I met Jimmy Carter today.

[nolabear]

Yes, I'm away from DU for the most part, because I'm tired of the fighting. But I also know that many of the people I know here will be delighted as few others will.

President Carter signed books here at Elliott Bay Books. We've been ready for days, and the line was full of excited folks of all ages, which made me very happy. To tell the truth, I was in front of him for maybe all of five second as he QUICKLY signed a copy of his book, A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power. But in the middle of several giant Secret Service men (the only black suit clad men in Seattle; didn't stand out a bit - LOL!), a lot of nervous but wonderful employees, a couple of handlers, probably a dozen police who all had books to be signed too, some press, some firemen and EMTs, just in case I suppose, and a whole bunch of kvelling citizens, he was warm and smiling and in that couple of seconds thanked ME for coming. He looks healthy and relaxed at NINETY, and I was awestruck, which isn't easy to do. The woman behind me who exchanged picture-taking with me totally screwed mine up but the story's as much fun as any photo.

It's been my experience that Democrats are people people, and today it showed. A book that says women deserve better, by a man wrestling with his faith and the harm it does in the world, who truly thinks about humanity and helps in the best way he can.

I feel privileged. And in spite of my ongoing need to stay mostly clear of DU, I recognize that this love for humanity and the hope for its future is well shared here. Hope you all are happy for me.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

1. DU could learn a little bit about peace from Jimmy Carter. The disruptors need to be ejected and

the in-fighting needs to stop.

Jimmy Carter is the only living president that I have not spoken to personally. I am excited for you that you got to meet him. I will be looking for him in Dallas, if it's not already too late.

[Logical]

3. Wow, nice plan. And I assume you get to decide "disrupters"???

[ChisolmTrailDem]

4. No I don't. Do you have a problem with righwingfuck infiltrators and those with secret agendas

that are here specifically to disrupt the discourse on DU being ejected?

[Logical]

6. Please identify them!! I am on mirt and can address it!!! nt

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. Then it is YOUR job to identify them. But the next time I run across one (RC got ejected tonight...

because he disrupted poorly), I'll let you know personally.

[brooklynite]

48. You seriously believe that someone invests time and money supporting organized trolling on DU?

I enjoy engaging in political discourse, but with all respect, I don't for a minute assume that a blog that's out of alignment with the average Democratic voter has sufficient external clout to make right-wing groups lose sleep.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

50. That is not what I said - at all. Jeez! nt

[brooklynite]

53. "infiltrators and those with secret agendas....."

"...that are here specifically to disrupt the discourse on DU"

Was there a typo?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

54. I didn't say a goddamned thing about "organized" trolling or "money". And I'm no longer

going to argue with you about the context of my own comments, which you have obviously decided to define for yourself.

Also obvious is that you do not agree with me that the in-fighting needs to stop since you are now perpetrating even more of it. Instead of simply noting my comment within the spirit in which is was given and moving on, you decided to start yet another fight with someone who is on your side of policy issues.

SMFGDH!

[mopinko]

43. ignore them

for one day, friday april 5.

just sayin

[bluestate10]

68. So. What is a "Disrupter"? I that a person who doesn't agree

with you on some issues, but who largely shares the same political and societal DNA as you?

[G_j]

2. how wonderful

I'm envious!

[Samantha]

5. How very wonderful for you

He is such a national treasure. I admire him so much and ALMOST was able to attend a book-signing he had in Virginia a few years ago. It was a good distance from my house, and my ride and navigator bailed at the last moment.

But I did attend Al Gore's book-signing for An Inconvenient Truth. That autographed copy of his book is one of my most prized possessions. Although we were told no conversation permitted with Al Gore due to the extreme length of the line and the press of trying to get everyone through that line, I broke the rule. I looked him right in the eye and thanked him for speaking out against the United States starting the war in Iraq. I also told him I was from Tennessee so he would know those who appreciated that speech were not confirmed to the nation's capital.

Book-signings are remarkable experiences, and I am so happy for you that you were able to meet former President Carter. I am only sorry you didn't take me with you!!

Sam

[NYC_SKP]

8. I'm delighted!

I hope things get better around here, it's become downright stupid.

Thanks for sharing, I'd love to meet President Carter one day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. A lesson I learned from former President Carter no less,

is to keep the eye on the price... and that even when people seem divided, usually there is more that unites them.

Of course I had more than just five seconds. And that is a lesson I follow.

He also said something else that I did not understand until I started covering politics, like for real, and watching the sausage being made close up and personal. And that is that government is both the most exhilarating and frustrating experience one could ever witness, let alone experience.

I fear I will not consider running for office, and if I ever do, the last place I will announce will be DU. Then again, knowing my LOCAL party, support from Democrats will be like non existent, but that has to do with local dysfunction. But then again, watching the sausage made I think, is more than sufficient. Quite frankly I prefer a regular wild fire. They are just as destructive, but not so many bouncy balls to watch.

[pangaia]

30. Keep the eye on the price.?

Your slipping.

I just woke up at 3:15 am, couldn't go back to sleep. --duh--and came down to check out what's up here..
Hope you were sleeping soundly.

[July]

70. If that's a comment on spelling,

let me be the first to point out that you've spelled "you're" incorrectly.

[pangaia]

71. OMG! :>))

Am I a dumb ass or what.

Well, it was 3 am ish.

Thanks. I think I'll leave it.


I always find nadine's posts interesting...

[Jenoch]

10. I have never met a president.

That would be cool.

I did get my photo taken with USSC Chief Justice Warren Burger, Associate Justice Harry Blackmun, VP (then back in the US Senate) Hubert Humphrey, VP Walter Mondale, and all of the rest of the Minnesota congressional delegation when I was 15 years old. My parents brought me along to a banquet that was held in the Senate hearing room where they conducted the Army-McCarthy hearings and just a few years prior, the Watergate Hearings. At the time I wasn't too impressed. 

I recently ran across a picture of my mother "photo bombing" VP Mondale. Of course that term was about 25 years away from being invented.

[Tumbulu]

11. I am thrilled for you!

How wonderful- thanks for letting us know!

[BootinUp]

12. Its a shame he didn't get a second term

especially when you think about how Bush II did. Makes me sick to my stomach.

[Hekate]

13. Nice to see you, nolabear, & thanks for sharing this

President Jimmy Carter is a great man -- how wonderful that you got to be there.

Stay well,

Hekate

[DebJ]

14. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome! Color me green with jealousy!

I had an 'opportunity' once to work side-by-side with him on a house in Baltimore, but I didn't have the guts to lie and
call in sick to work. My boss was a real jerk. Ended up leaving that company a short time later anyway. This will always
be one of my lifetime regrets. "What might have been...."

[No Vested Interest]

15. He'll be in Cincinnati tonight (Tuesday) for the book-signing.

I went to one of his about 10 years ago in Durham, NC, and have been to his Sunday School class at the Baptist Church he attended in Plains, GA more like 15 years ago.

As you might expect, President Carter is always gracious. After the Sunday school class, he and Roslynn posed with the attendees outside, for photos, which I proudly display.

Not sure if I'll be going tonight - I'm not so good with parking and walking and crowds as I was then. But I might go!

[cer7711]

16. I'm Thrilled For You!

Great post; good observations. Thanks for sharing!

[kelliekat44]

17. Lucky you! i love the man. nt

[YOHABLO]

18. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are the nicest people .. and they are REAL Christians.

[Lochloosa]

34. ^^^This^^^

[NBachers]

19. Thanks for taking us along with you, Nolabear!

Nice to see your name around here again.

I had to tell another thread tonight that they were just like a screeching dysfunctional family at the dinner table.

I still go here every day, but there's a movement afoot to smash this thing to bits. I'm getting tired of putting up with it.

[Triana]

20. I'd love to meet President Carter. Lucky you!

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! I AM happy for you!

[onestepforward]

21. How exciting!

He's a very special person and one-of-a-kind!

[LibDemAlways]

22. I met him at a book signing years ago. I was

holding my daughter who was probably two. He reached out and touched her hand, said "hello darlin" and told me she was beautiful. It was a brief but very memorable moment. Anyone who has the opportunity to attend these kinds of events should go. Well worth the effort.

[DFW]

23. Congratulations!

He was one of the decent ones, maybe the most so, and I've met more than half of them since 1965. I was seated right in front of him once at a Gridiron dinner, but never got to speak to him. Fritz Mondale had been a long time family friend since the 1960s, as my grandmother was heavily involved in Humphrey's first Senate campaign in 1948, but despite that, I never got to meet Carter personally.

One thing you'll appreciate: at Gridiron, all speakers are supposed to give humorous speeches. Carter was famous for walking back to the White House after his inauguration instead of riding in the traditional black limousine. Mondale, as VP spoke first, and said that he was the real power in the White House, as was demonstrated by the fact that after the inauguration, he rode back to the White House in a chauffeur-driven heated limousine, where Carter was "forced" to walk. When Carter got up to speak afterwards, he said he was appreciative of the remarks of the "acting" Vice President.

[BlueMTexpat]

28. Thanks for the vignette! :) eom

[Tsiyu]

24. Lucky you!

He gives the world hope - a national treasure.

Glad you got to meet him.

[Rex]

25. Lucky!

I am so jealous!

[Oakenshield]

26. Thanks for sharing your experience with us nolabear!

We're certainly happy for you! And probably a bit a jealous too.

[KT2000]

27. How cool is that!

Loved your description too.
He has accomplished so much for those with very little.

[BlueMTexpat]

29. Genuinely decent people like Jimmy Carter are

like rays of sunshine in a gloomy world.

We need all that we can get. Thanks so much for the story!

[Borchkins]

31. Happy for you?

I am way beyond happy for you! He is my hero, I named my son Carter, after him. We are going to be sitting in the pews at his church on Easter Sunday to listen to his sermon (and we, mom and dad, are very agnostic!).

I feel the same way as you do about the fighting on DU these days, but your third paragraph sums up my feelings as well.

I hope I am as eloquent when I try to describe meeting him in three weeks as you are! Congrats.
B

[Rhiannon12866]

32. I'm not only happy for you, I'm envious, LOL!

He was the first presidential candidate I ever supported and he's continued to impress and amaze me ever since!

[Lochloosa]

33. I met him at a book signing about 10 years ago. I got about 30 secs with him.

He asked about my campaign button I was wearing for the local election supervisor and what were his chances of winning.

I relayed a message from my Step-Mother from a conversation earlier that day, she said he was the last truly Christian President.

I got the famous Carter Smile for that one.

The thing that struck me most about him were those twinkling? piercing? blue eyes. There was so much compassion coming from them, I'll never forget that look.

[a kennedy]

35. He was wonderful on Stephen Colbert......

here's the video: http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/0k0w7y/president-jimmy-carter---the-colbert-interviews

and love this one: Jimmy Carter to Stephen.......said that he'd consider converting to Catholicism on two conditions: that Pope Francis "stays on in office" and that "a female Catholic priest asks me to join her church." -

[City Lights]

36. I'm green with envy!

I'm very happy for you! Congrats!

[LuvNewcastle]

37. Good for you!

I would love to meet him, too. He really is a wonderful fellow, and I'm glad he's started speaking his mind lately about some things.

[malaise]

38. Nice post

Lucky you

Rec

[otherone]

55. yes

Agreed

[DrDan]

39. I had the good fotune to meet him in Cairo in the late-80's

He (as was I) was attending a high-tech convention. I was thrilled to have my picture taken with him - still proud of that picture.

While on my way back to the hotel, I was talking to the driver - and he was THRILLED at his visit. JC was a hero to the Egyptians - and it showed through the excitement of that driver.

[aikoaiko]

40. Very cool. Jimmy is a good Georgian.

[HockeyMom]

51. Plus a REAL Christian Man

who truly cares about other people. I would love to meet him too.

[Sancho]

41. I met Jimmy Carter when he was running for President...

he was campaigning in SC. He was truly impressive then, and still is my favorite President that I ever voted for. He understood energy, he worked for peace, not war, and he supported equality for all despite the south Georgia values that surrounded us.

Very cool that you got to meet him.

[MineralMan]

42. Jimmy Carter is a gentleman. nt

[sheshe2]

44. Thanks, nolabear.

I am happy for you, having met Jimmy Carter. What a good man.

So good to see you, nolabear.

[emsimon33]

45. Miss you, but thank you for the post. It made my day!!!!!

[MarianJack]

46. Congrats!

I want to meet one (or more) of our presidents someday with George W Shithead and his daddy being the exceptions...yuck!

PEACE!

[lunatica]

47. That's just cool!

Thanks for wading in to share your story!

[otohara]

49. I Made Tea For Mrs. Carter

she was at the radio station I was working at promoting her book...20 years ago..
Charming like her lovely husband.

[warrprayer]

52. I was one of the first 18 year olds to vote

and cast my vote for Jimmy, not once but twice. The best President of my lifetime.

[Marrah_G]

56. I would love to have that chance!

Very happy for you

[Zen Democrat]

57. Congratulations! It's my dream to meet President Carter.

I attended two rallies in 1976, a fundraising event and a big rally in 1980, and almost got to meet him at an event in the mid-80's at the Rothko Chapel giving the Carter-Menil Award for Human Rights to Bishop Desmond Tutu, in absentia.

The man just sparkles. He's MY idol.

[mountain grammy]

58. Nice.. checking for his next visit to Denver. worth the wait!

[blackspade]

59. Jealous...

[oxymoron]

60. One of the highlights of my life was meeting Jimmy Carter

I was student body president at my college and President Carter came to our campus on a campaign stop when he was running in the Presidential primaries. I sat alone with him in a room and briefed him on local and student issues. An amazing man.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

61. that must have been wonderful!

May that positive energy of his stay with you!

(Hmmm, staying away from DU.....might help 😉

[cal04]

62. thank you so much nolabear for sharing that

It sounds wonderful and I wish everyone could get to meet people like President Carter

[niyad]

63. I am thrilled for you, nolabear. thank you so much for sharing this special memory with us.

[nolabear]

64. Thank you to everyone for all the lovely remarks. I'm still smiling.

It's clear I'm not the only one who resonates with what a kind and moral man can do. IMO a "moral" man does good, and wishes good for others, no matter what his approach or belief system. I'm not a Christian but President Carter's ability to know his convictions, not to use them to belittle or belabor others but to truly try to lift others up in THIS life makes me respect him as much as any person I know.

Religion has always seemed to me to be at its best as a way of sustaining and comforting and loving the awe-inspiring nature of this fragile existence, and though I don't believe in things like a conscious "God" I respect that others do, particularly if they manifest the lovely idea that "God is love," pure and simple. President Carter has, as I understand him, promoted the nuts and bolts of that even as he chooses a metaphor for it that I do not. And I'm so happy he's now dealing with the hard question of how religion is used for just the opposite, even as he sticks with his religious perspective.

Again, I appreciate the like minds. (Only one fight!) You all be well. See you sometime.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

66. Well, and what did you think? I had a photo taken with him and heard him speak at church

in Plains, GA.

I was more impressed than I had been before. He's a presence!

[Thor_MN]

65. Cool. I did get to see him in person, but from about 200 feet away.

Duluth, MN in 1978. My parents were involved with the Duluth Symphony Chorus and I occasionally got to help working backstage (would have been in 10th grade at the time). So we knew the people who were the actual (paid) employees. We got a tip that if we wanted to see him when he left, waiting near where the protestors (grrr...) were (Front entrance) would be a waste of time... My dad and I were as close to him as anyone could get, as we knew he was going to use the same door that we always used.

I envy you your experience.

[IkeRepublican]

67. Envious

Only presidents I've ever seen in real person were Daddy Bush (1988 All Star Game, Cincinnati) and Shrub (2004 Cuyahoga Airport, Richmond Heights OH) It wasn't voluntarily in either place, but I'll save writing how those two instances came to fruition...or rotten fruit, now that I think about it.

Jimmy's a hell of a guy. Balls of steel.

[JDPriestly]

69. I love Jimmy Carter. Wonderful man!

[NCTraveler]

72. Met him at church a couple of years ago.

He was giving a sermon. It was an amazing experience. Such a good man. He left the church about a year after I met him. Got a very nice picture with he and his wife. I love the Carters.