Jimmy Carter: "Bush Administration is Worst In History"

[Zomby Woof]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070519/ap_on_re_us/carter_bush

Carter: Bush's impact 'worst in history'

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.

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."


and:


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.



:thumbsup: Kudos to the most honest president of my lifetime! Maybe the most of all time. :D

[sam sarrha]

1. give em hell Jimmy ..

[L. Coyote]

28. Hoping to hear this mantra repeated frequently. When the need arises

so do good men and women. I'd like to see Carter hit the campaign trail, not necessarily as a candidate, but just to speak out to the crowds about the misdeeds and Gonzolies of Bushco.

[MrModerate]

2. I think Jimmy may have been a tad pissed off . . .

About the organized smear campaign against his recent book on the Palestine/Israel conflict.

Myself, I'd go further and give Bush credit as the worst president in history on the domestic front as well. It's not just Katrina: his tax cuts -- which have accelerated a transfer of wealth to the uber-rich and which will prove to be disastrous for America and the world -- might be the stealth legacy that finally tears the country apart.

[Lasher]

24. Ditto on that domestic front.

Dynasties like that of the Walton family are a danger to us all.

On a brigher note, yesterday I watched Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, the two wealthiest people in the world, taking questions from college students. One asked them what they thought about a flat tax. Both said taxes are a lot flatter now than you might think, partly because payroll taxes have a ceiling. Neither approved of Junior's tax cuts that mostly benefitted them and other rich people.

Buffett said he could have avoided paying any income tax at all for most of his life if he had wanted.

OK this is off topic but I just wanted to share this glimmer of hope.

[louis-t]

38. I said this of Kerry during '04 campaign.

It takes no guts at all to say "I'm rich, I think I'll give myself a tax cut." It takes a lot of guts to say "I'm rich, I can afford to pay my fair share,"

[opihimoimoi]

3. But its TRUE...its almost as if Bushies Mission is to reduce Human Population

in a dramatic fashion....War, etc to effect a FAMINE of immense proportions...

Look at the Evidence...no Peace in the picture is there?

He sends Bolton to the UN...bad move

He sends Wolfie to the World Bank...worse move

He appoints Seedy to the Justice Dept...Insane Move

Chertoff is a Crony

Brownie too

Karen has failed her mission

So did Condi

Its almost endless.....

Come, we go drink already

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. Well, t here is a "duh" moment for sure.

:silly:

[kiteinthewind]

5. There goes Jimmy again, tellin' it like it is!! I have so much respect for this man.

:patriot:

[Grandrose]

6. LOL Tell us how you really feel...

President Carter, everything said was the gospel truth!:applause: :yourock: :kick:

[stevedeshazer]

7. Jimmy Carter is the last honest President

Long live Jimmy.

[emilyg]

23. Amen

[PurpleChez]

36. One man who makes me proud to live in Georgia.

[frogcycle]

8. yea JC!

Hey, you s'pose when bush's poll numbers dropped below Carter's low point that Carter did a little jig?

:)

maybe that "emboldened" him to speak out!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

19. You don't understand Jimmy Carter at all

Hey, you s'pose when bush's poll numbers dropped below Carter's low point that Carter did a little jig?

Carter is concerned about the country and the world. He could give a rat's ass about the polls.

He's been speaking out against Bush from time to time and he's spoken out about the status quo in the Middle East, with Israel's foot on the throat of the Palestinians. I don't think he needed any poll numbers to stiffen his spine.

Your observation doesn't show much understanding of JC at all and after I got over being completely disgusted and appalled by it, I was glad for the comparison.

Carter had bad poll numbers because he was dealt a lousy hand. He had to deal with the first energy crisis and the overthrow of the Shah of Iran as much as anything else.

BTW, the Shah falling was a real "intelligence failure" unlike the Bush regime's lies about intelligence.

Bush, OTOH, had a great hand coming in to office. There was peace, prosperity and a budget surplus when he was sworn in.

[frogcycle]

21. hey, Carter is my hero

I was one of the ones praising him when his poll numbers were crap

I was just making a joke

[PegDAC]

45. Peace, prosperity and a budget surplus,

which he promptly squandered.

[FloridaJudy]

9. Bless Jimmy, and may his tribe increase

I've always admired Carter, especially when his approval ratings were in the toilet. He had the temerity to speak the truth, even when it made him unpopular.

Can you imagine Bush going out and working for Peace and Justice when his term of office is (finally!) over? Hammering nails for Habitat for Humanity? Digging wells in Africa to provide clean water? Flying off to unsafe places to offer his diplomatic skills? Come to think of it, we should be grateful he'll never try the last...

I'll stake my money on some cushy job with lots of money and benefits with a military contractor. No responsibilities, though: even these guys know better than to give responsibility to a proven incompetent.

[Forkboy]

10. Best man to be president in my lifetime,for sure.

Very few in politics have come close to his integrity and honesty,even when he knew that honesty would hurt him.That's a far cry from today when everyone looks for the easiest scapegoat at the merest hint that something truthful might come out.

[Forkboy]

11. And I have to add...what a fantastic triple dig this part was;

"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."

First,the comparison to his Dad has to sting,then having the Republican God Ronnie whipped out,then the coup de grace,saying Nixon....ficking NIXON...was better. :rofl:

Jimmy....you are the best!!!!!

:thumbsup:

[riverdale]

48. ggg

I could be wrong, but I do think Nixon was probably the best Republican president out of all the Repubes that have come since him. It seems that each Republic they come out with is worst than the last. I can't imagine how it could get worse than GWB - finally we have hit bottom.

[biblebeltblogger]

12. Excerpts of interview availabel at www.biblebeltblog.com

If you'd like to hear excerpts from my interview with Jimmy Carter or if you'd like to read the original story in its entirety, they're available at my website:
www.biblebeltblog.com

Frank Lockwood
Religion Editor
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

[Morgana LaFey]

13. Welcome to DU!

Hope you'll stay awhile. If you're not familiar with this place, it has lots and lots and lots to offer. Glad to have you join us.

[nini]

43. Thanks for the excellent interview and welcome to DU

:thumbsup:

[IsItJustMe]

14. My hat is off to you Jimmy Carter. Truth, integrity and true courage in politicians are very rare

qualities to be found now days.

[waiting for hope]

15. I have always admired Carter...

Carter's Crusade

By Ayelish McGarvey, The American Prospect. Posted April 9, 2004.

"There is an element of fundamentalism involved, which involves the belief on the part of a human being that own concept of God is the proper one. And since the proper concept of God, particularly blessed and singled out for special consideration above and beyond those who disagree with .

Secondly, anyone who does disagree with , since harnessed to God in a unique way, then, by definition, must be wrong. And the second step is if you are in disagreement with concept of the way to worship, even among the Christian community, is that you are inferior to . And then the ultimate progression of that is that you're not only different and wrong and inferior but in some ways you are subhuman. So there's a loss of concern even for the death of those who disagree. And this takes fundamentalism to the extreme. This is an element of the fundamentalist cause in this country. If you are a wealthy white man, then you are naturally inclined to think that the poor are inferior and don't deserve your first consideration. If you are a wealthy white man, then you also take on the proposition that women are inherently inferior. This builds up a sense of prejudice and alienation that permeates the Christian right during these days."

http://www.alternet.org/story/18378

That's one of my favorites....

His statements above mean only one thing - he is deeply troubled and angry over the way this country has been managed. He is first and foremost a Christian, a man of deep faith, and he would never speak out like this if he didn't truly believe it.

WAY TO GO JIMMY!

:kick: and :thumbsup:

[shanti]

16. excellent, jimmy!!

oh man, i love it! :loveya:

[Maestro]

17. Couldn't agree more!

Jimmy easily was one of the presidents of the 20th century with the most integrity, if the one with the most! :thumbsup:

[treestar]

18. Go Jimmy!

It's great to have someone in a position where they can tell it like it is without worrying about repercussions.

Maybe the American People are finally ready to deal with reality? They've been living in Reagan fantasy land for 27 years now!

[tridim]

20. Clinton is/was pretty honest too, but Carter does still edge him out.

Ask any Republic to list one Clinton lie that didn't involve Monica.

[tavalon]

25. I love how that little dig against the Rethugs has taken on a life here

Republics instead of Republicans. It's not overtly derogatory and yet, much like the shortening of Democratic, it shows a disdain that I quite feel for those slimy bastiges.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

33. I agree... love the term "Republic" rather than "Republican"

[me b zola]

22. Thank you President Carter

You speak for me! :thumbsup:

[cwydro]

26. Thank you Jimmy.

Damn we could use another Jimmy, but it ain't ever gonna happen.

[cooolandrew]

27. Jimmy's legacy excels with time, which contrary to what bush says won't be the same for W.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

29. He said this knowing he would be crucified by the corporate whore media, truly a man of principal.

President Carter tells the truth so they have to attack him personally rather than dispute what he says.

[mconvente]

30. Too bad he's pretty old - he could serve one more term!

I'd love to see President Carter again - with a younger Gore as VP ready to take over in 4 years, we would be on the track to restoring our country. Of course, Gore for 8 years would be awesome too!

[L. Coyote]

31. ANYONE. Is there a video? Where? kick question.

[Zomby Woof]

47. It was a phone interview

With a journalist from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

[LWolf]

32. Why does it seem to take such courage

to SAY the obvious? So few politicians of any stripe have the courage to be publicly forthright and honest.

[bobbie]

34. Aright Jimmy

Keep it up.

You need to keep redeeming yourself for failing to investigate President Kennedy's murder when you had the chance.

[Tara_NM]

35. Carter is a hero in my book

Jimmy Carter is a personal hero of mine. Not so much because of what he did when he was in the White House but because of the work he has done since he left office and continues to do eve today.

Carter is a national treasure who always speaks truth to power all while doing a tremendous amount of humanitarian work around the world.

His latest comments about Bush and Blair are spot on, as usual!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

37. Again, Carter comes forward to speak...

...the blunt truth. And oh how the Christian far right did and still does hate this man. Nothing pisses them off more than a REAL true Christian who actually lives by those principles, and respects the separation of church and state, in a position of leadership. They did everything they could to undermine his Presidency and were, to a degree, successful with their smear.

[Madspirit]

39. I LOVE Jimmy Carter...n/t

[chelsea0011]

40. But * says we need to wait 20-40 years for history to decide what

kind of President he was.:shrug: :kick:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

41. Of course the truth is 'fighting words'

Just like blundering the country into a needless war used to be called 'resolute'

This new BushCo Bizarro World Decoder Ring is a wonder :silly:

[nini]

42. I love this man - he truly loves his country

unlike those who just say they do they crap all over the constitution.


excellent article!

[HockeyMom]

44. I lived through Nixon and Nam

Bush Administration is FAR WORSE. No comparison. Plus, Jimmy Carter has more compassion and "christianity" in his little finger than George Bush could ever have in his entire body.

Carter LIVES his faith. Bush just USES his to get VOTES.

[YvonneCa]

46. Thank you, President Carter...

...for your leadership during this very difficult time for our country.

[laura888]

49. My Favorite President

An ex-president putting himself out there for the good of the world.

I adore him.

[StarryNite]

50. Jimmy just hit one out of the park!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[bdamomma]

51. we have all been saying this for a long time.

[Catherine Vincent]

52. "In a very christian way, the whole Bush administration can all go to hell."

:evilgrin:

[opihimoimoi]

53. Jimmy is DA MAN....much more than wimpy Bush will ever be

at least Pres Carter can hold a HAMMER the right way....Bush likes the Gurly man grip....

[StarryNite]

54. JC speaks for me!

[moondust]

55. Not. Even. Arguable.

And highly predictable way back in 2000.