I gave him the award for worst economy, but he didn't post that one on his website.

5/22/2007 4:05:48 PM

was that given at the same time you gave Bill Clinton the award for "Best Economy" ?

5/22/2007 5:34:42 PM

Jimmy Carter is a great guy with a good heart, but he was a pussy of a president.......sorry to say

[Edited on May 22, 2007 at 5:46 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2007 5:46:20 PM

as opposed to our shoot-first-ask-questions-later-mission-accomplished-hero-cowboy president, i assume?




[Edited on May 22, 2007 at 8:01 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2007 8:00:30 PM

yeah all those question Carter asked the Iranians sure did get those hostages released.

5/22/2007 9:16:31 PM

and all that shootin' has sure liberated Iraq from the terrorist regime and stabilized the region.



[Edited on May 22, 2007 at 11:26 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2007 11:24:51 PM

presidents shouldn't talk shit about other presidents


even though I think Bush has been one of the worst

5/22/2007 11:37:19 PM

^ i agree with you.

and as much as i agree with everything JEC originally said, and kind of feel let down that he backed off from it after reflection...

i understand why he had to admit they were careless remarks. ex-presidents shouldnt bash sitting presidents and vice versa, as much as you know they want to, and as much as you might agree with one or the other.

alhough, dont forget how critical Gerald Ford was of GWB's foriegn policy in his own memoirs before he died.

......

and by the way, i LOVE how some of you republican hacks are so quick to:

(1) lay blame to Carter for the recession
(2) give credit to Reagan for the economic rebound .
(3) dismiss any blame to Bush The Elder for the recession ("oh no!!! Presidents don't determine the economy!!!!1)
(4) dismiss any credit for Clinton for the economic rebound (repeat same)






[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 1:23 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 1:20:44 AM

The points in this thread supporting Carter's statement are moot. Carter made them so with his own words:

Quote :

"Former President Jimmy Carter said Monday his remarks were 'careless or misinterpreted' when he said the Bush administration has been the 'worst in history' for its impact around the world."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/21/carter.bush.ap/index.html

Even Carter's retraction or clarification--your choice--is ambiguous. In addition, the reporter who wrote the story produced the tape of Carter's remarks--they were verbatim.

/thread

[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 2:47 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2007 2:46:59 AM

yeah.... its hard to spin the retraction.

i think he meant every word he said to the Gazette and the BBC Radio. I think he got on a roll, and was caught up in the passion of what he believes --- that Bush has seriously damaged this nation with his reprehensible actions --- and I agree with him.

(I've read the transcript and the retraction/explanation: it is true that he was responding to a question about Nixon's specific foriegn policy. But it's obvious that he did take it further than that.)

In hindsight, after a day or two of reflection and counsel, Carter realized he violated major protocol by coming out so hard and heavy on the sitting President.

so he had no choice to retract. becasue the Office of the Presidency is something that only an ex-President can fully comprehend and appreciate. i think he regretted stepping over that boundary, even though what he said was what he sincerely and honestly believes. he just decided that, on a personal level, that he took it too far.

so in one sense I'm disappointed. Bush's actions have been a national disgrace, and I love to see anyone call him on it. on the other hand i respect Carter for having the character to admit he crossed a boundary, and take the personal and political hit that he's taking in order to correct what he realizes was mistake.

Its hard to admit you were wrong. it would have been much easier for Carter to stand by his statements. he certainly would have not had any lack of supporters.






[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 3:19 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 3:04:12 AM

^ Yes. And--once again--Carter managed to piss off both Republicans and Democrats. In addition, and I simply must offer this, it is yet another case of a high-profile Democrat not having the courage of his or her convictions--and that is not a defense of Bush.

5/23/2007 3:20:04 AM

he has the courage of his convictions. he walks the walk and talks the talk. the man is a selfless advocate for the worlds poor and disenfranchised.

but his respect for the office of the presidency and the health of our country's foundation trumps his personal desire to defend political beliefs and that is far more noble than you or I. and hes also a fallible human, and he has the courage and strength to admit it. unlike some people we know in high places.




[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 3:46 AM. Reason : sp]

5/23/2007 3:45:25 AM

^ I hear you, and I swear I'm not trying to defend Bush. But that's one thing you can say about Bush: He has the courage of his convictions--even if his convictions are wrong.

Think about it: Bush has been accused of having a "tin ear" and of being "stubborn" and so on. But nobody has accused him of being wishy-washy. And I think the lesson in the shortcomings of these two men is that there are problems at both of the extreme ends of the managerial, sociopolitical, and ideological spectra.

5/23/2007 4:12:05 AM

you're listening, but i dont think you really hear me.

carter HAS courage of his convictions. moreso, in many regards, than Bush.

id say, if anything, Bush has a pathological fear of being wrong.

and I am tangentially agreeing with you here, about how leaders do often need to make snap decisions and follow through and how the linear extremes are dangerous... byt my point is, this is not a zero-sum linear game to win or lose.





[Edited on May 23, 2007 at 4:24 AM. Reason : ]

5/23/2007 4:23:58 AM

^ Hmmm. . .I shall ponder this.

5/23/2007 4:29:37 AM