This landmark in Plains, Ga., is part of the hallmark of a homespun presidency
Posted on 11/14/2009 3:28:31 PM PST by Steelfish
Billy Carter's Old Gas Station: A National Monument?
Legislation calls for the National Park Service to take over the storied building, making it part of the Jimmy Carter Historic Site. Some say that's not the best use of taxpayer money right now.
Billy Carter's gas station would become part of a proposed Jimmy Carter National HIstorical Park under legislation before Congress. (Mark Davis)
By Richard Fausset November 15, 2009
In the age of the $787-billion stimulus package, it is, perhaps, a modest question:
Should the American taxpayer foot the bill to enshrine the gas station run by the late Billy Carter -- the beer-swilling, wisecracking, self-professed redneck brother of our 39th president?
Located in the middle of tiny Plains -- still the world's most famous peanut town some 28 years after the Carter presidency -- the station was transformed into a museum last year by a local civic group that owns the property.
Most locals agree it has been rendered cleaner and more pleasant than it was under Billy's proprietorship, when it served as an improvised beer joint, gambling hall and grease-stained agora for homespun philosophizing.
Its claim to historical significance came during Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential run, when reporters mobbed Plains and transformed the station into a sort of unofficial headquarters.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
He kept the Erie canal.
And kept us out of war ...with our allies...barely.
I hear that unopened cans of Billy Beer are selling for $10,000 apiece on eBay, with original 6-packs in the plastic ring holder going for $100,000!
No. Billy was a joke and embarrasment.
Good God man! I wished you had posted that 4 hours ago!
That was enough to elicit an objection from Steve Ellis, vice president of the Washington-based Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Ellis said his concern has nothing to do with Billy Carter's place in history. It's a question of priorities, he said. The Park Service already faces a $9-billion maintenance backlog for the property it currently manages, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Nucking futs.
I have an opened can of Billy beer. The top is still on it and someone drained the beer out the bottom. It’s up in the attic somewhere. Probably worth $2.50.
Jimmy is a bigger joke and embarrasment, Billy was almost human!
I have one
Might be a good investment. After another 3 years of Obama, people are going to look back on Carter with nostalgia.
Billy in his most drunken stupor would have made a better President than Jimmy.
In a similar fashion, Zero can have his community organizer office at Acorn become a national monument.
Barry makes Carter look competent and Clinton look honest. Now that's change we can believe in.
I know! I drank mine about 5 years ago!
Well, I wish they had posted a complete picture of the station myself, particularly if it was an old one, at least that would be ONE thing that I would like about him...
The old gas station was where Billy hid out from the rest of them. I really suspect that they had him poisoned!
I do have an unopened can of Coors with the two push buttons on the top, pushing one in lets you drink and pushing the smaller one in breaks the vacuum so that it will flow better, like on a gas can.
This landmark in Plains, Ga., is part of the hallmark of a homespun presidency
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