Is President Obama's Carter Moment Nearing?

Washington Post ^ | June 3, 2010 | David S, Broder

[lbryce]

"This is the worst," a Democratic friend exclaimed over the phone on Tuesday, the first day back at work after the Memorial Day weekend. I knew without asking what he meant -- the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that dominated television coverage and was into its second month with no quick solution in sight. * They haven't built a popular new television program around it -- yet. No one has created a new media franchise for himself out of it. There isn't a name for it that has become part of popular culture.

I was thinking back to when another Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, found himself stymied in another seemingly endless ordeal. Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 officials and workers hostage for 444 days, while the United States was helpless to free them.

Many of us recall the event by the name that became attached to it: "America Held Hostage." That was the title ABC News slapped on its half-hour news update that aired each night, with Ted Koppel as anchor. The show later became the long-running program "Nightline."

This is when you know you are truly harpooned, when your problem has become someone else's meal ticket.

As sinister as the jet stream of escaping oil and gas looks via the underwater camera in the gulf, Barack Obama has not yet moved into the category of the late-night patsy that Jimmy Carter became. The Iranians were more clever, or diabolical, in exploiting their hostages than the restrained BP executives or their enviro foes are in this situation. ad_icon

Obama keeps popping up in new settings, sounding as if he is in command, and he has refused to be confined to the White House as Carter was by the hostage crisis.

[gitmo]

Darn. That was one of my favorite songs before today.

[Balding_Eagle]

Uh, Iranian muzzie militants have been holding three American BACKPACKERS hostage since last July............................ because they don't seem to care that Obama is doing NOTHING to gain their release.

I gotta admit I would prefer to see them held until President Palin forces their release myself. The parents would be forced to say thank you on camera. I can hardly wait until they spit those 'thank yous' out.

Just how stupid did the kids have to be to be backpacking where they did?

[BuffaloJack]

Obama’s Carter moment will be followed by the new Reagan Administration aslo known as the Palin Administration.

[lbryce]

In a cabinet meeting discussing the Iranian hostage rescue mission, 3P(Plains Peanut Panderer) asked that the rescue be implemented in a way that doesn’t harm any Iranians. Obama made a similar request saying he didn’t want any fish in the gulf to get hurt.

[tophat9000]

Im naming that thing in the gulf "Obama's Obunghole"

Or maybe just "Bama's Bunghole" for short

[ExTexasRedhead]

We have men and women dying in war, Iran nuking up, the Middle East headed for war, the Gulf spill getting worse, the economy in the toilet, unemployment sky high, States going bankrupt, terrorists coming across from Mexico, our enemies laughing at the eunuch in our White House, and this POS is acting like his reign is one big party. What an arrogant sleazebag!

[FlyingEagle]

You pretty much nailed it

[b4its2late]

Yes, he is..... LOL

[rfp1234]

The first Eunuch-American president.

[chris_bdba]

Obama’s Gulf diaster has a nice ring to it?

[Publius]

Not bad. We need a FReeper contest to pick the name for this crisis.

[724th]

Thanks,I think your right. A contest would be in order.

[GatorGirl]

Couldn’t have said it better myself! Kudos!

[thecodont]

We have men and women dying in war, Iran nuking up, the Middle East headed for war, the Gulf spill getting worse, the economy in the toilet, unemployment sky high, States going bankrupt, terrorists coming across from Mexico, our enemies laughing at the eunuch in our White House, and this POS is acting like his reign is one big party. What an arrogant sleazebag!

We don't have a hostage crisis. Yet.

The difference between a Carter hostage crisis and a BO hostage crisis is that BO would side with the captors.

[Scotswife]

It should have been the day Air Force One terrorized Manhatten - IMHO ;)

[exit82]

The difference between a Carter hostage crisis and a BO hostage crisis is that BO would side with the captors

He already did, until the leader of a Navy SEAL team decided to end that particulat episode of madness on the high seas.

[raptor22]

Come to think of it, this IS America held hostage all over again.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2527315/posts

[unkus]

He already did, until the leader of a Navy SEAL team decided to end that particulat episode of madness on the high seas.

---

That’s right.

[grey_whiskers]

Comedian, this is in honor of your "Jimmy Dhimmi Carter, now available in black"

Cheers!

[bitt]

you said it!

worst

president

ever!