Comments on: No Christmas Card for Zell from the Carters This Year

No Christmas Card for Zell from the Carters This Year

fenriq — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:30:41 -0800

Jimmy Carter's Letter to Zell Miller via Boing Boing via Interesting People
A private correspondence between Jimmy Carter and Zell Miller has surfaced where Jimmy expresses his disappointment with Zell's taking part in the RNC and betraying his constituency.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:31:50 -0800

I should also note that the original letter comes from Talking Points Memo but the reference line was getting out of hand.

By: Peter H

Peter H — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:01:27 -0800

sieg zell!

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:08:21 -0800

So, did Carter engineer the leak, perhaps? His office has just said that he won't comment any further; there's no denial. I eagerly await Zell challenging him to a duel.

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:28:09 -0800

Zig.. Zag.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:29:03 -0800

jokeefe, that was the funniest thing about his interview with the guy from Hardball! I actually think Jimmy would meet him for a duel if Zell slapped him in the face with his glove. The final paragraph from the letter is pretty amazingly harsh for a diplomat like Carter - "you have chosen the rich over the poor, unilateral preemptive war over a strong nation united with others for peace, lies and obfuscation over the truth, and the political technique of personal character assassination as a way to win elections or to garner a few moments of applause." Go Jimmy!

By: WLW

WLW — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:32:31 -0800

Zell Miller farts in his general direction

By: Peter H

Peter H — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:32:55 -0800

Somehow Zell in a duel, I'm given image of Mr Burns from the Simpsons struggling just to lift the gun up off the ground!

By: Wulfgar!

Wulfgar! — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:36:30 -0800

fenriq, since when did telling the truth become seen as "amazingly harsh"? I'm not trying to offend, but if you'd like to give a glove slap, I should clarify that I prefer sabres to pistols ... Oh and, Go Jimmy!

By: reklaw

reklaw — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:37:04 -0800

Um... why isn't this post just a link to Talking Points Memo? Makes no sense.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:58:18 -0800

Wulfgar! Ayy, sabres it be then! I'm a much better shot than I am a slasher though. How about a thumb war instead? One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war! And it seemed harsh in the light of the fact that Jimmy Carter's a pretty old, pretty staid and pretty polite guy. Not that he wasn't telling the truth at all, just not what I'd expect from an aging diplomat. That and, when I read between the lines, it looks like Jimmy's trying to make him feel bad for being a lonely old man in need of some attention. reklaw, sense is for someone else, I'm medicated, baby! Actually, it should have just gone to Talking Points Memo, thanks for making me feel worse than I already did for screwing up yet another FPP!

By: WLW

WLW — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:05:34 -0800

it looks like Jimmy's trying to make him feel bad for being a lonely old man in need of some attention. Thats an excellent description of Jimmy Carter, a lonely old diplomat, looking for attention.

By: jokeefe

jokeefe — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:08:33 -0800

it looks like Jimmy's trying to make him feel bad for being a lonely old man in need of some attention. Most lonely old men aren't given a platform at the RNC to conduct their ravings in front of a prime time audience. No making excuses for Zell. The man's a disgrace.

By: Wulfgar!

Wulfgar! — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:16:02 -0800

WLW, you're talking smack about a former President of the United States. Don't you believe in supporting the President? Why do you hate freedom? And just for the public record, WLW, do you have an argument to back up your statement, or do you just expect that we're supposed to be awed by the terrible power of your ... pronouncement!!!

By: clevershark

clevershark — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:26:45 -0800

Thats an excellent description of Jimmy Carter, a lonely old diplomat, looking for attention. Hmm... a guy who spends his time building homes for the poor, monitoring contested elections and going on peace missions... lonely? I don't see any other ex-President doing much that compares to that, given that well-paid consultant gigs for Carlyle don't count as doing something "in the public good".

By: MrAnonymous

MrAnonymous — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:41:25 -0800

*gasp* I'm...shocked! This comes from the biggest failure of a president in the last 50 years. Jimmy's just trying to build his legacy since he failed to do it when he was president.

By: rks404

rks404 — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:51:27 -0800

Jimmy Carter is really beloved in Atlanta ... the Carter center is one of the city's biggest philanthropic and social hubs. I very much doubt that he is a lonely and has nothing to do on Saturday nights

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 17:53:36 -0800

MrA, while your claim is obviously over-exagerated bullshit, it is instructive that, as Carter didn't have many things he was able to run on, it resulted in a campaign where they tried to scare voters away from the opposition candidate. Sound familiar? It's the sound of failure.

By: Wulfgar!

Wulfgar! — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 18:15:34 -0800

Hey, just 'cause Jimmy wasn't able to buy off terrorists doesn't mean he wasn't strong minded on terror ... (Thank you G.H.W Bush, Mr. Spook head of the CIA, and running mate of Ronald Raygun, thank you for brokering deals with terrorist kidnappers. I'm sure that history will remember your presidency with kindness ...)

By: fleener

fleener — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 18:30:42 -0800

Zell is crazy, but not nearly as mentally ill as those living in the the white house.

By: DevilsAdvocate

DevilsAdvocate — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 18:44:01 -0800

If this is legitimate, my respect for Carter drops a notch or two. Not for the harsh words at the end, but for this bit at the beginning:

Loyal Democrats, including members of my family and me, elected you as lieutenant governor and as governor.

I'd wager loyal Democrats and independent voters and even some people who consider themselves Republican voted for Miller and elected him to office. An elected official should be beholden to the entire electorate, not just "loyal" members of his own party.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 20:00:38 -0800

Oh, right, who supported Miller all that time? Carter's words may have not been an absolute model of precision, but Miller deserves all the flack he gets there. Miller has demonstrated that he is both ungrateful and tacky. It's Bad Character 101. You can be forgiven for a mistake or two in this area, but not when you make your disloyalty obvious on the national stage, in the *kyenote speech* of the rival party. And he *said* he was speaking as a Democrat then, made a point of it, already.

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 20:59:55 -0800

"Other Democrats, because of philosophical differences or the race issue, like Bo Callaway and Strom Thurmond, at least had the decency to become Republicans." - This is lip smackingly delicious. And, the Carter detractors on this thread don't have balls bigger than peanuts.

By: namespan

namespan — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 21:10:01 -0800

This comes from the biggest failure of a president in the last 50 years. And we base that assesment on... what?

By: 2sheets

2sheets — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 21:28:16 -0800

Jimmy's just trying to build his legacy since he failed to do it when he was president. And what's wrong with that? Should he just travel around the country collecting speaking fees and endorsing a line of sportswear? He's certainly done more to help the human race than I have over the last 20 years or so. What have you done lately?

By: The God Complex

The God Complex — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 22:07:56 -0800

That letter was awesome.

By: DyRE

DyRE — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 22:33:06 -0800

Oh snap!

By: trox

trox — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 06:52:57 -0800

According to the AJC (original article now behind for pay BS), I think the was leaked by someone other than Carter (Zell's camp probably?), which would explain why he doesn't comment on it--it really was private correspondence.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 06:53:32 -0800

Jimmy's just trying to build his legacy... Explain how it is that Carter needs to build a legacy. How is it that any human that possess a Nobel Peace Prize needs to build a legacy?

By: octobersurprise

octobersurprise — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:04:56 -0800

This just in: Zell Miller challenges Hurricane Ivan to a duel. a lonely old diplomat Think Carter's as lonely as Miller and his wife must've been the night W. threw them out of his box? Jimmy Carter says "No."

By: Faze

Faze — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:24:43 -0800

And we base that assessment [the failure of Carter's presidency] on... what? We base that assessment on the fact that after the gas crisis, the Iran hostage debacle, the sweater-wearing and asking Americans to turn their thermostats down to 65 degrees, and giving the general impression that he did not like America as it was, Carter made the American electorate pant after Ronald Reagan as the hart pants for the stream, making liberalism a dirty word, and creating the current generation of neoconservatives who are now so influential in the world of government and ideas. I don't know how many of you remember, but Jimmy Carter's America was depressing. In the same way the simplistic, forceful Ronald Reagan seemed like a welcome breath of fresh air after Jimmy Carter, simplistic, forceful Zell Miller is a bracing tonic after the ponderous muddleheadedness of John Kerry. Zell has zip, thunder, balls. Why couldn't the democrats keep this guy on their side? They need to get him back by moving more in his direction, not by dissing him and being jealous of his success.

By: mkultra

mkultra — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:35:04 -0800

What all the Carter haters? Aside from his impeccable character, this is someone who has worked alongside Miller before, who showed him behavior that Miller claims to uphold- loyalty and integrity. Carter's not just talking to hear himself heard, he's got an actual, legitimate bone to pick. We need to hear what he's saying, more often, from more people.

By: mkultra

mkultra — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 07:39:04 -0800

Why couldn't the democrats keep this guy on their side? They need to get him back by moving more in his direction, not by dissing him and being jealous of his success. Clearly. I'm still steamed that the Dems didn't do enough to win back Strom Thurmond...

By: fenriq

fenriq — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 08:16:15 -0800

octobersurprise, you just made my day! That is damned funny! The only thing it needed was a little slagfest about what a despicable storm Ivan is and how it would attack the country with spitballs (though I'd bet a spitball propelled by a hurricane wouldn't be a laughing matter, or is tornadoes that propel straws through manhole covers?). And I am pretty amazed that there are so many people ready to try and tarnish Jimmy Carter's name. Lonely? In need of attention? Um, okay. If it makes you feel good to try and knock down a guy who's been pretty publicly tireless in working for others since he "retired". Sure, he's lonely. And probably mean when you get up close. Or maybe not.

By: Space Coyote

Space Coyote — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 08:50:29 -0800

Why couldn't the democrats keep this guy on their side? They need to get him back by moving more in his direction, not by dissing him and being jealous of his success. Dear Republicans, Thanks for the campaign advice, but, well, no thanks.

By: Eamon

Eamon — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 10:21:10 -0800

Jimmy Carter is the only living American president I would let babysit my child.

By: Faze

Faze — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 11:07:20 -0800

Jimmy Carter is the only living American president I would let babysit my child. He's the Mister Rogers of ex-Presidents.

By: octobersurprise

octobersurprise — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 11:28:18 -0800

but Jimmy Carter's America was depressing. By that standard Bush should be out on his ass in November. But I can't really blame anyone for wanting to keep Bush as Entertainer-In-Chief. He is the biggest clown in the world.

By: MrAnonymous

MrAnonymous — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 12:17:22 -0800

How is it that any human that possess a Nobel Peace Prize needs to build a legacy? Yes, a "peace prize" given to Yasser Arafat is one that I hold in high regard.

By: zoogleplex

zoogleplex — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:32:21 -0800

Faze: "Zell has zip, thunder, balls." Oh yeah. So you elect your presidents like you pick your NASCAR faves and pro wrestling heros - by who's the most "exciting" and "dynamic." Do you take how tall and "cute" they are into account too? You're just a starstruck little fan-girl, aren't you? How charming. Did you wait outside to get his autograph, or to just catch a glimpse, grab a touch of his sleeve, too? Personally I choose people to run things by how capable they are of running them. I seem to be in the minority, there. Carter was and is a realist, a deeply conscientious man, and attacked problems with a quiet and determined honesty, and actually was effective at it. (The debacle of the attempted hostage rescue was not his fault.) Someone above complained about Carter asking people to turn our thermostats down to 65... excuse me, that was a rational approach to conserving heating oil and energy. Oh WAAAH, you're a little chilly! WAAAH! Hello, it's for the good of the nation, dipshit! It's called sacrifice for the good of everyone! A distinctly American value that seems to have completely evaporated since the late 1960s. Did everyone forget the sacrifices everyone made during World War 2 so quickly - for the good of not only America, but the world? (rant) What the hell has happened to us? "Carter's America was depressing." Are we such pussies that a little bit of inconvenience in the name of helping the entire country is too much? I guess so. I swear to God, the longer I spend on this planet, the more it appears to me that most people act like part of a famine-stressed bonobo chimp tribe in every way you can measure. Stupid hairless apes. Seems we've just barely risen above flinging our own shit at each other... or maybe not, since we fling things like lead and steel and depleted uranium at each other all the time. "We're sending a big hello out to all intelligent life forms out there, and for the rest of you, the secret is to bang the rocks together, guys!" I'm doggedly awaiting the day that most people use their cerebral cortices to actually run their lives as opposed to their gonads and R-complexes... but that's a fairly forlorn hope. (/rant)

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 13:36:59 -0800

I'm just pissed I voted for Zell, back when he was, y'know, sane.

By: rushmc

rushmc — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 00:50:04 -0800

All that talk of "loyalty to the party" is creepy.

By: kamylyon

kamylyon — Thu, 16 Sep 2004 01:30:57 -0800

"talk" of loyalty to anything is pretty much creepy, rushmc does loyalty to anything exist anymore?