I just had a light bulb moment about Jimmy Carter.

[Cleita]

Listening to a rerun of Al Franken, who is going to have Jimmy Carter as his guest, Al made a throwaway remark about Jimmy being a past President and could be a future President of the United States.

Yes, folks Jimmy could run for another term since he was a one term President. Also, Jimmy can go one on one with the family values crowd. There is no one more genuinely moral than Jimmy, the real deal and a real Christian as contrary to the Dominion/Rapture crowd running our country now.

He could select as his Vice President a younger Democrat, even Hillary if you want, to step in after Jimmy's term is up to be President for another two terms. What poetic justice that would be bringing us full circle from the time Reagan took the Oval Office from Carter and began his version of taking from the poor to feather the nests of the rich.

What do you say DU'ers? Could this be a plan?

[wakeme2008]

1. I would have no problems voting for him

:)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I would too! however...

I've seen him on several programs lately... he seems very satisfied with the work he is doing now. I don't see him wanting the job, unfortunately. :(

[Lex]

2. He won't run. People would still have reservations about his age.

I love him, though. He's got a heart of gold and is super-smart.

[Matariki]

9. yeah, I also doubt he'd run

I heard him say he thought he was 'a better past president than president'. Too bad, he's an honorable man. I thought he was a fine president.

[Cleita]

15. I believe now, studying his Presidency, that he was the

recipient of what amounted to swiftboating back then. The press as usual obfuscated the facts of the Iran hostage situation making Reagan look the the white knight in shinning armor coming to rescue the hostages because we had a milquetoast for a President, who, get this, PUT HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS BEFORE HIS DUTIES AS PRESIDENT. Now it's okay to have a President who puts his religious rapture beliefs before his duties as President.

It turns out this was all lies but what the Reagan caucus needed to get their puppet actor elected.

[bush_is_wacko]

18. Despite the fact I think a lot Americans know Carter was the true

hero in that situation I think the Republican candidate would re-use this old lie and likely succeed in fooling the right into believing it again.

[eridani]

43. Also, he took responsibility for the hostage rescue failure

This was not his personal fault, of course. There were interservice communication problems (since fixed) that caused the mission to fail. Nonethelss he believed all that old-fashioned stuff about the buck stopping at the president's desk and acted on it. So the Repubs swift-boated him for his sense of honor.

[Flying Dream Blues]

49. Because of what happened later, I've often wondered if this

mission was deliberately sabotaged.

[eridani]

50. Possible--I have a vague recollection of an article--

--(don't remember the author) who claimed that the generals deliberately fucked up because they expected better military funding under Reagan.

[misanthrope]

62. I've heard...

...that Ollie North was involved in that operation, but don't have the facts to corroborate it.

I also recall reading somewhere that the mechanical failure that doomed the mission was considered very, very irregular.

[sleipnir]

Ummm...Sadly, I don't think he'd live through his term if he ran.

He's getting way up there in years.

It's the same reason why McCain will never run again for Pres.

Too many health complications makes voters and other governments wary.

[Avalux]

3. It could be if he wasn't 81 years old

Even I think that's too old to be President. It's a nice thought though. :hi:

[BushOut06]

12. I would never want to put him through the gopher attack machine

I forgot how old the guy is. Can you imagine how it would be for him, subjecting himself to the vile hatred and attacks from RoveCo?

[mike_c]

4. I agree with Lex-- he won't even consider running...

...but for what it's worth I would vote for Jimmy Carter-- AGAIN-- in a skinny minute.

[Samurai_Writer]

5. He's getting up there, though

How old is he now, anyway? In his 80s, maybe even late 80s. That's a definite drawback in any campaign, but especially for President. Reagan was our oldest president, and he was 70 when he was elected the first time.

[converted_democrat]

6. I LOVE JIMMY CARTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry to shout, but I am passionate about the man!! He is my personal hero. I would vote for him in a heart beat. Run him with Gore, and you have my dream ticket.

[Cleita]

11. For those who are worried about his age, running him with

Gore would be an asset inasmuch as Gore could assume a lot of the lesser Presidential duties so it could lighten his burden for the important work ahead of reclaiming our country.

[IDemo]

7. The man is 81 years old

He was the first person I ever voted for, but that was when disco ruled. He's enjoying his new life, writing books.

[Lex]

13. A lot more than just writing books . . .

All the work he does for Habit for Humanity, and for voting rights around the world, and the list goes on . . .

[Cleita]

14. True, but he seems in good health and of course he

would have the best of medical care while in office. I mean look at Strom Thurmond and how about Dick Cheney?

[FreedomAngel82]

35. Yes

He's still doing great at his age. I wouldn't be surprised if he lives over a hundred. Heh heh. There was a woman at my church who a while back turned 103 and she was still mowing her lawn. :D So anything is possible. Mr. Carter is a great person. My grandmother on my Mom's side said that Jimmy was her favorite president.

[Cleita]

39. I just listened to Al's interview with Jimmy an hour ago or so.

He's as sharp as a tack. My god, Bush displays more symptoms of dementia.

[Ron Green]

8. He's too easily demonized by the RW

and that's a damn shame, because the very reason he's cast as a "weak sister" who "gave away the Panama Canal" and "talked about malaise" is that he's much too good a man to be president of this fearful and violent society that we've built upon this continent. It's sad.

[Cleita]

16. They demonized him for letting his religion stand in the way

of a war with Iran to free the American hostages being held there at the time. It wasn't the truth but they really made him look like a religious kook. There is no way they could twist that around anymore. Jimmy could run on being a Christian President in those parts of the country where this is important.

[A Simple Game]

29. Jimmy Carter ain't no real Christian.

Real Christians believe in tax cuts and the tinkle down theory.

:sarcasm:

No, I didn't misspell tinkle.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. Wasn't he

the only president to be in the navy?

[H2O Man]

46. PT109 n/t

[Nordmadr]

54. Ummm...Kennedy?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

59. Bush Sr. was in the Navy also, an aviator... I think even Nixon had a

stint in the Navy.

[BushOut06]

10. That would be a disaster

I agree, I think he'd be a great president. IMHO he became a victim of circumstances that were far beyond his control. But unfortunately, he's gotten this rap as a "great neighbor, horrible president". That kind of image would be difficult to shake on its own, but you'd have the gophers pounding that message in every single day.

He would make a GREAT Secretary of State in a Democratic administration, however!

[BamaBecky]

45. so would Hillary

[bush_is_wacko]

17. I love Jimmy Carter but please don't ask me to vote for him for

president. I hate to remind you, but his presidency was not very productive domestically. He was/is one of the greatest humanitarians on the face of the earth and, if BushCo would let him, I think he has the ability to help immensely with the image of America and international relations. He was the best president ever in international relations. To be honest though I can't see my parents generation or most anyone who was an adult back then voting him back in office even though MOST of them likely have the ability to appreciate him as a humanitarian and international relations guru.

I wish it wasn't so but the reality is we were in a similar situation back then with regards to gas prices and a whole host of other issues. That is why he wasn't re-elected. He just wasn't strong enough on domestic policy.

Do you really think, as great a man as he is, he could overcome the domestic policy issues?

This is painful to post really. The man is a true gem but I think the thugs would cut him to pieces and that is just not fair to a man that has done such wonderful things for this country and many others.

[Cleita]

19. Since I voted for him the first time twice, I think

I can speak with some authority of memory anyway on this. Some of Carter's problems in his first administration were due to the people whom he appointed in his administration who weren't up to the task and fumbled a few moves (none as egregious as those in this administration have like Condi and Brownie though). If he had gotten a second term, he himself has stated that he had learned from some of his mistakes in his first term and would have corrected them.

[bush_is_wacko]

28. I agree with you. I just don't think at age 81 and given the current

large numbers of ignorant and gullible "moral values" crowd he could be elected.

Again, I love the man, but realistically I don't think he is electable and I think it would be appalling to see a great man torn to pieces by these people.

[BushOut06]

20. how much of that was truly his fault?

Please forgive my ignorance here, as I was but a wee child during his admin. But surely Carter didn't have much control over the Arab oil embargo, did he? How much do you want to bet that old Poppy Shrub was pulling some strings behind the scenes, using his influence with the Saudis to drive our economy in the tank? Is it any coincidence that Poppy Shrub ran for president in 1980?

[Cleita]

23. I have no doubt of that and maybe one of these days

someone will get the papers to prove it.

[bush_is_wacko]

30. Does it matter who was at fault to most of the right? n/t

[stanwyck]

25. Remember, though, that

he was president during a very different time in our country. He had several strikes against him he would no longer have. He was a Southerner. He was a governor. He was definitely NOT a Washington insider. Those used to be negatives.
Now, they're not.
In many ways, Carter paved the way for Clinton. And, yes, George W.
He might have been able to do more if he wasn't viewed with so much distrust. And if he'd had more of a political structure waiting for him in Washington.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

21. "Real deal" Christian Presidents...

Go on to win Nobel Peace Prizes and they don't just hand those out to anybody. Maybe King George can rework the criteria for that prize, like he did with the Bill of Rights. Hmmm, the Noble WAR prize, has a nice ring to it and Nobel did invent gunpowder. Hmmmm, says the king!

[WI_DEM]

22. I'd love to vote for him, but he won't run will be 84 in '08

and loves being a ex-president who has done great work in that capacity.

[WhereThereIsFire]

24. I love Jimmy ... but ...

I doubt he would ever run again. He is a very feisty man, so his age would NOT be an obstacle. He is probably TOO NICE a man to get elected again. If he did run ... I'd like that younger running mate to be JOHN EDWARDS!!

Then again, I see JOHN EDWARDS as BEING Jimmy Carter ... just as smart AND maybe wiser in potential cabinet choices (Jimmy's downfall), just as kind, with a slightly "angrier" edge that he nicely keeps under control, and he is TRULY electable. So, why not Jimmy Carter AND Bill Clinton ACTIVELY involved in getting JOHN EDWARDS into the White House? With Murtha as the VP???

[Cleita]

26. That could work too.

I just thought though that running Jimmy for one term could work, because he is certifiably who he is and a wonderful figurehead. The background is irrefutable, that he is a moral and Christian man in the true sense and there is plenty of proof of this. He is a brilliant man. There is plenty of proof of this. In spite of being more a figurehead, he would still be hands on in the final decisions of his presidency, I just know it.

He would need a VP and staff who would take up more of the duties of President than past Presidents, but there is a plethora of experienced Democrats out there to do that. After all wasn't Karen Hughes making executive decisions for Bush at the beginning of his term before she quit?

[stanwyck]

27. Wow. Would love to see your

idea come to fruition.
You made my day. What a wonderful scenario.

[TygrBright]

56. NOT Murtha!! Sorry, but...

...as much as I admire the man's personal integrity and military experience, he is a NEANDERTHAL in every policy area except working out a sensible withdrawal plan in Iraq.

Believe me, you would HATE him after the Iraq nightmare was over.

adamantly,
Bright

[Syncronaut Seven]

31. Carter fights fair, apparently this is a serious weakness.

I love the man dearly. What we need is someone with the skills and tenacity of a seasoned mob prosecutor. Kind of like Fitz.

[Old and In the Way]

32. How's this? Carter - Gore

After Carter wins, he steps down and Gore takes over. Gore names Kerry as his VP. Gore-Kerry running this country.

Appointments: Elliott Spitzer - AG; Patrick Fitzgerald - FBI; Bill Clinton - UN Ambassador; Joseph Wilson - CIA ; Wes Clark - SecDef ; John Edwards - Homeland Security

House Maj Leader: Dennis Kucinich
Senate Majority Leader: Nancy Pelosi

Then we fix the country-

Establish a Truth Commission - Jimmy Carter. Re-open BCCI / Iran-Contra / 9-11 / Iraq War Investigations.

Ferret the neo-cons out of the bureaucracy.

Re-establish the fairness doctrine on publicly owned airwaves.

Cut defense spending by 50% (make it small enough to drown in a bathtub). How much oil is burned just securing the shipping lanes and distribution networks for oil? Re-invest the savings by building a 21st century American economy that's independent (ie import free) of ME oil. Investment focus on overhauling the energy grid (decentralizing it) / transportation infrastructure (mass transit). Make it job intensive.

Rebuild New Orleans properly....and address the real terror facing our country - the destruction and after-effects of a Cat.5 hurricane. Or a 7 R scale earthquake. Does anyone think a terrorist with a bomb could do as much damage to the US as a Katrina category storm? Which has greater probability of recurring again in the future?

With Big Oil running the Executive Banch, US policy defines our national interests as subserviant to Big Oil interests. This has to change.

[Warren Stupidity]

53. We can still dream can't we?

What a different world it would be had we managed to make america green instead of letting the rightwing theocratic bastards take over.

[Old and In the Way]

55. Dream? I'd say its a great vision statement that Democrats can

rally around.

Republicans = Big Oil = War without end (GWOT) = Dead End
Democrats = Renewable/Alternative Energy = Jobs = A new future for America

[ISUGRADIA]

58. How does Pelosi end up int the Senate?

[InvisibleTouch]

33. Honestly, I don't think he'd want the job.

And I can't say I blame him. He's actively involved in doing good things for the country and for the world, and I think he's very content with that work. To run for president again, he'd have to put all of that aside and enter a truly ugly and nasty political climate. I wouldn't wish that on a good guy like Jimmy Carter, especially in his 80's.

It's a great thought, but I think he'll contribute best by helping to get the next Dem president elected. I could see him in a cabinet position, definitely.

[FreedomAngel82]

34. No

He could run again since the limit is two terms and Jimmy only had one. I don't think Mr. Carter would do it. He's getting up there and has other things he does from Habitat home to his grandkids.

[Freddie Stubbs]

37. Would the Democratic Party nominate a pro-life candidate?

Time may change, but Jimmy Carter hasn't.

[BushOut06]

38. Carter may be pro-life, but I doubt he would upset the apple cart

I honestly think that he would be one of the few pro-lifers who would be able to keep their private views out of stuff like this.

[Cleita]

40. He has already stated his position on this.

It would be similar to Clinton's that of eliminating the circumstances that lead to abortion. He wouldn't tamper with Roe vs. Wade.

[newyawker99]

41. I doubt he would run again. He looks like he is

enjoying his retirement and he has become
involved in many charitable acts. I love him.
I would vote for him in a heartbeat but I think
he enjoys his life just as it is.

[Cleita]

42. I'm afraid so.

:hi:

[Hekate]

44. Washington insiders laughed Jimmy & Rosalyn out of town, IIRC

"He was so moral you just knew he was too soft to be a US president, he wasn't from inside the Beltway, and on and on."

Republicans in power fight very dirty and will use anything for ammunition. Jimmy Carter was "too moral" and "too preachy" for them. Bill Clinton was despised for having loose morals.

As regards some rabid right-wingers, they've apparently decided Carter's good works are not for real. I praised Carter on a family chat-list, and my wingnut uncle (who's quite highly educated) snapped back that "Carter is a FRAUD." I didn't bother asking my uncle what brought that on, but it must be out there somewhere.

So yes, former president Carter could Constitutionally run for president again, but I doubt he'd be willing even if he were a viable candidate. He and Rosalyn are doing what they want to do, and are well-respected for it.

Hekate

[misanthrope]

63. It wasn't just Republicans...

...that did Carter in.

As Carter told Jon Stewart earlier this month, "I got in trouble because I told the truth."

Jimmy Carter was elected in the wake of Watergate and the OPEC embargo. Both of those events created a cynicism in the public and Carter cashed in on it.

His run for the presidency hinged on his status as a Washington outsider. He campaigned on the idea that he wasn't mired in the political bog that eats the souls of those within The Beltway. He spoke to something all Americans knew in their hearts but had been afraid to admit. Now, they could deny it no longer.

Carter was elected but there was a problem. The very den of thieves that he cast himself in contrast to were now awaiting his arrival on the shores of the Potomac. The power brokers from both parties made his life difficult in retaliation for his calling American attention to their gluttony and malfeasance.

The very thing that got him there, doomed him to failure. He told the truth.

[madokie]

47. Jimmy Carter was the first president I voted for.

liked him then love him now.

[lonestarnot]

48. I would vote for Jimmy in a heartbeat!

[trixie]

51. Very honorable man

We are lucky to have him on our side - humanitarian.

[Warren Stupidity]

52. He's too old.

Other than that it would be a good start towards moving our country back from the darkness.

[ellenfl]

57. he was a truly good man in a den of thieves. he never

had a chance. i think he knows that and is happy with his life now. too bad, i'd vote for him . . . again.

ellen fl

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

60. I heard this rerun on the radio too... almost made me want to cry, we used

to actually have presidents who were smart, we didn't have people in this country taking pride in having an inarticulate dumbass representing the nation.

Jimmy Carter reminds me a lot of my dad for a variety of reasons. He's such a good, intelligent, man that I think we'd all like to have had a father like that.

Even though he's a million years old (exaggerating), he is clearly, even NOW, much more intelligent and mentally acute than the shrub.

[Name removed]

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