Carter blasts Bush (Lord Luv ya Jimmy!)

irishgrl · #1 05-19-2007, 07:09 PM

Carter blasts Bush on his global impact

58 minutes ago

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Former President Carter says
President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy.
ADVERTISEMENT

The criticism from Carter, which a biographer says is unprecedented for the 39th president, also took aim at Bush's environmental policies and the administration's "quite disturbing" faith-based initiative funding.

"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," Carter told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper's Saturday editions. "The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and
Ronald Reagan and
Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me."

Carter spokeswoman Deanna Congileo confirmed his comments to The Associated Press on Saturday and declined to elaborate. He spoke while promoting his new audiobook series, "Sunday Mornings in Plains," a collection of weekly Bible lessons from his hometown of Plains, Ga.

"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson,
Republican National Committee spokeswoman. She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also "challenged Ronald Reagan's strategy for the Cold War."

Carter came down hard on the
Iraq war.

"We now have endorsed the concept of pre-emptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened, if we want to change the regime there or if we fear that some time in the future our security might be endangered," he said. "But that's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."

Carter, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, criticized Bush for having "zero peace talks" in
Israel. Carter also said the administration "abandoned or directly refuted" every negotiated nuclear arms agreement, as well as environmental efforts by other presidents.

Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helped religious charities receive $2.15 billion in federal grants in fiscal year 2005 alone.

"The policy from the White House has been to allocate funds to religious institutions, even those that channel those funds exclusively to their own particular group of believers in a particular religion," Carter said. "As a traditional Baptist, I've always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one."

Douglas Brinkley, a Tulane University presidential historian and Carter biographer, described Carter's comments as unprecedented.

"This is the most forceful denunciation President Carter has ever made about an American president," Brinkley said. "When you call somebody the worst president, that's volatile. Those are fighting words."

Carter also lashed out Saturday at British prime minister
Tony Blair. Asked how he would judge Blair's support of Bush, the former president said: "Abominable. Loyal. Blind. Apparently subservient."

"And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," Carter told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.

I always liked this man, now I adore him!

markolas · #2 05-19-2007, 07:52 PM

He's a dying breed, that's for sure.

BombaySapphire3 · #3 05-20-2007, 01:52 AM

What is controversial about calling Shrub the worst president in U.S history?

Isn't that kind of like calling molten lava hot or dry ice cold?

Musicman408 · #4 05-20-2007, 10:41 AM

Jimmy Carter is awesome for saying this. Kudos for sure.

seeker007nmss · #5 05-20-2007, 01:04 PM

It was an irresponsible comment. (right or wrong). A person in his position should show better tact and judgement. There are better ways and avenues to voice his opinion. But then again, Carter is considered a very poor President Ranked 30/39. (a few ties). I think age is catching up with him.

irishgrl · #6 05-20-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker007nmss

It was an irresponsible comment. (right or wrong). A person in his position should show better tact and judgement. There are better ways and avenues to voice his opinion. But then again, Carter is considered a very poor President Ranked 30/39. (a few ties). I think age is catching up with him.

where did you get your ranking info? just curious...

I admire Jimmy for so many reasons, starting with his eco-friendly walk to the White house during the first gas crisis to his humanitarian efforts at home and abroad, and his cojones for saying what NEEDED to be said.

If anyone is "irresponsible," its the Bushwhacker. please.

seeker007nmss · #7 05-20-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishgrl

where did you get your ranking info? just curious...

I admire Jimmy for so many reasons, starting with his eco-friendly walk to the White house during the first gas crisis to his humanitarian efforts at home and abroad, and his cojones for saying what NEEDED to be said.

If anyone is "irresponsible," its the Bushwhacker. please.

The list was a survey done in 2000 of seventy-eight history, political science and law professors that was conducted by The Wall Street Journal. They listed all of the presidents up to that time in order from best to worst. So if they redo it, hard to tell where Old Georgie will end up.

Nico · #8 05-20-2007, 08:18 PM

I'm not really impressed with lists and surveys, but Jimmy Carter as a man impresses me very much. He's an inspirational person, and I agree with his summation, even if it wasn't very tactful to say. But really...nothing new.

strandinthewind · #9 05-20-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker007nmss

It was an irresponsible comment. (right or wrong). A person in his position should show better tact and judgement. There are better ways and avenues to voice his opinion. But then again, Carter is considered a very poor President Ranked 30/39. (a few ties). I think age is catching up with him.

Cater was one of the most ineffective Presidents. His altruism got the best of him and we are still paying the price for that in Iran, which I submit is the leader of terrorism bankrolling in the Middle East.

I do think he is a good man and his heart is pure though. I also think it is impossible for someone like that to succeed or be effective in politics.

That being said, though the messenger is flawed here - the message is accurate. Other than the tax cuts which sparked the failing economy, W has failed in every other area. And, the economy was sparked, but the national debt is so staggering now that any long range positive effect of that spark has been quelled -- sort of like a silly woman thinking maxing out the credit card is a good idea because paying 10.99 percent for 30 years is a good idea

strandinthewind · #10 05-20-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nico

I'm not really impressed with lists and surveys, but Jimmy Carter as a man impresses me very much. He's an inspirational person, and I agree with his summation, even if it wasn't very tactful to say. But really...nothing new.

I think his heart is in the right place, but not all of his actions are that good. Some of the elections he oversaw were tainted and he has picked the lesser of evils before.

In the end, none of us are saints, but Carter at least tries to make a positive difference in the world without regard for the effect the possible fallout could have on his personal public image.