Looking back in time

[cyclohexane]

Originally posted by: techs
WTF was America thinking of when Bush Jr. was voted in as President a second time?

Much better question.

If only we can look into the minds of some of the posters in this forum...

 

[event8horizon]

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: ironwing

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: ironwing
Carter was smart, successful, polite, devout, stable, friendly. What wasn't to like in Carter as a candidate?

All true. But he was also a first class PVSSY! And that overrides any and all other good things there may have been about him, AFAIC.

Really? Do tell.

3 Words: Iran Hostage Crisis

two words
october surprise!!

http://www.consortiumnews.com/1999/051499a.html

In the closing days of George Bush?s presidency in 1993, Stepashin secretly reported to the U.S. Congress that the outgoing president had participated in a scheme with Iran that bordered on treason.

Stepashin informed a special House task force that Russian intelligence information implicated Bush along with former President Reagan and CIA directors William J. Casey and Robert Gates in a series of clandestine contacts with Iran during the 1980 presidential campaign.

Stepashin, then chairman of the Supreme Soviet's Committee on Defense and Security Issues, had overseen an official review of what Moscow?s intelligence files revealed about Republican secret activities aimed at undercutting President Carter's desperate efforts to free 52 American hostages held in Iran in 1980.

Those long-simmering allegations of Republican sabotage were known as the "October Surprise" controversy, named after GOP suspicions that Carter was hoping to free the hostages right before the November elections.

Instead, according to a variety of Iranian officials and foreign intelligence operatives, Republican emissaries negotiated a secret deal to delay the hostages' freedom. The hostages were freed on Jan. 20, 1981, minutes after President Reagan was sworn in.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: event8horizon

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: ironwing

Originally posted by: brencat

Originally posted by: ironwing
Carter was smart, successful, polite, devout, stable, friendly. What wasn't to like in Carter as a candidate?

All true. But he was also a first class PVSSY! And that overrides any and all other good things there may have been about him, AFAIC.

Really? Do tell.

3 Words: Iran Hostage Crisis

two words
october surprise!!

http://www.consortiumnews.com/1999/051499a.html

In the closing days of George Bush?s presidency in 1993, Stepashin secretly reported to the U.S. Congress that the outgoing president had participated in a scheme with Iran that bordered on treason.

Stepashin informed a special House task force that Russian intelligence information implicated Bush along with former President Reagan and CIA directors William J. Casey and Robert Gates in a series of clandestine contacts with Iran during the 1980 presidential campaign.

Stepashin, then chairman of the Supreme Soviet's Committee on Defense and Security Issues, had overseen an official review of what Moscow?s intelligence files revealed about Republican secret activities aimed at undercutting President Carter's desperate efforts to free 52 American hostages held in Iran in 1980.

Those long-simmering allegations of Republican sabotage were known as the "October Surprise" controversy, named after GOP suspicions that Carter was hoping to free the hostages right before the November elections.

Instead, according to a variety of Iranian officials and foreign intelligence operatives, Republican emissaries negotiated a secret deal to delay the hostages' freedom. The hostages were freed on Jan. 20, 1981, minutes after President Reagan was sworn in.

That sounds a little conspiracy theory-ish to me, but I have to admit that the timing was VERY weird. Republicans are STILL eating lunch off the idea that Reagan was responsible for freeing the hostages.

 

[Brovane]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: Brovane
Ford alienated a lot of people when he pardoned Nixon after Watergate. He decided the country needed to move on and put Watergate behind them so he pardoned Nixon which basically squelched any attempt to put Nixon through a criminal trial. IMHO this was the correct decision for the country so they could move on. Ford was nominated as a VP after Nixon's first VP (Agnew) resigned and was then approved by Congress. Overall I think Ford was ok and he probably was the most down to earth president's we have had. However the pardon of Nixon really shot down his attempt at reelection. However he never shied away from the Pardon and took full responsibility as the correct decision. Also in 1975 for the Republican nomination (which should have been a given) he had to run against Reagan for the nomination who was running very strong against him. Ford was very humble and originally didn't even want to run for President in 1976.

Ford was a poor president whose main virtue was lacking the huge flaws of his predecessor.

The best that can usually be said about him is things like 'basically personally honest' and other personality traits not especially relevant to how good a president he was.

I give him more negative marks for things such as keeping Kissinger in place, and with Kissinger, secretly greenlighting the slaughter of 250,000 East Timorans by Indonesia.

He also gave us Rumsfeld (his youg chief of staff) and Cheney (who Rumsfeld insisted come with him as a package) thankyouverymuch.

The biggest policy I recall was his 'Whip Inflation Now' campaign, but it was left to Carter to actually get the nation on the road to doing it (though Reagan reaped the credit).

I oppose his pardon of Nixon, but I do not think there was a 'secret deal' as so many reasonably suspected.

I disagree with your assessment that he was a poor President. He didn't have very long in office but he did a lot for healing the country after Watergate. Considering the lying and dishonesty that the last several President's have had while in office I consider this honesty relevant to how good a President he was.

Also as far as his Pardon of Nixon it is interesting that even Ted Kennedy said in 2001 that Ford's pardon of Nixon was the right thing to do for the country and that history has shown that the pardon was the correct decision.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Brovane
Also as far as his Pardon of Nixon it is interesting that even Ted Kennedy said in 2001 that Ford's pardon of Nixon was the right thing to do for the country and that history has shown that the pardon was the correct decision.

History has shown that Presidents now act with impunity, disregarding laws they find inconvenient. That is the legacy of the Ford pardon.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: brencat

Instead how about this: Wake the fvck up people! Spend less, save more, achieve more, demand more of yourselves, take care of your family, and leave the world in a better place than you received it.

thanks for laying out the case for obama.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

Donald Trump remarked that Carter got people to vote for him because he had the daring to run for office. And it's possible people were still simmering over Ford's pardon (right or wrong, it certainly was controversial).

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: ironwing

Originally posted by: Brovane
Also as far as his Pardon of Nixon it is interesting that even Ted Kennedy said in 2001 that Ford's pardon of Nixon was the right thing to do for the country and that history has shown that the pardon was the correct decision.

History has shown that Presidents now act with impunity, disregarding laws they find inconvenient. That is the legacy of the Ford pardon.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: seemingly random

Originally posted by: Budmantom
I have a feeling after Barrack Hussein Obama people will be wishing for Jimmy Carter.

Weak troll.

Fixed

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: Brovane

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: Brovane
Ford alienated a lot of people when he pardoned Nixon after Watergate. He decided the country needed to move on and put Watergate behind them so he pardoned Nixon which basically squelched any attempt to put Nixon through a criminal trial. IMHO this was the correct decision for the country so they could move on. Ford was nominated as a VP after Nixon's first VP (Agnew) resigned and was then approved by Congress. Overall I think Ford was ok and he probably was the most down to earth president's we have had. However the pardon of Nixon really shot down his attempt at reelection. However he never shied away from the Pardon and took full responsibility as the correct decision. Also in 1975 for the Republican nomination (which should have been a given) he had to run against Reagan for the nomination who was running very strong against him. Ford was very humble and originally didn't even want to run for President in 1976.

Ford was a poor president whose main virtue was lacking the huge flaws of his predecessor.

The best that can usually be said about him is things like 'basically personally honest' and other personality traits not especially relevant to how good a president he was.

I give him more negative marks for things such as keeping Kissinger in place, and with Kissinger, secretly greenlighting the slaughter of 250,000 East Timorans by Indonesia.

He also gave us Rumsfeld (his youg chief of staff) and Cheney (who Rumsfeld insisted come with him as a package) thankyouverymuch.

The biggest policy I recall was his 'Whip Inflation Now' campaign, but it was left to Carter to actually get the nation on the road to doing it (though Reagan reaped the credit).

I oppose his pardon of Nixon, but I do not think there was a 'secret deal' as so many reasonably suspected.

I disagree with your assessment that he was a poor President. He didn't have very long in office but he did a lot for healing the country after Watergate. Considering the lying and dishonesty that the last several President's have had while in office I consider this honesty relevant to how good a President he was.

Also as far as his Pardon of Nixon it is interesting that even Ted Kennedy said in 2001 that Ford's pardon of Nixon was the right thing to do for the country and that history has shown that the pardon was the correct decision.

What did he do to 'heal the country' but to not be Nixon, and if you think it helped, pardon him? He gave a speech with the phrase 'long national nightmare is over'. OK.

I don't think that makes him a 'good president'.

So, Ted Kennedy said he agrees with those who think the pardon was a good idea.

I disagree with him, and I'd say the history of lawless behavior without accountability by later presidents proves my point.

 

[fornax]

Sweet zombie Jesus, Moonbeam, very nicely put! You should write my speeches

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Jimmy carter, besides being one of our greatest Presidents, was a deep embarrassment as a fundamentalist Christians. Instead of being a typical sick psychopath of a so called Christian, he was the real thing. Under Carter the working man, the middle class, reached the apex of their buying power vs income. It has been down hill under Republicans ever since. Carter must be continuously slimed because it is necessary to put pig shit on the lips of a saint least younger generations see the Republican emperor for the necked asshole he is. Carter is slimed by dirt bags who aren't worth his spit.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Butterbean
A lot of people didn't really know what they were voting for with Carter or Reagan for that matter - they were just reacting and rolling dice.

Same is true in this election.

I was watching PBS doc on Carter - he and Obama sound the same.

Obama is more radical though and doesnt even like the US.

You say some pretty radical shit yourself.

Where's your proof the man doesn't like the U.S.?

He isn't President yet.

Bush on the other hand we have proof he hates this country by what he has done to it.

Ask his wife and Reverend Wright.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Carter was smart, successful, polite, devout, stable, friendly. What wasn't to like in Carter as a candidate? Also, note that a lot of what is written/said about the Carter years was really compressed out of a longer time period. Inflation was raging before Carter and continued after Carter but Carter got the blame.

Funny; the same thing is happening with the financial crisis and Bush's 2nd term.

 

[Thump553]

Jimmy Carter was probably the most well rounded and best qualified individual we had in decades. Look at his history-nuclear sub captain (no slouch job at all), grew his farming business into a multimillion one, successful moderate Southern governor (remember this wasn't that far after people like George Wallace were standard for the South), among other attributes.

He did end up being a mediocre to lousy President, overall. For some reason he had a tendency to micromanage everything, thus getting nothing done. (His background should have prevented this). Plus he was elected as an outsider to clean up Washington, and unfortunately had little ability to push his own party in line to get legislation he wanted. Finally, he spent way too much time trying to solve the Israel problem, something that will never be done until the principals on both sides actually want peace.

But I will trade five Carter terms for any one of Nixon or GWB, though. Carter may have been basically ineffective but he didn't actively tear the country down like those two clowns did.

PS-since his Presidency, he has accomplished much more than a lifetime of goals-his efforts to clean up elections (unfortunately only outside the USA), creating Habitat for Humanity, one of the most effect charities around, and as a nonfiction author (his one novel was excruciatingly bad).

Actually the choice between Ford and Carter was probably the toughest I've faced in my lifetime. Both decent, honorable men to a fault and totally nonegotistical leaders.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: T2T III
For years and years, I'm still wondering why such an event happened? Granted, Gerald Ford wasn't much of a better competitor. But, Jimmy Carter?

You have to laugh at all the people who admitted Carter stunk, and yet supported him over Reagan, and the people who admitted Reagan's first term was great, and yet supported Mondale! :laugh:

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: techs
WTF was America thinking of when Bush Jr. was voted in as President a second time?

Much better question.

We were thinking the other choice was Kerry.

IMO, that clears up all questions about '04 perfectly.

I'm inclined to ask WTF were the Dems thinking?

Fern

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: techs
WTF was America thinking of when Bush Jr. was voted in as President a second time?

Much better question.

We were thinking the other choice was Kerry.

IMO, that clears up all questions about '04 perfectly.

I'm inclined to ask WTF were the Dems thinking?

Fern

Truth. Two shit sandwiches = no good options.

Carter was an okay president, looking back. He didn't have a helluva lot of options at the time, the global economy was pretty weak. Reagan was a good man, and rode the upswing in the economy nicely. I honestly would take Carter and Reagan 7 days of the week and twice on Sunday vs. Bush I or Bush II.

 

[brandonbull]

Originally posted by: T2T III
For years and years, I'm still wondering why such an event happened? Granted, Gerald Ford wasn't much of a better competitor. But, Jimmy Carter?

I think you meant to say was "WTF was America thinking electing Reagan 2 times?"

Nice way to run covert drug and weapon smuggling and funding government revolutions.