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A NOBEL FOR JIMMY CARTER [Jimmy -- Worthy Nobel Laureate?]
Miami Herald Online ^ | Sunday, October 13, 2002 | House Editorial

Posted on 10/13/2002 12:51:08 AM PDT by JohnHuang2

The Nobel Peace Prize is a deserved tribute for Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president who based his foreign policy on human rights and has spent the 21 years since trying to resolve some of the world's most intractable conflicts. Certainly his peacemaking efforts -- including his brokering of the Camp David peace accord between Egypt and Israel in 1978 -- merit recognition. Continues.

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Jimmy -- Worthy Nobel Laureate?

First, let me make one thing perfectly clear: Rarely, if ever, do I find myself agreeing with decisions by the Nobel Prize Committee, a blowhard cabal of Bolshevik deadwood and daffy revisionist time-warps who, in my book, rivet media attention far beyond all relevance.

But -- and it pains me to say this -- I must part company with fellow conservatives regarding the wisdom in awarding Jimmy Carter the Nobel Peace Prize. My conservative brethren seem shocked and appalled at the decision.

Not I.

Now, before you jump to conclusions ... No, I've not 'joined' the 'dark side.' And no, I haven't 'lost it.' It's just that, after some soul-searching, after some sober-minded reappraisal of the Carter record, I think the former president more than deserved the award.

The Nobel Committee sited Carter's "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts to advance democracy and human rights." Sure the Committee was being brazenly political; awarding 39 was seen as a swipe at 41. Indeed, chairman Gunnar Berge made no bones about it. "It [the citation] should be interpreted as a criticism of the line [towards Iraq] that the current [Bush] administration has taken," he said.

But let me give you my 10 solid reasons why Carter merited the honor nonetheless. I'll walk you through them, one-by-one.

Reason No. 10: When Carter was elected president in '76, inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index) stood at under 5%. Four years later, inflation soared to double-digits -- over 12%.

Er, how does that make Carter worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize?

Answer coming up -- stay with me.

Reason No. 9: Under Carter, interest rates rocketed to 22%, devastating the housing market, capital goods industries, depressing consumer sales across-the-board.

Reason No. 8: Carter gave us the longest unemployment lines in four decades. By '80, the unemployment rate stood a shade under 8%, well on its way towards double-digits, too.

Reason No. 7: Jimmy Carter gave us the Misery Index -- remember that thing? The index is the sum of inflation and unemployment. When Carter took office, the index stood at 13.5. Four years later, the country was staggering under misery indexes well over 20.

Reason No. 6: Under Carter, median family income fell dramatically.

Reason No. 5: Under Carter, the standard of living fell dramatically.

Reason No. 4: Remember those long gas lines common circa late 70s? Another Carter achievement. As candidate, Jimmy 'I-will-never-lie-to-you' Carter promised no more high gas prices. Then came 1979 and $1+ gas. A phony "Energy Crisis" resulted.

Reason No. 3: Carter, human rights champion, drove U.S. ally Mohammed Reza Pahlevi -- the Shah of Iran -- from power in 1979, making Iran the headquarters of global radical Islamic fundamentalism and among the world's chief sponsors of terrorism.

Reason No. 2: In 1979, Carter drove the pro-U.S. government of Anastasio Somoza in Nicaraqua from power, another brilliant stroke for human rights. A 10-year reign of terror followed, under the brutal and corrupt communist Ortega brothers.

Which brings us to Reason No. 1 on why I think Jimmy Carter more than earned the Nobel Peace Prize ...

Drum roll, please?

Here it is, Reason No. 1: The Carter disaster paved the way for ... President Ronald Wilson Reagan, America's 40th!

It's real simple: Without Carter, America might not have had Reagan, who brought down the Iron Curtain and ended the Cold War without firing a shot!

It's called 'Peace Through Strength', the Gipper's motto. It led to the end of the Soviet Union -- the greatest threat to world peace in the latter half of the 20th Century.

If Reagan was the Great Communicator, Carter was the Great Ex-Communicator. Jimmy drove millions of voters out of the Democrat party to cast their ballots proudly for Reagan.

Well, there you have it, folks.

So Thank You, Jimmy!

For saving the world -- from you.

Anyway, that's...
"JohnHuang2"



TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
heh heh !! I love the cartoon !
21 posted on 10/13/2002 7:56:25 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: JohnHuang2
Somehow--->Worthy Nobel Laureate
Just doesn't have the same ring it used to...
(know what I mean)
22 posted on 10/13/2002 7:59:58 AM PDT by hosepipe
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To: JohnHuang2
Absolutely Brilliantly Beautifully True JohnHuang2! :-)

Even though I was a registerd democrat at the time, I proudly voted for Ronald Reagan who will never need awards to prove his humble and wise greatness and his resolute determination to champion freedom! God Bless Ronald Reagan.

23 posted on 10/13/2002 8:11:23 AM PDT by harpo11
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To: JohnHuang2
LOLOLOL! Excellent essay again - and very compelling, the reader stays glued all the way! Thank you so very much!
24 posted on 10/13/2002 8:24:26 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: JohnHuang2
I recently had occasion to sit with some younger, very liberal friends and share political views.

When asked what might have prompted my long ago tranformation from apathetic liberal to rabid conservative, I replied "Jimmy Carter."

It was a spontaneous answer, given without much thought, but I realized that he, as a person, sums up and embodies all of what I think is weak and destructive in the 'liberal ethos' of the Demlib/green/marxist culture.

I think the Pee-Nut Man's receipt of the dubious Nobel is quite appropriate. Arafat has one, now Jimmy. Can the Baghdad trio be next? It would not surprise me.

Thanks for the usually brilliant essay, Mr. JH2, and good morning to you.

25 posted on 10/13/2002 8:27:26 AM PDT by jwfiv
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To: JohnHuang2
COMING SOON:
Nobel Prize for Saddam Hussein
for his innovative use of chemicals!
26 posted on 10/13/2002 8:27:29 AM PDT by TheGrimReaper
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To: JohnHuang2
Your ten points demonstrate a failed presidency by any standard. Yet, 4 out of ten Americans still voted for a second term for the peanut farmer.

That is the best example I know of what we are up against.

27 posted on 10/13/2002 8:35:46 AM PDT by CharacterCounts
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To: JohnHuang2
I think it was Brit Hune this morning who said something to the effect: I remember when they gave the prize to people who actually brought about peace rather than just talk about it.
28 posted on 10/13/2002 8:38:48 AM PDT by CharacterCounts
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To: JohnHuang2
I'm sure those 182 dead tourists in Bali are applauding Jimmy the Appeaser. And the Nobel committee is patting itself on the back for choosing a has-been ex-Prez who snipes at President Bush as our legitimate Prez attempts to fight terrorism.
29 posted on 10/13/2002 8:51:15 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: JohnHuang2
Brilliant, John, thanks !!

Let's Roll !!

The RATS are in disarray...eradicate the rodents !!

Fire Democrats, Hire Republicans !!

GWB Is The Man !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

Death To all Tyrant's !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

30 posted on 10/13/2002 9:48:23 AM PDT by blackie
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To: JohnHuang2
Theodore Roosevelt (Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1906), had these remarks on peace. They are as on the mark today as they were when he made them in 1910. From here.

Note: Inasmuch as the website has this speech being delivered four years after Roosevelt won the award, something is out of whack. This discrepancy, however, has no bearing on its truth.

It is with peculiar pleasure that I stand here today to express the deep appreciation I feel of the high honor conferred upon me by the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize. The gold medal which formed part of the prize I shall always keep, and I shall hand it on to my children as a precious heirloom. The sum of money provided as part of the prize by the wise generosity of the illustrious founder of this world-famous prize system, I did not, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, feel at liberty to keep. I think it eminently just and proper that in most cases the recipient of the prize should keep for his own use the prize in its entirety. But in this case, while I did not act officially as President of the United States, it was nevertheless only because I was President that I was enabled to act at all; and I felt that the money must be considered as having been given me in trust for the United States. I therefore used it as a nucleus for a foundation to forward the cause of industrial peace, as being well within the general purpose of your Committee; for in our complex industrial civilization of today the peace of righteousness and justice, the only kind of peace worth having, is at least as necessary in the industrial world as it is among nations. There is at least as much need to curb the cruel greed and arrogance of part of the world of capital, to curb the cruel greed and violence of part of the world of labor, as to check a cruel and unhealthy militarism in international relationships.

We must ever bear in mind that the great end in view is righteousness, justice as between man and man, nation and nation, the chance to lead our lives on a somewhat higher level, with a broader spirit of brotherly goodwill one for another. Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy. We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong. No nation deserves to exist if it permits itself to lose the stern and virile virtues; and this without regard to whether the loss is due to the growth of a heartless and all-absorbing commercialism, to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.

Moreover, and above all, let us remember that words count only when they give expression to deeds, or are to be translated into them. The leaders of the Red Terror prattled of peace while they steeped their hands in the blood of the innocent; and many a tyrant has called it peace when he has scourged honest protest into silence. Our words must be judged by our deeds; and in striving for a lofty ideal we must use practical methods; and if we cannot attain all at one leap, we must advance towards it step by step, reasonably content so long as we do actually make some progress in the right direction.

Now, having freely admitted the limitations of our work and the qualifications to be borne in mind, I feel that I have the right to have my words taken seriously when I point out where, in my judgment, great advance can be made in the cause of international peace. I speak as a practical man, and whatever I now advocate I actually tried to do when I was for the time being the head of a great nation and keenly jealous of its honor and interest. I ask other nations to do only what I should be glad to see my own nation do.

The advance can be made along several lines. First of all there can be treaties of arbitration. There are, of course, states so backward that a civilized community ought not to enter into an arbitration treaty with them, at least until we have gone much further than at present in securing some kind of international police action. But all really civilized communities should have effective arbitration treaties among themselves. I believe that these treaties can cover almost all questions liable to arise between such nations, if they are drawn with the explicit agreement that each contracting party will respect the others territory and its absolute sovereignty within that territory, and the equally explicit agreement that (aside from the very rare cases where the nation's honor is vitally concerned) all other possible subjects of controversy will be submitted to arbitration. Such a treaty would insure peace unless one party deliberately violated it. Of course, as yet there is no adequate safeguard against such deliberate violation, but the establishment of a sufficient number of these treaties would go a long way towards creating a world opinion which would finally find expression in the provision of methods to forbid or punish any such violation.

Secondly, there is the further development of the Hague Tribunal, of the work of the conferences and courts at The Hague. It has been well said that the first Hague Conference framed a Magna Charta for the nations; it set before us an ideal which has already to some extent been realized, and towards the full realization of which we can all steadily strive. The second Conference made further progress; the third should do yet more. Meanwhile the American government has more than once tentatively suggested methods for completing the Court of Arbitral Justice constituted at the second Hague Conference and for rendering it effective. It is earnestly to be hoped that the various governments of Europe, working with those of America and of Asia, shall set themselves seriously to the task of devising some method which shall accomplish this result. If I may venture the suggestion, it would be well for the statesmen of the world, in planning for the erection of this world court, to study what has been done in the United States by the Supreme Court. I cannot help thinking that the Constitution of the United States, notably in the establishment of the Supreme Court and in the methods adopted for securing peace and good relations among and between the different states, offers certain valuable analogies to what should be striven for in order to secure, through the Hague courts and conferences, a species of world federation for international peace and justice. There are, of course, fundamental differences between what the United States Constitution does and what we should even attempt at this time to secure at The Hague; but the methods adopted in the American Constitution to prevent hostilities between the states, and to secure the supremacy of the Federal Court in certain classes of cases, are well worth the study of those who seek at The Hague to obtain the same results on a world scale.

Finally, it would be a masterstroke if those great powers honestly bent on peace would form a League of Peace, not only to keep the peace among themselves, but to prevent, by force if necessary, its being broken by others. The supreme difficulty in connection with developing the peace work of The Hague arises from the lack of any executive power, of any police power to enforce the decrees of the court. In any community of any size the authority of the courts rests upon actual or potential force: on the existence of a police, or on the knowledge that the able-bodied men of the country are both ready and willing to see that the decrees of judicial and legislative bodies are put into effect. In new and wild communities where there is violence, an honest man must protect himself; and until other means of securing his safety are devised, it is both foolish and wicked to persuade him to surrender his arms while the men who are dangerous to the community retain theirs. He should not renounce the right to protect himself by his own efforts until the community is so organized that it can effectively relieve the individual of the duty of putting down violence. So it is with nations. Each nation must keep well prepared to defend itself until the establishment of some form of international police power, competent and willing to prevent violence as between nations. As things are now, such power to command peace throughout the world could best be assured by some combination between those great nations which sincerely desire peace and have no thought themselves of committing aggressions. The combination might at first be only to secure peace within certain definite limits and on certain definite conditions; but the ruler or statesman who should bring about such a combination would have earned his place in history for all time and his title to the gratitude of all mankind.


31 posted on 10/13/2002 10:20:03 AM PDT by Gumlegs
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To: JohnHuang2

Great description of the Carter administration. Personally, I thank Ralph Nadar every time one of his rants is televised. He siphoned off enough votes to counter the fraudulent ones and give W the winning margin in Florida.
32 posted on 10/13/2002 11:03:03 AM PDT by Brasil
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To: MeeknMing
Hey, I've been looking for that crawling headline since Torricelli changed the law in NJ. Were you once Bob Ireland or did you save it? Anyhow, thanks.
33 posted on 10/13/2002 11:06:01 AM PDT by Brasil
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To: Brasil
Hey, I've been looking for that crawling headline since Torricelli changed the law in NJ. Were you once Bob Ireland or did you save it? Anyhow, thanks.

Bob Ireland? No.....

I think FReeper Joe Brower made this one up.....

http://www.joebrower.com/PHILE_PILE/ANIM_GIF/POLITICS/anim_demo_criminal_enterprise.gif

464W x 40H

34 posted on 10/13/2002 11:23:03 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: JohnHuang2
So Thank You, Jimmy! For saving the world -- from you.

LOL! I have to think about that one. You might be right.

Thanks John, I always enjoy reading your articles.

35 posted on 10/13/2002 12:47:21 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: JohnHuang2
Jimmy Carter is just another UNamerican who puts the UN ahead of America in his desire to subjugate the USA to a one-world socialist government.
36 posted on 10/13/2002 7:02:18 PM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: JohnHuang2
John, you're a genius! if anyone knows the email address of the weenie(s) on the Nobel committee, please forward this. It should be good for an apoplectic fit or two. ;)
37 posted on 10/13/2002 8:46:48 PM PDT by Denver Ditdat
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To: JohnHuang2
I suffered through Jimmy Carter's presidency. He is every bit the phony that Clinton is, just not as much of a psychopath.
Jimmy has been striving for this award since he left office. His "home building", "vote supervising" and world travels (with accompanying criticism of all things American) have all been designed to make us forget the travesty of his presidency and to appease his buddies the socialists. I think he decided on this course of action after seeing Nixon redeem himself with real diplomacy after he left office.
38 posted on 10/13/2002 9:09:22 PM PDT by Grammy
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To: ambrose
Thanks for the bump, friend.
39 posted on 10/14/2002 11:03:32 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Thanks for bumping, Cincy =^)
40 posted on 10/14/2002 11:04:09 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
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