What are your thoughts/views on former US president Jimmy Carter?

[SpaceGalaxy]

[nightdrot]

From a personal standpoint, former President Carter is a good and decent man who believed and lived his faith. Entirely commendable and although, at times, he could be a bit sanctimonious, on the whole the former President was an admirable figure.

That said, at least until the advent of Mr. Biden's ten thumbed administration, as President, Mr. Carter was the worst President of my lifetime. It being noted that I was born about three months before President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and have thus lived through - in memory - the Johnson Administration through the present car crash called the Biden presidency - including the Clinton and Obama years, for those who may be inclined to view this argument as mere partisanship.

During Mr. Carter's tenure, in 1979, the rate of inflation hit 14.5% - the highest ever in peacetime. Then in 1980, the rate of inflation hit 13.1% - the first time the USA had ever experienced back-to-back years of double digit inflation in peacetime.

Both numbers dwarfing even the 9.1% level recently experienced under Mr. Biden. This double digit inflation inducing Fed policies that raised the prime interest rate - the rate banks charge their best customers - to a eye bulging 21.5%. This in turn leading to a recession where the unemployment rate peeked at 10.8%. Higher than even the 10.1% level hit in the recent so-called "Great Recession." All of this being accompanied by rising crime rates - though there were a variety of cultural factors that explain that - gas lines, and rising poverty levels.

In foreign policy, as President, Mr. Carter spoke of the nation's "inordinate fear of communism." Thus came the SALT II treaty - an arms control treaty so bad that even a Democrat controlled Senate would not ratify it. Also, in due course, came the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the placement of a Soviet combat brigade in Cuba. This set against problematic cuts in defense spending and the abandonment of the B-1 Bomber.

Then came the national humiliation of the Iran hostage crisis and, in due course, the failed attempt to rescue the hostages. A crisis resolved only as Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.

These are but a few of the highlights - or more accurately lowlights - of the Carter years. A time where things got so bad that Mr. Carter's job approval rating dropped to a paltry 37% and - suffice to say - he was removed from office after only one year.

Put is all together and whatever might be said of Mr. Carter the man, as President, he was a train wreck. Indeed, his presidency ended the ascendency of the Democratic party and set the stage for what might be called the "Reagan era" - an era that ended only at the advent of the Trump administration.

Suffice to say, no one should wish Mr. Carter ill and he is to be commended for how he spent his post-presidential years working for various charitable enterprises and the like. However, his presidency should not be romanticized. It was a miserable time and its' early termination was well deserved.

[nightdrot]

Type-o:

This sentence: " A time where things got so bad that Mr. Carter's job approval rating dropped to a paltry 37% and - suffice to say - he was removed from office after only one year."

Should read: " A time where things got so bad that Mr. Carter's job approval rating dropped to a paltry 37% and - suffice to say - he was removed from office after only one TERM."

[lightbulb27]

Good person, enjoyed his jovial personality and willingness to find ways to make peace.

Had some difficult issues going on in his time and unfortunate military accident trying to rescue hostages.

What I remember most was when Regan came in, Iran immediately released those hostages. I thought at the time... the voters made right decision. But I wasn't thinking about the $ Regan was about to spend...

[SaoirseS]

As a president he was well before my time, so I only have historical assessments to go by. By all accounts he was an honest and humble man, which seems to have made him miscast for the Presidency (since we all know there's no place for honesty and humility in Washington now, is there?). His Presidency was plagued by crisis and controversy, the most known of which was the Iranian hostage crisis.

History will probably be kinder to him for his work after the Presidency as a peacemaker and humanitarian.

[sage2021]

It's amazing how a man can go from peanut farmer to President of the United States 🤷🏼‍♀️. No credentials?

I remember him as my president at one time. When I think of him as president, my thoughts are that his presidency was very uneventful.
He was a nice person from what I remember.

[NamerOfStars]

A lousy President, as politics leaves little room for human decency, and compromising on the latter (reinstituting battle thralldom isn't exactly humanitarian, Jim) doesn't make up for deficiencies in the former. Running against an amiable scumbag like Reagan meant he had little chance.

The man is, however, among the best ex-Presidents we've had; I don't think anyone would begrudge that.

[Anonymous]

I couldnt name anyone before Obama/Biden/Trump aside from like Washington/Lincoln/Reagan/Kennedy and Bush. I didn't care for any of our presidents in general, but anyone outside of those 8, i legit couldnt tell you the name or order of them. I have no idea what year the carter man was prez. I only aced that “name all the presidents” test back in school because i had to memorize it for that week

[LiamJHayden]

Decent guy, but had issues governing because the Senate was practically, though not officially, controlled by Southern Democrats, including a-hole racists like John Stennis, James O. Eastland, among others, who opposed Carter. Very good former President.

[AviatorTom]

Jimmy Carter is a nice man. His Presidency was a difficult one, with high gas prices and the Iran Hostage crisis. Since then, he and his wife Rosalyn have been human ambassadors, and he has made Habitat for Humanity an important home-building organization.

He's 98 years old and has chosen to spend his final days in hospice care at his home. We will miss him when he passes.

[OddBeMe]

Let’s check what presidents do after they leave office.

Jimmy Carter started Habitat and still goes out to help build houses for poor people
Reagan…nothing. But he was shot so I’ll give him a pass.
Bush 1 and 2…nothing.
Clinton: Global charity.
Obama: Global charity.

[SnowedIn]

A very good man. Wicked crazy amazing smart. Not our best President (and he was a TERRIBLE administrator). I hope his final days are filled with family and as pain free as possible.

[Guy13]

He can rest in peace knowing Biden was president as that gets Carter off the "worse President" list.

[BCA6010]

An awful leader, but by most metrics a pretty solid man.

[Fuentes]

He was apart of a CIA scandal that flooded black & brown communities with drugs just to pay for a proxy war to abolish Russian influence from Central & South America. So I don't respect him.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Wasn't alive but from what I hear a decent nice man but just a bad leader/president.

Had no clue what he was doing.

[SuperMike100]

I’ve heard mixed things about his presidency, but his humanitarian work was definitely noteworthy. Saving Ottawa from a nuclear meltdown was also pretty cool.

[gorydetails]

A horrible president but a good man. He used his influence and wealth to actually help Americans.

[abc3643]

He wasn't a horrible president.
If you lived then, you'd understand that.

[gorydetails]

@abc3643 I did live then. I sat in his gas lines. I saw our embassy folks taken hostage.

[abc3643]

Yes, that's true. I remember all that as well. And that's a reason why re-elected in a landslide.

But, I have to ask you, if you lived then, WHY does your profile say "Age: 27".
Maybe you should change your user name to "gorylies"? ';) j/k

[gorydetails]

@abc3643 Carter was a one term president Einstein.

[abc3643]

Well, it's obvious you're a liar or an idiot and not deserving of continued discourse.
After all, how can I trust anything you say? I'd just be wasting my time.

[gorydetails]

@abc3643 dummy. You are the one who claimed he got re-elected by a landslide. This is demonstrably false.

[bayoubob]

The worst President in history. Now, he isn't. Jimmy lived long enough to see that through. Biden is now the worst.

[nawtee_me]

He was a better peanut farmer... He is a better former president than he was a president...

[Anonymous]

Damn, I barely remember him. I seem to recall he was a nice guy who wasn't really up to the job of President.

[Anonymous]

High inflation ✅

High unemployment ✅

Low Wage Growth ✅

Clearly the best president ever

[Anonymous]

Too honest to be a politician, he also came In the wrong time. Similar to Biden now

[Dargil]

He wasn't competent, but he was honest.

[abc3643]

He was competent, but he did have some bad luck that Reagan was able to capitalize on.

[Dargil]

@abc3643 We agree to disagree.

[abc3643]

We also need to agree that you weren't born.
I became an adult during the Carter Administration.

You will learn this soon enough as you deal with people younger than you:

>>> There is a huge difference between learning history via word of mouth or books or documentaries than there is when you live through it and it sears your memory.

[Dargil]

@abc3643 There are such things as unknown unknowns.

[abc3643]

I know that. I am paid STEM professional and can quote the late Donald Rumsfeld too. The difference is, to you, 1977-1981 contains many unknown unknowns. To me who was fully cognizant then, many of your unknown unknowns are known knowns.

[Anonymous]

I can't think of a better one.

[RandomGuy1030]

He looks naive

[Jltakk]

Cool guy, incompetent president.

[Damian69]

"Damn, how is he still alive?"

[Chazmatazz269]

In what terms?

[Pterodon]

Weakling