Jimmy Carter: Sacred Cow of the Left

[Tighelander]

I don't understand the revered status that the Left has for Jimmy Carter. The only explanation there can be is that most people have only a superficial understanding of what the man did.

Everyone says what a righteous man he is, but what does it say about him that his biggest regret is that he couldn't kill some Iranians.
He is directly responsible for the sick & twisted world we live in today. The hostages were taken because Carter helped the Shah, a war criminal. Had he ignored the Shah, or even better, sent him back to Iran to stand trial, the hostages would not have been taken. Without the hostage crisis, Carter gets a second term. The election of Ronald Reagan is worst event of the last half of the 20th century. If Carter had done the right thing, the WTC might still be standing, and the Banks would not have crashed in 2008.

[underthematrix]

2. I think his biggest was not getting the hostages back.

[Tighelander]

4. Yes, that's what I mean

That's what I mean. In a recent interview, he said that his biggest regret of his presidency was, "not sending an extra helicopter" on the rescue mission. What do Marines usually do on a mission? They kill people. Much easier than sending a bunch of Marines to kill Iranians to get the hostages back, would have just meeting their demands: Apologize for forcing the Shah on them, releasing their bank accounts, and returning the Shah to stand trial.

This, as I said, could have been avoided by refusing to help a man that was no different than Saddam Husein.

[reddread]

28. "no different than Saddam Hussein"

you seem to turn right at Albuquerque every chance.
Bugs Bunny had the better idea.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

36. It was a joint operation.

Several branches were involved.

Operation Eagle Claw

Units involved in the operation

U.S. Air Force
1st Special Operations Wing: 8th (EC-130), and 16th Special Operations Squadrons (AC-130)
18th Tactical Fighter Wing: 1st Special Operations Squadron (MC-130)
SF-121 personnel involved (1 per aircraft) are still classified.
RED HORSE units, and numerous support organizations
1st Combat Communications Squadron
30th Military Airlift Squadron (C-141A), 438th Military Airlift Wing, McGuire AFB
552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing

U.S. Army
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta ("Delta Force&quot
75th Ranger Regiment
Special Forces (United States Army) 39th Special Forces Detachment (Airborne)
235th Signal Detachment (TACSATCOM) (Wadi Qena)

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with Carrier Air Wing 8 and escorts (USS California (CGN-36), USS South Carolina (CGN-37), USS Texas (CGN-39), USS Reeves (CG-24)) and USS Ainsworth (FF-1090))
USS Wichita (AOR-1)
USS Coral Sea (CV-43) and escorts, USS William H. Standley (CG-32), USS Cook (FF-1083), USS Roanoke (AOR-7), with Carrier Air Wing 14
USS Okinawa (LPH-3)
USS Mobile (LKA-115), USS San Bernardino (LST-1189) Amphibious Support
Marine Aviation Weapons Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1)
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 16 (HM-16) aboard Nimitz
Patrol Squadron 16 (VP-16)

[jwirr]

50. Two marine helicopters were used in the rescue attempt.

One ended up having mechanical difficulties and that is why he was sorry he did not send a second. You have very little understanding of the whole thing.

[jwirr]

49. Only those who do not know the truth would blame this

on Jimmy Carter. Raygun paid them to hold the hostages until inauguration day.

[madamesilverspurs]

3. ...

[Recursion]

5. Oh Lord...

[BainsBane]

6. You think Iranians would have forgotten decades of imperialism

including the US coup against Mosaddegh that put the Shah in power in 1953, if only Carter would have sent him back to Iran after the Revolution?

And how pray tell is that responsible for the clusterfuck in Iraq and Syria, or the occupation of Palestine? And while one might draw a connection between his arming of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan and 9/11 decades later, the route is not through Tehran.

I think there is a good deal of selective memory as far as Carter goes, but not for the reasons you cite. People portray him as a leftist because of his post-presidential profile, but he was on the conservative side of the Democratic Party when he got the nomination. He was also one of the first modern candidates/ presidents to wear his faith in public.

[Tighelander]

10. Without Reagan, no Gulf War

If the hostages aren't taken, Iran never becomes "Enemy #1" and we don't have to arm Iraq to counter them. Reagan was too old to run again. Without his charm, the Conservative agenda doesn't have the success it did, and most likely Bush doesn't become president. His son would never have been considered a candidate if his dad had not been president.

He was also one of the first modern candidates/ presidents to wear his faith in public.

I think it was this that led the Conservatives to start doing the same.

[Tighelander]

17. Our post-Gulf War actions were part of Osama bin Laden's reason for attacking us

The Gulf War might not have happened if Iran and the U.S. weren't enemies.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

45. True that about his faith.

When I hear the word "malaise," his image always pops up in my mind.

President Carter had a great mind and was, in my mind, a visionary, but he was a terrible leader. He is much better in the post presidency phase of his life.

[Tighelander]

7. Carter also funded Central American Death Squads

Have people forgotten that too? It's like Carter is our Reagan.

[BainsBane]

9. Carter was actually an exception, in that he held out human rights as part of US foreign policy

not uniformly or consistently, but he did make efforts in Central America, unlike every other administration from Eisenhower through Reagan. Carter actually recognized the Sandinista government in Managua. That changed when Reagan came into office.

[Tighelander]

13. That period would have been perfect for coming clean on Iran

In the Late Seventies the intelligence community was at an all time low in popularity with the American people. It would have been a perfect time for a fireside chat explaining how the U.S. had been screwing the Iranians for 25 years. Like I said though, there would have been no hostages if Carter had ignored the Shah.

[eridani]

8. The sacred cow part is more about how he spent his post-presidential years

I always thought he was too much of a micromanager when in office, but he's easily the best ex-president we have ever produced. Not considering the 18th century, as lifespans were shorter then.

[eridani]

12. No clue who that is. Carter still beats the bejeesus out of either Bush

OK, Reagan had dementia, so no points off for him after office.

[BlueStateLib]

18. San Jose Winchester Mystery House

At the time of her death, the unrelenting construction had rambled over six acres. The Sprawling mansion contained 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms, and 6 kitchens. Carpenters even left nails half driven when they learned of Mrs. Winchester's death.

[JI7]

14. really ? Blaming Carter for 9/11

[Tighelander]

16. Yes, no Bushes would become president if Reagan wasn't elected.

I don't think that George H.W. Bush could get elected on his own. It was Reagan's coat tails, and that he was V.P. that got him elected.

[reddread]

25. he had lots of help from the newly freed corporate media

[Rex]

27. They won't be here very long.

Posting trash like that in GD.

[marmar]

19. Hoo boy.

[Tighelander]

20. Today this would be called a, "dick move."

My negative view of Carter began on election night of 1980. It was my first presidential election. During the time it took me to pedal my bike to the polling place and come back, Carter threw in the towel. Voting was still taking place on the West Coast and Hawaii, but he didn't care to wait for us to finish. He just threw in the towel. Today that would be called a "dick move."

[neverforget]

21. facepalm

[JustAnotherGen]

30. Thank you for expressing

What I was experiencing.

[olddots]

22. interesting

very interesting

[sufrommich]

23. I'd say "welcome to DU" but it looks like you've been here

for awhile.

[Rex]

24. That's really funny, enjoy your stay.

[malaise]

26. What did Dr Ben Marble say to Cheney again?? n/t

[MineralMan]

29. So what prompted this diatribe?

[spanone]

31. no you wouldn't understand.

[betsuni]

32. This is still here? Somebody take out the trash.

[WI_DEM]

33. This will probably get me banned but Fuck off

If you can't see all the good that Jimmy Carter did as president and as a former president then get lost.

[Octafish]

34. The same people who ''Got'' Carter have ''Gotten'' your mind.

Usually, though, the Safari Club goes after big game.

[Hiraeth]

35. Maybe this thread should be locked. ugh.

[Renew Deal]

37. Judging Carter on what he did in his time as president alone is superficial.

He is 90. 86 of those years were not as president. I don't buy the banks argument. Also, the Naderites are far more responsible for what happened after 2000 than Carter.

[HughBeaumont]

38. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Post_hoc,_ergo_propter_hoc

The rooster crows before sunrise, therefore the crowing rooster causes the sun to rise.

The drunk scientist conducts an experiment to see why he gets hangovers. He decides to keep a diary. Monday night, scotch and soda; Tuesday morning, hangover. Tuesday night, gin and soda; Wednesday morning, hangover. Wednesday night: vodka and soda; Thursday morning, hangover. Thursday night, rum and soda; Friday morning, hangover. On Friday night before going out for a drink, the drunk scientist has an epiphany. "Aha!" he says to himself, "I've got it! Soda causes hangovers!"

In the immortal words of Andrew Schlafly: "In Romania, abortion was illegal under two decades of rule by the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, and the country enjoyed one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the entire world during that time, far lower than comparable Western countries."[3] (Just because the breast cancer rate went down does not mean that the illegality of abortions caused it.)

[H2O Man]

39. gosh

[Glorfindel]

40. You know what they say about opinions, right?

Just because you've got one, doesn't mean anybody wants to see it.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQ3ywwAGoVChMIuOnw4YfbxwIVQtSACh31DQM2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DpWdd6_ZxX8c&usg=AFQjCNG4GgosuvJ-hV7h6yZfeA1VQ2AztQ

[liberal N proud]

41. WHAT?

Directly responsible for the twisted world we live in?

How in the hell can you blame 9/11 on Jimmy Carter?

That man has done more for humanity than any President since. His efforts both home and abroad have lifted people up and enabled them to help themselves.

I am totally shocked to see this crap posted on DU!

[lpbk2713]

42. Flagged for Review

Who would've guessed?

[tenderfoot]

43. troll

eom

[gollygee]

44. You don't understand the word "directly"

You have given a ridiculously indirect and tenuous route to him being responsible, and based upon that, claimed he is "directly responsible."

[hobbit709]

46. You hit 100 posts and now????

[rockfordfile]

47. this guy has to be a troll

[MisterP]

48. Afghanistan and Nicaragua, too! but seriously no ex-president has done a more ruthless

examination of not only his own role but the whole structure the WH's embedded in

and had he been reelected he would NOT have rewarded the spooks who'd painted and snowed him into a corner 1978-80

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7103549

[Make7]

51. Posting Privileges Revoked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=234687&sub=trans

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

52. Trooooooooolllllll n/m

[Rex]

53. Sorry trollkin, we don't take kindly to trash talking President Carter.

Better luck next time.

[ismnotwasm]

54. The OP is gone

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=234687

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

(Thank you EarlG!)

[LanternWaste]

55. On edit: poster is TS'ed. No point in responding.

On edit: poster is TS'ed. No point in responding.