Former President Jimmy Carter died at 100

May he rest in peace.

 

Oh! Will they really? I love it!

 

From what I know the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that the flag should fly at half-staff for 30-days following the death of a president or former president. For other political figures, like a vice president or Supreme Court chief justice, the time period of mourning is ten days.

The flag will be lowered to half-staff at all federal buildings until January 28, 2025 in honor of the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec 29.

 

I celebrate a good man today. But I'm glad this occurred during Biden's term and not Trump's. I can't help think Trump would find some way to disrespect the former President.

 

Oops. Trump said some nice things about Carter today and was immediately blasted in social media by the Right.

 

I cannot pretend to grieve. I loathed Carter while he was President and for all his subsequent life. I still loathe him. I daresay I will bear my loathing unto my own death.

He was not merely a moral coward but his moral cowardice led directly to the election of a cardboard messiah, a montebank of the first water.

This view is probably uninformed, likely incorrect, and probably unjust. I will never know.

 

President Jimmy Carter's tenure was marked by both significant achievements and notable challenges.
His presidency, from 1977 to 1981, saw progress in areas like human rights, environmental policy, and the Camp David Accords, which led to a historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.
His commitment to diplomacy and humanitarian efforts remains one of his most lasting legacies.
However, his presidency was also marred by difficulties.
One of the most significant challenges was the Iran Hostage Crisis, which began in 1979.
The takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the capture of 52 American diplomats and citizens lasted for 444 days, severely damaging Carter's reputation.
Some argue that Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who promised to be neutral in his foreign relations, ultimately deceived the West, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Carter's failure to resolve the crisis before the end of his term was a major blow to his presidency.

Carter’s post-presidency years, however, have been characterized by an extraordinary commitment to humanitarian work.
Through the Carter Center, he has championed global health initiatives, worked to promote peace, and served as an advocate for democracy and human rights worldwide.
His post-presidency has often been viewed as even more successful than his time in office.

While there were certainly flaws and failures during his presidency, including the handling of the Iranian Crisis and economic difficulties at home, President Carter’s legacy is ultimately one of peace, service, and dedication to improving the lives of others.
Today I appriciate his work more than when I was younger.
100 years is a long life and influential life it was.
RIP President Jimmy Carter

 

I couldn't disagree more. Carter brought honesty and integrity back to the White House after a disasterous Nixon administration (and a brief and inept Ford one). Some of the things he accomplished were astonishing, especially given the horrible economy and hollow military he was handed.

I also think Reagan was inevitable. The guy who cleans up usually gets the blame, especially when the job is still not finished. Also, there remains to this day a significant portion of America wanting a strong MAN as president, even if he is spuriously so. Sound familiar?

 

Yes. It does. Carter could not have predicted Reagan of course so I suppose I'm railing against the vagaries of Fate. But to sit and watch, while in uniform and on active duty, the President of the United States do nothing for over a year but wring his hands over the Iranian act of war against this country infuriated me. It still does infuriate me. I can almost forgive his regular habit of coziness with terrorists. Almost. But to stand by for all that time was humiliating.

Now rationally, I know things were more complicated than they appeared to a very junior Navy officer. But loathing isn't a rational response.

 

True that it was an act of war to take over the embassy. If he'd attacked Iran though, the hostages would have likely been killed and we would have a war on our hands. Some Presidents would have chosen war. For example, I'll guess that Trump would chose war. So maybe you can forgive Carter (a little?) for not taking the Trump path?

 

No, I don't think Trump would choose war. He wouldn't se the point. What's in it for him?

Obama would resort to force. The bloody handed Bushes I and II would welcome the opportunity.

But all of these men would have done SOMETHING. Carter did NOTHING. Although very least, he could have stuffed the Persian Gulf with the Navy and seized a port city or two.

He failed to make the Iranians feel pain.

 

Except negoitate their release, of course.

 

Viewed from a different perspective, the late President Carter often faced criticism for being overly passive in addressing emerging threats. However, evidence from the era suggests his interventions were forceful, albeit miscalculated. These policies arguably contributed to regional instability and the rise of the Islamic Republic.

Before Carter’s presidency, Iran was a key U.S. ally in the Middle East under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who maintained stability in the region. The Carter administration, however, failed to grasp the radical nature of Ayatollah Khomeini’s movement and the Jihad. Despite assurances from Khomeini that his regime would be moderate and safeguard American interests, critics say Carter allowed the Shah’s government to collapse without significant resistance, paving the way for Khomeini’s Islamic Republic.

Had Carter acted differently and prevented the Shah’s overthrow, the trajectory of events such as the rise of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-Israel conflicts, the emergence of Hamas, the Houthi insurgency in Yemen, and even the Gulf War in the early 1990s might have been markedly different. For instance, in 1982, Iran used its base in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley to establish and support Hezbollah, transforming it into a well-equipped proxy force to serve Iranian interests. Arguably, all these could have been prevented.

 

No. He didn't. Reagan entered into an illegal arms for hostages deal. That's how they got released. It also help the terrorists establish their regime and cost the U.S. dearly since.

 

Anyway, this conversation isn't helping my blood pressure, it was a long time ago, and I'm probably wrong. So may he rest in peace and his memory be a blessing.

 

Well, I was trying to make you feel better about Carter. I think I've ended up feeling closer to your position though. (At least I'm amused at myself. That makes up for it a bit.)

 

No, that was a last-minute (and illegal) diversion by Reagan to keep the hostages in Iran until he was sworn in. It was the exact same thing Nixon did with North Vietnam in '68.