"Carter: 'No doubt' Gore is the best qualified person for president"

[Prada]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Carter...rson_1012.html

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter hopes that the newest addition to the exclusive Nobel club -- Al Gore -- might capitalize on his prize win by making a late entry into the 2008 presidential race.

"I'm delighted," Carter told MSNBC's Joe Scarborough about Gore's award, coyly adding that he hoped "this might even encourage him to consider another political event."

"I don't think there's any doubt that Al Gore would be the best qualified person to be the president of the United States," Carter continued. "He was obviously elected both in Florida and around the country in 2000, and I've always hoped he would be, you know, coming back again sometime."

Earlier in the interview, the former president praised Gore for his dedication to expanding environmental awareness and said the Nobel was a well-deserved honor.

"I don't think anyone deserves it more," Carter continued. "He has brought to the world's attention the serious problem with global warming, and he's presented it in a beautiful and tenacious way."

Asked later if he was "concerned" by the refusal among leading Democratic presidential contenders to pledge withdrawal of troops from Iraq by 2013, Carter was measured.

"I don't agree with their stand, but I don't want to be in a position of criticizing, you know, the foremost Democratic candidates who might lead our party, " he said. "I'd be eager to support any of them against their contemporaries across the aisle who are now advocating war with Iran and those kinds of ridiculous things."

Even if Al Gore doesn't decide to make himself a candidate for president, Carter remains encouraged by the crop of Democrats already in the race.

"I think the Democratic party has put forward a group of superb candidates," he said, adding that he has "always been very careful since I left the White House not to endorse or support any particular candidate during the primary season, and I'll maintain that posture."

"But," the loyal Democrat continued, "I look forward with eagerness to supporting whichever candidate prevails against any of the Republican candidates."

[Logan13]

Seriously, does anyone really care what the worst US leader of the 20th century thinks? Perhaps if you miss the days of 22% interest rates, otherwise......NO.

[Prada]

Seriously, does anyone really care what the worst US leader of the 20th century thinks? Perhaps if you miss the days of 22% interest rates, otherwise......NO.

I like how he states that Gore beat out the worst president of the 21st century, figuratively speaking. I sincerely hope that the US never sees a president even worse. I do have to admit I would be curious to see what would happen if he did enter.

[Johny-too-small]

Fvck Carter.

Carter is the WORST president in American history. His incredibly moronic presidency is the reason why so many things are fvcked up in our country today....an you thought it was Bush? lmfao.

This is my opinion and Im not going to debate it. Flame away, I could care less.

[Prada]

Fvck Carter.

Carter is the WORST president in American history. His incredibly moronic presidency is the reason why so many things are fvcked up in our country today....an you thought it was Bush? lmfao.

This is my opinion and Im not going to debate it. Flame away, I could care less.

We are talking about different centuries here.

You're entitled to your opinion and nobody has the right to flame away. Some never learn but nonetheless....

[Johny-too-small]

We are talking about different centuries here.

eh? what did I miss?

[Tesla]

If Carter says that Gore is the best qualified to be President, that's all the reason anyone should ever need NOT to vote for that person.

[Coop77]

Wow. All the hostility toward Jimmy Carter. He might not have had the most successful presidency, but you can't deny the guy is kind of smart.

And he's pretty much correct about Al Gore being the most qualified potential candidate. Who else has served years in the House & Senate, been VP for two terms, and won a nobel prize? Also he invented the internet.

[j4ever41]

Im tired of the Clinton's, Gore's and the Bush's, oh and Carter as well, he needs to sit down and shut tha fck up.

[Roidal]

So who's running as republican candidate this time? cheney?

[Red Ketchup]

Well, I'm an outsider so I don't really care who gets in the white house...

But looking in from the outside I see Obama and Clinton... hmmm Gore is looking mighty good!

Red

[RA]

It used to be that ex-presidents would stfu in the political arena after they were done. Wouldnt that be awesome in Carters case? Who really wants to hear from the worst president we have ever had?

[Carlos_E]

It used to be that ex-presidents would stfu in the political arena after they were done. Wouldnt that be awesome in Carters case? Who really wants to hear from the worst president we have ever had?

Sounds like you're telling Bush to shut up.

[RA]

If you compare the two on just about any issue Carter loses. Just because the left has successfully demonized Bush doesnt make him a bad president.

Sounds like you're telling Bush to shut up.

[Carlos_E]

If you compare the two on just about any issue Carter loses. Just because the left has successfully demonized Bush doesnt make him a bad president.

Nothing to do with the left. Bush did it on his own.

[Kärnfysikern]

What did Carter to that was so bad(except banning reprocessing of nuclear waste, stupidest thing in history)?

[RA]

He put our economy in the toilet with his economic policy and we had so much respect around the world that Russia marched into Afghanistan unmolested and Iran held hostages for over 400 days.

(Which I may add they released right away when Reagan became president)

[RA]

[Kärnfysikern]

well how many of those points on the cartoon can be atributed to him? I know TMI cant atleast.

I know just about zero about Carter except his policy towards reprocessing.

[RA]

Are you kidding? They blamed Bush for a hurricane in Louisiana! After that nothing is a stretch

well how many of those points on the cartoon can be atributed to him? I know TMI cant atleast.

I know just about zero about Carter except his policy towards reprocessing.

[RA]

He gutted the military to the point that we had ships were literally unable to put to sea due to lack of funding for repairs and upkeep. He was more than a pasafist he was a "peace at any cost" president.

Thats the reason Iran let those hostages go. They knew Reagan was no p*ssy like Carter.

[RA]

Jimmy Carter talking about whose most qualified is like Bill Clinton talking about celibacy. It's like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton talking about racial harmony. It's like Ted Kennedy talking about sobriety and safe driving.

Once George Bush is out of office I bet you that you will not hear him EVER bash the in office president. It just shows who has class and who doesnt.

[Tock]

Carter was supportive of Israel, which pissed off Iran and other Arab countries who retaliated with the Great Oil Boycott, which in turn drove up the price of oil, which in turn drove the US economy into recession. US industry was forced to increase prices for everything to pay for higher energy costs, which created US inflation.
. . . So, I'll assume you would have preferred that Carter had a pro-Arab foreign policy, which would have avoided all those problems, yes?

As far as the Iran hostage crisis, Carter had the military planners put together a bold plan to rescue the hostages. The plan failed when the low-flying helicopters broke down because they blew up too much sand, and the sand got into the engines and made 'em crash.
. . . So, was that Carter's fault? Was it Carter's fault that the Ayatollah Koumani took control of the country?
What would you have done differently?

IMHO, Carter's blamed 100% for errors created by previous administrations. US mideast foreign policy should have favored Arabs from the day the Ottoman Empire crashed. It's not too late to change US policy, but somehow I don't think that will happen. Too many Christian Fundamentalists want war with Iran, and the US will make that mistake sooner or later.

Oh well. Blame who you like. Makes no difference; US foreign policy is unlikely to get straightened out anytime soon.

=============================

from: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article...hostage-crisis

Almost from the beginning of the crisis, U.S. military forces started formulating plans to recover the hostages, and by early April 1980 the U.S. administration, still unable to find anyone to negotiate with in a meaningful fashion, was seeking a military option. Despite political turbulence in Iran, the hostages were still being held by their original captors in the embassy complex. On April 24 a small U.S. task force landed in the desert southeast of Tehran. From that staging point, a group of special operations soldiers was to advance via helicopter to a second rally point, stage a quick raid of the embassy compound, and convey the hostages to an airstrip that was to be secured beforehand by a second team of soldiers, who were to fly there directly from outside Iran. The soldiers and hostages would then withdraw by air. However, the operation was fraught with problems from the beginning. Two of the eight helicopters sent for the operation malfunctioned before arriving at the first staging area, and another broke down on the site. Unable to complete their mission, U.S. forces sought to withdraw, during which one of the remaining helicopters collided with a support aircraft. Eight U.S. service members were killed, and their bodies, left behind, were later paraded before Iranian television cameras. The Carter administration, humiliated by the failed mission and loss of life, expended great energy to have the bodies returned to the United States. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, who had opposed the mission, resigned in protest. All diplomatic initiatives in the hostage crisis came to a standstill, and the hostages were placed, incommunicado, in new, concealed locations.

[RA]

So the fact that Reagan was also supportive of Israel doesnt shoot holes in your argument?

The rescue attempt was a joke. When you present yourself as someone who is going to smash you, like Reagan, you get respect. Thats why they let the hostages go.

Carter was supportive of Israel, which pissed off Iran and other Arab countries who retaliated with the Great Oil Boycott, which in turn drove up the price of oil, which in turn drove the US economy into recession. US industry was forced to increase prices for everything to pay for higher energy costs, which created US inflation.
. . . So, I'll assume you would have preferred that Carter had a pro-Arab foreign policy, which would have avoided all those problems, yes?

As far as the Iran hostage crisis, Carter had the military planners put together a bold plan to rescue the hostages. The plan failed when the low-flying helicopters broke down because they blew up too much sand, and the sand got into the engines and made 'em crash.
. . . So, was that Carter's fault? Was it Carter's fault that the Ayatollah Koumani took control of the country?
What would you have done differently?

IMHO, Carter's blamed 100% for errors created by previous administrations. US mideast foreign policy should have favored Arabs from the day the Ottoman Empire crashed. It's not too late to change US policy, but somehow I don't think that will happen. Too many Christian Fundamentalists want war with Iran, and the US will make that mistake sooner or later.

Oh well. Blame who you like. Makes no difference; US foreign policy is unlikely to get straightened out anytime soon.

=============================

from: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article...hostage-crisis

Almost from the beginning of the crisis, U.S. military forces started formulating plans to recover the hostages, and by early April 1980 the U.S. administration, still unable to find anyone to negotiate with in a meaningful fashion, was seeking a military option. Despite political turbulence in Iran, the hostages were still being held by their original captors in the embassy complex. On April 24 a small U.S. task force landed in the desert southeast of Tehran. From that staging point, a group of special operations soldiers was to advance via helicopter to a second rally point, stage a quick raid of the embassy compound, and convey the hostages to an airstrip that was to be secured beforehand by a second team of soldiers, who were to fly there directly from outside Iran. The soldiers and hostages would then withdraw by air. However, the operation was fraught with problems from the beginning. Two of the eight helicopters sent for the operation malfunctioned before arriving at the first staging area, and another broke down on the site. Unable to complete their mission, U.S. forces sought to withdraw, during which one of the remaining helicopters collided with a support aircraft. Eight U.S. service members were killed, and their bodies, left behind, were later paraded before Iranian television cameras. The Carter administration, humiliated by the failed mission and loss of life, expended great energy to have the bodies returned to the United States. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, who had opposed the mission, resigned in protest. All diplomatic initiatives in the hostage crisis came to a standstill, and the hostages were placed, incommunicado, in new, concealed locations.

[Logan13]

So the fact that Reagan was also supportive of Israel doesnt shoot holes in your argument?

The rescue attempt was a joke. When you present yourself as someone who is going to smash you, like Reagan, you get respect. Thats why they let the hostages go.

It should not suprise you that he believes the Carter administration to be more than they were.

[mcpeepants]

the only qualifications you need to be president are that you natural-born citizens of the United States, at least thirty-five years old, and must have been resident in the United States for at least fourteen years. So he is no more "qualified" than the millions of Americans who fit that profile.