Words Like Locusts Flew From Her Fingers

Jimmy Carter

Former President Carter’s Remarks to the Democratic National Convention (washingtonpost.com): ” After 9/11, America stood proud — wounded, but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world. But in just 34 months, we have watched with deep concern as all this good will has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations. “

If only Jimmy Carter’s presidency hadn’t been tainted by events over which he had no control… If only people had listened, really listened, when he tried to get this country on track for developing alternative energy sources. If only… We certainly wouldn’t be in the shape we’re in now– fighting a war which, despite the pronouncements of the spin-meisters, pretty much everyone with more than two neurons to rub together realizes is about oil. Of course it’s about oil! If it were about human rights, we’d be spending our tax dollars cleaning up the outrageous conditions–stuff that’s worse than anything Saddam ever did–that exist in some other countries. If it were about “weapons of mass destruction”, we’d be invading North Korea. (And what a crazy move that would be.)

Jimmy Carter was always too good for the presidency. His honesty made him vulnerable to the attacks of less honest, less honorable people. Goodness does not always win the day, unfortunately.