BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter

Subject: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:42 AM

It's about time Jimmy Carter got the Nobel Peace Prize. He is to be particularly commended for his work on river blindness and other scourges that never make the headlines. The Nobel Committee did itself no favours by mouthing off on American policy, but the prize is not itself tarnished.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: alanabit
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:06 AM

Congratulations to Jimmy Carter - one of only two presidents in my lifetime I would want to share a railway carriage with on a long journey. Congratulations also to the Nobel Committee. Maybe they did themselves no favours, but they did the rest of us a favour by reminding us never to go to war lightly.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Peg
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:17 AM

I love Mr. Carter and have ever since the 1970s. His energy policies did much to engender surplusses which if course the Reagan Whitehouse took credit for.

I have always thought he deserved the Nobel Prize and this is overdue, I feel. A fitting honor for this noble man.

How nice for a president to actually work for peace for decades AFTER his presidency, while most of our retired elder statesmen seem to spend their time fishing and playing golf...

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:29 AM

That is wonderful news and well-deserved. He is a man to be admired, standing by his convictions and working tirelessly for the benefit of all.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 10:30 AM

I'll join this bandwagon. While most former presidents take six-figure speaking engagements and fat gigs with corporate law firms, Carter builds houses for the poor and scolds world leaders who take the law into their own hands (such as George W., for instance.) It's nice to see a prominent American stand up for human rights. Rumor is that, following his work in Haiti, Panama and Nicaragua, he is planning to come down here to Florida to supervise the next elections! Carter is the only person I've voted for twice, theorizing that there are worse things than an incompetent president. I think current events have proven this logic to be correct.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 11:04 AM

Well-deserved, and long overdue. And sweeter for the fact that Mr. Carter has never actively campaigned for the prize as so many have. He may not have been the best president to have ever served in the office, but I firmly believe he is the best man to have done so.

And, Gern: "...there are worse things than an incompetent president. I think current events have proven this logic to be correct." Surely you are not implying that the shrub is competent? ;-)

Bruce

Subject: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Genie
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 12:42 PM

Couldn't've said it better, myself, Bee-dubya.
"Well-deserved and long overdue ... "

Genie

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 01:57 PM

Not a bad choice at all.
Well this helps make up for the awarding of that same Peace Prize to the
likes of Arafat and ol' Henry the K.

Now I wonder if Carter will apply his newly awarded credability for Peace
towards helping resolve the Isreal/Palestinian impasse and the Middle East
Peace process : a cause another Nobel peer of Peace was assasinated for ;
Anwar Sadat.

Should also be interesting how he may choose to weigh in on
the as yet far-from-finished business of nation building in Afghanistan
strongly advocating this as essential to "securing" a lasting Peace which
the Attack Iraq inititative blatantly lacks.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 02:17 PM

...one of only two presidents in my lifetime I would want to share a railway carriage with on a long journey

Which is the other one?

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: SharonA
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 02:34 PM

I was wondering that, too...

Congratulations to Jimmy. Hmmm, wonder if he'd consider running for the Presidency again? He seems like a more viable Democratic candidate than Gore!

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: NicoleC
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:22 PM

LOL, Sharon, you're right! I'd vote for Carter instead of Gore!

Jimmy is one of the few politicians that uses their political clout in service to their fellow man. And he does it quietly and with humility. The man is much deserving of this recognition.

But I don't think he's the right guy for Israel. Sharon might chew him up into bits, but I bet Arafat would come to the table and work hard with Jimmy. I propose a team of Carter (for his peacemaking abilities), Jesse Jackson (he's a helluva negotiator), and a solid but smart military man that will go toe to toe when necessary -- Powell springs to mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:32 PM

I agree that Carter should be put forward for the Nobel. Having said that, I think that honesty requires that I state that most unbiased observers of the Presidency, would agree that Carter was probably the worst President in the second half of the 20th Century. To some extent he was snakebit, but he picked a rather inept Cabinet, had a brother who was almost as corrupt as Hillary's, and replaced an equally snakebit President, who has recently won the "Profiles in Courage" award from the Kennedy Foundation, for the unselfish act of pardoning Richard Nixon. Almost thirty years later, Teddy Kennedy admitted that he was wrong about Gerald Ford, and that claiming that the pardon was a payback to Nixon for selecting Ford as his Vice President, was a political ploy to get Carter elected.

That Ford spends the rest of his life playing golf is ample reward for what Carter and the other Democrats did to him. That Carter should get a Nobel for his years of service to his fellow man, after such a dismal failure as President, is also a rough form of justice. That Kennedy should drown in the back seat of car that has fallen off a bridge, would be another...

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:39 PM

Yep, knowing that Jimmy Carter walks among us makes me feel a lot safer. His persistence in working and working with the Iranians to free the hostages speaks volumes about his patience, his faith and his uncompromising belief in the sanctity of life.

There are those who claim a level of Faith who huff and puff and try to ram their beliefs down everyone's throats and there are men of principle and Faith who just go about demonstrating their values thru everyday deeds.

Bless Jimmy Carter. Our last truely moral President.

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: The Pooka
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:44 PM

Goodness Claymore. Worse than *Nixon*, even?

Well, I too congratulate Jimmuh. / Yes he's probably a better former-President than he was a President; but I say we've had, and *have*, plenty worse. And he's a damn fine man.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:52 PM

The worst president in the 2nd half of the 20th century? Where would one begin? Richard Nixon, who bombed Cambodia, and lied repeatedly to the American people, attempted to subvert the Constitution and is responsible for the useless loss of thousands of American lives and Vietnamese when his so called plan disappeared; Ronald Reagan, the corpses of whose victims lie around Central America, and who, like most Republicans (including George W.) squandered vast surpluses on useless military spending, and left it to Democrats to desperately bring the budgets back into line; Lyndon Johnson, hopelessly adrift; Gerald Ford, mental midget; Bill Clinton, who threw away his best chances due to his own strange psychological need to expose himself; and then JFK himself, wildly overrated, whose only virtue was that he was slightly brighter than his generals, who were insane dinosaurs. The staggering thing is that in spite of all these creatures, America was able to surge ahead, thanks to its burgeoning democratic, scientific, economic, and natural resources. The American people are to be saluted for their patience and inherent worthiness compared to the parade of losers who have been supposedly in charge, who rank with the Later Roman Emperors in the scariness of their overall quality. One can only imagine what they might have done if they had had any political leadership worth speaking of in the past 40 years.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: DougR
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 05:44 PM

I think Jimmy Carter should be commended for his work with the organization that builds homes for the less advantaged. I'm not convinced he should get the Nobel for it though. I think he was a lackluster president whose economic policies caused high double digit inflation, and he's done a fairly decent job of second guessing his Republican successors, but a Nobel? I don't think so.

I don't think he diddled around in the Oval Office though with an Intern or anyone else. He is a very honorable man, I think.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 05:50 PM

I'm with Alanabit, and the other president I would choose would be Harry Truman.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Peter T.
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:09 PM

I met Harry Truman when I was a lad, the only Yankee President I have shaken hands with. He admired my earmuffs (it was a very cold day). I offered them to him, but since they were bright green, he demurred. I would certainly share a railway carriage with him.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 06:39 PM

Yah, ya know, those blockheaded Norwegians jus' don't
have no darn Patriotism. How dare they dis Dubya like
that. Betcha they leave out the "under God" when they
recite the Pledge of Allegiance as well. Wouldn't
know myself; I stopped reciting it at all as soon
as I was old enough to figger out what it was. . . .

Cheers,

                           -- Arne Langsetmo

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: DougR
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 07:08 PM

Yeah, right, Nicole, Jesse Jackson for president. Just what we need. Jesse is a real piece of work (in my opinion of course).

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: NicoleC
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 07:21 PM

Jackson for Pres? No way. I meant Jackson on an Israeli/Palestinian negotiating team. He's got a knack for that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 07:44 PM

Carter is different fundimentally than the others... He approaches life in a (relatively) unpolitical fashion... but he follows his conscience beautifully... truly an example to all of us... He has done more work around the world, in more countries, to further peace and wellbeing than any American I've ever heard of... Not a mean bone in his body, unlike some of the posters re;above... He is the sort of person who you'd want for king... But in this Knock-em down and drag-em out political arena... Damn, he isn't even warmed up... and it's already over... to a very pathetic second rate hollywood actor who had no conscience at all ttr!

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:33 PM

Back to the "two presidents I would like to share a railway carriage on a long journey with" issue, Jimmy would definitely be one. The other would depend on whether or not my wife was along for the journey. If she was along I guess it would have to be Jack Kennedy. If it was just me and the ex-prez, then it would have to be ole Slick Willie himself, of course. You know, assuming there might be a handful of unaccompanied young women of questionable morals on the same train why not be in the company of a pro?

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: The Pooka
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:49 PM

Here we are, BeeDoubled again. Ell, you ignorant slut. Company of a Pro, indeed. :) Now lookit, you ol' reprobate: Bubba's awright fer that stuff, sure; damn site better'n *Dubba* (I refer to the Incumbink) unless I'm VEDDY much mistaken. Yale, schmayle. But if we talkin' lavin' the Wives to home (or, Throw Mama off the Train?), gimme a Time Machine and yer man Jay-Eff-Kay, anny day. It's like Marilyn said to Dan Quayle: "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." // On the other hand, maybe we should be discussing ex-First Ladies. My vote: Roslyn. She always did lust for me in her heart. Unfortunately, I gotta go see the Internist.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: The Pooka
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:54 PM

No offense there, Mister Jimmy. You deserve the Nobel Prize, AND Roslyn too. Best modern Presidential Couple. BeeDub jes' got me rantin & roarin'. (Jody Powell -- remember? -- after meeting the Egyptian Ambassador's lowcut-gowned wife at a Diplomatic Ball: "Ah hay-uvv seen th' Pyr'mids.")

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: The Pooka
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:03 PM

Rosalyn. With a "a". Jasus, Pookus. Bad. Better Set a Spell.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:16 PM

Pooka - You are, of course, absolutely right. JFK would do perfectly on both counts. Keep the wife enthralled until her beddy-bye time and then its BWL and JFK off to terrorize the female Amtrakees. Don't know though. Jack always got the good-looking women. At least Bill's taste was low enough that it would be possible for a normal guy to wind up with the better-looker out of a pair of bimbos. But, then again, JFK never got sued by any of his conquests, did he?

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: The Pooka
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:31 PM

Bee - *LOL* ! Us regular guys, right. Didn't think of that. O SO IT'S TRAILER-TRASH IZZIT!! Heeheehee / Of course JFK never got sued. Dad could afford to pay 'em off. / 1960 - "I uh received the following uh telegram from my uh fah-thah. 'Do not buy one moah vote than is absholutely necessary. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for a landshlide.'" :) / Looky maybe we better lettem get back to the Presidential commentary here. I mean about the little stuff, like war & peace. ;>

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 09:42 PM

The saddaest thing about Jimmy Carter's presidency was that the American people ALLOWED a foreign government namely Iran to Bring Down an American president. They wouldn't release the Iran Hostages until Reagan(God forbid) was elected. I firmly beleive that influenced the election. I felt safe when Carter was president. A feeling lost for the next 12 years. I've always admired him and am happy that he has been honored this way.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 08:44 AM

Congratulations to a great public servant whose presidency was not without some accomplishments. I think his greatest contribution was overhauling an amoral foreign policy by linking foreign aid to human rights observation. This practice is still in effect although used somewhat selectively by our government. vl

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 02:10 PM

Apparently Bush was among the nominees who didn't get the Nobel prize. Of course he wasn't able to stop the Nobel committee members finishing their voting procedure, which couldn't have helped his candidacy.

Tony Blair was another rejected nominee. I imagine he's sulking. I wonder if he'll allow the Norwegians to send us a Christmas Tree this year to stand in Trafalgar Square as they always have since the war?

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 02:38 PM

Let us not be too cynical. After George and Tony have brought peace, prosperity, democracy, and Christian values to Iraq through "regime change", promoted energy conservation at home to forestall future oil conflicts, fostered a Kurdish state beloved by its neighbours, extended the hand of friendship to Iran, sternly reoriented Syria, and focussed like a laser beam on the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, simultaneously completing the dismantling of global terrorism, all through the combined harmonious will of the United Nations and many, many bombs, they will certainly get their Nobel Peace Prize.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 03:06 PM

AS Bee-dubya-ell said, "Well-deserved, and long overdue."

The problem with Jimmy Carter as president was that he was less a politician and more a man of conscience. Extremely rare. If there were more like him, it would be a much better world.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: alanabit
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 05:02 PM

I'll go along with that. I always loved him for telling Americans that they did not have the right to continue consumption of the world's oil supplies in over sized cars and for not posturing over the hostage crisis. He paid a heavy political price for both. He was playing the long game though - and he was right on both counts. Maybe he was a better man than a politician - but I think that is more a condemnation of the political scene than of Carter.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 06:05 PM

Congratulations from me too, despite a sneaking suspicion that without Dubya's well-broadcast intention to start another world war soon the Norwegian committee would have had more difficulty picking a nominee. Still, it is certainly going to a deserving candidate.

Guest, I believe Iran were not the only baddies in the case of the hostages. From what I've read recently Carter was on the point of success when the Iranians were promised better returns if they put off the release till Reagan had started his term - by turncoat Henry Kissinger.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 06:36 PM

He'd only be 80 in 2004. That's younger than Gladstone was when he became Prime Minister for the last time. You should bring him back for another term.

"An Old President for a New Millennium."

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: 53
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 12:32 PM

congrats Jimmy

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: toadfrog
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 01:20 PM

Now if they would only endow a War Prize, they could honor our present Leader as well. Or split it between Geo. W. Bush and Sadaam Hussein!

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Don Firth
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 02:02 PM

True indeed, Alan. I didn't express it as well as I could have.

In upper political circles, I really wonder if it's possible these days for a person of genuine honesty and integrity to accomplish anything of lasting value. The first obstacles that such a person would encounter are the entrenched special interests and the corruption and double-dealing that has been the establish political modus operandi for generations. It seems that a person of integrity who finds himself or herself in the office of President would be confronted with something akin to the Labors of Hercules. The fifth Labor of Hercules was to clean out the stables of King Augeas. The first labor of such a president would be something similar to this.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 12:41 AM

For sure. The other problem is that the process of actually achieving office involves such an exhausting process of self presentation that it is unlikely that anyone with a normal sized ego would survive it. The conundrum is that to get into the position to do something useful, you have to be the sort of person that most of us would rate as unfit for office!

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: Glade
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 01:26 PM

It's wonderful that Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize. I've always admired him. The only time I can think of that he went off the rails was when he sent the helicopters in to rescue the hostages; seems like such an unthought-out desperate move made just to be seen doing something and totally unlike the man.

Subject: RE: BS: Congratulations to Jimmy Carter
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 01:40 PM

I don't know about that Glade. The Iranians were in breach of international law and occuppying what was legally American territory at the time. Carter was quite justified in using military force for the limited objective. I felt rather that the military incompetence - for which he rightly accepted the rap - was to blame. My father was the engineering officer on a Royal Navy aircraft carrier in the sixties. He assured me that if he had dared to send helicopters into desert combat without sand filters, they would have hanged him from the yardarm!