30 Years Ago Today, Jimmy Carter was Elected President

[Zomby Woof]

It's depressing how the office has sunk even lower than it was during Nixon's time. During his four years in office, Carter elevated it, restoring integrity and trust to the White House, and while not perfect, he was intelligent, principled, and unafraid to lead where he thought our nation should go.

"Jimmy who?", the pundits said, when the obscure governor of Georgia declared his candidacy in 1975. Often caricatured as just a "peanut farmer", the man from Plains was also a graduate of the Naval Academy, and during his commission as an officer, served as a nuclear engineer. Now in his twilight years, Carter is a tireless advocate of peace, justice, and human rights worldwide. The 2002 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the 39th President of the United States, James Earl Carter, Jr. :patriot:

[Sequoia]

1. Dupe.

[Sequoia]

2. That was when I first got to vote!

[LynneSin]

4. Me too although...

I was only 10 years old and it was technically my dad's vote, I happen to be in the booth with him!

[Sequoia]

18. That's sweet.

[William Bloode]

3. Thanks you just made me feel old!

I remember it. I was young but i do remember. Mr Carter is a fine man, he has a million times the character of our present leader. He was just the victim of bad times and things beyond his control. The biggest things i remember from then politically are the gas shortages, and the Iran hostage situation.

Another thing i remember from his term i realize now. I recall how alternative energy was all the rage. Solar power and wind was popping up everywhere. You even saw it a lot integrated into lots of tv from the day. After Jimmeh that was all over. I remember thinking about it in the early 80's and my naive ass thought they had just solved the oil supply problem. :dunce:

Carter's term was the last time i could buy a roach clip at the grocery store!

[Zomby Woof]

5. Speaking of clips...

Carter supported limited legalization, or rather, decriminalizing the possession of small amounts.

Among his best accomplishments was the Camp David accords, which brought a lasting peace between Israel and Egypt. And although the right-wingnuts (future neocons) of his time derided the Panama Canal Treaty, it was the correct action. Time has vindicated him - the Canal no longer has the strategic or economic importance it had in its prime, and was a colonial holdover which exacerbated our always difficult relationship with Latin America.

The hostages all came back alive, thanks to his tireless negotiations. He was harshly criticized for the failed rescue mission, but he would have been damned if he didn't try.

The grain embargo against the Soviet Union was unpopular, but also correct. Right-wingers liked to TALK tough about the Soviet Union, but posturing and rhetoric were all they had - as Reagan would prove with his SDI fantasies and other contractor trough fillers.

As you said, he championed conservation and alternative energy. Of course, he was derided by the would-be neocons and middle Americans who felt they had the gawd-given right to use energy as they damn well pleased. It's an ugly streak of the American character that flourished under Reagan and has reached epidemic toxicity today.

[William Bloode]

8. I certainly remember the whole decriminalization deal.

I remember we were on the cusp of having some very sane drug policy. Then someone in his administration gets caught doing coke, and blows it all. I was a young flowering(pun intended) pothead at the time so i remember this more than the Camp David accords. Though i do remember Sadat getting whacked over it.

It may be misty eyed fantasy sentimentalism, but those times for all there problems seem like a golden age compared to what we have today. Afterward came Reagan, neocons, just say no, trickle down economics, religious right, compassionate conservatism. I gotta quit, i'm getting depressed now. :cry:

[Zomby Woof]

16. Because Carter was devout...

...the Religious Wrong expected him to do their bidding, and he wouldn't. So they threw their weight behind Reagan and the GOP.

I think a lot of people didn't appreciate Carter back then, and now do.

[cobalt1999]

6. Probably the most honest man to ever hold the office.

His energy policy, if continued, would have had us off foreign oil by now.

I remember the pulling out of the Olympics and the handling of the Hostage crisis as areas where I disagreed with him.

I also remember Billy Beer and "I've lusted in my heart" as funny moments.

[bertha katzenengel]

7. Ohh . . . better days.

:(

A great American. :patriot:

[buddhamama]

9. "i've seen better days"

i was four when he was elected pres; i remember his presidency though and was totally bummed when Reagan was elected. Carter is a humanitarian and damn fine human being.

[Phillycat]

11. Me too, all of that.

:thumbsup:

[nini]

10. waaaaaaaaahhhh..

this makes me realize how far down the drain we have gone :cry:


What a great man. :patriot:







:loveya:

[Zomby Woof]

14. I need to read more of his books

Trivia: He is the only ex-president to have a book of his poetry published. :D He is the best ex-president because of these diverse qualities of his humanity on display.

:loveya:

[Aristus]

12. I salute you, sir!

:patriot:

And you are still Constitutionally eligible for that second term, you know...

But forget that; you are BETTER than the Presidency, Mr. Carter. :-)

[kwassa]

13. and I voted for him. Now his son Jack Carter is running for the Senate

in Nevada.

Go, Jack!

[cwydro]

15. I miss him

[RebelOne]

17. The only think I disliked when Carter was in office

was when he let all the Mariel refugees into South Florida. Castro emptied his jails and the crime rate in Miami soared.

[jakefrep]

19. Jimmy Carter is probably....

the former President who has made the best use of the influence and prestige he gained from being President.

[jus_the_facts]

20. I remember how the media alway portrayed him as an idiot bumpkin....

....even as young as I was at the time it still resonates with me how cruel they were to him...even back in the day they were brainwashin' the masses into believin' he was just an ignorant southerner. :evilfrown:

[Left Is Write]

21. My parents voted for him!

At ten, I was too young. However, I did vote for him in my school's mock election.

[BlueIris]

22. Nice, but..."twilight years"?

Ouch. 70 is the new 50, you know. So, what does that make 8(1?)?...60ish. That's not even near the "dusk" years, if you ask me.