International
JUNKETEER: The politics-free Liberal jet-setter journeys to Pyongyang but fails to see the obvious
Globe-trotting Liberal federal MP Michael Johnson has lavished praise on the sinister North Korean regime, after recently being allowed to visit there.
Johnson is the most enthusiastic jet-setter in a federal parliament full of them, reportedly going on fourteen trips since the 2007 election. So committed is he to single-handedly restoring the business travel market that he has even set up front groups to receive funds from donors to subsidise his travels.
Nothing wrong with a bit of Laurie Brereton style travel entrepreneurship but we draw the line at lavishing the world’s most odious tyranny with praise just so you can score another invitation. Ambition is great but when it completely and entirely replaces any political belief of any kind, what you’re left with is Michael Johnson.
NORTH KOREA MISUNDERSTOOD
He told the Sky News Agenda programme yesterday that North Korea really was misunderstood as he was waxing lyrically about Pyongyang, declaring that he thought he could have been in Paris with its beautiful wide (and no doubt empty) streets.
In the tradition of Neville Chamberlain before him Johnson responded to the interviewer David Speers description of the global perception of North Korea “despotic regime, starving people, backwards” by saying the “reality” he encountered was very different from that perception.
With all the enthusiasm of a Lonely Planet guide, he opines:
“It’s an incredibly beautiful city, incredibly charming city. A lot of European influence. Wide streets. I could have easily been in Paris on the Champs-Élysées.”
Bizarrely, he decrees that North Korea’s six official haircut society “is very sophisticated, um people know what they’re doing, they know their place.”
He sounds awfully like he’s defending one of the world’s ugliest autocracies: “It’s very rigid, very mechanical, very clinical but I think in that society, in that regime, that’s a plus for them in controlling the people.”
No doubt it is, but the failure to criticise this rather hideous regime and the description does leave Johnson looking like a passionate supporter.
THEY DREW THE LINE SOMEWHERE
He boasted that he briefly met with the Deputy Foreign Minister who embraced him warmly (while declining a photo op, fearing perhaps it would undermine his own Communist Party preselection chances to be tied with a Brisbane branch-stacker).
Johnson’s argument is that because no-one is willing to take on North Korea (and he opposes any military action against the regime in any event) that we better get good at sucking up to them.
JIMMY CARTER’S SOLE NON-HAMAS DEFENDER
He then went to lavish praise on America’s pro Hamas failed ex-President Jimmy Carter and Madeleine Albright as envoys and demanded the Australian Government establish an embassy in North Korea immediately.
The North Koreans clearly enjoyed the company of their tame-cat guest and invited him over for another trip when it suited him.
Those with strong stomachs can download Johnson’s interview via the SkyNews website. Subscribe to the Agenda podcast and you’ll hear him in all his glory.
Discussion
23 comments for “JUNKETEER: The politics-free Liberal jet-setter journeys to Pyongyang but fails to see the obvious”
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Make Simon Kroger the Younger the next UN Secretary.
All Michael Johnson, branch stacker extraordinaire, needs to do to be a complete Neville Chamberlain is to join the same Church as Diane Anderson. Neville Chamberlain and Diane Anderson are both Unitarians. But I left out one detail. Dear Diane was expelled as a heretic. The Unitarians in the UK never expelled Chamberlain. He died before they could do so. And one more detail. Diane Anderson railed about branch stacking in Higgins News. Possibly because she wasn’t very good at it.
The DPRK Friendship Society (DPRK stands for something the regime aint, and that’s democratic) has been sucking up to our local Libs for years. They invited Robert Doyle to join them when he was Opposition Leader, but they drew the line at Steve Bracks. He was unwelcome. Seems the North Koreans favour our conservatives but hate members of the ALP. No member of the ALP has ever been known to visit North Korea.
The DPRK should make an exception for Socialist Leftistas like Gavan Jennings. Gavan is the head of a Stasi operation, the EPA. The EPA Stasi under Jennings and bureaucrat Mick Bourke act just like East Germans and North Koreans.
Us Queensland Libs are a classy lot.
Agreed.
***I consider it a unique and special opportunity for me to make a trip there, to absorb for myself the condition of the society and its people***
What a fool you are, Johnson. You think you’ll be mixing with ‘the people’? No-one could be that naive. My guess is Johnson’s already been compromised by a Pyongyang honeypot:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clandestine_HUMINT_asset_recruiting#Sex.2C_honeypots_and_recruitment
What’h thith about me and compromitheth?
Are you referring to the time I crothed the floor?
Byron in Wahroonga thank you for your insightful comment. Entrapment is very common its use by Communist intelligence services and Michael Johnson ought to watch out.
[...] He told the Sky News Agenda programme yesterday that North Korea really was misunderstood as he was waxing lyrically about Pyongyang, declaring that he thought he could have been in Paris with its beautiful wide (and no doubt empty) [...]
Johnson’s pals in Pyongyang/Paris have been doing some major sabre-rattling this week:
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea’s military says it considers South Korea’s participation in a U.S.-led program to intercept ships suspected of spreading weapons of mass destruction tantamount to a declaration of war against the North.
The communist North’s military said in a statement Wednesday that it will respond with “immediate, strong military measures” if the South actually stops and searches any North Korean ships under the Proliferation Security Initiative.
The statement, carried by the North’s Korean Central News Agency, said North Korea no longer considers itself bound by the armistice that ended the Korean War, as a protest over the South’s participation.
South Korea announced its participation in the anti-proliferation program Tuesday, one day after the North conducted a nuclear test.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98EBO2G1&show_article=1
All those Earth Hour idiots must look to North Korea as a paragon of virtue.
Whoever the wanker is who feels compelled to leave comments on every article drawing comparisons between the EPA and the Stasi – get a bloody grip you retard, then get a life. It’s a bit bloody rich to draw comparisons between an organization which destroyed countless lives and put the jackboot to the face of an entire society, and a fairly toothless Vic gov regulator. Grow up you odious little worm.
I’m a member of the Liberal Party. We’ve always wondered whether the lift goes to the top floor with old Michael. These comments confirm our sentiments. Just as a side issue, Michael, in Paris, they don’t murder people in the streets.
Patriots in the LNP are urged to do everything in their powers to get rid of this light weight.
Anonski, we’re already on to it – and not a minute too soon.
Why doesnt this c-word Johnson just read my columns?Just interested in the frequent flyers hey Johnson boy?Sick of hearing the c-word on CCCp engrish radio.And why the eff did Zhang Junsai let this little creep go to Tibet?
Michael Johnson=douche above tells the correspondent who draws comparisons between the EPA and the Stasi to get a life.
Obviously he hasn’t been the victim of a fraudulent complaint. The EPA relies on informers, the person informed on receives an infringement notice, and must either pay up or elect to go to court.
The EPA sometimes withdraws a fraudulent infringement notice if it suspects the person complaining might in fact go to court, and cause it some embarassment.
Why not ask a regular reader of this site who was the victim of a false compaint and also the subject of a story in the Sunday Age.
The EPA is not toothless. It is a Stasi operation.
But Menzies himself supported North Korea!
To not support North Korea is to betray the Menzies Legacy.
Unfortunately this waste of space is grandfathered by the LNP constitution and protected by west side moderates like Cr Prentice, Cr Johnston, Flegg & Emerson.
Now be kind. AFterall, he hasn’t yet been to visit his bosom buddies in the Burmese government. he is yet to spit upon Aung Sang Sew Chi. But he will
He looks like his a Darkie as a relative.
Why doesn’t a MHR pull out his/her shir file on that idiot and have him up before the privaleges committee?
The LNP seems to lack the guts to do it back home so perhaps the Reps will have to do it for them.
Shouln’t be hard – there are enough direct quotes in the media from Johnson confessing to all sorts of inappropriate nbehaviour for a sitting MHR.
Or perhaps the Reps lack the guts as well?