The New Jimmy Carter

[GaryC 7]

The New Jimmy Carter

By Bruce Walker

Thirty two years ago a Democrat politician with very little experience "transcended" politics as usual and was lifted on waves of good will to the White House. It seems to be happening again. Jimmy Carter is unknown to most young Americans. Most Americans do not remember how Carter magically seemed to appear on the American political scene. Perhaps a history lesson is in order.

"I'll never lie to you," Carter famously told American voters in 1976. His smile was all embracing. Carter seldom got angry. He talked about his evangelical Christian faith often. Carter promised change and hope. He told us that the mean and cynical government that we had come to expect from Washington was a thing of the past.

Millions of Americans, many of them who had remained uninvolved in American politics, listened. They trusted Carter to be "different." His carefully crafted words led people to believe that Jimmy Carter was something very different from the typical sort of Democrat. Carter would try something new. He was an idealist who was not wedded to failed ideals of the past.

Then Carter won. It became painfully apparent that four years as Governor of Georgia was poor experience for the leader of the Free World. Carter supported on "human rights" grounds the overthrow of the Shah of Iran (our friend) and its replacement by the Islamic theocracy which still rules Iran to this day (our enemy.) He pursed domestic policies which called for privation instead of growth. Carter lied about the firing of U.S. Attorney David Marston, who had been investigating corrupt Pennsylvania Democrat congressmen.

When America faced a genuine crisis, the illegal capture of our embassy staff by the Iranian Islamic militants, Carter was utterly at a loss. He tried to talk to negotiate their release, but the regime with whom Carter tried to work with had no interest beyond utterly humiliating America.

Carter, after the Soviets assassinated our ambassador in Afghanistan and then invaded that nation, was "surprised" that Communism was aggressive and malignant. His response was to try to exert diplomatic pressure on the Soviets as well as trade sanctions. Jimmy Carter, well into the middle of his presidency, seriously seems to have considered that Marxist-Leninist regimes were somehow like another form of socialist democracy, that Moscow was no threat to America, and that the proliferation of virulently anti-American dictators around the globe was in our long term best interest.

All of this sounds very much like Barack Obama. Carter was "magic" because he was the first nominee from the Deep South, the first nominee who talked a great deal about his religion. Obama is "magic" because he is the first black candidate and because he speaks very well. Carter was all smiles and civility, just like Obama is all niceness and calm. Pointedly, neither man speaks about political philosophy much at all.

Yet Carter was obviously a stark Leftist. What was not shown in his brief presidency has been shown in his long ex-presidency. When has Carter ever had anything to say good about America? More pointedly, what American ex-president has been so viciously partisan in his comments? His contempt for every Republican president since him certainly belies the toothy smile and meek words of 1976. Jimmy Carter is a bitter, angry man - a man who hates his country and blames America for the problems of mankind.

Barack Obama seems cut of identical cloth. Carefully scripted, Obama quickly corrects statements which show how he truly feels. He rejects anti-Semitic, anti-American supporters only when nudged to do so. His wife "misstates" when she says that she has never been proud of America until now, but Michelle corrects the error only belatedly and without apparent concern for misinterpretation.

It certainly seems as if Obama feels that the problems of America have been her moral shortcomings, which is very much what Jimmy Carter thought. It seems as if Obama feels himself morally superior to those in politics today, much like Carter did thirty years ago. Obama, like Carter, invites Americans to trust him with the most beguiling claims of spiritual elevation. Obama, like Carter was an utter and complete Democrat partisan, although he promised to be just the opposite.

Jimmy Carter never tried to "govern from the center" or "seek bipartisanship." He could easily have passed tax cuts or defense spending increases. He did not want to. Barack Obama has never sought bipartisanship. He embraces Leftism completely. They are the same: Barack Obama is our next Jimmy Carter.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/03/the...mmy_carter.html

[nana_356 0]

Hmmmmmm. with all the anti-obama topics.....I think some one is feeling threatened and not too confident!!!!!

Edited June 7, 2008 by nana_356

[Ggreen 12]

Hmmmmmm. with all the anti-obama topics.....I think some one is feeling threatened and not too confident!!!!!

The New Jimmy Carter is his New Tactic, if he is sure that McCai ill win, he'd stop posting anti-Obama topics and help VJ members by telling them what day their immigration case will be approved.

[GaryC 7]

Hmmmmmm. with all the anti-obama topics.....I think some one is feeling threatened and not too confident!!!!!

The New Jimmy Carter is his New Tactic, if he is sure that McCai ill win, he'd stop posting anti-Obama topics and help VJ members by telling them what day their immigration case will be approved.

It's not a tactic, it's the truth. A am very confident that McCain will win. I just enjoy watching the Obamabots scurry about when I post. It's fun to watch.

[Ggreen 12]

Hmmmmmm. with all the anti-obama topics.....I think some one is feeling threatened and not too confident!!!!!

The New Jimmy Carter is his New Tactic, if he is sure that McCai ill win, he'd stop posting anti-Obama topics and help VJ members by telling them what day their immigration case will be approved.

It's not a tactic, it's the truth. A am very confident that McCain will win. I just enjoy watching the Obamabots scurry about when I post. It's fun to watch.

I see:

[nana_356 0]

Hmmmmmm. with all the anti-obama topics.....I think some one is feeling threatened and not too confident!!!!!

The New Jimmy Carter is his New Tactic, if he is sure that McCai ill win, he'd stop posting anti-Obama topics and help VJ members by telling them what day their immigration case will be approved.

It's not a tactic, it's the truth. A am very confident that McCain will win. I just enjoy watching the Obamabots scurry about when I post. It's fun to watch.

confident.....realy?? it sure doesn seem like it!

[mawilson 2,133]

I compared Obama to Jimmy Carter months ago and now we're seeing article after article

doing the same thing... guess I was on to something.

[Dan J 277]

Those people who are pursaded about associations between Obama and Jimmy Carter are never going to vote for Obama in the first place.

As for everybody else, we don't care.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Anyone would think Gary had Obama on the brain - with all these articles opinion pieces he keeps posting.

It wouldn't be so bad if some sort of quality control were going on. As it is - the rule seems to be "if its negative, and about Obama it gets posted". Weird.

[mawilson 2,133]

"May you live in a time of change." --Ancient Chinese Curse

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Those people who are pursaded about associations between Obama and Jimmy Carter are never going to vote for Obama in the first place.

As for everybody else, we don't care.

Yep. The Republican pundits know that what they are facing is closer in reality to the 2000 election - Al Gore represented the incumbant party and in spite of a strong economy and a time of piece, lost (or won depending on who you ask). The incumbant party always is at a disadvantage no matter what two candidates are running. Add to that the lowest approval rating of a sitting President in over 60 years, and economy that's tanking, and an endless war that is costing the American taxpayers trillians of dollars. Regardless of what anybody's political ideology is - the cards are stacked against the incumbant Party - the Republicans.

This is their election to lose and they know it. They've had 8 years to show the American voters what kind of direction they envisioned for this country (Tax cuts for the wealthy, pre-emptive war, Patriot Act, torture, an Energy Policy that puts money in the pockets of Big Oil) and the American voters have already responded overwhelmingly in the polls that they want a change in course.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Those people who are pursaded about associations between Obama and Jimmy Carter are never going to vote for Obama in the first place.

As for everybody else, we don't care.

Yep. The Republican pundits know that what they are facing is closer in reality to the 2000 election - Al Gore represented the incumbant party and in spite of a strong economy and a time of piece, lost (or won depending on who you ask). The incumbant party always is at a disadvantage no matter what two candidates are running. Add to that the lowest approval rating of a sitting President in over 60 years, and economy that's tanking, and an endless war that is costing the American taxpayers trillians of dollars. Regardless of what anybody's political ideology is - the cards are stacked against the incumbant Party - the Republicans.

This is their election to lose and they know it. They've had 8 years to show the American voters what kind of direction they envisioned for this country (Tax cuts for the wealthy, pre-emptive war, Patriot Act, torture, an Energy Policy that puts money in the pockets of Big Oil) and the American voters have already responded overwhelmingly in the polls that they want a change in course.

Not just in the polls. In the voting booths too. Remember that they've already lost their Congressional majority. They'll lose more Congressional seats and 1600 Penn Ave in November. They fcuked things up quite badly. And they will pay the price.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Those people who are pursaded about associations between Obama and Jimmy Carter are never going to vote for Obama in the first place.

As for everybody else, we don't care.

Yep. The Republican pundits know that what they are facing is closer in reality to the 2000 election - Al Gore represented the incumbant party and in spite of a strong economy and a time of piece, lost (or won depending on who you ask). The incumbant party always is at a disadvantage no matter what two candidates are running. Add to that the lowest approval rating of a sitting President in over 60 years, and economy that's tanking, and an endless war that is costing the American taxpayers trillians of dollars. Regardless of what anybody's political ideology is - the cards are stacked against the incumbant Party - the Republicans.

This is their election to lose and they know it. They've had 8 years to show the American voters what kind of direction they envisioned for this country (Tax cuts for the wealthy, pre-emptive war, Patriot Act, torture, an Energy Policy that puts money in the pockets of Big Oil) and the American voters have already responded overwhelmingly in the polls that they want a change in course.

This is true - but only if the opposition candidate is able to sway the independents. This is kind of why Clinton had a pretty good chance because her political credentials are quite well established. What we saw in 2004 was essentially "better the devil you know". In all honesty I think Obama has a lot to prove to convince the public that he can deliver more than the status quo.

What I'm inclined to think at this point is that McCain will probably win - albeit with a very small margin.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Those people who are pursaded about associations between Obama and Jimmy Carter are never going to vote for Obama in the first place.

As for everybody else, we don't care.

Yep. The Republican pundits know that what they are facing is closer in reality to the 2000 election - Al Gore represented the incumbant party and in spite of a strong economy and a time of piece, lost (or won depending on who you ask). The incumbant party always is at a disadvantage no matter what two candidates are running. Add to that the lowest approval rating of a sitting President in over 60 years, and economy that's tanking, and an endless war that is costing the American taxpayers trillians of dollars. Regardless of what anybody's political ideology is - the cards are stacked against the incumbant Party - the Republicans.

This is their election to lose and they know it. They've had 8 years to show the American voters what kind of direction they envisioned for this country (Tax cuts for the wealthy, pre-emptive war, Patriot Act, torture, an Energy Policy that puts money in the pockets of Big Oil) and the American voters have already responded overwhelmingly in the polls that they want a change in course.

Not just in the polls. In the voting booths too. Remember that they've already lost their Congressional majority. They'll lose more Congressional seats and 1600 Penn Ave in November. They fcuked things up quite badly. And they will pay the price.

I've read that some Republican pundits believe the loss for McCain will be as bad as Carter's in 1980. The Dems will win the White House, and a gain majority in the Senate.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well its wishful thinking - but with respect optimism will only go so far. Obama still needs to establish a strong campaign platform for his policies. I don't think its any coincidence that a lot of people have no trouble remembering his campaign slogan, but draw a blank when it comes to his actual policy positions.