Comments on: Jimmy, Say It Ain’t So!

By: zach

zach — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:33:55 +0000

Kevin,

not to split hairs, but Carter never said that dictators represent the will of the people, just that the dictators SPEAK for the people. This seems to be manifestly true, despite the fact that they usually do NOT represent the will of the people.

By: Kevin D.

Kevin D. — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:41:39 +0000

Does Bush talk and deal with dictators? Yes. But you miss half of what I said about Carter.

Carter is talking to dictators and believes they represent the will of the people.

I don’t think you’ll find a quote from Bush saying the same thing.

By: Dean Esmay

Dean Esmay — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:42:25 +0000

Bush talks to and negotiates with dictators all the time. So does his Sec State.

I think it’s pretty self-evident that it *must* be easier to negotiate with your average dictator simply because he generally can unilaterally say or promise whatever he wants. Of course, I suspect your average dictator is also more likely to break his promises, but that’s another issue.

It appears to me that, perhaps, the former President is not suggesting that dictatorships are better, although I will acknowledge that he’s often much too buddy-buddy with them. I just think that’s something every President of my lifetime could say.

By: Kevin D.

Kevin D. — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:16:11 +0000

But Bush didn’t make moves to turn the U.S. into a dictatorship (no matter what the far left thinks).

Carter, on the other hand, is actually talking to dictators as if they truly represent the will of the people.

Context doesn’t matter as much as actions.

By: Dean Esmay

Dean Esmay — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:27:26 +0000

Hmm. Reminds me a little of when Bush said that things would be a lot easier if America was a dictatorship, as long as he was the dictator. Some people still think he meant that literally.

Context matters.

By: Hank Barnes

Hank Barnes — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:49:47 +0000

Please, for Gawd’s sake, Jimmah, go home and rest! You damn near wrecked the country in the 70′s, and some of us have long memories.

And, no more wreaths on Arafat the first Terrorist’s grave — Jeez!

HankB

By: P Mike

P Mike — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:57:56 +0000

Isn’t that how foreign policy worked in the not-to-distant past (i.e., work with kings & dictators no matter what, sometimes against the general good of thier country)? And didn’t it frequently prove to be a problem for the U.S.?

In the not-to-distant future I can imagine that hisotry will view the Iraq war is an example of the U.S. working directly for the people against a dictatorship.

By: Rodger V Rossman

Rodger V Rossman — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:02:46 +0000

Who is this fascist bastard that you speak of?

By: Dishman

Dishman — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:42:41 +0000

The more I think about this, the less I like Carter…
and that wasn’t much to begin with.

As far as I can tell, Carter believes that Dictatorship is a legitimate form of government, and dictators speak for the people they rule over.

Fascist bastard.

By: Scott Kirwin

Scott Kirwin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:43:00 +0000

Thatâ€™d make a great campaign ad for McCain.

Oh it will, Dishman, it will…