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Statement on President Carter’s Health

cartercenter.org

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Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#31

Post by emilsedgh »

doktorhladnjak wrote: post #5
wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

Great person but he was unpopular as a president at the time because he failed to stop high inflation and to resolve the Iranian hostage crisis. The latter especially sunk his chances of re-election. So much of politics is about what happens when you’re in office, but also how you deal with what happens.

If there was any justice, there would be an investigation around Republicans' treason around this. Watch HBO's documentary about the matter but basically republicans negotiate with Iran behind US government's knowledge to not release the hostages until Raegan becomes president. Had it not been for this literal treason for party gain, Carter would've managed to get them released much earlier.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#32

Post by DennisP »

Until covid hit, he taught Sunday school in Atlanta. Anyone could come sit in on his class, but there was limited space. You had to get in line by 4 am or so to get in.

I found out about this in 2019 or so, and I'm within a day's drive. Thought about doing it, hadn't yet, and then it was too late.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#33

Post by Waterluvian »

Miraste wrote: post #13
wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

He was unpopular for a number of other reasons, some of which were just bad luck. Inflation was high, the economy was poor, there was a massive oil shortage, and the Iranian hostage crisis went poorly. There were a lot of smaller issues too, like the 55mph speed limit. While he had good intentions and was far more forward thinking than other presidents, he wasn’t an adept administrator and didn’t manage to get buy-in…

A classic problem in politics:

We need leaders because everyday people are often not informed or interested in the boring but important things. The sober choices that are often right but unsatisfying. But then a lot of us want our leaders to obsess over the little, inconsequential things we find to be important. And then we end up wondering if a candidate is someone you could have a beer with, and the exceptional candidates are seen as unpopular.

I’ve always felt that politics, when working, should feel boring. And that one’s civic duty to be informed and vote should feel like actual effort. Like homework.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#34

Post by ubermonkey »

wefarrell wrote: post #18

I’m a huge fan of the man despite the fact that I wasn’t alive when he was president. He strikes me as possibly the kindest, humblest and most compassionate man who has possibly ever occupied the Oval Office. The complaints about him that I’ve heard from the older generation of my family is that he was too nice and naive to run a superpower like the US.

I WAS alive — though a child - and I think you’re likely right. The only President of this era who I think might be as kind and compassionate is Obama.

But Carter’s post-presidential years stand alone in their profound decency and generosity.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#35

Post by wefarrell »

whats_a_quasar wrote: post #15
wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

Unless you have sources, I don't think there's much evidence either that he fought big money or was driven out of office by them. He lost primarily because the economy was bad in the second half of his term, with inflation and oil supply shocks. Also, his adminstration botched the handling of the Iranian revolution, which lead to the hostage crisis, a huge public debacle. He was a competent president, but not flashy,…

Personally I don’t think the US should ever be expected to handle any foreign revolutions.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#36

Post by voz_ »

yyyk wrote: post #28
voz_ wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. Note, these are not my opinions, but I am going to seek to answer this based on the things I have read on him. In short, the general opinion is that he was a weak, pitiful, activist president. His overtures toward peace, anti-imperialism, humanitarian causes were laden with activism rhetoric that one would normally use if they were outside the stru…

>My personal opinion is that, if you squint, his [Carter's] presidency is a lot like that of Trump The parallel goes further. Both of these presidents initiated a very different economic policy, and this was expanded on by the succeeding president despite the successor being a standard bearer of the other party: * Carter initiated deregulation and appointed Volcker to the Fed. * Trump initiated China tariffs and deco…

Presidency as an outsider art, perhaps?

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#37

Post by nivenkos »

wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

He funded and armed the Mujahideen in Operation Cyclone though - which has literally caused endless trouble with the rise of radical Islam. So it wasn't all "world peace".

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#38

Post by irrational »

Miraste wrote: post #13
wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

He was unpopular for a number of other reasons, some of which were just bad luck. Inflation was high, the economy was poor, there was a massive oil shortage, and the Iranian hostage crisis went poorly. There were a lot of smaller issues too, like the 55mph speed limit. While he had good intentions and was far more forward thinking than other presidents, he wasn’t an adept administrator and didn’t manage to get buy-in…

I’d rather have good people that are bad politicians than bad people being good politicians, which seems to be what we get the majority of the time.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#39

Post by derbOac »

wkat4242 wrote: post #2

I have a lot of respect for Carter. Not only did he really seem interested in world peace instead of the warmongering from the MIC, he also remained active for all these years furthering humanitarian causes. And he was a brilliant nuclear engineer who cleaned up a nuclear accident with this team in Canada. I know he wasn't popular in the US which I don't really understand. It sounds to me like he fought the vested bi…

I think there's been a gradual reassessment of him over the years in the US. I'm not saying everyone sees him as a fantastic president, or that they necessarily should, but my sense is that he's seen more positively now than he was at one time.

Re: Statement on President Carter’s Health

#40

Post by sfgoodforonce »

Carter blessed the re-election of Hugo Chavez as “free and fair” when he should have known better. Carter was ultimately a flawed man more beholden to leftism than to to truth. He was complicit in the total destruction of a country and that’s what he should be remembered for.
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