My Aisling

Carter as Worst Ex-President

Love hurts. A surgeon needs to cut before he can heal. A penny saved is one less penny supporting the economy. John Kerry was wounded in Viet Nam by enemy fire. Jimmy Carter is in full control of his mental faculties.

True. Generally true. An argument can be made for true or false. Generally false. False.

Finally someone is taking Jimmy Carter to task. A new book is being released, entitled The Real Jimmy Carter: How Our Worst Ex-President Undermines American Foreign Policy, Coddles Dictators and Created the Party of Clinton and Kerry. The author is interviewed by FrontPage here.

It is curious to look back at our ex-presidents and see how they have acted since leaving office. Clinton has created a cash machine, is releasing a book in the middle of a presidential campaign, and generally can't shut up. Bush the Elder is generally quiet. Reagan was quiet by choice, but now by default. Carter has opened his mouth time and again in criticism of W. Ford is generally quiet. Nixon became the elder statesman he deserved to be.

Do you detect a pattern? Pubs seem to know their place in history and exercise their considerable force as an ex-POTUS quietly. Dems seem to crave center stage again. The quiet, guiding hand of a parent versus the loud, open mouth of a young adult. How sad that their party encourages such undignified behavior.

At least they are consistent.