buylotrogold

I would like to say that Jimmy Carter is one of my most admired persons, and I I too, don't think there are many people I admire more Jimmy Carter.  However, I despised him while he was in office. The hostage crisis was the second time in my life I realized I was NOT the 'Peace at Any Price' idealist I had always thought I was. The first time was upon the birth of my first child.  Before that, I had thought I could never take a life, not even to save my own.  Before I even first held my child, I knew I could kill to protect that life.  Even so, I continued to think of myself as a pacifist. When the hostage situation happened, something in me changed.  I found myself sanctioning violence. As Ronnie was sworn in and the hostages were released, I begin to understand the final slap in the face that President Carter had suffered and I came to admire him.  He stood his ground for his beliefs in the face of worldwide ridicule and pressure, and it cost him dearly.  He was a strong man when few people in the entire world would have faulted him had he caved. When I was growing up, my parents taught me that no matter what, I had to be able to look myself in the mirror each day, and to live my life accordingly.  I don't think Jimmy Carter has any trouble accomplishing that. S

When I was growing up, my parents taught me that no matter what, I had to be able to look myself in the mirror each day, and to live my life accordingly.  I don't think Jimmy Carter has any trouble accomplishing that. S I don't think he does, either. Shug

I don't think Jimmy Carter has any trouble accomplishing that. Another Jimmy Carter admirer!    IMO, he is hands-down the best president we've ever had, because he's probably the only modern president (save Truman) who wasn't just a good leader, but had impeccable personal standards too.  He may have made mistakes (who doesn't?), but he stood by every decision as his own and never ever made excuses or passed the buck when something didn't go right.  I also believe that every decision he made (even the hostage crisis ones) was made with the utmost care as the best response given the circumstances.  I cringed the day Reagan got elected and always wondered why others believed his rhetoric and didn't see through it as just another acting job.  His refusal to see and take care of things like AIDS and homelessness were heartbreaking to watch.  Off soapbox <g. Kim Olson Freelance Writing and Editing Services Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for rates and information It is our duty to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist. - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

were heartbreaking to watch.  Off soapbox <g. Kim Olson Count me in too!  I admire Jimmy Carter greatly.  One of the things I like best about him is that he didn't need the Presidency in the way that others (e.g. Clinton) needed to be President.  Carter could leave the White House and move on without losing his sense of purpose and mission in life.  In fact, I think that Carter has even done more for the world since he left the Presidency than while he was President.  OTOH, it seems to me that Clinton is rather lost without being in the Oval Office.

Helena, It looks like you hit the 'Habitat' nail on the head.  I was a delegate at the political convention, which nominated Carter, yet was, also, a victim of those outrageous interest rates during his administration.  His presidency may not be judged in a positive way, but hands down, he beats them all with regard to personal integrity. He doesn't appear to be a photo op guy serving meals only when the cameras are on, but is committed to whatever he does. Too bad more politicians can't try to follow his lead.