Obama is shaping up to be the next Jimmy Carter

Nice post, thanks for the insight. It was always my understanding that Kennedy kind of took a back seat on Southern civil rights (in terms of action, not just rhetoric) until the police turned hoses and dogs on citizens in Selma, Montgomery, and all over the South. However, I admit that I'm probably wrong on that, since after all, JFK did begin crafting the 1964 Civil Rights Act and my views of the Kennedys as people are not that fantastic.

In regards to Vietnam, it most certainly was Johnson's war. And I don't blame JFK for the long-standing policy of communist containment that initiated before him and continued decades after. Yet, all presidents of that era can be faulted for mistakes in that area and lauded for successes.

 

No problem. Sometimes I think the "in thing" is to take shots at Jack Kennedy (and no pun intended!). While I was more of a fan of Bobby Kennedy, and worked for his campaign in 1968 (not officially, but like many of us did for Obama last year), I was lucky enough to see Jack give his speech at Rice Stadium, where he said we were going to the Moon by the end of the decade. The guy had tens of thousands cheering like crazy (me included) and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Just an incredible speaker. I freely admit to being influenced by that.




I saw Bobby get gunned down on TV, live, because I stayed up until about 3am to make sure he'd won California and to hear his acceptance speech. One of the few times something made me weep. He would have been a great president.

 

You posted one saying he wasn't in the top 10 worst, so I posted you one that showed him as 7th worst, and only one hundredth of a point from being 6th worst.

 

History books I've read. Speaking to people that lived through the Carter years. Georgia history class. His lack of leadership skills is by no means a secret.

 

I suspect this desire is driven more by the knowledge that the logistics of such an event would prove difficult at best than anything else. If you truly want to take me up on my challenge, what better place than this BBS?

That being said, if you want to set up a live event, I will be happy to show you what debate is truly about.

 

And still not close to your hyperbole fueled claim that he was the worst in history.

 

Well give some examples. Possibly crack some of those books and read your highlighted parts.

 

i think that maybe the problem with your assessment. no doubt presidents should have leadership qualities, not everyone has them. but the actual governing/policy aspect to the position probably is most important imo. carter's high interest for example gave the ability to for reagan to come in and drop them but they were probably necessary at the time.

compare that to now where the fed has no where to go with interest rates.

 

I think you know I likely don't keep history books at my house. I have only short presidential books at home that give very little information. Nobody is forcing you to believe me. You can believe what you want to about Carter. I think he was a horrible choice as president. It is my opinion. It is much harder to judge presidents of the past. Many presidents were victims or beneficiaries of circumstance. You look at a President like Bush, who if he had lost the 2004 election, would likely have ended up near the middle of the rankings, but his 2nd term has led him to be considered in the bottom 10.

 

I realize it is your opinion. all of this is opinion. Just most people base their opinion on something. You said you based it on what you read in books. What did you read? Did it only say "He was a bad leader" or did it give some examples?

 

I think that's the whole point everyone is trying to bring up. It's hard to say the one president is the worst if not all the previous presidents were given the same in-depth analysis as your presumed worst president.

 

Basically from what I recall it was just the largest knock on him. It was something his critics berated him for, and not something that his defenders really tried to defend. Most defenses were based on him being of high moral values(a big deal considering Watergate was still in everyone's mind).

 

Splendid news.

I would like one day soon to be mentined in The Index and perhaps shake the hand of the High Commissioner himself.

 

Wow you seem to know so much about him.

 

Wow what's the deal with you hating Obama? So what if he has a st..st..studder. Glad I don't come here in the D&D too often.