Keep in mind – he was actually there to monitor the election last week.The popular wisdom in this country is that Jimmy Carter is a good man (which, to me, is a huge understatement…read books like “The Unfinished Presidency” by Douglas Brinkley to truly understand the esteem in which he is held around the world) but he was a rotten president.
Well, he did help broker the Camp David accords (though Anwar el Sadat of Egypt was more responsible for that than either Carter or Begin, who abrogated the accords the first chance he got), and he also ensured ratification of the Panama Canal Treaty, which actually was a good thing with lots of bennies for us in the deal, which is only appropriate I know since we built it after other countries tried and failed.
But of course he’s blamed for the OPEC energy crisis (funny how the price of gas climbed under him and he was roasted for it, but Dubya paid no political price for it since it’s happened under HIS watch) and that remark about the “malaise” (it’s just a word, people…let’s get a grip, OK?) and the Repugs and their echo chamber immediately capitalized on it (like that bit with Carter and the rabbit in the boat and his jogging collapse).
To be fair, though, I will point out that he and the rest of us were caught flat footed by the cowardly actions of the Islamist crazies in Iran, and I genuinely blame Carter for the aborted helicopter rescue attempt. Also, interest rates rose under Carter thanks to Reagan buddy Paul Volcker, who was Carter’s Federal Reserve chairman (imagine Greenspan pulling this stuff under Reagan or Bush).
But don’t seriously try to compare Carter’s “bad” presidency with Dubya’s.
Just don’t (and I’m sure the right-wing propagandizing against Carter will begin anew shortly).
Note: I didn't link to a lot of this stuff individually because it's covered in the Wikipedia article (it looks reliable enough).
Update 2/7: And wouldn't Harry Reid be a great mentor for THIS possible future senator (resemblance is almost scary).
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