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 6 of 25)
76. But oddly enough, all the christian women I've ever slept with said "I never new it could BE like this!"
Right after the Jesus thing, of course.
Poor things.
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:31PM on Jun 18th 2008
77. Jerry Brown
Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals. Irresponsible behavior is rewarded and responsible behavior is penalized. A perfect example is the welfare policy that punishes a poor family economically if the father is present in the home. In Atlanta, they actually propose creating “meters” for the homeless; instead of addressing the problem of addiction and mental illness.
janesophie1 at 2:31PM on Jun 18th 2008
78. GHB, is that like role play for you?
You need to be pol pot to jerk off. dd just pretends he's white.....it pushes him over the edge every time.
btw, love your charlemagne line!
I think McCain is the new T.Rex!
America's Most Gangsta at 2:32PM on Jun 18th 2008
79.
Get it on, bang a gong, get it on.
T.Brough at 2:36PM on Jun 18th 2008
80. Jerry Brown
Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals. Irresponsible behavior is rewarded and responsible behavior penalized. A perfect example is a welfare policy that punishes a poor family economically if the father is present in the home. In Atlanta, they actually propose creating “meters” for the homeless; instead of addressing the problem of addiction and mental illness.
janesophie1 at 2:35PM on Jun 18th 2008
81. Jerry Brown:
I unfortunately cannot recommend any good books on the subject. To the best of my knowledge, the idea is entirely my own. It came to me years ago when I was listening to a BBC radio program that addressed the issue that our money wasn't based on anything and a sound economy demands that it should be. The commentator recommended basing the value of the dollar on real estate which (of course) America has plenty of. The only problem I saw with that is not all real estate has the same value (i.e., agricultural real estate has a higher market value that rural uncleared land, residential real estate has a higher value still and commercial/industrial real estate is valued most highly. This would exacerbate the already out of control problem of urban sprawl as politicians felt compelled to rezone swaths of real estate to increase their value and with it, the value of the dollar. In 25 years, all of the United States would look like Los Angeles. It would be like living in a Borg cube!! For me, the question then, became, "what do we have a LOT of, in ever-increasing amounts that will never, ever, ever run out?" Answer: "Labor". How do we encourage companys to hire employees? By creating a direct-cause-and-effect relationship whereby the lower the REAL unemployment rate, the higher the value of the dollar. Ultimately, this reduces their operating costs because with the dollar valued higher, they don't have to pay as many of these dollars in order to attract and retain a talented workforce. Under employment (as many people are) is addressed by Government whom then finds it in their best interests to lower the cost of higher education so that working class people can become more valuable to employers.
This will not effect competition except that it will help U.S. companies remain competitive in a global marketplace.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 2:37PM on Jun 18th 2008
82. Godless Heathen Brian
Let's get back to the subject of the blog. This is not an opportunity for you to brag about your sexual prowess. I also am not going to be dragged into a discussion about my sexual experience.
janesophie1 at 2:37PM on Jun 18th 2008
83. My wife is a DCYF social worker, so I get to hear the stories.
Most of the people that have problems with DCYF are christians. Most of the perpetrators of physical child abuse, are again christians. Sexual abuse, practically ALL christians. Many fundies in this category.
Perhaps liberal policies have been part of the problem, but the conservative policies are less than that... Your side has been in control for so long, and has only let society down. They want it their way, or the highway, and people are more into their freedom than that. Too authoritarian. It runs counter to the spirit of the country. We value our freedoms. You want to legislate them away, I'll tell you to go to hell. You offer practical solutions while preserving them, I'll listen. Education is a good thing for instance. Overturning Roe V Wade, a HORRIBLE idea. Lessen abortions as much as you can, by legal means, I'm for it. I hate abortions. It's not a good thing. I'm not pro-abortion, you know. I'm pro-CHOICE.
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:42PM on Jun 18th 2008
84. Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals. Irresponsible behavior is rewarded and responsible behavior penalized. A perfect example is a welfare policy that punishes a poor family economically if the father is present in the home. In Atlanta, they actually propose creating “meters” for the homeless; instead of addressing the problem of addiction and mental illness.
janesophie1 at 2:35PM on Jun 18th 2008
With the republicans in control of the white house (7 of the last 10 elections cycles) are you saying the republicans are responsible for the liberal policies that you feel are the cause. Again why are you not holding the republicans feet to the fire for the demise of the family?
Jerry Brown at 2:42PM on Jun 18th 2008
85. Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals. Irresponsible behavior is rewarded and responsible behavior penalized. A perfect example is a welfare policy that punishes a poor family economically if the father is present in the home. In Atlanta, they actually propose creating “meters” for the homeless; instead of addressing the problem of addiction and mental illness.
janesophie1 at 2:35PM on Jun 18th 2008
With the republicans in control of the white house (7 of the last 10 elections cycles) are you saying the republicans are responsible for the liberal policies that you feel are the cause. Again, why are you not holding the republicans feet to the fire for the demise of the family?
Jerry Brown at 2:42PM on Jun 18th 2008
86. 79. Godless Heathen Brian
Let's get back to the subject of the blog. This is not an opportunity for you to brag about your sexual prowess. I also am not going to be dragged into a discussion about my sexual experience.
janesophie1 at 2:37PM on Jun 18th 2008
-----------------------------------
Now that would be a short discussion!
Actually I was already done with it. Why? Aren't SATISFIED yet? You want some more, you little minx?
Take it... take it! there... that's a good girl...
Hey, it's the closest you'll get for a while, so I hope you appreciate it.
:-)
Wassamatter you? You no likee talkee fuckee?
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:45PM on Jun 18th 2008
87. Again, why are you not holding the republicans feet to the fire for the demise of the family?
Jerry Brown at 2:42PM on Jun 18th 2008
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Bacause she's bought the bullshit from the republicans as easily as she bought the bullshit of her religion. Hook, line, sinker, rod, reel, fisherman, and boat...
Amusingly blind, she is.
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:49PM on Jun 18th 2008
88. Last week my Oh So Republican Catholic mother told me something that fucking blew me completely away.
She told me that she finally sees that I was right about Bush, and she can see now how bad he was. How bad he is.
I mean, we have been arguing this for as long as he's been in office and even before when he was campaigning. I NEVER thought she'd see it...
The power of TRUTH is finally WINNING!!! Hooray!
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:54PM on Jun 18th 2008
89. And I didn't talk kher into it, or even ask her. She volunteered it. She watches the news, and formed her own, new opinion of him.
Way to go, MOM!
Godless Heathen Brian at 2:56PM on Jun 18th 2008
90. Liberal economic policies and programs have systematically undermined marriage and morals.
You're stuck on stupid, aren't you? Are "liberal economic policies" the force behind the disparity of wealth distribution? Where I live, the poor and elderly have to decide between food, medicine, or gas. And every one of them are paying a disproportionate amount for a baseball stadium thats sole purpose is to make the rich richer. That's not a liberal economic policy, but one forced on us by a conservative scumbag governor (he worked for your "godly" hero, George for awhile.)
How about all those jobs heading overseas? Are these due to "liberal economic policies?" See many tree hugging, bleeding heart liberals giggling over the exploitation of cheap foreign labor?
Do you think that the CEO's sending those jobs overseas are liberals? do you think that they're morally superior? Do you think they came from the ghetto? Broken families?
I'd tell you to pull your head out of the sand, or out of your ass, but that's not where you stuck it - pull it out of your "good book" and look at reality.
ex-christian at 2:58PM on Jun 18th 2008