The Blue State

Carter says Edwards has the most vision of any '08 candidate

On Wednesday at Georgia Southwestern State University, former President Jimmy Carter appeared with John Edwards, and touted the Democrat's qualities.  However, he did stop short of giving Edwards his official endorsement:

"I can say without equivocation that no one who is running forpresident has presented anywhere near as comprehensive and accurate aprediction of what our country ought to do in the field ofenvironmental quality, in the field of health care for those who arenot presently insured, for those who struggle with poverty," Cartersaid.

He predicted that Edwards "has a very good chance to do well" in the presidential race.

Carter told The Associated Press afterward that it was too soon tomake an endorsement in the 2008 race and that his comments were notmeant as a criticism of other Democrats.

"I think he is a very appealing candidate, especially for rural voters here," Carter said.

Edwards and Carter have been very close ever since the 2004 race, and it is likely that Edwards will get the 39th president's endorsement.  In fact, Edwards and Carter are much alike in many ways.  This is obviously another stab at the Clintons, whom Carter has never thought much of (common knowledge).

White House spokesman slams Carter

In response to Jimmy Carter's comments yesterday, in which he called this Administration the worst in history, the White House fired back:

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personalcriticism is out there," White House spokesman Tony Fratto respondedSunday from Crawford, where Bush spent the weekend.

"I think it's unfortunate," Fratto said. "And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."

Increasingly irrelevant?  Actually, many would argue that since Carter left office he has actually grown more relevant.  From the 1982 establishment of the Carter Center; to being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; to his oversight of the 2004 Venezuelan election; to his work with Habitat for Humanity; to his work as a professor at Emory University; The 39th president has made a number of differences in the world.

And if Jimmy Carter became so increasingly irrelevant, then how come 13 years after he left office President Bill Clinton sent him to North Korea to negotiate what became the 1994 Agreed Framework?  Had it not been for that deal, North Korea would have about 50 plutonium-based nuclear weapons today.

Maybe the better question is who is more relevant today, Bush or Carter?  At least Bush can rest assure that he has at least 28% siding with him.

Carter: Bush Administration the worst in history

During an exclusive interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 39th president Jimmy Carter said that from the environment, to the consolidation of power, to the Iraq war itself, this Administration is the worst in American history:

“I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world,this administration has been the worst in history. The overt reversalof America’s basic values as expressed by previous administrations,including [those of] George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and RichardNixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me,” Carter said.

Here is an audio excerpt from the Carter interview.

When you resort to putting Richard Nixon on a pedestal when describing anything, then what you are describing is obviously catastrophic.  Going by poll numbers alone, during the height of the Watergate scandal, Nixon's approval rating was 39%.  Today -- with Iraq, secrecy, corruption, and disaster response incompetence -- George W. Bush's approval rating, according to Newsweek, is at 28%.

Though, when Bush thinks of himself, he will always be Harry Truman.