The Japanese have a point, but you have an even better point. The Carter-Obama comparison goes only so far. Carter--for all his myriad faults--meant well by the country. He was a Navy man. He actually served his country. Although his policies were disasters (and we are still dealing with the fallout, e.g. Iran), I believe Carter was a true-blue, naive liberal. He actually thought his policies would benefit the country. He was completely wrong, but ultimately sincere. I believe his rancour and bitterness towards this country didn't develope until later.
Obama is an entirely different animal. He is incompetent, but he is vicious too. He does NOT mean well by us. He wants to take us down a notch and make us feel the lash of justice. Everything in his upbringing and education inclines him to believe that we deserve it. He will be history's instrument vengeance. Carter was a true naive liberal; Obama is an America-hating neo-Marxist. Obama truly intends harm.
I'm amazed at the shamelessness of Obama's affronts. He seems to fear no consequences. Maybe he thinks nothing can go against him after surviving the Rev Wright tapes, the bitter clinger remarks, et al, and winning the election. Obama evidently believes that nothing that comes out about him will provoke a serious reaction. Let's hope he continues the overreach.
I think this is an astute insight about Carter.
I think a major egomaniac on par with many dictators of the past has taken over the presidency. I'm not going to say he's Hitler or Stalin but he has fascist tendencies. Firing CEOs is fascist by definition.