Respectfully, I disagree.
James Earl Carter is as smart as a whip.
He does however (and in my nonprofessional opinion) have some loose screws (including an odd view of human nature that doesn't happen to recognize treachery even when it's biting him on the backside), and he is quite easily led by the far-left mind control agents.
In the world through Mister Carter's off-kilter eyes, bad people will become good people if you only treat then with kindness and respect. Hence, his legendary weakness in every facet of his presidency and post-presidency.
Carter's method of handling the cold war was to cut our military (certainly the Soviets would see the benign gesture and cut their military as well.) If that doesn't work, throw in the Panama Canal to show that we are serious about disarming.
Fast forward to his comment about the Revolutionary War. It's vintage Carter. By "negotiating" we can somehow get to a blissful consensus, especially if we roll over and display vulnerability and weakness. It's the Carter way (even though it's never really worked.) Everybody is reasonable, aren't they?
Also, listen to weakling Carter when he makes any sort of a statement. He nearly always refers to something he read in the "paper". So, it appears that al Reuters and al AP are leading a trusting Mister Carter down the "shining path".
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Remember when he went on national tv and acknowledged that the Soviets had lied to him and he was suprised and offended. I wasn't too politically engaged at the time but that tv spot scared me; Jimmah be gone!!!! I paid attention after that; how we survived that dimwit is beyond me (grace of God)!