August 25, 2015

Jimmy Carter, our 39th president, has announced he suffers from cancer and will limit his travels and undergo treatment.

President Carter is ninety years old and deserving of some of the accolades that are now pouring from former associates and the liberal media. He deserves respect and some of the tributes. He is no doubt a good man, a virtuous man, a religious man, a  good family man.

But let’s not get carried away – he was not a good president.

During his four year-term he created the Department of Education and the Energy Department ; arguably the most deleterious arms of the Executive Branch. Neither has ever accomplished its mission despite FY 2016 budgets of $77.4 billion and $29.9 billion respectively. Each is a bureaucratic mosh pit filled with incompetence. Neither can point to any sustainable accomplishments.

Carter handed over the Panama Canal (built at a cost of $375 Million in 1915 dollars) to Panamanian politicos who sold the management rights  and control of ports at both entrances to a Communist Chinese company, Hutchinson -Whampoa.  What was Carter thinking? Our ships now pay China for ‘safe passage’ through a ditch Americans dug and paid for.

He bungled the rescue attempts of Americans being held at our embassy in Iran by refusing to send in the required forces. The result was Iran withdrew its oil from world markets leading to the 1973 gasoline crises in America and elsewhere.  During Reagan’s first  week in office the 1- 1/2  year crisis was ended and the hostages were released.

He imposed limits on gifts and financial disclosures on public officials and appointees.  Right!  How’d that work out?

All of this damage in only four years.

Let’s hope he lives long enough to rid the African continent of Guinea Worm and that his Habitats for Humanity remain viable homes for disadvantaged folks , not slums.

That would be a legacy.

You are welcome.