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The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

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Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#41

Post by freddie_mercury »

DanielGee wrote: post #24

The most "un-celebrity"? I'd say carter is the most "celebrity" ex-president we've had in a long time. He has used his celebrity to advocate for his charities ( habitat for humanity for example ) and for human rights ( same sex marriage, race equality, etc ) and political issues ( north korea, iran, etc ). If you equate celebrity with making it rain in clubs, then I guess carter is "un-celebrity". But the guy has bee…

I just read a story about Obama and Arethra Franklin yet you think Carter is the most visible ex-president?

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#42

Post by ethbro »

iambateman wrote: post #29

I loved the quip about the presidential cooler that they use to store leftovers. President Carter is the kind of down-to-earth person I would want to hang out with, while at the same time using his position to build thousands of homes and fight river blindness and give vaccines to millions of people. I wonder if another person like him will ever ascend to lead the United States.

I generally try to vote for the presidential candidate who grew up with greater economic hardship. It tends to be a pretty decent predictor of character. (Admittedly, a pool selected for those who did and who rose to become candidates)

No comment on the opposite...

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#43

Post by gumby »

Like Cincinnatus, returning home after the war and taking up his plow.

Two things have always struck me about Jimmy Carter:

1 - He was willing to nominate Volker to Fed chair even though he knew Volker's plan of raising interest rates massively would cost him (Carter) re-election. I believe he would have survived even the Iran crisis but for that, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan got all the credit for it since it started under Carter's watch and finished under Reagan's.

2 - he has such a reputation for Polite gentility and self sacrifice (see above) yet his maneuvering through the primary season and at the democratic convention was masterful -- he was dispassionate but brutal in putting the (political) knife into rivals, and was happy to do so publicly. That genteel/man of the people schtick extended to his use of the pronunciation "nukular" even though he had worked for Rickover and attended to the navy's nuclear school!

A complex guy whether you like him or not.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#44

Post by BrainInAJar »

pmyteh wrote: post #3

Jimmy Carter is without question one of the all-time great ex-presidents. Whatever the successes or failings of his administration, he's used his time since to improve the world, and is honest, uncorrupt, and suitably (ex-)presidential.

Funny you should say that on the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising, where Jimmy Carter sent the military to go massacre students protesting the US-installed military dictatorship in South Korea

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#45

Post by tenken »

BrainInAJar wrote: post #44
pmyteh wrote: post #3

Jimmy Carter is without question one of the all-time great ex-presidents. Whatever the successes or failings of his administration, he's used his time since to improve the world, and is honest, uncorrupt, and suitably (ex-)presidential.

Funny you should say that on the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising, where Jimmy Carter sent the military to go massacre students protesting the US-installed military dictatorship in South Korea

Can you please provide a source for this info?

I can't find Jimmy Carter's name in this research: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_Uprising

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#46

Post by DennisP »

dominotw wrote: post #39
m_alexgr wrote: post #21

Jimmy has his priorities straight. A humble man who tells the truth. And knows what is most important in this life. Hint: it's neither wealth nor power.

He is already a wealthy man though. Being wealthy is not just about driving a flashy car, its about having the mental security that if shit hits the fan, you would be taken care of.

That's pretty much anyone with a pension, decent insurance, and friends.

I guess everything's relative and you can define "wealthy" at whatever level you want, but Carter could be living in a mansion and flying private jets, and chose not to.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#47

Post by WillPostForFood »

rectang wrote: post #13

Modest living sets individuals and their ideas free.

The tennis court at former President Jimmy Carter’s private home is swept twice a day, his pool is cleaned daily and his grass cut, his flower beds weeded and his windows washed on a regular basis — all at taxpayers’ expense

Relatively modest.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#48

Post by jumbopapa »

DanielGee wrote: post #24

The most "un-celebrity"? I'd say carter is the most "celebrity" ex-president we've had in a long time. He has used his celebrity to advocate for his charities ( habitat for humanity for example ) and for human rights ( same sex marriage, race equality, etc ) and political issues ( north korea, iran, etc ). If you equate celebrity with making it rain in clubs, then I guess carter is "un-celebrity". But the guy has bee…

The most "celebrity" ex-president is definitely Obama. Netflix series, Beyonce concerts, you name it - that family eats it up.

Re: The un-celebrity president: Jimmy Carter shuns riches, lives modestly

#49

Post by madengr »

gumby wrote: post #43

Like Cincinnatus, returning home after the war and taking up his plow. Two things have always struck me about Jimmy Carter: 1 - He was willing to nominate Volker to Fed chair even though he knew Volker's plan of raising interest rates massively would cost him (Carter) re-election. I believe he would have survived even the Iran crisis but for that, but it was the right thing to do. Reagan got all the credit for it sin…

The Iranian hostages were released the day of Reagan’s inauguration. Reagan would have bombed Iran. Carter’s diplomacy were just about effective as Obama’s lines in the sand. Sometimes diplomacy through a gun barrel is needed.
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