JIMMY CARTER ---A High School Girl Asked Me Why She Should Be A Democrat

[kpete]

From Carter's diary at KOS:

a high school girl asked me why she should be a Democrat. I asked her a series of questions that all bloggers should use in discussions: Do you prefer peace or war? Do favor tax breaks for the richest Americans or working families? Would you rather destroy the environment or protect it? Do you approve the torture of prisoners? Do you think our government should secretly spy on your family? Do you think we should abandon every nuclear arms control agreement negotiated since Dwight Eisenhower was president? Do you approve of your part of the national debt now being $28,000 and increasing by $300 each month? Do you think we should meld religion and government?

Lots more Questions and Answers at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/27/1111/19451

[fooj]

1. Just read the diary...thanks for the link!

Peace.

[WCGreen]

2. Cool....

Rec....

[ourbluenation]

3. I love the Jimmy but this response is somewhat problematic.

It's more "what we don't like about republicans" more than anything else. No doubt he makes some excellant points though.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Yeah, how can you build a party on being against evil??

:sarcasm:

NGU.

[On the Road]

13. OurBlueNation Has a Point

Defining yourself negatively doesn't work too well, either in elections or in real life.

[ourbluenation]

16. You hear it from disenchanted righties all the time...

"quit telling me what is wrong with republicans and start telling me how democrats would do it differently". You know - that sort of thing. That's all I'm saying...

[On the Road]

26. To Which I Generally Reply:

"There's no need to wonder. Democrats had the presidency for most of the 1990s. There's an established record before and since."

There are other ways of dealing with it. But it does have to be dealt with, especially by presidential candidates.

[Inland]

17. I don't think so.

It's generally true dichotomies. Bush keeps saying, "if you want to raise taxes, vote for democrats" and nobody slams him for defining himself negatively.

[Booster]

20. And as Harry Truman said "If you want to live like a Repuglican,

vote for a Democrat". As true today as it was then.

[buddysmellgood]

19. So flip it around and be for civil rights, be for the constitution, be for

fiscal responsibility.

[rman]

23. at the same time it's "what we like about dems":

- peace
- tax breaks for working families
- protecting the environment
- no torture
- no secret spying on your family
- abide by international agreements
- financial resposibility
- secularism

[vi5]

4. How fitting. I am a democrat because of Carter...

When I was 7 years old I wrote a letter to him. Typical 7 year old stuff. Thank you for being a great president. I like you. Etc.

Got the typical presidential form letter back, but it still made an impact on me. For years after that I always said I was a democrat because president carter was, even though I really didn't know what that meant.

Turns out it's true, but I didn't know it at the time.

[Rainscents]

6. Cool story.

My very first vote was for... Carter!

[WiseButAngrySara]

8. What a good story, and what a fitting response for the original post! n/t

[zbdent]

10. I think Carter solidified it for me

well after Nixon sullied the office.

I felt Carter was given an extremely bad situation (people tend to forget that the Soviet Union was still a player in the "Destroy the Earth" game) with Iran, and did the best he could. Now everybody associates his name with horrendous interest rates and economy . . .

Another solidifying moment for me is retro-active, having read "The Triumph of Politics" by Stockman, where he puts all the numbers into the simulation to prove Reagan's plans would work and Carter's numbers and policies (which Reagan ditched) would have made a radically smaller debt than St. Ronnie of the Tax Cuts created.

[pstans]

7. Maybe Carter should run in 2008

:patriot:

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Gore/ Carter in 2008? Carter/Gore? Perhaps Carter/Feingold?

Any would be rockin'!

Though truthfully at this point, I'd vote Carter for Secretary of State, or the position I'd add to my cabinet if I won in 2008, "Secretary of Telling the Religious Right to Sod Off".

[ladjf]

21. That could work. And if Carter gets a bit weary, Gore or

Feingold could take up some of the physical slack.

[WiseButAngrySara]

9. K & R and thanks. I adore Jimmy Carter. He's one of a kind. ....n/t

[liberal N proud]

12. Good answer Jimmy

[wicket]

14. Love it!

:kick:

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. This man is simply brilliant.

[troubleinwinter]

18. A man of character, honor and depth.

[ladjf]

22. Man, that sounds good just to hear those beautiful words

correctly describing a person. Yes, we need some more like that. I'm tired of living through a sordid gang rape of the world by Bushco. It makes one feel dirty, despondent and helpless.

[nicknameless]

24. Hmmm ... One part of his diary I have a BIG problem with:

Re: the Commission on Federal Election Reform

"Jim Baker became my co-chair. He is a brilliant and honest man ..."

:puke:

[texpatriot2004]

25. What a great response from Pres. Carter. nm

[opihimoimoi]

27. The man is not perfect but when compared with other presidents

he was one of the BEST.

He can build furniture..which requires brains and vision.

He helps build homes for the Poor.

He can swing a hammer and hit the nails as good as any carpenter his age.

But what he is known for is: The ability to solve. When he left office...the National debt was only 350 BILLION.