaign do not cover.
3
Somehow the back story on this never seems to make it into the MSM.
All of the genius diplomats associated with Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama managed to get played by Rocket Man and his Embalmed Daddy going back over 25 years. All the current talk of a diplomatic solution is a bad joke. Either diplomacy was never going to work, or our "Jewel" Foreign Service and the brilliant political appointee Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries who rotate between Foggy Bottom, and fellowships at the Woodrow Wilson School, Tufts, Harvard and Johns Hopkins, aren't nearly as good as they thought they were, and wouldn't be any better if we turned back to them again.
Moreover, Madam Secretary H.R. Clinton giddily conceived and implemented the elimination by force of Qaddafi and his Boys, the one dictator who had cut a deal with the US, the UK and France to give up development of WMD in exchange for lifetime regime peace and quiet.
What, exactly, do you think Rocket Man learned from Qaddafi's experience with Madam Secretary about whether it is better to trust a diplomatic deal with the West, or to have WMD and a few good delivery systems? Oh, but we can never talk about that.
Once again, the Best and the Brightest failed the American people.
2
How have we been played? Our people are prosperous while his barely eat.
3
Extremely well said. This should be a Pick, but it's too articulate. Instead, we must all pretend that Kim and Trump are equivalent, that Clinton was a marvelous Secretary of State, that diplomacy works wonders---except when we haphazardly invade countries (which is always good/ignored if it's a Dem in office & always bad if it's a Republican).
We've been played because they agreed to halt their nuclear program in exchange for food and fuel aid -- then cheated on the agreement. That's how.
1
Two bellicose babies launching their nuclear power toys back and forth in their heads; "Look, mine's bigger than yours!". Tragically, these two live in the real world, not a Marvel comic.
5
Dotard in Korean equals retard in English--I'm assuming. Nevertheless, children should play nice. Calling each other names like Rocket Man and wotard is sign of disrespect for each other and your classmates. What we have here is a "failure to 'municate". Perhaps some time in isolation would be beneficial for both Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump. For sure, their respective populations and the surrounding countryside could breathe a bit easier and, perhaps, a lot longer.
If this weren't such dire circumstances, this schoolyard slapfest would be funny. How is congress and/or the generals allowing this fiasco to continue.
3
The use of the word "dotard" left me laughing as I cannot believe Kim's lexicon is that broad. However, whoever wrote the statement certainly seems to have a good understanding of Trump's character.
21
He went to an International English speaking school in Europe for quite a number of years.
6
Many reader responses favor Kim over Trump. But Trump can't and doesn't act with the impunity of Kim. He doesn't murder his uncle in front of his aunt and feed him to dogs. He doesn't have harmless and distant blood relatives assassinated in airports. He can't send every citizen who criticizes him to concentration camps for rape, torture, and inhumane brutality. Trump doesn't compel US citizens by threat of torture to rave about him. And as one astute reader alluded to, "Rocketman" was not entirely uncomplimentary.
My apartment building in Seoul shook during the last test by this murderous dictator who, along with his sick family, have been threatening to turn our beautiful Seoul into a "sea of fire" for decades. To maintain their dictatorship, or go down with people they don't care about Koreans, why wouldn't they fulfill and expand the threat to include US cities. Anyone who doesn't think they are imperilled is a fool. And this imperillment is not because of Trump or the US. It is because of Kim.
Readers would do well to wise up to the threat they are really facing.
6
True, Trump just sexually assaults women, allows our air and water to be poisoned, is willing to condemn millions of people to suffer and die without medical care and perhaps start a war or two that will maim and kill thousands of people.
5
Yes, North Korea is a threat but the question is what is the proper action to take and who should take it? I don't see it as a US problem to solve; North Korea is a threat to a lot more than the US. This is something that needs to be handled by a consortium of nations and it certainly should not devolve into a personal vendetta between Trump and Kim.
6
And the good thing is that Trump, for all his irrationality, doesn't either. He is working with the United Nations, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea (of course), and the countries of the world to deal with this threat. Let's hope that the world responds to it so that we don't have to. Yet Trump is right in not letting Kim's threats go unchecked when the world isn't responding and letting this maniac's threats grow. If no one else is going to deal with a dictatorship which incites its people to war with us, and then obtains the means to threaten us, then we have to. Plain and simple, unless you would rather live in Kim world, or Putin world, or Xi world.
Gee, can we just put both rocket man and the dotard in a room and see if either comes out victorious? That would leave the rest of us hapless souls out of it. I suspect they would both emerge a little banged up, drooling, but friends of a sort, and ready for a beer, so it's all good.
9
That room should have no inner door handle.
5
This newspaper should stop encouraging salivation over Trump's missteps. They are not only his missteps. Kim understands very well how to play to the liberal establishment in America. Many responses to this piece shows that he reaches his goal. Many comments simply express their author's hatred of Trump--hatred that is so strong that they do not see that they are being manipulated by Kim. Who is really a dotard in this case?
4
I'm not being manipulated. I've thought trump was a dotard from the day he announced his candidacy. Now I think dotard is being too kind
10
I'm with Maggie. I have been searching in vain for months for the exact term to describe Trump. Kim merely provided the word I have been searching for all along.
6
Courtesy Stephen Sondheim ('Cool', West Side Story):
Boy, boy, crazy boy,
Get cool, boy!
Got a rocket in your pocket,
Keep coolly cool, boy!
Don't get hot,
'Cause man, you got
Some high times ahead.
Take it slow and Daddy-O,
You can live it up and die in bed!
2
Mr. Kim Jong-un; if you happen to read this, you have echoed the sentiments of tens of millions of Americans. Please do not allow yourself to be lowered to the level of bickering machismo filled adolescent boys, puffing their chest out to try and impress their girlfriends. Americans must live with this shame now. It is unbecoming of a world leader...
6
I can't disagree with Kim's comments, but he is a madman as well, vicious and bloodthirsty. Trump, so far, does not show much penchant for blood, just for white supremacists and no penchant for rule of law, the constitution or any ethical considerations. If they weren't so mad, they'd be great friends.
6
Kim is right, trump sounds deranged.
13
Dear Great Leader of North Korea Kim,
We agree with you in your choice of word to describe our leader President Donald Trump er Dotard J. Trump. But please do not take out innocent people in Korea and America because of one Despicable Dotard.
Consider that it is an honor to be called Rocket Man! The honorific will look wonderful on little pins on every North Korean.
Compassionately,
A US Citizen
32
To those supposedly responsible adults in the room, (Tillerson, Haley, Mattis, Kelly, McConnell, Ryan, Kushner), history will hold you responsible for allowing Trump to lead us to conflict. So don't just shake your head and cover your face, this is on you too.
21
As Tip O'Neill accurately quipped, "All politics is local." Neither Mr. Kim nor Mr. Trump represent anything more than their own narrow, personal, indeed "local" interests in their behavior. Kim's posturing is driven by his efforts to retain power. Trump likewise.
If a war breaks out both of them will head to their own nuclear bunkers surrounded by friends and family. The rest of us will face the consequences.
In my mind that violates fundamental cosmic justice and morality.
This all began to go south when Dick Cheney scuttled promising diplomatic efforts with North Korea in early 2001. Has the fate of humanity really been determined by hanging chads and a former senator from a state with a single congressional representative? This is not my idea of one person, one vote.
11
Who knows where this escalating war of weaponized words will end? Maybe Times readers can submit their favorite name-calling names. I would suggest all of the great Yiddish epithets that begin with the letters "sch," each with its slightly different shade of scorn and situational specificity. Since this is a global conflict, it would be interesting to learn some of the great Eastern European or South American insults. As a dog lover, I prefer to avoid canine-based expressions.
Dotard is about right, I think. It references the possibility of senility/dementia, which has been a concern of many people observing Trump.
The important point here is that again the USA is hostage to Trump's strange personality. He is a bully and felt a personal need to act tough toward North Korea. Where did it get him to insult the leader of another country? It had the same effect as his insults to leaders of the UK, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and to the Congress, free press, his own staff, and on and on. Alienation, resentment, distrust from people that a rational president would realize he might need help from someday. How does it advance US interests to increase the tension with Kim Jong-un? Answer: it is an entirely negative action on the part of the president. It stems not from a considered approach to international security, but from the fear that forms the central core of Trump's personality. Perhaps it made him feel powerful for a couple of minutes. It was entirely harmful to the US. Sad.
17
Given Kim Jong-un's tendency of late to shoot missiles over Japanese air space, and in order to show that President Trump is not full of hot air like Obama's infamous "red line in the sand", the Japanese should be provided the means directly or indirectly (meaning us) to shoot down any such missile(s).
The same policy should apply if the North Korean Rocketman carries through with his past threat of shooting a missile to land in the ocean "near" Guam.
Aside from showing we are serious, additional benefits from such a course of action would be to show Rocketman that even if he were to launch a barrage of atomic missiles at us or Japan, there would be no guarantee that all or any of them would get through before his little evil empire is wiped off the face of the earth.
2
Dotard is such an antiquated term that at first
I read it as one would pronounce 'dough-tard,'
and thought it was some new insult.
I also thought the mispronunciation aptly described both men.
3
This a case of the bully and the mouse that roared. In this case, it is two poseurs facing each other. North Korea and not the U.S. holds the option of making the first strike which could create a vast magnitude of destruction. The U.S. holds the retaliatory option which includes the complete and total destruction of North Korea. Clear away the dust and smoke, it appears to be a standoff.
I am not generally an admirer of Mr Kim, but must concede that his thoughtful and careful choice of words to describe the USA's pseudo-president seems quite appropriate. If they can keep their exchanges on this level and avoid the military nonsense, we shall all be much safer. And happier.
12
Sometimes I feel like I live in the great sandbox of the world - at least when it comes to the rhetoric flying back and forth between North Korea and the United States. If our two countries didn't have nuclear weapons, it might be rather humorous, especially Kim Jong Un's insults towards Mr. Trump. Trump, on the other hand, passes down colorful insults so often that they've become rather boring at this point. "Rocket Man"? Really? To be honest I kept on thinking of that Elton John song.
I worry most about Trump's fingers hovering over the commands of our nuclear codes since we have far more nuclear weapons than Mr Kim ever will have. I worry that something could get started that would be hard to stop, perhaps the engagement (heaven forbid) of China and Russia in a nuclear war. Then where would we all be? At the least, a limited war in the region would mean a massive loss of life not only on the Korean peninsula but on Japan as well.
So yes, both men are mad.
2
Kim Jong-un clapped back and I liked it. That is terrifying. I'm so conflicted now.
5
Trump is out of his league when dealing with Kim. This plays exactly to the North Korean playbook of fear and aggression. Previous presidents realized that keeping North Korea from exploiting its own perceived victimhood was part of an overall containment strategy. Now Trump, in several poorly thought out tweets and a speech at the UN, has given North Korea the gift they've been waiting for, an opportunity to expand their power over Asia while simultaneously claiming to be the victim of US aggression.
Trump has the ability to de-escalate this but he won't, he can't. Even if all the remaining diplomats in the State Dept work to craft a way to contain North Korea without launching missiles, Trump will spoil the deal with a petulant tweet. This is his pattern. And while the North Koreans perceive themselves as heroically defending against foreign invaders, the US will be forced to participate in a war thousands of miles away that it doesn't want and cannot win because of Donald Trump's bad leadership.
But, yea, Clinton had an email server in her basement.
7
I thought Rocketman was a cool monicker. Lil' Kim don't do Elton John?
Dotard.
Hmmm, turns out Kim knows words, knows the best words.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/national/trump-i-have-the-best-word...
16
Kim Jong-un just Made English Great Again.
Donald Trump should learn to speak it sometime.
124
Will someone please tell Mr. Trump that destroying "the entire country" of North Korea would do little more than vaporize millions of hardscrabble peasants who have no idea of what a "Trump" is. And since Trump is itching to do it with nuclear weapons (he once said "what's the use of building them if we don't use them"), all he will accomplish is creating a 10,000-year wasteland on planetEarth and give the entire globe a nice dose of radioactive fallout.
The Unites States Congress urgently needs to issue a Sense of the Congress Resolution declaring that the presidential election of 2016 was compromised. Doing so would acknowledge the obvious, to the great benefit of U.S. citizen and global understanding, and inject a note of seriousness into the idea that an undemocratically elected president has his hands on nuclear attack codes.
Now. Before it's too late. There urgently needs to be an intercessionary between Trump and nuclear weapons. Congress needs to act immediately.
168
Someone should explain to Donald that if he nukes another country, radioactive debris will circulate the globe, maybe even drifting down on the White House and Mar a Lago.
3
You are talking about the same Congress which is more concerned with block grants and tax cuts than with US citizens' welfare.
2
The nightmare: Hump sitting up late at night next to the launch button going "eenie, meenie, miney, mo", pausing just a moment as he considers his golf schedule, and then launching his next tweet as he lumbers off to bed.
"I would be honored to meet him"
Trump about Kim (and sounding almost like a person with an adult vocabulary). Dictators really bring out the admiration in 45.
5
It seems that "Rocketman" has verbally taken down our vain "Dotardman" using only his superior vocabulary.
17
As best as I can tell, at least based on their written and spoken statements, Kim's understanding of the English language is better than Trump's. Similarly, most analyses of language to estimate a person's IQ that I've seen would strongly suggest that Kim's intelligence is greater than Trump's. The United State's last hoped for advantage between ourselves and the North Koreans is that, historically, our Presidents have been demonstrably less insane than their leaders. Oh, well . . .
13
It's the playground scuffle of two mercurial toddlers!
What Trump has yet to realize that he is no match for KJU, whose experience and tendencies DJT cannot master. This isn't praise, just facts!
Well,one thing Trump had right was KJU is an intellect,why wouldn't he be? He's Swiss-educated hence the surprise at his thesaurus capacity by most, who actually thought he coined a word that already existed.
3
These are world rulers, ladies and gentlemen. And I'm wondering why I have spent better part of a decade obtaining degrees, struggling to find a decent job that gives a modicum of happiness, waiting to make enough money that would mean I can finally afford some love and joy in life. And these are the men who are making policies that are running (or ruining) countless lives. These are the sort of men who get to say how the world is run. It's hilarious to feel this frustrated and helpless.
154
Well said.
This whole Trump administration is really a blatant middle finger to educated, dedicated experienced government professionals, who are well versed in matters like science, economics, geo-politics.
We like nothing better than to use our talent in service to our country.
Instead, we have "advisors" that are pocketbook designers, slum lords, real estate scam artists, currency manipulators, and even reality TV stars.
I have been in a constant state of disbelief for the last 9
months.
The big unanswered question- Trump Base - what does this climate of profound and unprecedented ignorance actually do for you and your family, as in money in your pocket and access to good education, healthy food and water, and healthcare ?
You have been so conned.
14
My thoughts exactly. We need to stop getting out of the bullies way.
I don't think someone has to be a democrat to dislike Trump. Seriously, what is scary is that KJ is really right about Trump. Usually, he makes crazy statements about the US. Well, not anymore. Trump is going down as a Dotard. KJ or someone in is sphere has been watching this guy and they nailed it. We have all pulled out our dictionaries, not to dispute this claim, but to confirm it. Dotard it is. Is KJ a "madman"? No, not really. Is he a cruel and dangerous dictator? Yes. But in the war of words, he is winning.
148
Your comment is spot on. Name calling is undignified and intellectually weak. But trump's was infantile relative to kim's. The trump presidency is a hostage crisis for the world.
Let's hope that the "war" remains one of words only. God forbid they involve their respective countries(military) in their "I'm-not-afraid-of-you" game.
And in the end days of their affluent empire, they had elected a Monstrosity as their President. The Monstrosity was plainly unfit (mentally, emotionally and physically) to serve as a high school Principal, let alone as the President of the United States. Upon taking office, the Monstrosity daily let loose a barrage of insults via a method of communication then known as "tweets."
The Monstrosity insulted his fellow countrymen; he insulted women, men, girls, boys, movie stars, Talk Show hosts, television comedies, former colleagues, members of his own administration, members of Congress and -- with what would be his nation's undoing -- the Monstrosity belittled and berated the leader of North Korea, another unstable, deranged complication of a human being who was every bit as narcissistic and immature as their Monstrosity.
And it came to pass in short order, many centuries ago, that the earth was wiped clean of humanity, when the Monstrosity and the Madman fired their missiles at each other, affecting every human being who then populated the planet. And then it was dark.
27
Because of the nuclear missiles involved this can be scary, However, one of the benefits of Trump is that his ridiculousness shines a mirror on a world full of politicians that are very self serious, but usually pretty laughable. Just look at the picture of Kim accompanying this article. Threatening eachother with schoolyard insults is no different than the "serious" way we've been doing it for years, but shows how preposterous the whole situation is. The dumber the argument gets between Trump and Kim the less likely it is that the nukes will fly... hopefully.
2
Reality Tv with nukes.... Stay tuned to the climactic conclusion, ( organ music playing in the background) Who will prevail, the Dotard with the bad combover, or Rocket Man with the bad haircut.
5
Mr. Kim is NOT wrong.
In fact, Trump and Kim remind me of Dr. Evil and his clone Mini-Me from the Mike Myers' movies.
Except Trump and Kim are real madmen and are, thus, capable of bringing worldwide destruction upon us.
And we VOTED for Trump. At least North Koreans can't be blamed for electing Kim.
9
i don't believe this but Kim has actually said something i can agree with. having said this, what a pity that communications between international powers has come down to playground level name calling between two supposed adults behaving like 8 year olds (perhaps an insult to 8 year olds). More important that these two who behave like children have their fingers on the button --- very scary.
6
President Dotard J. Trump - sounds great!
Kim wins. Dotard displaces Rocket Man as most googled word in their speeches.
Peace is restored to the Pacific?
Or not.
Kim - just get tee shirts made with your new honorific: Rocket Man. Sounds like a super hero to me! Then every one will like you even outside North Korea because so many people hate Donald J. Trump.
11
How to game this to an end point?
It is not long until the winter olympics, which will bring people from around the world to a venue just 40 miles from the DMZ. What opportunities will that bring Kim?
The French appear to have though about this already; it looks like they're taking a bye on the games.
5
Well, he's got that right.
12
What Kim doesn't understand about Trump is what makes Trump dangerous. Not just dangerous to Kim alone! Trump is out to make his bones on North Korea! Trump is determined to establish is presidential legacy as the one president who was able to crush the North Korean regime. I'm not even sure that Mattis, Tillerson, and/or the Ambassador to the U.N Nikki Haley fully grasp Trump's intentions. Trump is going bully Kim into a corner where the outcome is war.
61
Only a war time president could get away with election theft, colluding with enemies and graft on a scale we've never seen before. Of course war with NK is a goal, if Mueller gets too close.
2
My guess is that throughout history, malignant narcissism has lead to many conflicts and wars. My hope is that after this dangerous presidency is over, we will establish a more comprehensive scope of physical and mental health requirements that must be met to run for this office.
In the situation we're in, we can only hope that some of the military and security minds around Trump can assist in modulating his most reckless impulses toward military force.
84
In a country that forbids senior citizens from taking another driver's test to ensure they aren't impaired and dangerous to other drivers, and in a country that has no rules and regulations for having children and thereby irresponsibly and recklessly overpopulating our country, it kind of makes sense that we don't have a mental health test for fitness to hold the office of the presidency. This particular President is perhaps the truest representation of the United States and its people that the world has ever known or seen.
3
Not to minimize your optimism, but what and when was the last sane thing our military commanders and security strategists have done since WW2
2
It is indeed a weird, frightening and sad day when I agree with the dear leader's assessment of our dear leader.
7
Indeed, we have richly deserved this president May it be a hard lesson learned by those who believe it is not a personal responsibility to vote, and those whose inexplicable personal hatred of Hillary Clinton was a more important point to be made than the future social political and economic welfare of our nation and of the planet.
10
This is absolutely Trump's and his voters doing. He opened his big dotard mouth like a whiney 5 year old.
Any other President Democrat, Republican, Independent would have used diplomacy and sanctions.
Kim Jong Un is crazy. He was raised that way, isolated just as the entire country is. He loves this attention.
Kim Jong Un could car less about his people who have been enslaved for decades.
I'm sure Kim has a bunker 5 stories down with enough supplies for many years.
Thanks Trump voters, this is on you.
10
Anyone who didn't vote for Clinton voted for Trump, so that includes more to thank.
3
Let's thank the 4 million voters of Michigan, once again. 83,000 chose NOT to vote for any presidential candidate. The "republican" candidate won Michigan by 11,000 votes.
1
This sort of invective is nothing new from North Korea. They have used ugly terms to describe our country, our leaders, and others who stand in their way more times than can be counted. What is new is the use of similar language, and threats, coming from a U.S. President. Although there is some logic in what President Trump is doing, in that every other type of attempt to come to grips with North Korea has failed, it is hard to see what good this exchange will do. One mistake that the guffawing Trump-haters are making here is in equating Mr. Kim to our President. One is a hereditary dictator, the other received the votes of over 62 million voters in one of the most astonishing election upsets in our history. There is no comparison between the two.
26
Those 62 million and the rest of us are less safe today, thanks to the Donald.
3
How about the fact that they were both born into wealth and privilege? And that they both are the beneficiaries of election meddling?
The nations are as opposite as could be, but not their blustery leaders
1
Both men are impulsive, narcissistic and mentally imbalanced. How they got into office will make no difference to the millions of people who will die if either starts an armed conflict.
5
As a Saudi, I can add an international perspective, such wording of Mr. Trump is what other radical groups are seeking to employ and take advantage of other's poor, uneducated kids.
2
Is this how our president masters the art of the deal?
The "silver lining" is that by destroying NK and killing 25 million people we will only have maybe one or two of their nuclear missiles striking a western country with only a few hundred thousand deaths on our side.
Will Trump engage Iran the same way? They are not a backwards country by any stretch of the imagination and even though we can obliterate them from the face of the earth we should expect major retaliation and death in our camp.
Not to mention those nuclear clouds floating merrily around the world.
I am talking to you, the cowards in congress. Before Trump we had no nuclear threats. Now we are facing nuclear Armageddon. Stand up and do you jobs!!!
2
And now we have two overgrown children in the sandbox. Unfortunately they are not just throwing rocks at each other and calling each other names......it could become far, far worse.
2
I can't tell if I'm laughing because I'm scared, or vice-versa. Or if the difference between the two is sufficiently significant.
2
Let's face it, they're both mentally deranged. If the Democratic Party had allowed for a free and fair primary, we'd have likes of Bernie Sanders to deal diplomatically through creative conflict mediation with North Korea's dictator (Hillary would have been little better than Trump, in my estimation, with her devastating ultra-hawkish predispositions). While Bernie was far from an ideal candidate, he sure was a helluva lot better than the two principal candidates we were left to hold our noses and vote for. And now look at the result. It's so chilling.
4
Two "barking" "madmen" seemingly without adult supervision since childhood who continue to grand stand about taking us to nuclear war.
Wonder how many of the GOP faithful can fit in trump's bomb shelter.
6
Two grown men, leaders of countries, throwing juvenile insults at each other. Yup, human race has really advanced into the 21st century. I'm hoping those checks and balances everyone keeps talking about will come into play pretty darn soon. Before a quarter of the planet is irradiated because of abject, juvenile sensitivity and one-upmanship.
2
Who on this blog can envision a peaceful resolution to the problem of North Korea? What could that possibly look like? It frustrates me to no end that I cannot see it.
3
“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.”
― George Bernard Shaw
14
Two children engaged in "name calling."Sounds like something a fourth grader would say.
5
Well, geez, as long as they don't start sticking out their tongues at one another. I mean, *that* would be inflammatory, right? Seriously, is this the best we can do? Kim is sick, vindictive and evil. Trump is sick, vindictive and childish. Although our guy is arguably not evil, when two sick and vindictive men with nuclear weapons face off, the consequences could literally mean the end of life on our planet. We need adults to intercede quickly, before it's too late. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a fully staffed State Department and an ambassador to South Korea?
4
Our guy is not "arguably not evil". He's a spoiled brat and he's doing everything in his power to make America small, mean, and last. And many of his supporters are not nice either. I agree that nobody should be praising KJI.
Encouraging humanity to reach for the worst in ourselves is a harmful act with repercussions that reach as far as accelerating the destruction of the hospitality of our wonderful planet.
3
A person who lies, cheats, insults others, stirs up hatred and division, promotes violence, and acts out from childish impulses has to be called at least malignant and destructive, as well as a dotard.
1
Who says The Dotard is not evil? What is more evil than trying to destroy health care for millions of your own citizens while lowering taxes for your very wealthy campaign donators? What is more evil than ignoring the peril of Climate Change in order to enrich the oil cartel? I could go on...
3
Why do so many crazy people end up ruling these countries?
It doesn't give one much hope.
4
Sadly my beloved NYT gives a criminal dictator a mouthpiece to bash our president. The Kim dynasty needs to be dismantled and destroyed. The evil unfettered cruelty it has exalted over the people of North Korea for the last 6 decades is unprecedented in world history.
1
Great. Two playground braggarts with nuclear weapons.
What Trump either never learned or has forgotten is that behind the stands taken by Kennedy and Kruschev was a real deal involving Turkey that actually got the work done.
2
Rocket man fires ballistic missiles over Japan and detonates nuclear bombs inside his tiny tiny country and its Trumps fault.
2
Can't the DPRK get a competent English translator? Google Translate would have rendered these pronouncements more comprehensible. If not more coherent.
I see your "rocket man" and raise you a "dotard." Did you notice they have the same barber?
4
"I know I am, but what are you?"
Incidentally, a local radio station reporting this news felt it necessary to define the word "dotard" for its listeners.
Satire is no longer operative.
3
Dotard? Probably. Mentally deranged? Most likely. Not my president. Definitely.
6
Great. Now we have to be terrified that this childish vulgarian in the White House is going to annihilate 25 million people because he's been called a word he's never heard of before.
6
Crazy thing is that they have a common friend, Dennis Rodman. Maybe he could talk some senae into these two to prevent WW III.
3
C'mon, Kim, tell us something we DON'T know!
6
What's next the two mooning each other at the UN. A few Raspberries. Some nasty hand gestures. Only trump could lower America policy to the rhetoric level of a third world despot.
8
If this situation were not so serious I could enjoy Kim Jong-un's comment that our President is a Dotard and also a gangster. He got that right.
10
As an Afro-American, I am appalled by the criminal Trump scorn for President Kim, who is after all another person of colored being manhandled by the racist GOP international cop establishment.
This crisis will evaporate if we send say Secretary Carey to have a fruitful dialog with Kim and address his needs.
1
Truly speaking, Trump and Kim are brothers of different mothers.
5
While we gaze in disbelief the world as we know it is declining into oblivion with a whimper and a bang.
“Trump shot himself in the foot with his unabashedly undiplomatic United Nations General Assembly speech,” said Lee Sung-yoon, a Korea expert at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. “By threatening to totally destroy North Korea, he created the impression around the world that it is actually the United States — instead of North Korea — that’s motivated by aggression. In effect, Trump gave Kim Jong-un a freebie for another major provocation. Kim will oblige, and claim that it was in ‘self-defense’ against Trump’s unnerving threats.”
4
Trump is making America great again by bringing us down to the level of one of the poorest and most backward countries still left on this earth.
And don't kid yourselves that something had to be done about NK, because this crisis is brought on by our ignorant president and his childish and petulant tweets.
7
What's important to remember, in the battle of the dotards, is that North Koreans didn't have much choice in theirs, while we elected ours. Very sad.
17
Best comment I've read.
1
We are finally here. Trump has managed to escalate the tension between North Korea and the USA, not by strategy or careful planning but by sheer aggressive behavior and limited thought of consequence. However, Trump most likely would enjoy being a war time president. Who knew it would be so complicated and so much fun?
2
In response, trump will double dog dare kim to put his tongue on a metal pole in the middle of winter.
1
Now that these two "man children" have clearly defined their level of maturity with such creative name calling, with any luck they'll follow the age old "Sticks and Stones" adage and we'll be okay.
2
In the "Alice in Wonderland" world of Donald Trump, I find myself ironically agreeing with Kim Jong-un that the Mad Hatter in this game of escalating nuclear name calling is Mr. Trump. Donald Trump is, in fact, " mentally unstable" suffering from extreme Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as defined in the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual [Disclosure: I'm a psychologist.]. The frightening side of this "game of chicken" is that nuclear arms are involved and Mr. Trump has been threatening to "utterly destroy" North Korea and his illness may compel him to do so.
7
I'm shaking my head and I'm speechless but I must say I agree our president who thinks he is a monarch is a dotard. It is frightening that Kim and Trump are playing with such dangerous weapons like they are toys. We can't just go to the sandbox and say no-no to them and take them away. We can't say not apologies to each other and act like big boys and play nice. Our problem is their not playing nice could give us a world of death and destruction. I thought just last week that Trump not believing in Climate Change was one of our most major problems.
4
Fire and fury. Total destruction of DPRK. I thought the barking dotard in chief doesn't telegraph his strategy. It looks likely he really will provoke and start a nuclear war with a Tweet!
How many innocent people will little Kim kill with his hydrogen bomb test over the Pacific Ocean? How many sailors from all over the world - especially Chinese and Japanese fishing vessels and other traffic sailing the ocean will be hit? Now any missile "test" has become a threat because we do not know which one will be nuclear armed.
2
Disgusted and frightened as most of us are by our own deranged spoiled brat, it doesn't do to praise Kim Jong Un. John Oliver, whose research is outstanding, presents the situation well. We still have some freedoms in this country, and we're not suffering from government-imposed famine (yet) in the service of building up a disproportionate military that keeps our dictator in power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrS0uNBuG9c
If you only have 2 minutes, please please do look at wonderful Weird Al Yankovich (context: KJI likes the polka):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-lnPk5SFrk
"The North Korea Polka (Please Don't Nuke Us)"
Would you annihilate us if you had the chance?
That's such an antisocial thing to do
You've got us *** our collective pants
May I suggest you take it down a notch or two
We're not exactly sure why you're upset
Did that Seth Rogen movie make you super mad?
You'd like us if you got to know us i bet
We're mostly harmless decent people, hey we're really not so bad
My point is!
Please don't nuke us North Korea
Right now we're all a little tense
Believe me!
We don't hate you
Frankly we don't even think that much about you, no offense
[rest of lyrics in subcomment]
3
Rest of Weird Al (do go hear the song, it's wonderful!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-lnPk5SFrk
Now you might call us "bloodthirsty dogs"
But that metaphor's not very apt
Were just a bunch of simple fidget-spinning goofy dorks
Who probably couldn't find your country on a map
No we're not savages or cannibals
Well maybe just a really really really small percent
So I think it would be best if you'd knock off those missile tests
Don't turn us into cinder while we're swiping right on Tinder
Don't jump start Armageddon or our beds will soon be wetter
Won't you think this through for a moment please
Now why would you bomb our nice celebrities?
Oh why in the world would you kill Tom Hanks?
Cause nobody doesn't like Tom Hanks!
So!
Please don't nuke us North Korea
That would seriously ruin our day
Remember!
We're not evil psychotic monsters
No matter what the news may say
We're just those goofballs from the U.S.A!
(Please don't nuke us)
(Please don't nuke us)
(Please don't nuke us)
Hey!
1
Of course, one might note that since John Oliver and Weird Al did this, our very own tinpot wannabe dictator bully has made things so much worse.
2
Sad news when a psychopathic dictator makes at least as much sense as the US President. What seems most imminent to me is Trump's removal by the Cabinet due to dangerous, irrational behavior.
7
I must agree with them both. They are each mad, in the deranged sense. Kubrick would have had a field day with this material.
9
But as someone else pointed out above, we elected our madman.
If this wasn't so scary, it might be funny.
7
"Like a dog barking"
"A deranged dotard"
The sad truth: Kim Jung-un is just saying what the rest of us have been thinking - and saying - for the last 18 months. Whenever the news cuts to yet another overplayed video clip of the Tweeter-in-Chief I automatically reach for the mute button.
But this has stopped being funny. When are the grown-ups going to step in and take control before things get lethally out of hand?
5
I too cannot stand the sound of Trump's oily, insinuating, con-artist voice.
Two bullies in a playground sounding off; how does this end?
4
To see so many comments here agreeing with North Korea just to show frustration with Trump is alarming. The Democrats here have no constructive thoughts of their own. Anything goes.
4
Rather than worrying yourself over the comments of those here which are inconsequential worry yourself over the fact the commander in chief is ratcheting up a war of words with NK. No president of any party has ever been so reckless with his words before.
Those are the concerning words. Not anyone here.
3
Only agreeing that Trump is “mentally deranged U.S. dotard” not agreeing with N.Korea. It's not like Trump has ever supported the US, he has consistently bad mouthed past Presidents, and citizens alike, along with American values.
3
Rocket Man vs. The Dotard. To laugh or to cry at this needless, distracting display of juvenile bombas? Will "The Dotard" replace "The Donald" in the pop lexicon?
Score one for Kim, for at least having a more advanced command of the language. I don't recall the last time I heard or read "dotard". (Extra point for using it correctly.)
Grow up, both of you -- two clearly stunted individuals who, through their tempers and immaturity, can plunge us into a catastrophic war at any time.
2
Perhaps something is beginning to make it through this man's psychopathic head – I hope so. Because, when someone is shooting off missiles and aiming them directly at other countries, and has been doing this now for quite some time, I really don't consider that such a man has any leg to stand on.
For far too many years, the world community didn't face up to this. Treated these people with deference that they never deserved. Didn't squarely address what was happening right in front of them. Psychopaths don't have proper regard for human life – among their own people nor anywhere else – and unfortunately this is exactly what we have: a group of psychopaths, in reach of a nuclear trigger that WE gave them.
2
It's hard to imagine the world is in the hands of two of the most infantile bullies on the face of the earth.
Dear Lord, what have we wrought?
3
Is everyone going to ignore the fact that Jong-Un just solemnly promised to enact revenge on Trump?
2
Our nitwit is better than their nitwit...maybe ,maybe not. At least their nitwit has more hair. Certainly both countries have plenty of impoverished people and failed governments to compete for the bottom of the barrel. One thing in our favor is that we have more nukes than the combined countries of the world and are willing to build more.
2
If the 1984 movie "Ghostbusters" were debuting this week, Donald J. Trump and Kim Jong-un could easily be used as iterations for Gozer and Zuul. Before they take their true forms and attempt to destroy the world.
3
Kim Jong Un wins this one, even if lost in translation. Trump's reference to "Rocket Man" doesn't make any sense, at least as some sort of insult, because Trump never bothered to listen to the lyrics of Elton John's song. An astronaut immersed in his "langweilig" space ship, longing for his wife and "burning his fuse out" all alone? How does that capture Kim Jong Un? Trump has less command of language than George W. Bush. I cannot believe I just typed that.
12
Right, I have been thinking "Rocket Boy" would have obviously been better.
A petulant boy playing with rockets.
Dotard was pretty good though.
Have to wonder if Trump or Kim might not be moving inexorably towards some cataclysmic showdown for the sake of proving who the bigger fool is.
So far the totality of the US supposedly exhausting all means short of nuclear disaster, effectively upscaled sanctions and a stream of bellicose retorts and counter threats have produced zero movement toward anything other than consistent escalation of the NK situation and threat.
No magic about sanctions, they have a dubious track record, offering bad odds of a specific outcome. Often enough they are just as likely to embolden and harden the position of a staunch adversary.
President Trump has a long personal history of bullying, brandishing overblown threats, and taking confrontation to the ragged edge. That behavior may have worked in NY real estate development or the casino magnet world, but in the face of a potential nuclear weapons confrontation such brazen tactics are utterly foolhardy.
Trump’s statement in the UN about the intention to “annihilate North Korea” should armed conflict ensue plays directly into the narrative that the Kim regime has cultivated and exploited for decades.
11
I believe that Trump, absent his tax returns, was a total failure in the business world. He is simply a con artist who got away with it because he was a rich boy and people knew that if they crossed him he'd destroy them. He won't be any different as President of the US.
Name calling and threats are no substitute for diplomacy. And I am referring here to our president. Trump wants to sound tough, but the world stage is not a school playground. As with most other issues, Trump seems to lack a plan beyond his last tweet. Obama warned Trump about Korea, but any words bearing Obama's fingerprints are anathema to him. Other countries are in harm's way. Where are the adults in this administration? Kelly must have migraines by now.
5
Two bullies in a school yard playing with dangerous weapons, may saner more mature heads prevail.
3
Is there anyone with an IQ over 80 that didn't see this coming the day after the election?
I'll tell you what else is going to happen: when Trump realizes that it's very likely that he will be going to go to jail for election fraud, he will want to take everyone and everything down with him. His delusional psychological profile, and where it's headed, is absolutely transparent.
Mark my words, Trump WILL tweet in the not too distant future, "If I can't run this country, then NO ONE WILL!".
At this point, it's as inevitable as the rising sun.
The only question is, will someone be there to stop him from launching WWIII?
5
Yes, there were people who didn't see this coming the day after the election: Trump voters. Some of them are members of my own family.
One voted for Trump because "there haven't been any adults in the White House since Reagan" and, when Trump won, he was gratified that now he "no longer had to be politically correct". Another, a climate-change denier, was seemingly in the Trump camp because she thought Hillary Clinton was having repeated strokes that were being covered up by the DNC and, as such, she was unfit for office. My best friend's father voted for Trump because he "didn't want the government telling [him] what to do." I could go on with more examples but it's too exhausting and, frankly, sad.
Almost all of these people went to college, have good jobs, and are leading solid, middle-class lives. They're not stupid, they just threw aside their critical thinking skills and common sense in favor of their party, their prejudices, and their self-interest. They never saw this coming because in their minds, the only person capable of incompetence of this magnitude was Hillary Clinton.
When I was five years old, I came up with an escape plan and hid under my bed because of the Communists. A neighbor was building a bomb shelter. My parents dismissed this and provided reassurance. They had some, not blind, faith in their government. How can parents manage this in today's climate? Pretend to trust DT and count on others to rein him in?
4
As Mueller's investigation continues to intensify, so will Trump's rhetoric against North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, etc. These are frightening times.
9
It's astonishing how many people don't know what a "dotard" is!
Granted, it's a bit archaic and not exactly in common usage, but it makes me wonder about the translation from the original Korean. I mean, they could have just said "senile of coot" and gotten the point across more efficiently.
It also makes one wonder about the limited vocabulary of the average American.
*sigh*
3
Kim is having the time of his life. He could not have asked for more recognition on the world stage than Donald Trump is giving him.
11
A barking dog is frightened but a smart dog is silent.
1
I'm a little shocked that I'm finding some admiration for Mr. Kim - it just demonstrates the downside of 'normalizing' the behavior of our dotard president. Talk about unintended consequences...
2
Reality check its futile to make empty comments against usa when in reality comments the acting leader north korea really aimed to inflict fear upon own people to gain control over own people. I suggest the people of north korea resist an go on strike no work untill its leader stop acting.
2
This reminds me of the men who hunt on our land. They simply can not get along with each other and are quick to call each other names and fight over imagined transgressions. We deal with them by giving each his own territory where he must stay high in a tree. They're not allowed to speak to each other and know they will lose hunting privileges with the first transgression. As long as they have their own spots where they can imagine killing things they seem pretty content. If only we could use this strategy on Kim and Trump.
2
Not sure Trump is a dotard, but he surely gets older and more deranged every day.
Expecting some sort of olive branch in response to "Rocket Man" never entered my mind, but I sure was hoping the response would be more creative. If we can't get statesmanship, at least we should be entertained as we drift toward the last day on earth.
4
This escalation, fueled by two ego-driven, intellectually deprived leaders, says a lot about both countries. The United States isn't as great as its people think. We're right there on the same level as North Korea. Get real.
There is no question that Kim Jong-Un is an extremely dangerous, unpredictable dictator whose mental health appears as tenuous as our president's. That being said, it is more than a bit unsettling, that a reading of the full text of Kim's response to Trump's threat to "totally destroy" N. Korea reveals a man who is more logical, insightful and articulate than the man leading the U.S.
"His [Trump's] remarks. . . have convinced me, rather than frightening or stopping me, that the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last."
The fact that Kim's words makes more sense to me than the vast majority of what comes out of Trump's mouth is ironic and beyond terrifying.
7
Kim gets Trump. But Trump does not get diplomacy.
2
Never thought I'd be nodding my head in agreement with Kim Jong-un.
Interesting times we live in.
5
The situation on the Korean peninsula is extremely complex and its solution requires individuals with a sophisticated understanding of the current events in a historical context. Please Mr. Trump - surround yourself with the best people - as you said you would in the campaign and stop the vitriol. While fun perhaps, it is unproductive. There are a lot of lives at stake and many people, some Trump supporters included, are now fearful for their lives and their families lives. A fearful America is not a great America.
57
Rather than "...individuals with a sophisticated understanding of the current events", Trump has surrounded himself with merlons.
No worries!
He will look to his kids for the answers.
Making pocket books in Chinese sweatshops, killing megafauna for fun in Africa, and being a slum lord in NJ will provide The Donald with valuable insight into No. Korean and give him skills to manage other vexing global problems that he alone can fix. .
3
I am struck by the use of the word "dotard". The life expectancy in North Korea is about 70, and Trump is 71.
5
Richard Swanson
US life expectancy is just 78, so we're not in a position to brag. Oh, and US life expectancy is declining at a pretty significant rate.
I know we're all concerned about dying in a nucular tantrum here, but it's worth pointing out that life expectancy in all those foolish, socialist, universal healthcare countries is well beyond our free-market, for profit patriotic American health care. For example: Canada and the UK: 82±, Japan 84±.
3
I think Kim Jong-Un's choice of words was perfect. Trump is indeed a "dotard," although the more common use is "dotage," as in Donald J. Trump is "in his dotage."
Which he clearly is. Lots of sound and fury, in the end, signifying nothing. Nothing but the best older English term for someone clearly so far above his pay grade as to be laughable.
I guess "Rocket Man" didn't go over so well now, did it? I keep watching TV to see if the North Korean "leader" who has youth on his side, if not judgment, has launched his next nuke into the Pacific, over Japan, and aiming every farther.
22
At least we get to laugh before we get blown up.
92
Thanks Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum! The world listens to you two immature baby-men threatening war and annihilation and are helpless because you two narcissists have great position and power and have surrounded yourself with Generals. Generals whose business is war and destruction and who live by the code of chain of command.
Is that what you two are counting on? That the Generals will follow your command even though you are a raving idiot? Because starting a war of the dimensions either of you are 'talking' about is idiotic and insane.
Can we get some adults in the room? Sycophant Haley is no use and Rex appears to be useless. Congress? Or are the war mongering ratings too good for the GOP to ignore?
We can't get anyone into Kim's office but we could sure try to get a responsible citizen into the Oval Office to talk to Trump. Ivanka or Jared? Or will General Kelly block them?
I refuse to allow two of the most emotionally compromised individuals on planet earth start a devastating war. They hold the power of their positions in spite of their unsuitability. Americans must take responsibility for their part in this situation and stop Trump from war.
99
One of so many brilliant responses to this dangerous situation.
How are we going to stop them?
I despair lately.
Just as the corrupt, heartless Republicans in Congress conspire to ruin our lives for no good reason other than payoffs for the already too rich donors, here we have a couple of nuts promising to kill us all.
2
Two megalomaniacal, delusional, mentally deranged leaders with their finger on the nuclear button. What could possibly go wrong?
93
The man from Pyongyang clearly wins the nickname smackdown.
Not only does he give new life to a fun word that goes back to Shakespeare but he also raises valuable questions about the oldest man to become president and his mental capacities.
"Rocket Man"? Most guys would love such a cool nickname.
97
A nutty hereditary dictator slams our unelected, mad, president, and I read the dictator's remarks, and they're 100% on the mark--that's how bad it's gotten in the U.S. To all those who voted for Drumpf, what on earth were you thinking? That your inchoate rage was going to make us safer? Better off economically? Why should the 85% of our population that can see that these 2 "men" are babies pushing each other in a sandbox, why should we have to pay for the snit you'all had last November? That's a question...why, and how could you do this to us, your fellow citizens, and in many cases siblings, in-laws and cousins?
95
What we have now, Sam, is the result of a skewed "election." We're living with a despot who was appointed by our own archaic system (EC), the result of so many voters who could have turned the tide, but stayed home.
1
Unfortunately after Cinton's calculated, self-serving and idiotic support for the Iraq war, then toppling Qadaffi, then wanting to compete with Russia in a no-fly zone over Syria, I'm not sure we'd be better off than with the current buffoon. Considering also the long history of the Pentagon's reckless decision making there isn't much to counter whatever idiocy rolls down the track.
Not only was Kim on point, he made MORE SENSE than Trump.
4
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, won the verbal competition this week between him and 'Dotard' Trump. A dotard and 'mentally deranged' blowhard are what many people around the world think of DJT and worse. 'Rocketman' isn't bad, although the coinage of the word hardly started with the dotard. As crazy and dangerous as these two men are, we'd all be grateful if they stayed with word games. Look at what we've done people! Dotard Trump is the president of the United States. What's next?
25
Great. Two leaders with nuclear weapons have the maturity of third graders. Dotards!
32
These two are so similar in many ways, it's as ridiculous as it is sad.
I think kim got the best of the don with this latest burn tho - It was spot on.
21
While I agree with Kim, it is clear that we are dealing with Drs. Strangelove either side of the diatribe. A solution would be for South Korea to live up to the expectation of a reasonable wealthy country with a mighty military to boot the US military out. I suppose this is too simple for the US military industrial complex to tolerate...
18
Why are Mattis, Tillerson, McMaster, and Kelly allowing this lunatic to continue on his road to Armageddon?
Where are the Republicans and Democrats who have experience in preventing war being irresponsible and putting their heads in the sand about the recklessness and danger of this man in the White House?
Any woman who has raised a child can see through Donald Trump's childish bullying which is bound to result in a fight with that other child whose reason for being belligerent is to protect his family's honor.
Donald Trump is incredibly unfit to be in charge - he lacks the fundamental understanding of human nature to even begin to know what he's causing.
Unless responsible adults figure out how to oust him from office, we are doomed.
80
Next, several four-letter words will be landed.
Gee, this escalation thingy might get real.
4
If you voted for Trump, honestly, please apologize.
221
How about "if you didn't vote for Hillary". Those who threw away their vote by voting for a third party candidate need to swallow the fact that if they didn't vote for Hillary they voted for Trump.
3
I think it's come to the point where the United States needs to consider "son of a motherless goat" as a response.
Either that or engage in serious diplomacy rather than elevate infantile taunts on a stage where nobody knows whether nuclear war comes after "your mother smells of elderberries" or "You're the puppet!"
26
Can't say I disagree with the moniker....
38
Name-calling by two guys, each with comic-book haircuts haircuts. Each time the current president of the United States opens his moth, the other funny haircut escalates the language.
Except this is not a grammar school-yard. The Comic-book haircut from the United States is a slow-learner: a real leader needs to keep his mouth closed at times to ease tensions. Sounds to me like two barking dogs.
9
Actually, one of my favorite shows was "Beavis and Butthead". If the stakes weren't so high I'd also enjoy this show between "Rocket Man" and "The Dotard".
Such witty repartee between Trump and Kim Jong-un. Can "I'm rubber and you're glue" be next?
Or will we be quoting Pee Wee Herman, "I know you are, but what am I"?
22
Waiting for Trump's reply tweet. First he had to look up "dotard."
17
Seriously scary...yet? More reason than hairstyles to keep these guys around.
You can see the aides rushing to Google 'Dotard'....? Like a scene out of Burn After Reading....'the Russians?' Get out your Thesaurus....is Syphilitic next? Humor bombs may be a better way.
2
It has been many decades since I was a child, but the comments of Kim and Trump are eerily reminiscent of the noises I used to hear from the stupid, ignorant kids from "bad families" during recess in elementary school; failing in their schoolwork, they would threaten to beat one another up as a means of establishing some kind of respect. The rest of the sane and thoughtful children watched, knowing already that nothing good would ever come from their behavior on the playground or in life thereafter.
21
The regressives will not recognize that Trump has virtually turned the world against North Korea. This is understandable since the far left considers North Korea and Venezuela to be socialist paradises.
3
I think Trump, more effectively, has turned the world against the U.S.A.
4
Agreed. Trump's actions have exposed Kim for what he is and caused him to do and say things that the rest of the world can't ignore.
2
What an odd perspective to think Trump turned the world against North Korea.
3
This would be entertaining if millions of lives weren't on the line.
8
This may be Trump's secret plan to solve all problems: no planet, no problems.
8
So - it has finally come to this: two hoodlum school-yard bullies with really tacky haircuts and obviously under-sized hands have brought the world to the brink of a thermo-nuclear catastrophe by throwing taunts at each other about which one has the bigger, baddest, "weapon." Oh, Dr. Freud - where are you when the world needs you? Better yet - when will the psychiatrists and psychologists of our country get out from behind the clinical fig-leaf and offer up a frank assessment of our leader's mental/emotional/psychiatric fitness? When will the cowards in the legislative branch stop thinking about ending health care for millions and stand up to the President's careening down the path to war? When will Rex Tillerson start acting like the nation's chief diplomat and tell Ambassador Haley that her shrill hectoring is not productive, appoint an ambassador to South Korea, appoint a Director of the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs and stop arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. I have served my country proudly for almost four decades and have come to the point of being disgusted and ashamed of its "leadership." Now is the time for courage and dignity and reason - it is not the time for chest-thumping, strident, saber-rattling nonsense. Is Trump trying to provoke Kim into an act that will give Trump his excuse for war?
36
Amazingly powerful remarks. Wanna run for president?! But seriously, your comments reflect well on the positive meaning of what it means to be a patriot.
1
Calm down Kim,no body wants to hurt you,you're a lovely fellow ,friendly to the core.Now don't listen to the man who lives in the U.S.,he just thinks he can boss people around.We all know he's in his dotage and is a great chief of
Failures.
5
The dispute with N. Korea is turning into a personal battle between two megalomaniacs. Foreign policy should be grounded in a dispassionate understanding of national interest, international law, and morality -- not personal antipathy. Neither Trump not Kim Jung Un seem capable of this. God help us all.
6
Have to wonder how the Dotard-in-Chief will respond. If he hasn't already - it's because someone took away his tweeter.
5
President Trump: If you know Mr. Kim is a madman, do you really think it's a good idea to antagonize him.
5
Sir: Do you really think it's a good idea to placate him?
2
There's a large spectrum between antagonize and placate.
Trump to Kim: "I know you are but what am I?"
1
It may not be clear to some people, but the Trump trading escalating insults and threats with Kim Jong may not be intended as a strategy of an immature and unwinnable tit-for-tat with a maniac.
It may be that Trump is intentionally making China and our allies anxious, in order to disrupt any complacency, indifference, or plans to take advantage of the US they may have regarding our position.
Trump is far more intelligent and manipulative than many would like to admit. Remember, he started the presidential race in 17th place, manhandled the Republican clown car, and took down Hillary Clinton, who started with the widest lead and richest war chest of any presidential candidate in history.
1
I'm not a Trump supporter and you obviously are. But I sincerely hope you are correct that Trump knows what he is doing. This isn't some transaction that we can afford to see go belly up or find protection in bankruptcy laws or tax deductions. We need to dialog more with one another; hopefully we can do so in a more civilized manner than these two leaders. As fellow Americans, we need to listen to one another more instead of threatening to annihilate one another.
Dotard: "an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile."
But we already knew that about Donald Trump, right?
Suppose Kim could have come up with sometime g much worse......
Childish games by both Trump and Jong-un, with millions of lives on the line. It's not a movie. It's real. Hard to believe in this old age. Ummm......does that make us all dotards?
3
Trump may have vanquished Little Marco, quashed Lyin' Ted, and beaten Crooked Hillary in the Electoral College, but he seems to have met a worthy opponent in Kim Jong-Un. It's just such a pity that the stakes are so high; otherwise it would be brilliant theatre — a Peter Sellers-like farce pitting one rogue idiot against the other. I'm inclined to think that Trump and Kim actually like and respect each other, odd as it seems. They're of similar stock; boorish, bloviating blowhards who taunt, threaten, and abuse power. Time to dust off the Fallout Shelters and horde SPAM.
6
When will they start exchanging "Yo Mama" jokes?
6
Maybe we could deescalate the situation
with some well-targeted compliments?
"Kim, you look so good in grey!"
"It's kind of a cushiony flat-top,
and it perches on your head like a majestic raven!"
"No, no, Kim old buddy. You're not fat, you are powerfully built!"
"What you say we pack up these old ICBM's and catch a Lakers game?"
5
DOTARD: I guess it "takes one to know one"!
2
Tragicomedy. The bad sci-fi script of two "leaders", Rocket Man and Barking Dog, sporting awful haircuts and with their fingers on the button, trading insults. ("Well, HE started it....").
2
Does anyone feel safer with this president at the helm?
4
Calling the President a mentally deranged dotard isn't the same as the President being a mentally deranged dotard. I think the New York Times should run a clarifying point on this, or at the very least a correction that it is not known at this time the President's mental health.
Also, mental derangement is rolled into dotard, so there is a redundancy in saying the President is mentally deranged and saying the President is a dotard. He can certainly be both, or he could be a mentally deranged barking dog, as that obersvation would not continue as much redundancy.
1
So, apparently, there is a new escalation:
The escalation of really dumb insults.
So, as a nation on the brink of war,
we'll have to throw everything we've got at it!
All those playground insults must now be weaponized!
Call up that kid who made you cry 'uncle'
and hit you with a triple-dog-dare,
and put him in contact with the pentagon.
There is no time to lose!
Hydrogen-smydrogen! We've got to top 'dotard.
I know you are, but what am I?
2
How about Racket Man?
2
I didn't read anything in Kim's trash talk I thought was unreasonable.
8
Well, I have to choose between Kim Jong-Un and Deluded Donny . . .
and I choose the one with the weird hair cut . . .
no wait, that doesn't work . . .
The one that speaks better English,
Congratulations Kim Jong-Un
3
Kim is a disaster into and of himself, but he gets points for the correct usage of the term "dotard".
6
From "rocket man" to "dotard" ... what is this -- kindergarten diplomacy?!?! Any adults around who can still separate these two ... or is it to late, already?!
1
And the actual news becomes interchangeable with an article in The Onion.
Hilarious. Except for the fact that these man-child lunatics have nukes. Other than that, this is really funny.
4
Well, Trump is that... Yes. But, let's just go to your separate corners and play with your own toys in the sandbox and nevermind about him. Just looks at these fun toys and look over there.....its a mechanical rocket you can ride. You just put a quarter in it and ride it for 3 minutes....there, there you will feel better soon.
2
"I know you are but what am I?" Rocketman to Deranged Dotard, and vice versa.
1
This is like five year olds taunting each other with insults in the school yard - except they're armed with nukes.
2
Wow, this makes me admire KIM a bit. He has been able to throw out better descriptives of Trump (sticks) than Trump has been able to throw out about him(stones). KIM has brought back the old word "dotard" which is really a perfect describer of Trump. I along with millions of Americans, the most ever!, had to look up the word to check what it means.
Now I don't admire KIM or Trump. They are both narcissists with atomic bombs at their finger tips. This is a very slippery slope Trump walks and he needs his tweeting fingers broken.
15
Finally, our enemy describes him as he is. Its time for the 25th amendment. Who can argue that he is not mentally deranged?What sane thinking person would stand up before a public body and threaten to destroy someone who has a hydrogen bomb. He doesn't get cause and effect.
11
Leave it to Trump to take a difficult situation and push it to the brink of catastrophe. First, Trump publicly threatens North Korea with fire and fury, the likes of which the world has never seen before. Then, Trump tweets "Rocket Man" as a nickname for Kim Jung On. Trump is so pleased with the reference that he used it while addressing the UN this week - in the same breath as declaring his will to totally destroy North Korea. Can anyone be surprised that North Korea is meeting the war of words in kind?
And Trump has not even given punitive sanctions on North Korea a chance to take hold. To say nothing of consistently engaging China on the issue without the bombast. Trump is needlessly pushing things to the precipice.
5
I'm not a fan of Kim but he certainly hits the nail on the head. Trump does come across as deranged and senile. Trump is probably even less suited for leadership of a country than is Kim.
8
Lesson learned the hard way through a bitter divorce: if you can't win, or are not willing to accept the collateral damage and cruelty needed to win, then don't antagonize. It's hard to accept that you have no good options, but sometimes the best thing you can do is to limit the damage.
It's also like a cancer diagnosis, with which I have also had to contend. You have to accept that there is no worry-free option and be active, instead, about minimizing the negative consequences and future risk.
It's easier when it's cancer because it's not personal (not really). Cancer is not insulting you like an ex-husband or the leader of another country. And most of us have not been insulted so publicly. At this point, I have some sympathy for what Trump has to take. But he got himself (and everyone else) into this position by starting a war of words that he cannot back up without putting innocents in North Korea, South Korea, and possibly even Hawaii or other parts of the US at risk of nuclear attack.
Is he sane and humble enough to be willing to pocket the insult and listen to wise counsel so as to save us from nuclear war? His actions will tell us. I don't want to expect the worst, but there is reason for concern.
A poll that said that over 80% of Republican voters want war with North Korea is even more concerning. It's not just Trump who is willing to flirt with a danger. Even toying with this possibility shows that these people do not know what they are asking for.
5
I'm no fan of Kim Jong-un in general, but he certainly has got the best of this verbal exchange, with points for creativity in a non-native language.
10
".....creativity in a non-native language." Sounds like an Oscar category.
This is what the world did not need, while it faces the extraordinary threat of rapid climate change, is two ill equipped leaders sitting on arsenals of nuclear weapons threatening each other. One can only hope that there are sane advisers in Pyongyang and Washington capable of restraining the primitive instincts of both men.
As President Trump flays about trying to erase the accomplishments of his predecessor the world longs for the decency, wisdom, civility and stability of President Obama.
3
When "cheeto" and "rocket man" exchange insults and bluster, it's not them who will pay if there is war. It's us and the North Korean people; innocent folks who are equal in our humanity and only different in our TV shows and eating habits. We breathe the same air, love our families and strive to a have a peaceful life. We are all human beings.
War is the game of the rich, but the suffering of the poor. Don't applaud our president when he threatens because his threats have no cost. The consequences are what we bear, not him. It's time we all grow up and hold our leaders accountable.
13
So Kim's English vocabulary is larger than Trumps. And this could lead to war.
3
Most people above a fifth grade level have an English vocabulary larger then Trumps.
2
So now we know who has the 'best words'.
6
Tell me it's not possible for a nuclear war affecting billions on Earth to be the result of a spat between only two preposterous human beings.
3
In the war of words, the North Korean appears to have better words. Donald is stuck on his old ones.
In a war of writers, NK appears to be winning.
3
It is really low when Kim Jon-un thinks that tRump is delusional and inept. But to trump no news is bad news.
Cease and desist with the Dog remarks. I am a lifelong, serious dog person.
Otherwise, please proceed.
3
Well, he's not wrong.
3
Is there any language in the Constitution that will allow for the removal of a President on the grounds of Dotard-iness? If not, I've got a great idea for a 28th amendment!
2
Couldn't have said it better.
1
Not to detract from the seriousness of this situation, but props for an excellent application of the underutilized "dotard". I can just picture the conversation where some White House staffer is explaining to Trump what the word means.
5
I think it is unfair to single out President Trump for criticism on his lack of maturity, composure, and dignity. Kim Jong-un has similar shortcomings, and he should be criticized just as much. We really shouldn't hold the U.S. to a higher standard than North Korea.
3
While the probability of war remains slight, the destruction of the USA's global leadership continues unabated by Trump and his gang (excluding Mr Mattis who remains focused on saving a Country he loves). As mid-term election process begins, the real referendum on the USA will present itself.
8
The similarities in rhetoric between these two is astounding. If I were to switch the proper nouns and attach @realDonaldTrump to Jong-un's words, it would be a while before anyone would even recognize the difference. Despite the decades that separate them age-wise, they both look ridiculous preening in front of soldiers and bragging about weapons, the nature of which they can barely understand. To them, weapons and soldiers alike are mere toys in a childish contest.
13
As I approach dotard status myself, I find it amusing to know Kim has better use of our language than President Trump. Archaic or not in usage, a great burn.
42
Trump has once again shown the world that he possesses no diplomatic skills, however his rhetoric beautifully panders to the Trump base. In essence, he's telling his supporters: "We are the good guys, they are the bad guys". This is a constant reoccurring theme (Muslims, Mexicans, Black Lives Matter, University students...) and his base buys it. Most of us know that diplomacy is far more complicated and that there is much more going on in Asia than we're privy to.
Meanwhile, this distracts us from the real events: The push to destroy Obama-care, the dismantling of environmental protections, the decreased educational funding, the Trump family weapon sales, Russia, the continued attempts to militarize our country, and the stripping away of our constitutional rights.
I'd like to believe that any military action taken against N.K. would result in nationwide demonstrations (circa 1968) and intense anger which would force Trump out of office, however I'm no longer sure of anything regarding this most corrupt Washington regime and the powers really running the Trump administration.
10
After Trump's UN speech, what could be more predictable than Kim's latest comments? Two egomaniacal blowhards with unusual hair are engaging in the type of grandstanding that usually acts as a precursor to a drive-by shooting. I doubt anyone in Kim's camp has the power to modulate his rhetoric or his actions. Let's hope that Trump's camp -- the Congress, whatever remains of the State Department, and the military -- can function as a collective purveyor of common sense.
4
Kim puts Trump's mental state in a nutshell. Anyway, it is frightening that these two noncredible slick characters can put the world to the brink of war. Even more frightening is the applause and support Trump still receives. It looks like
he will even risk a war to delude from the Russia investigation. At least one of these two loose cannons must be defused. Urgently!
5
It's a good burn, in that Trump would have had to look it up, or ask somebody what it meant. Making your target work to get the insult is hugely satisfying.
That said, the fact that we have two angry, spoiled toddlers with nuclear weapons at their disposal is less amusing. There may be a lot riding on Mueller's League of Extraordinary Investigators.
3
Kim is s much more effective responsible leader than Trump. Trump's masculinity is threatened and his response might not be in our best interest. Let's hope the generals can contain him.
2
Let's not heap praise on monstrous KJI. Here's a useful evaluation (longish, but you can get the gist from the first few pages):
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-risk-of-nuclear-war-wi...
Starving his people and requiring they worship him is not a good story. His family's successful brinkmanship with nuclear weapons ranks right up there with Bashar Al-Assad's genocide of the people in his country. Preserving one's power at the expense of untold suffering is not "responsible".
2
"Starving his people and requiring they worship him is not a good story."
I'm guessing you didn't intend to describe Trump here, but perhaps you should check out US poverty statistics, and then imagine what they look like on the street. It is a tragedy, in the richest country in the history of the planet.
Rocket Man is really Barking Dog's son!!!
1
Ha! As if our generals don't have their own masculinity issues to deal with!
It's a sad day when the remarks of the North Korean head seem more rationale than that of the US President's!
6
The level of this situation is absurd. Trump should never be in the same level with insults to the NK regime and his ruler, because it just doesn't help at all to avoid a nuclear conflict. Trump failed by rash words taking the diplomatic approach as far as the moon with his rude talk. Just don't get the same level of insults and do your job saying the right words instead to call off the deal and drop the bomb. Trumps speech was out of this world and now everybody is insulting each other, what that really does for the peace in this world? Act as a President should act. Hillary warned us before about him in power and it all come to be true. Trump will start a nuclear war because he just can't fit into the President's role, instead, he's acting like a biggest bullying kid on the block with a loaded gun. God help us all
3
These two mentally ill madmen are going to get a lot of people killed with their rhetoric. Where have all of the reasonable people disappeared to?
1
We have two lunatics with nuclear weapons. I feel like I'm overhearing the kind of conversation one might hear on a playground. At some point, the war of words will become war. Is there an adult somewhere who can intervene?
3
Donald Trump. Political schoolyard bully and purveyor of now-famous nicknames since his run in the GOP primaries. Lyin Ted, Little Marco, Low Energy Jeb, Pocahontas, Crooked Hillary all earned him the Presidency.
But what about "Rocket Man" for NK's Kim? Not very stinging or derogatory by his past standards. And it looks like he's met his match with "tough cookie" Kim who we now know can ladle the stew as well, if not better than Donald. Who of any of Trump's domestic "enemies" would have ever come up with or dared to utter the likes of "dotard" "mentally deranged" "gangster" and "barking dog"?
This week Kim landed more than four distinct verbal derogatory punches to Donald's one. Kim is young. Donald is old. Clearly Trump will have to step up his game. But... does Donald have the stamina? Or will Kim's besting him in this war of insults lead to further injury to Trump's temperament and push him off the deep end?
Great for ratings but maybe not so great for MAGA.
4
It's a heck of a thing when such an absurd parody of a leader like Kim Jong-Un can outplay the US president in such a simple art as name-calling. For example, in chess it's very important to know if you're winning or losing. It affects your decisions about further play. Well, we're not winning here.
3
Imagine if one of the Republican Presidential candidates had traded insult for every Trump insult. Do you think the Man-child in-chief would have ever been elected? By staying "above the fray" they bequeathed upon us this joke of a president. Every insult was met with more television coverage. And here we are.
It appears Kim Jong-un is the only world leader willing to trade taunt with taunt. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Truly sad.
1
It would be a rare moment that one would agree with Kim Jong-il about anything, but on this subject, I agree that Trump is a deranged dotard. One could add "ineffectual simpleton" and a few other names.
You know, we bombed North Korea into the Stone Age during the Korean war. Now they have come back at us with a Stone Age mentality, obsessed with security and revenge. They are quite serious about their hatred of the USA and their need for nuclear deterrence. For them the war is not yet over, and they have not yet lost.
2
Yours is the most close to reality comment in all these bunch of ideas.
Unfortunately the USA threw more bombs in North Korea than all bombs threw in WWII all over Europe combined and yet North Korea did not lose that war.
We have to remember that the only country that has used atomic power against humans is the USA, with no reasons whatsoever, I may add.
Now we have two little children in power and a lot of innocent people are going to die if this situation continues.
Now is when the real politicians have to step up and look up for the interests of humanity and not for the interests of a few large war companies that are just looking for this conflict to start so they can get good profit out of war as always they have done.
Ironic that Kim has, for years, displayed maps of America burning, with targets on them, threatening annihilation...
And now we have a mad man of our own...
Foreign diplomacy is lowered to name calling. Both kids need to be more creative, but I have to give Kim this round for "dotard" for accuracy and use or arcane language. "Rocket man" is neither accurate nor imaginative. As stupid as it is, I'll take schoolyard name calling over nukes any day. Sigh.
1
Donald Trumps speech at the United Nations a perfect example of his inability to serve as President of the United States. "Calling Out" Kim Jong-un through name calling and idle threats of total destruction of North Korea is not only unprofessional and immature but also surprisingly improper for a United Nations speech. The whole situation stinks of a Jr. High School slap fight.
2
When 2 bad haircut bullies meet each other's, they act just as you expected. All talk. It's like watching a child looking for attention. In this case both of them are acting like a child. 2 Big ego with no accomplishment to show for but my toys is bigger than yours. Get a tape measure please.
2
Each should look in the mirror and see the other reflected back, hair follicles included. They share derangement to the world's detriment.
1
How did Kim Jung-Un end up becoming a "deranged old dotard" at such a young age????
It is time for the international community to enlighten Un that the U.S. is not the enemy they perceive and have brainwashed their citizens into believing. We have had successful political, social and economic relationships with the entire world while he stayed isolated surrounding by his extreme ideologies. Nuclear war missiles will be met with force, by not just the United States, but a world that has grown tired of Un's inability to see past his propaganda. His need to control his people with extreme ideologies and philosophies based in insanity is not the world's priority at the moment. His senile and delusional dotard moments should be dealt with by his personal physician and his people should follow up with the same anti-dementia medications.
The dialogue between these two would be comical...of the "I know you are, but what am I?! -- caliber but for the sticks and stones they both wield. The whole thing is horrifyingly surreal.
1
Dotard rhymes with goatherd,
And for Trump it is a good word.
Don's weakened mental facilities,
Highlight his disabilities.
The world is shaken, not stirred.
3
Other countries use our very own language and words in ways of which we're ignorant. Perhaps there's a lesson there.
2
Trump and Kim Jong Un deserve each other. They're both pretending to be cage match wrestlers, and this is a big show put on for the entertainment of their fan blocs.
Meanwhile, the world's adults are turning off the television, ignoring the clowns, and doing something to preserve peace in the world.
3
OK there's no cool head in North Korea. Nobody tells the dictator what to say. How is that different than "The president speaks for himself"? I wonder if Mr Kim has a nuclear football or he picks up an analog phone to bark his orders. It's not a stretch of imagination to consider we could see the largest mass murders in history in the name of who's the boss now.
2
So we have two bullies on the world stage throwing insults and threats at each other. One, Mr Kim wants the world to acknowledge his incredible power and technology as well as his ability to destroy any and everything and everyone with whom he finds displeasure. Other the end of the stage we have, Mr Trump who we all know carries every slight and ill-said word against him into a personal vendetta that he will constantly pick at as a sore that will never heal. Each continues to goad the other until...until boom! And millions of people, buildings, lands, animals, crops, roads, etc are destroyed.
We all know the definition of "bully." I just looked up the definition of dotard, here it is: "...foolish and doddering old person."
Anyone out there keeping score?
Think I'll call my brother in California this weekend.
How can two deranged, inexperienced, childlike leaders deal with each other on a sane mature level? They can't! Stock your pantries. Panic buying is coming soon and that's good for business. Isn't that right Trump?
You gotta hand it to Lil' Kim. "Dotard" trumps "Rocket Man" any day of the week & twice on Sunday !
1
Suppose instead of Trump and Kim Jong Un trading barbs, that our state department were to engage the two Koreas in a discussion that resulted in reunification and a withdrawal of our military. The world puts its stamp of approval over the new union, and the newly reunified Korea sees little use for a nuclear deterrent because there are no threats from us or its neighbors. In a complete turnaround, Korea is invited to use its respectable rocket technology to participate in future construction and resupply of the International Space Station. Korea then enjoys a newfound respect from the world community, and is free to redirect its resources towards a more consumer-based economy. Isn’t this what our state department is for? I think it’s worth a try and would be immeasurably preferable to the present course.
184
Oh come on! You think nobody's thought of this and tried to do it for at least half a century?
Diplomacy is a great idea, as Churchill said, "jaw jaw is better than war war".
If you want to know more, here:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-risk-of-nuclear-war-wi...
Won't happen. Kim doesn't want to cede power and the South wouldn't be willing to suffer under Kim. The Chinese, meanwhile, refuse to allow the regime to collapse, although an American agreement to withdraw might help circumvent that.
Eventually, Kim or his dynasty will fall, but until then, reunification is just a dream.
You cannot "reunify" a 25-million member slave labor camp and a vibrant free society. Any path to reunification needs an East German-style regime suicide first. Thinking otherwise is absurd. While I have no idea how to ratchet down the terrifying brinkmanship language, reunification is no more possible right now than operating a greenhouse on Mars.
1
This is just a tad too surreal: how is it that two leaders of state, both with a mindset of a 5-year-old, can potentially turn our planet into a place of despair and carnage by a wink of a hand?
How is it that two leaders are so similar in character, yet originate from two seemingly opposite political systems and ideologies? It boggles the mind...
405
I don't think Kim can be called a Communist, and I don't think Trump can be called a democrat. Both have an autocrat's personality and are the spoiled products of dynasty. Kim behaves more like a medieval monarch than a Communist leader, and one suspects that Trump would like to.
1
Dear Mr. Krause,
These men have malignant narcissism, which is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but was previously exemplified in Shakespeare's Richard III. They are the same because it is a textbook mental pathology.
Thank the Trump voters for placing a certifiably unfit man as leader of the free world.
2
I can't understand why the US Military doesn't, for the good of the country, stage a coup?
1
The fact that The Con Don is sitting in OUR white house proves that the American people are as open to mind-control as the unfortunate North Korean people. This is what happens when we let a few people control money. They use it to gain control over the rest of us through whatever means necessary.
Wake up, people. It's time the mainstream media gets fully on board and, like Jimmy Kimmel, tell Americans what is really happening right now to destroy OUR lives. It's time for every American who values their way of life to stand up, speak out and take action to stop these darkest days in OUR lives since the civil war and depression - which, by the way was caused by the same breed of Robber Barons who are intent on destroying OUR lives with their insatiable, manic greed.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION ON EVERY FRONT! Before these two madboys can start a war.
9
I wish these two leaders would rise above elementary school. North Korean citizens have no choice in the matter, but dumb Americans put Trump in office, with the help of the Electoral College, precisely *because* Trump behaves in a churlish fashion.
We are in the 21st century, and Kim and Trump and his supporters are taking us back to a Monte Python vision of the Middle Ages.
Santayana was right. Trump and his supporters and Kim have no concept of history, and the rest of us have to pay for their ineptitude.
11
Meanwhile Trump has turned the world against North Korea. Not as you would hope of course.
You gotta hand it to KJI, in the war of words he wields more sophisticated insults.
This is horrible, and Trump is doing everything he can to make it worse. He will, of course, like the immature spoiled brat he is, retaliate and try to escalate. And, of course, it will be other people and the ocean - already under threat from escalating global warming/climate change - that suffer.
Take a look at the map and facts in this article if you think bombing North Korea is a victimless crime on our side of things.
http://www.newsweek.com/us-military-japan-north-korea-asia-590278
6
For once, I agree with Kim's description of Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard." But it takes one to know one.
In the game of chickens, what happens to the remaining sea life and fish stocks after Kim tests an H-bomb over the Pacific Ocean? Do the Chinese factory ships harvest radioactive fish to feed the North Koreans, Japan, the Chinese and the world?
Trump and Kim share the radioactive title of Teenage Mutant Idiots.
141
Is Mr Kim also barking loud because he's scared or deranged as well, or is it a calculated brinksmanship?
Usually when Mr Kim feels offended he puts a friend or relative in front of an anti aircraft gun, whereas Mr Trump turns to Twitter. This time they should take pistols and duel.
11
After reading this volley of childish insults between two world leaders I could not help but think of that old schoolyard insult "I know you are, but what am I?" And over and over I wonder, how can this be happening?
6
Well, it's time for Congress to remove Trump and allow some sanity in government to be restored.
As far as Kim is concerned, it is only a matter of time until he is also removed thereby restoring sanity to the region. We must be patient until that happens and refuse to react to Kim's and Trump's baiting language. Time takes care of all "mentally deranged dotard's" like Kim and Trump.
4
From the original "Lethal Weapon", Mel Gibson as a police detective yells: "You think I'm crazy? You call me crazy, you think I'm crazy? You wanna see crazy?" It was a pretty good movie, but the remake(s) haven't been so hot.
2
This really confounds me on multiple levels- But my first question is: Where's REX in all this? You know, it must not be that big a deal to run Exxon because I thought we were getting a first class, global business leader to serve as Secretary of State. What we have is a reclusive, glib country bumpkin - who probably wishes to be back at Exxon. What a disappointment! Rex- after you roll over and get the paper- go for help!
164
Rex is on a short leash.
1
Aaron, do you think that's because the objectives of business are inherently different from those of a government official? Because I see nothing in Tillerson's background or experience that suggested he'd be a successful Secretary of State. In fact, I'm sure he was chosen for that position to aid and abet the kleptocracy, and not for his diplomatic skills.
3
I've wondered the same thing, Aaron. Talk about an empty suit. Tillerson has provided zero vision, leadership or statesmanship let alone diplomacy. I too am wondering if being the CEO of a Fortune 100 company is perhaps a lot easier than it's cracked up to be.
1
This feels like I'm back on the playground in Kindergarten: 'Na na , you are a dotard!', Well, you, you, you are a rocket man!' 'No I'm not!' "Yes, you are!' 'Dotard, dotard dotard.' I can only pray that they will grow up and talk.
3
Two childish maniacs calling each other names.
Signifying nothing.
12
Unfortunately, it doesn't signify nothing. The two fools have nuclear weapons and aren't afraid of letting you die to prove a point that they are bigger and badder.
Except they're armed with nukes.
That's what they want the rubes to believe.
1
The North Korean response is completely predictable. How would we respond if some country threatened our annihilation?
Trump is stupid and ignorant. His national security team cannot control Trump's no class and dangerous pronouncements.
We the People are responsible for this nonsense. We ought to give control of Congress to the Democrats in 2018, and retire Trump in 2020.
We get the government we deserve.
212
Well, here we go again. Frankly, I'm surprised that Trump hasn't pushed the trigger already. In the Bush vs Hussein crises, it was mostly Hussein's continuous insults and threats to destroy America that got under Bush's skin--in the end, of course, just bombast and no Bomb.
With Kim, unfortunately, we have both the bombast and the bomb. There is no way Trump will let Kelly keep his finger off the trigger much longer... I feel so sorry for the Koreans.
10
We should know enough about Trump to know that he reacts very badly to personal insults and personal affronts. Hold onto your hat!!!!
1
Feel sorry for the Americans, the South Koreans, the Japanese, the environment and all the animals within it as this escalates to nuclear war. NK will get off easy in terms of body count.
I have to say, I think that in calling Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard” Kim has a point. What a pity that opinion has to be spoken by Kim and not our Congress or Senate.
433
Or better yet by the electoral college!
1
As was so easily predicted, we now have two elementary school level bullies squared off in a nuclear playground. What exactly is the way out of this? War may appear to suit the agenda of one because of domestic threats to his power, regardless of American loss of life, while the other faces catastrophic destruction from which no survival is possible. This is a most dangerous moment. Where are the voices of sanity on this side?
15
Interviewed on MSNBC, The former Secretary of State, John Kerry recently said, Its dangerous for President Trump to "call out and insult" Kim Jong-Un with names such as "Rocket Man" while speaking to his narrow political base in the USA. We need a dialogue with North Korea from professional diplomats in our Department of State, who speak and, read the Korean Language that display a nuanced understanding of the culture and history of the country.
139
Imagine if John Kerry was president right now!
Two men with strange hair lob threats across the playground of the planet while the rest of us watch in horror. Lord help us! Bluster is not an impeachable offense but it is immoral to endanger millions of civilians with childish escalation of hostilities rather than trying clear-eyed diplomacy. Technically, under the Constitution only Congress can declare war. Congress, stop giving away your power by not exercising it! Protect us, please, from this madness! In the meantime, to protect my kids I guess I have to buy a bomb shelter, really.
119
Bomb shelters may work for conventional weapons, but anyone who knows about nuclear fallout, nuclear winter and the horror of radiation illness would not want themselves or their children to survive a nuclear WWIII.
2
Are there any signals in the bombast of either Trump or Kim? Kim says, "But, far from making remarks of any persuasive power that can be viewed to be helpful to defusing tension, . . . ." might be looked upon as an opening to dialogue. I wonder if the Trump administration is willing to take a chance and begin to move towards negotiation might help diffuse this very dangerous situation. It should or we may wind up in a world war if we attack North Korea first. Both Trump and Kim need to save face so the language of how to step back from the brink will take all the skill of the staff at the State Department.
2
Who is sane and who speaks the truth? "Mentally deranged dotard"! Coming from one taunted as "Rocket Man." We are in a surreal moment when a set of insults hurled by two people in charge of nuclear weapons passes as foreign policy. But our dotard, here in the US, seems the less connected to reality. Never expected this, at least until last November.
22
The little dictator is up against it now. His patron China is giving him up and siding with the rest of the civilized world to cut off trade and currency to North Korea. The lesson in all of this that you have to face down bullies, and especially bullies with nuclear weapons. Next up: repeal the one sided nuclear deal with Iran and force this primary sponsor of worldwide terrorism to face the music.
You need to give up politics if the only view you can have is this simplistic. But then you voted for Trump so you didn't know what you were doing then.
3
While sticks and stones may break our bones, the name-calling, if it continues, will hurt us all if these two equally unstable 'elements' have a showdown.
3
This light of brain paper conversation between the two leaders is utter chaos.
1
Just looked it up. It fits. Too bad we have to hear this from Lil' Kim.
9
Kim Jong Un has definitely taught Trump a lesson in the art of insult. Now, Trump will forever be remembered as the “mentally deranged US dotard”. Talk of a legacy! That’s worse than anything he experienced at the hands of President Obama during the White House Correspondents’ dinner a few years ago.
Kim Jong Un has also taught Trump a lesson in the art of communication. Those ratings Trump is so much fond of! Half the planet must now have wondered about the meaning of “dotard”. And after looking it up in the dictionary, how many will not secretly laugh thinking this describes Trump pretty well?
Kim Jon Un emerges as the definitive rhetorical winner here and Trump is cornered in a slimy pit of his own making. So much winning! This would be really funny if ultimately, these two dangerous men weren’t playing with nuclear weapons and the lives of millions of people.
I have read on several occasions in the comment section here than the whole world must be laughing at the US due to Trump. Until now I viewed this idea only as metaphor; at worst the world had a laughter of despair. Today, I think the world did laugh at the expense of the President of the United States. The worst is: that will make Trump up the ante instead of reconsidering his actions.
56
I'm rubber, you 're glue. Everything you say bounces off me and sticks to you.
This might be amusing if the two leaders didn't have nuclear weapons at their disposal. I wonder how much it will take to make Kim blink.
4
Sadly, he's not wrong.
5
We need to develop some deep penetrator nukes if we're not doing it already.
Insults and name calling is a childish exercise that is usually a result of insecure portrayal of strength. However, proponents that are playing this little game just so happen to control nuclear weapons, and the lives of 100's of millions of people in the balance.
Having said that, I ( and almost everyone ) will gladly take sticks and stones over the former. If the only result is someone's ego getting damaged in this little melee, then that is the best we can expect at this moment.
Sad that it is...
9
Yes. As often, we agree. But since I'm here, my New Yorker has a superbly informative article on North Korea:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-risk-of-nuclear-war-wi...
3
@Susan
Good read luv. Thank you as always.
Certainly the ''madman'' theory is applicable ( on both sides ), but for the U.S: version at least, I believe it is merely obfuscation, misdirection and the overall puffing up of ego. The ''family'' is the number one and the overall objective consisting of enrichment.
On the flip side of that, I am ( fairly ) confident the generals ( on both sides ) would ever allow anything to actually take place. If it came down to a coup, then so be it. ( especially considering that the silos ( on the US side ) are often manned by 20 somethings ... Just a hunch.
At any rate, I still think we make it until 2020 ( or sooner through impeachment ) and the political pendulum swings back massively left.
Keep the faith ( as always )
2
Far from being an admirer of Mr Kim I am quite grateful to learn from him a new word of the English language. An interesting (and fitting) description of Mr Trump
15
Hard not to agree with Kim Jong-un on nearly all counts.
Kim echoes what so many of us feared when he writes, "I’d like to advise Trump to exercise prudence in selecting words and to be considerate of whom he speaks to when making a speech in front of the world."
Hard not to fear for what is yet to come in this totally avoidable situation. It's hard to say what will befall, seeing as Trump appears determined to prove that he is the greater madman of the two.
51
At least Kim has figured out that Trump is incapable of talking to anybody but his own base, the ones who make him feel loved when the rest of the world is openly disdainful of his tiny little hands and great big limitations.
'Never thought I would agree with Kim, but he's got a point there.
5
Trump is just the US' Kim. MIrror images. But where are the adults in DC who are willing and able to bring some sanity to the situation? are we really going to allow a couple of broken adult children to kill the rest of us? The ridiculousness of this situation is appalling. Our system is BROKEN and needs to be ERASED so we can make something that actually works for something besides the money-men.
8
These two so called leaders are engaged in an "I know you are but what am I" exchange. Television has contributed much to global culture, good and bad.
3
From one crazy dude to another, the Korean fellow is absolutely right in his description of the other one. Fortunately, Mueller's investigation is closing in and happy days awaits the good 'ol US of A.
4
It is possible that Kim is a madman, a real madman. When dealing with a madman it may be best to humor him. E.G. "Why must you always use such extreme language." It may be a big mistake to counter his extreme language with similarly extreme language if there is a small but real possibility that it may cause him to act out in the most violent way.
I hope this is not like one of those mass killing stories that is frequently in the news. Someone who is fired goes back to his workplace and kills his boss and co-workers and then commits suicide or is killed by the police. Often such a person has a history of violence and has made threats. The firing causes him to snap and feel he must do something to redeem himself. People say Kim would have to be a maniac to be the first to use nuclear weapons. Can we be sure he is not such a maniac?
They are both one and the same, that's obvious.
2
Well done, Sir. Seriously.
3
In this exchange of epithets, the score is EVEN!
3
And your mother wears army boots. It'd be funny if it wasn't all so scary.
6
"Mentally deranged U.S. dotard."
If the show fits, wear it.
17
Kim is playing Trump like a cat plays with a mouse. Both of these guys are deranged but one of them has better skills at the game than the other.
40
trump does look foolish in this situation. Come to think of it, trump looks foolish usually.
6
I'd say always.
5
"Rocket Man." "Dotard." Do we need any more proof that we should allow women to run things for a few thousand years just to see how things turn out?
202
If women are finally in charge of things we won't have to worry about overpopulation either, because all women will have a choice, and they'll be able to make the right one. Overpopulation being the basis for war, starvation and destruction of the environment.
5
Someone had to say the obvious.
2
Amen.
We had a highly qualified - super qualified - extremely intelligent, experienced, wise, good hearted woman running for president recently did we not? And she got millions more votes too.
Why isn't she in the White House?
Our system is dangerously nonsensical and twice now has put absurdly incompetent and warlike men into office over the will of the people.
Noun: dotard, meaning an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile .........yup, sounds accurate to me.
I am just sorry that it is in reference to the person elected to lead the country I was, not so long ago, so proud of.
9
When men act like boys we need some women in the room.
15
Oh Yeah, gun touting "Momma Bear" Sarah Palin would be oh so eloquent right about now.
Ignorance comes in all sexes unfortunately.
3
This would be entertaining except these two dotards are the leaders of an escalating nuclear crisis.
3
The vacuous threats of Jong-un are not very threatening.
Here's the problem. Americans are good people, held hostage and led astray by a MIC, MSM and all the rest that are truly hostile to the real interests of the American People. Now here's where things get confusing. Who's agenda do you follow? How do you 'know' what the average American person wants when you have to filter it through the media itself? I guess you have to look inward, you have to look at yourself as a human, and how you want your own world to operate. That is, do you really want to kill your neighbor? Do you want to kill anybody? Probably not. Yet, what is fascinating is that certain agencies within America would like us to 'want to kill'...of course, you can't make somebody want to kill without a rational fear. You have to make them truly 'fear' the people that you want them to kill. As such, it's easier to make somebody want to kill a 'crazy, violent person' rather than kill a 'quiet, nice guy' type of person. So, as always, the media will portray whoever we want to kill next as 'the craziest person since Hitler', or such and such.
3
A brainwashed child of a brainwashed child trading infantile insults with the brainless child of a mean spirited father. Are there no adults in the room?
18
Lil' Kim the Nutter has to be saluted here for his succinct appraisal of our reality-challenged-one in chief, and his psychotic rhetoric. This is the level of discourse and what happens when a big dark money-corrupted electoral political system subverts the process of choosing the best qualified candidate in favor of the most willing, to further the big money's ideological agenda. Who would have thought that the Citizens United decision might result in the end of our democracy and possibly the end of civilization in WW3?
3
It's a first. Kim Jong Un actually made an sound public statement about a foreign leader.
What US president in their right mind would make up comical or derogatory names for leaders of other countries? Yes. He is either deranged or more plausibly just a dotard.
21
Oh great, so we have two childish pyschos with their fingers on the button. And both doing nothing but trash talking like a couple of young punks. Can it get any stupider than this? The kid at least has something of an excuse due to his age. But Trump? He thinks and talks like a twelve year old. And neither belongs in a leadership position of anything, let alone a nuclear power.
4
Aha! Here's a solution to the North Korea standoff. Lock Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in a room together, with TV cameras, and let them insult each other until they are worn out. They can have their childish tiff, safely removed from the nuclear buttons. And everyone will see what a couple of idiots they are.
11
Where is the duct tape? It's about time somebody put a gag on the child in the White House. Clearly the name-calling is out of control.
61
Where is John Kelly, or someone with the ... gumption ... to take charge and draw a line? tRump may unfortunately be the president but he's not king, emperor, god or dictator (yet). Can no one speak clearly and truthfully to him? What are they afraid of? If he fires them, go on CNN and tell exactly why -- that the president fires anyone who tells him to grow the freak up!
2
Even this hermit nation knows what most Americans know, but many will not say. This from one psycho to another psycho.
30
I realize the situation isn't funny, but you have to admit it's hard not to chuckle listening to these two knuckleheads...
86
Nothing funny about knuckleheads in this case unless you find humor in military body bags and slaughtered civilians.
3
I am not chuckling, Jasoturner, and you should not be either. This is not "reality tv", house of cards, veep or designated survivor. This is not a science fiction novel. This is REAL LIFE.
Stop chuckling and take action to stop these madboys.
2
I laughed reading this, I really did. I'm trying not to cry. How sad is it when you agree with a lunatic like Kim Jung-Un?
4
Hail to the Dotard-In-Chief !
63 million Americans demanded a Celebrity Carnival Barker-In-Chief.
Enjoy the carnival and fried dough and the coal in your Christmas stockings, Trump Nation.
318
"...coal in your Christmas stocking, Trump Nation."?
Guess you haven't figured out the big winners and losers (red vs blue) yet in the health care reform bill going to congress.
Trump's revenge, and it is just starting...
1
You have to accept that these things happen, even when you don't want them to. They happen for many more reasons than just one. They mostly happen because the economic conditions are so bad, that a 'war' is the only way out. The 'real reason' this war is starting has nothing to do with real hatred of the NKs, but everything to do with the internal situation in America itself. We are creating an external enemy so we don't have to face the internal one. I just hope everybody is aware of that.
20
Christmas stockings lined with unpaid medical bills, college loans and a deportation certificate.
7
I seem to remember a clear warning by a certain presidential candidate regarding the mental state of the current occupant and the risk of placing nuclear codes within reach of his stubby fingers. A candidate who actually had some understanding of the dangers the electorate could foist upon itself.
"But her emails!"
496
How do you know Peter, that a majority of Americans do not want a president you characterize the way you characterize.
If the election were today, there is every evidence to suggest that Trump will win with a bigger majority than he did last November. He is doing exactly what he is promised to the utter glee of half of eligible voters who actually show up to vote.
He is declared the country in favor of white nationalism, white supremacy. No one except qualified whites are welcome. Obamacare is being gutted even without legislation - by feeding uncertainty and scaring off participants and insurance companies. Military spending is up $80 billion. EPA is being gutted. Education will now all be private charter schools. People are against going to college. Most people in his administration are openly corrupt, taking money from foreign governments, influence peddling (see son-in-law, China), and defunding our treasury with junkets, private planes, handouts.
Trump is winning bigly. So are his acolytes - who want him to press the button to annihilate someone quickly.
I hope this brightens your day.
4
And some people who should know better are still blaming her and fighting with Democrats. They congratulate each other and encourage wholesale condemnations of pragmatists and hardworking public servants who have been victimized by real opposition, blaming the victims instead of the perps every time.
9
"Mr. Trump’s remarks had convinced him that “the path I chose is correct and that it is the one I have to follow to the last.”"
This is exactly the point clear-headed diplomats have been trying to make.
Escalating threats of destruction were not the way to prevent NK from a nuclear program and indeed could accelerate it.
When Bush decided to lump together 3 very different and, at the time, not allied, countries, Iran, Iraq and North Korea, as an"axis of evil" and then invaded Iraq and killed Saddam Hussein, what did he expect the North Korean dictatorship would do next?
445
Sorry, but Kim is playing you like fiddle. DPRK has zero intention of ever giving up their nukes or of becoming a normal nation. They lied to Clinton, Bush, and Obama, faked out all those "clear-headed diplomats", and absorbed sanctions even if it mean starvation in their country. They are all about staying in power, period. There is no reasoning with them.
The time for diplomacy is now - if there ever was a good time for it, it is now. Cooler heads need to step into the fray and show where past discord can be healed and a path of peace attained.
The media needs to play a role in giving attention to voices of reason and calm and the leaders of North Korea and our nation need to think about a face to face meeting to get beyond this childish ranting. It does nothing for the citizens of our respective countries, it does nothing for the economies of either country and simply throws gas on an emerging verbal fire.
Words are potent with meaning and power and can only be tamed by thoughts and words that envision a far more benigin and mutually bneficial world of peace.
2
Exactly Bush is the primary cause of all the turmoil in the world today. Hideous.. yet he seems like such a nice guy.
3