[January 1, 2025] Perhaps it is fitting that my first article of the New Year is about President Jimmy Carter. My Mom advised me never to speak ill of the dead, so I will minimize my violation of her proper values. Jimmy Carter was a good man but a terrible president, as he proved repeatedly.
Over the next few days, we can expect to hear politicians and religious leaders speak eloquently of his life and how much he made America and the world a better place. Okay, I will not argue that point, but it is my moral duty to say that Carter fumbled the ball as a leader, and ultimately, that hurt the vast majority of Americans. For example, I’m old enough to remember how his policies led to sky-high inflation, rocketing gas prices, and high interest rates.
Carter left the presidency in defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980, losing in a staggering defeat because we were a nation in decline. We knew it and laid the blame squarely on his shoulders. Yet, let it be known that our citizens actually liked Carter the man, just not Carter the President.
“Almost everyone agrees that Jimmy Carter was not our best President, but as former Presidents go, he’s tops.” — People Magazine, December 29, 2024
Carter, as President, had a more complex and controversial persona than we saw as citizens at the time. He had a Jekyll and Hyde personality. In his heart, however, he was a Christian man, ruthless but still Christian. He tried and succeeded in creating a persona that elevated him above politics, making him likable and seemingly helpful, someone who wanted the best for our citizens and the world. His human rights initiatives are a powerful example.
In Carter’s autobiography, Why Not the Best?, he said that he was “optimistic about America’s third century,” yet he became the symbol for America’s malaise, pessimism, limits to growth, declining morale, and economic stagnation. I remember his presidency well. His attempts to please others, especially foreign non-democratic nations, hurt America. Try buying a house at 18 percent interest or being allowed to buy gas only every other day. These were not good times. We Americans were vying for third place in the world and we were losing ground.
Who could forget the worldwide humiliation of a startup, Islamic nation taking American hostages for 444 days or the failed rescue attempt that cost the lives of many service members? Who could forget the mailese? Who could ever forget the stagflation? This would be Carter’s legacy, and this is why he was so overwhelmingly defeated when he ran for a second term. We, the people, had enough of him.
“When he became governor and then president, Carter continued to show himself bereft of a solid intellectual foundation for his political views.” — biographer Kenneth Morris
So, remembering again my Mom’s practical advice not to speak ill of the dead … RIP Jimmy Carter.
————
Please read my books:
I was happy that ex-president Jimmy Carter found something after his one term in office that allowed him to recover from his humiliation as our once-president. He allowed Americans to be down on themselves. That should be a lesson so that we never repeat that level of nor tolerate that kind of weakness in a leader. Joe Biden was much much much worse than Carter. I am sad that Jimmy Carter has passed but he lived a decent life.
– – – – and ex-president Jimmy Carter actually lived to be 100 years old. Amazing.
“Jimmy Carter was a good man but a terrible president, as he proved repeatedly.” — Gen. Doug Satterfield
Best quote of the day.
Happy New Year, Gen. Satterfield and best wishes to you and your family. Hoping for a better 2025. And because Donald Trump will be president, I know it will be great.
Bad president means bad president.
Well Jack, got that right. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
“Almost everyone agrees that Jimmy Carter was not our best President, but as former Presidents go, he’s tops.” — People Magazine, December 29, 2024
——
As usual, one of the once-great magazines has fallen for the leftist ideology that dragged their ability to tell the truth into the gutter. This is why most folks do not trust the media. They just cannot bring themselves to tell the truth. In this case, Carter’s poor leadership had terrible consequences. Like Obama and Biden, Americans are worse off because their lack of good policies.
RIP Jimmy Carter. Gen. Satterfield and his mom are right. Do not speak ill of the dead. Let it go emotionally but remember it intelligently so as to never repeat those same mistakes. This is why, I think, it is important to know about the times of Pres. Carter.
Good thinking Jonnie!
Yep, that’s as far as I can take it. Carter was perhaps a good man, at least at one time, but no one can really tell recently (and no one is talking). We do know that he made a horrific president, just got promoted to a position that he could not handle. This is an example of what happens. Biden is another example where he got a promotion to VP when he didn’t deserve it – he was just a white man on the ticket. But when he was “elected” (where did those votes go? hint hint), it showed he was not up to the task either in character (per Gen. Satterfield) or because he had dementia. Nuff said.
… veering off topic are we Bryan? Just kidding.
Former President Jimmy Carter — who died in his hometown of Plains, Ga., on Sunday — was reviled by Republicans and ridiculed by essentially everyone else after he left office in 1981.
Why?
He gave away the Panama Canal
He is policies led to 13% inflation
The energy crisis and the ‘malaise’ speech
The Iran hostage crisis
The ‘killer rabbit’
I’ve committed adulatory in my heart
… these are not offset by the good.
The legend who knew how to kill leadership. Jimmy “smilin’” Carter. 😁
I’m not going to down play or up play Jimmy Carter. He was human and deserves our respect because he passed. Let us come together to pray for his soul in the knowledge that he did his best in politics, Christianity, and with his family. I see that all past presidents are going to his funeral as it should be. But, if Carter was a Republican, this would not happen.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Ouch, Gen. Satterfield has a controlled accounting for ex-president Carter today.
Happy New Year to all
I too am old enough to remember those times and they were not good years. Being a good man doesn’t mean you can be a good leader. Jimmy Carter was a terrible president. I’m glad he lived long enough to shed the label of America’s worst president to Joe Biden. 🙀 RIP Jimmy Carter.
Pastor Jim, you nailed it. I disagreed with Pres. Carter on his policies – typical Democrat – but liked him as a Christian man. This is what got him to the presidency but that persona couldn’t allow him to be effective and that is why his “leadership “ lead to America’s decline at a time when the world was in a state of crisis.
I’m too young for the experience and always wondered why people said he was the “worst president” that Americans ever had. I’m still reading about it. But I was shocked that to buy a house, you might pay 18% interest. SHOCKING. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬