Is it 1976 all over again? Is Obama the new Jimmy Carter?
I get this idea from, of all people, Democratic strategist Bob Beckel. Beckel was on TV the other day saying that Obama was looking a bit like Jimmy Carter in 1976. Beckel intended this as a compliment. After all, Carter came out of nowhere to steal the Democratic nomination and then went on to win the election. Obama too has vanquished a woman who was thought to be invincible for the Democratic nomination.
I think Beckel has a point with his Carter analogy, although Beckel does not seem to have thought it through deeply enough. Actually it goes even further than he imagines. Obama, like Carter, has had no preparation for the high office he seeks. Carter's background was in peanut farming; Obama's is in community activism. Yes, Carter was governor of Georgia and Obama has served briefly in the Senate. But no one can seriously argue that either brings to Washington anything like the experience necessary to run the United States of America.
Second, Obama, like Carter, tries to be all things to all people. Carter campaigned largely on vacuities like "change" and "cleaning out Washington." Sound familiar? Of course Americans after Watergate wanted Washington cleaned up and they wanted change. And of course Carter gave it to them, although it wasn't exactly the change they sought: stagflation, economic recession, runaway interest rates, U.S. hostages in Iran, a Soviet bear on the prowl, and what Carter himself called a national "malaise."
Obama is hoping that once again Americans will fall for his content-free campaign. And so far he seems to have the white liberal intelligentsia completely fooled. A classic example is my former debate opponent Alan Wolfe, who has endorsed Obama on the sole grounds that it's about time America let a black man into the Oval Office. Wolfe is not the brightest light in the academic firmament--I think of him as white America's answer to Cornel West--but he is one of the biggest opportunists this side of the Nile. Consequently his support of Obama shows which way this academic weatherman thinks the wind is blowing.
I don't know if Obama, like Carter, will make it to the White House in November. But the best thing about Carter was that, by being a complete disaster, he helped Reagan get elected in 1980. Even so, America paid a high price for Carter's foolishness--several countries fell into the Soviet orbit, and Iran fell into the clutches of the radical mullahs. Who knows how costly an Obama presidency could be? I for one hope it's not 1976 all over again.
Reader Comments ( Page 25 of 25)
361. AMEN to this article! We are already in a recession (near depression) and another 1976 would be true disaster! Carter had a one up on Obama, he was an HONEST man.
Marianne at 5:47AM on Jun 23rd 2008
362. Steve: Re: Post #306. National Security Issues:
With regard to one's military service, I don't think that necessarily we're talking about "insight into National Security Issues" as much as we are feeling that someone who has been 'blooded' probably will only put others in such a situation if/when it is necessary. Also, once a decision has been made to commit soldiers to combat, a person who has been so 'blooded' themself will probably have a better perpsective as to what is really important. We would hope that such a perpsective would allow a person to avoid taking half-measures (like Vietnam) because such measure break the hearts of the men and women who are willing to fight and die to achieve an objective just to see the political entities refuse to commit to that goal. We would also hope that a person with such a perspective would know when it is time to bring our soldiers home. It may sound idealistic but, what we really want is a political leader who is as committed and willing to sacrifice themself as our soldiers.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 12:05PM on Jun 23rd 2008
363. Keith J. Mohrhoff
I appreciated your thoughtful insight.
I have to admit that I have had similar thoughts on that aspect of actual combat service, though fortunately history suggests that some presidents have been effective and thoughtful without it of course. I have often wondered if Clinton and Bush weren't the two extremes of presidents without military experience - one reluctant to use force because of his avoidance of service and one too cavalier with others lives because of his lack of personal insight into the human costs.
Steve at 4:29PM on Jun 23rd 2008
364. Obama done since he has been elected to the Senate? Nothing that I can see.I am for change too but I am also for apple pie and motherhood.
Steve at 12:29PM on Jun 22nd 2008
xxxx
Since being elected to the senate, Barack Obama has secured the nomination of his party against the most formidable political machine in politics and he is currently steamrolling McBush, being up in double digits in the country and able now to win OH, PA and FL. He's done it all on private donations, and he has opted out of any tax-supported funding, making him even less obligated, and most important, fiscally responsible. Mcbush whines because his hands are still dirty.
At this moment, he's the only person talking about closing the Enron speculation loophole the republicanists put in and are playing dumb about. Shutting off speculation will decrease oil prices both immediately and dramatically. Mcbush can't do that because he's in bed with Phil Gramm, the housing and banking crisis designer.
That's just some of what Obama has done. I'm really surprised you missed that.
I'd guess anything past apple pie and motherhood is also a little past your pay grade.
Clif Kuplen at 7:34PM on Jun 23rd 2008
365. Steve:
Unfortunately, there is no 'guidebook' on how to lead. Each has to find a leadership style that works for them. Ideally, the best we can hope for is that our politcial leaders be people of moral character. But, the very nature of politics may make this impossible. Keep in mind that there are also several varibles that would render imprudent the creation of such a guidebook. Consider that Abraham Lincoln was an Army Reservist and was morally conscienscious. Yet he presided over four of the bloodiest years in our Nation's history.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 8:34AM on Jun 24th 2008
366. 354. I don't know, but two mares don't make a stallion, and two bulls don't make a cow. Come on down to the farm you won't see two roosters walking arm in arm.
Man_in_Wilderness at 8:53PM on Jun 22nd 2008
xxxx
But homosexuality is known in many species, including cattle. You can find out for yourself - homosexuality is very common among vertebrates - it's been reported in literally thousands of species.
Do you have earthworms down on the farm? How about hydra? You have to use one of them newfangled big city magnifiers for them critters. You might also notice ol' yeller humpin' a leg or two regardless of the genitalia it's adjacent to.
So where's your farm, 125th and Lenox?
Clif Kuplen at 3:24PM on Jun 24th 2008
367. BUT you are right about two roosters not walking arnm in arm - roosters don't have arms!
mac at 9:56PM on Jun 22nd 2008
xxx
Arm the roosters! Death to Frank Perdue and Colonel Sanders! What?...you sure?
.....never mind.
Clif Kuplen at 9:48PM on Jun 24th 2008
368. Jimmy Carter was an American patriot. Obama hasn't been so good. Sure, Carter didn't have all the best policies, but look at what he's done afterwards!
Not to mention Obama has AIPAC and ADL connections.
As far as I know, even during his presidency, Carter had neither.
So why does everyone hate Carter nowadays??????
chevyfanboy at 10:46PM on Jun 24th 2008
369. When I think of Jimmy Carter, I think of the Wizard of Oz. Huh? Yeah, you know the end of the movie when they (Dorothy, I think) tell him he's a good man, just a lousy wizard? That's Jimmy Carter, A good man, but a lousy President. And Diplomat, too.
This is a man who wouldn't know a terrorist if one came up and tweaked his nose. But somehow, he could recognize the inherent danger of that "killer rabbit" that got too close one day when Carter was out paddling his canoe. Then we saw Jimmy Carter, man of action, bravely fighting off the killer rabbit with a few well placed paddle smashes. Presidential paranoia, I guess.
Like Carter, Barrack Obama thinks there are, not rabbits, but Republican racists under every bed. Yet, he is dangerously naive about the real villains in this world. And like Carter, bad guys are supposed to be magically captivated by the sheer brilliance of Obama's personality, suddenly realize the error of their ways, that America means them no harm and they will somehow morph back into peace loving citizens of the world. Beautiful.
And forget all that nutty stuff about how these brainwashed, half-crazed jihadist madmen want to destroy us. Oh, no. It's just that cowboy GW Bush that's making them crazy. Once Barrack begins to reason with these Islamic radicals, they'll have no choice but to become little atheistic John Lennons, spreading peace and love wherever they go as they sing "Imagine" in three-part harmony. I can't wait. How many more days till January?
Dave at 3:45AM on Jun 28th 2008