Interesting parallels.
The parallels between the first years in office of Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter are striking, according to James Carafano of the Heritage Foundation. Like Obama, Carter followed an unpopular president. Carter's Year One was invested in diplomacy and image-making.His energy was dedicated almost exclusively to "making nice" on the world stage. It's what drove his actions in the Israeli-Egyptian peace process, at strategic-arms limitation talks and in negotiating the Panama Canal Treaty.It was a perpetual exercise in "soft power."
Except now they are calling it "smart diplomacy".
A poor economy led Carter to scale down our military presence in the world. Year Two brought threats from around the world.A Soviet-backed coup in Afghanistan paved the way for Moscow's future invasion of the country. Demonstrations against the shah wracked the Iranian regime, paving the way for revolution and the rise of the ayatollahs. Trouble erupted across Africa, from Somalia to Zaire and Zambia, some of it inspired by Soviet meddling...America's enemies had taken measure of the man during his first, change-filled year in office. They saw weaknesses they could exploit. In the second year, they made their move.
As Year One ends for President Obama, he faces increasing belligerence from Russia, Iran, and South Korea. Al Qaeda-related attacks increase. Obama's charm offensive with our enemies doesn't seem too be working well so far.
Just like with Jimmah Carter they see that Jug Hussein Ears is a major league pussy. The only people that he wants to be tough on are Republicans and Fox News.
Obama has the lens of history for guidance. Perhaps the President will consider the experience of his fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner.
I doubt it. This administration is gonna be such a disaster that JHE will not be called the black Jimmah Carter, Jimmah Carter will be called the white JHE.
Posted by denny at October 28, 2009 09:06 AMCouldn't have put it any better myself. Thank you, sir.
As Churchill said once about somebody, "He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
When Carter finally gives up his nasty habit of fouling the air the rest of us have to breathe, I won't be able to attend the funeral . . . but I will send a very nice letter saying I approve.
As for the Narcissisist-in-Chief, he's a self-made man who worships his creator. Reading his obituary would give more people pleasure than an all-expense-paid cruise through the Caribbean.
Posted by: Ron on October 28, 2009 09:57 AMSalt & Pepper Traitor`s......
As the shining light from Obama`s Liberal Socialist Torch of hope & change fades toward extinction....The dim bulb which marked Jimmah`s Presidency gain`s the dubious upper hand for brilliance over the Messiah`s glow.
This is not to say Jimmah has achieved resurrection as a competent President .......In truth we are witness to the worst & the second worst President`s in our Nation`s history who happen to share a common thread of incompetence & traitorism.
Our enemies indeed gloat with uncontrolled glee while our lamestream media tries to rally support for both of these contemptible treasonous fool`s.
If you allow me to put my nose in USA affairs:
I have never understood how people could vote for an inexperienced ignoramus like Carter when the other choice was good, solid Ford.
I still cannot understand why some conservatives would abstain to vote for a so-called RINO, and thus give the chance to BozObama to get in.
I said it before. And, at the risk of being annoying, I'll say it again. McCain should have been promoted highly, right from the start, for at least ONE reason: He wasn't Obama.
It's about time American conservatives learn to appreciate a Republican President when they have one. He'll never be perfect. But 50% is better than nothing.
President Bush and his wife could have done with a bit of praise when they were in charge. I could never criticise Bush. And I knew I would miss him as soon as I saw him leaving the White House.
The world has been on a roller coaster ever since.
Posted by: Claudia on October 28, 2009 12:26 PMAnd, now, like Carter, Obama has American hostages in Iran.
I also see Obama like LBJ, tied up in a foreign conflict where he won't let the military win while he mismanages things from the White House, and, like LBJ, wants to have both guns and butter, which will increase our national debt and bring about runaway inflation.
Posted by: Woody on October 28, 2009 02:31 PMNow the question is which third world shithole is the next one who is going to allow "students" take our Embassy staff hostage for 400 plus days?
Posted by: Darrell on October 28, 2009 08:50 PMGreat article.
The only people that he wants to be tough on are Republicans and Fox News.
And he's incompetent at even that!
Claudia,
I agree with you wholeheartedly about McCain vs Obama. McCain was irrelevant as a motivating factor in that election. The vote was important because of what Obama is. If the election had been between Lieberman and McCain, I would have sat out the election, because I would have been confident that we'd continue to prosecute the wars to victory, regardless of the outcome of the election.
Posted by: Bill S on October 29, 2009 12:24 AMI believe that in the next 14 years, we will lose 5 cities, because of the o and the clintons. We lost 3,000 people after clinton got out of the oral office, because of him worrying more about where his next BJ was cumming from than national security. And the press and his supporters said what does it matter, it does not interfere with his job as president. OH, Really now.
Posted by: Heltau on October 29, 2009 12:56 AMObama the Commander???????
Here is a guy who apologizes to Europe for we being Arrogant......Well, No apologies are necessary & we know the difference between Arrogance & Sacrifice.
A review of some of our cemeteries in Europe revealed 104,369 who not only knew the Difference , they paid the Sacrifice.
1.France.... 11 cemeteries totaling 60,757 dead
2.Belgium.... 3 cemeteries totaling 13,689 dead
3.Italy.......2 cemeteries totaling 12,263 dead
4.Holland.....1 cemetery totaling 8301 dead
5.Luxembourg..1 cemetery totaling 5079 dead
6.England.....2 cemeteries totaling 4280 dead
A total of 20 Cemeteries with 104,369 dead who paid the ultimate sacrifice....They & their compatriots deserve better then the Messiah!
Obama does not know what leadership is, he is clueless & Arrogant....A disgrace to the office of POTUS & Commander in Chief.
We do not ask for praise but we have no need to apologize. Obama owe`s these America hero`s an apology & never again confuse their sacrifice to a perceived Arrogance.
Prosper .... I hope you get the message, but since you won`t & hate us .....Screw you as well.
Posted by: dudley1 on October 29, 2009 01:21 PMDudley1 - Well said! That's why, of course, Europe has a problem with America. It owes USA so much.The Europeans have never learned to say "Thank you!" There is a great amount of jealousy for the brave and efficient soldiering of the Yanks. Will they love you now that Obama is bowing to them? Not at all. They would love you only if you were defeated. They've been kept standing all those years because they were leaning on your country. They never understood that if USA would go down, the rest of the free world would go down also.
Posted by: Claudia on October 30, 2009 12:05 AMCan't get that Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson song, "Ebony and Ivory" out of my head...
Posted by: Jane Austen on October 31, 2009 01:45 PM