The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    Barth's picture

    President Carter

    By Barth on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 9:04pm |

    I was reminded tonight of how much he disappointed me, and how honored I was to vote for Senator Kennedy in the 1980 New York Democratic presidential primary. Those who think their current circumstance is the same as mine and so many others in 1980 are out of their mind, but it will take me a few days and maybe a week to explain that and specifically what he said tonight that reminded me of what a twerp he was and continues to be.

    I hate calling the former President of the United States a twerp, but I have called President Bush an idiot and President Clinton a Republican, so the rubicon has been crossed.

    Comments

    Carter was not a flexible enough politician to be a great president, but I think as ex-president, he has been a very effective national conscience.


    by Donal on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 10:02pm

    i tend to agree with you here, donal. there was clearly a hint of malice in what carter had to say tonight, and i suppose barth has a right to take offense.  but kennedy played way dirty with carter by challenging him from within the party, he lost the election for carter, or well he did together with reagan's manipulation of the hostage disaster.  and kennedy did put the kabbash on Carter's healthcare initiative, though it probably deserved it, as a lukewarm and ineffective measure.  but this still wasn't without some malice on kennedy's part. 

    god knows none of these people were saints.  but i think writing carter off with a single brushstroke is as myopic as promoting him to sainthood. 


    by anna am on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 11:10pm

    What did I miss? I know Carter just did a book - but don't see a speech anywhere.

    Spot on with the overall Carter analysis, BTW (IMO).


    by kgb999 on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 12:36am

    well thanks.  i'm totally shocked that you'd assent to anything i have to say.  i mean i'm kind of plotzing here.  but...thanks. and I mean that sincerely.

    and it was an interview on tv, or at least i think it was.  i didn't see it.  just read about him having made a comment on Kennedy and healthcare. 


    by anna am on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 1:07am

    Oh geez. So this post is carrying forward a grudge from 1980? I thought it was a contemporary spat.

    It's a pretty big world out there with all sorts of topics and issues other than the relative merits of Democratic party accomplishments. Just because we profoundly disagree on the current administration doesn't mean we have to disagree on everything you know. Current Democratic politics has just been the primary focus of recent discussions so it seems that way - and there have been a pretty long string of what (for me) have been serious disappointments. Maybe Obama'll come out swinging for true net neutrality and we'll be lauding him together again soon (thus far, his team deserves full credit for trying to advance that ball - but the &$** corporations are pretty damn cagey and it looks like they turned Google so I'm kind of worried).

    I have absolutely nothing against you at all. I remember you best from when I was pissed at Krugman for his absurd attacks on the Stimulus package. Which, if you recall, I argued in favor of along with yourself  (but, as I understand it, those contributions were of zero value along with everything else I've had to say for the past 2 years ... ;-p ). Seriously. I'll always challenge something I disagree with - and I *do* love me some snark sometimes - don't mean for that to be personal. Still don't like Krugman much, BTW.


    by kgb999 on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 2:29am

    i don't so much like him either. i'm not sure his agenda is as transparent as he makes it out to be.  not even to himself.


    by anna am on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 12:58pm

    Carter is releasing his presidential diaries, and the Carters, Jimmy, Rosalynn and even Amy, were interviewed on 60 Minutes last night.


    by Donal on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 8:00am

    Well, I think our current president is a total putz.

    Respect for American leadership aint what it used to be, eh?

     


    by kgb999 on Sun, 09/19/2010 - 10:15pm

    Well . . .

     

    Ya' know ... KGB999 in 2012

    Everyone has the right to run on the chance they'll end up a putz...

    ~OGD~


    by oldenGoldenDecoy on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 5:31pm