White House Calls Carter "Irrelevant"

After Former President Bashes Bush, White House Dismisses "Sad" Comments

(AP)  The White House on Sunday dismissed former President Jimmy Carter as "increasingly irrelevant" after his harsh criticism of President George W. Bush.

Carter was quoted Saturday as saying "I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."

The Democrat said Bush had overseen an "overt reversal of America's basic values" as expressed by previous administrations, including that of his own farther, former President George H.W. Bush.

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Sunday from Texas, where Bush spent the weekend.

"I think it's unfortunate," Fratto said. "And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."

Carter made the comments to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper's Saturday editions.

Carter spokeswoman Deanna Congileo confirmed his comments to The Associated Press on Saturday and declined to elaborate.

[enoughya]

Our once free nation needs a lot more true patriots like President Carter, and far less phony or false patriots like Bush. Carter has done way more service to this country, even when not the president, while Bush has done all he can to practically destroy this once free nation.

The Bush thugs have done more than any other presidency to destroy our freedoms as citizens and to usurp raw power while enshrouding themselves in unprecedented secrecy%u2014there are many common characteristics between Bush%u2019s lawless governing and the way the way Nazism rose to power (Blatant use of sheer military force to gain power, small circle of confidants (those with us, versus those against us), loyalty valued way above integrity, intimidation of the citizenry via surveillance and espionage on them, heavy reliance on shrill propaganda to deceive the masses, brutal crushing of dissent, imprisonment and torture without trial%u2026).

When we get rid of these Bush thugs, and get our Constitution and freedoms back, I will then fly the flag again. For now, I lament the state of our once great nation.

[zorlacskates]

of course the white house thinks carter is irrelevant; he disagrees with them. the current administration thinks anybody that has anything critical to say about them is irrelevant.

[sparks224]

How sad that we have a neo-con Fascist front man for president.

[sharncedar]

"When we get rid of these Bush thugs, and get our Constitution and freedoms back, I will then fly the flag again."

If you do that, then you've allowed Bush and his cohorts, most of them descendents of recent immigrants, to take our flag. That flag was carried by my ancestors in the Revolutionary War and I will not cede it to Bush, or "bushinsky" or whoever the heck he is. I will fly my flag, that old glory, free and proud, and I will hate and fight all fascism with eternal vigor throughout my life though it takes me too into the dark night. I'm proud to lie in the earth beside my fathers. Men like Thoreau, great men, proud Americans liberals and free thinkers every one.

[hsinco-2009]

Bu$h is all but irrelevant himself so I find it ironic that they would use those terms to describe Carter.

In fact, I LMFAO when I read that!

[johnpatrick9]

How quickly they attempt to defend their rotten mess by attacking a man of integrity and wisdom. They shall go down in history as President Carter has described them as "the worst" administration and that is going some considering the bozos we have had in office. Carter is absolutely correct as correct as one can be about a Hitlerian administraion. The Germans used PREMPTIVE WAR in 1939 against Poland and the Japanese used Premptive WAR against us a Pearl Harbor in 1941 and we condemned them for 57 years until some dolts in the RED stated decided it might be kind of fun to have a corporate-fascist bozo as our own furher. We have under this administration of neo-nazis similar to Hitler's Germany and Imperial Japan waving the flag and going forth to kill ...for the greater glory of "what" ....corpoations and oil giants and don't protest or you will be considered and a "traitor'' say the very scum who have already betrayed our Nation's ideals and made us a pariah on the world stage. Hitler and Tojo are probably having a good laugh in hell at how the idealistic Americans have become as corrupted by power as they were and how gullible and stupid their people have become. Seig Heil..Hail Victory..what a joke/ what a tragedy. Time to run this administration out of town , tarred and feathered on a greased rail. They have disgrace our beloved land.

[down-ndirty]

Funny, but predictable.

What else could they say? "Yeah, Carter's right!" Or deny it?

They can hardly deny it because even they know it's true. And they didn't deny it, so they must have accepted it as true.

Besides, the bush administration is in its "bitter death throes" of defeat. It's lying on its back like a dying cockroach with its many legs thrashing about trying to grasp at anything to stay alive.

Many of its legs (O'Neill, Powell, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Card, and soon, Gonzo) have been "detached" from the body, and the head and body (Bush & Cheney) will soon be found in a Vegas cockroach trap!

[gkc99]

Jimmy Carter, the second worst president in modern history, was accurately characterized by the first worst president in modern history as irrelevant. May "Curious" George W. Bushit soon become equally irrelevant!

[fredgrad2000]

"Bushit"? I haven't seen your posts in while; missed your BRILLIANT insights and GENIUS namecalling prowess...good job!!

Carter - FAR worse than Bush - Carter = stagflation, highest gas prices in history, high unemployment, "detente" (aka, 1970's appeasement of his superior, Brezhnev), the Iranian Revolution and impotent response to that and our hostages being taken. Carter HOPES that SOMEONE, ANYONE, will take the mantle he definitely holds (sorry, still hold it when compareed with Bush) as the worst president since Herbert Hoover. Bush, terrible management of Iraq, sure, and that's the elephant in the room, but we don't have hostages being held by a foreign nation (they know BUSH would act, unlike Carter), lowest unemployment in decades, record high stock market, overthrow of Al Qaedas safe haven through the 90's, and no new attacks since 9/11 (because we finally retaliated and went on offense as opposed to the inaction and "investigation" after previous attacks). Bush will forever be judged by Iraq, which was blundered - if his administration had listened to Shinseki and Powell and others, we might have had a great victory (of course, after Clinton we didn't have the military to send how many we needed anymore - 26 divisions down to 10 in 8+ years) that Americans (who are performance driven) would have supported WMD found or not, as long as we "won"!! BUT, in Carter's disatrous 4 years, EVERYTHING went wrong, took Reagan to fix it!!

[kcstan11]

Although I symphathize with the problems that the US had during the Carter administration, I will say that Carter did everything that he could to keep us out of war. On the other had DUMBYA has done everything that he can to prolifirate wars.

At least Carter had a foreign policy, Bush's foreign policy is "it's my way or else", and Condi Rice just plain "SUCKS". If he would have listened to the UN and Hans Blix instead of invading Iraq, we would not be in the mess that we are in now.

DUMBYA is the WORST PRESIDENT that this nation has ever had.

It is nice to see an honest politician, especially an ex-president with NOBEL credentials to take a shot at that MORON in the White House.

[johnpatrick9]

President Carter did not cause the death and maiming of thousands as this band of low life scum have. Bush is no FDR he is just bush. Must be kind of hard for those who blindly supported him to admit as to what a failure and tragic mistake his false elections were. Proudly I and at least half of the voting electorate never, ever or will support fascists, militarists and corporate tyrants to rule America. PATRIOTS HAVE STOOD AGAINST BUSH TYRANNY FOR SIX YEARS. The blood sacrifice we have made and the waste of our nation's wealth is a tragedy whose recompense is that maybe the next time we wont vote for some flag waving, lying-chickenhawks so eager to send off our idealistic youth to ill conceived and ill planned wars.
You want a war then draft everybody including and especially the sons and daughters of the rich and connected who usually start these stupid mistakes.
If a nation is not willing to fight for its own liberty and is willing to put up with dictators then it deserves its chains of slavery. Unlike Europe which continued to resist the Nazis and in Asia where guerrilla warfare continued against Japan. We don't want to see our nation turned into one by this fascist concept of blind obedience and constant war propogated by the military-industrial-corporate comples which the "wise" Republican President and Genera Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about in 1960 and which this generation of dimwits has so easily forgotten. No more rich man's war and poor man'S FIGHT.

I suspect GW Bush and his corrupt (morally and otherwise) admin are largely irrelevant.

[sandy777-2009]

Bush and his neo cronies have no room to talk since the Bush Administration will go down in history as one of the all time worst ever recorded.

President Jimmy Carter is only speaking the truth and the Bush Administration cannot take the truth. Bush and his cronies have no idea what the truth is since they keep everything so secret from the public and Bush acts more and more like a despotic dictator. Time to Impeach Bush and Cheney together. We sure don't want Cheney as President and then that would be a total disaster in our history.

[kcstan11]

Here we go again ... more of Karl Roves "irrelevant" sheit ... it almost worked once before Karl ... but not this time.

The MORON in the White House IS the MOST IRRELEVANT thing on this PLANET ...

I commend Jimmy Carter for a very honest assessment of this global idiot in white house ...

[racam_us]

Mr. Carter is a very good judge of people. George W. Bush is undoubtedly the worst president of all time and his administration is a group of thugs put together by an someone inept at everything he has tried.

[walt1944-2009]

George Bush should talk about Carter being irrelevant. Bush has stolen money from domestic programs and the VA to support his wars and make Halliburton, himself, and all his "Bushies" rich. He won't sign a military funding bill because "HE doesn't like it", showing us that it is he, not Congress that is the traitor here. Many countries think of Bush as "irrelevant" as they would much rather talk to the Speaker of the House than Bush, Cheney, or Rice.

[ramos937]

Carter can travel abroad and be greeted as a friend; Bush inspires riots, Carter has won the Nobel Peace Prize; Bush has not, Carter kept us out of wars; Bush invaded Iraq and we are still in this war after five years. Who is irrevelent?

[bareemperor]

From a President to a pResident - the truth really hurts!
When you tally up the points, Bu$h sucks, big time - every way you examine it.
It would be interesting to count the opinions on this board, Carter or Bu$h...

[mommajomma-2009]

jimmy who? jimmy 444 days of shame? jimmy 18% interest rates? jimmy 20% inflation? jimmy whos brother pissed on stuff in public? jimmy whos momma was a snake charmer in church?

[cfin5]

I just found out that "Jimmeh" is the only president to have filed a UFO sighting with the US Air Force!.....AAAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHAAAAA!!....(knee slap, knee slap) I knew it! He has been on the koolaid! That "seventies" Koolaid must be alittle, uhm....Extra-Specialestrial!.....Check it out on worldnetdaily.

[coffeehead-2009]

Nothing new here....

The white house thinks the American citizens are irrelevant also.

[fascistusa]

Irrelevant.

Right after he got done raping Lady Liberty and taking a dump on the American Constitution.

America as we knew her is over.

The ONLY solution is Armed Revolution.

[randalds]

of course the white house thinks carter is irrelevant; he disagrees with them. the current administration thinks anybody that has anything critical to say about them is irrelevant.
Posted by zorlacskates at 04:56 PM : May 20, 2007

Including the people of the United States. The Bush White House thinks they're the most irrelevant of all. Carter was not a miracle worker and that is the only legitimate rap against him. He was handed a huge mess after Nixon and (bless his heart..he tried) Ford. The economy was in shambles, the people were still incredibly divided and hell we even were having to put up with Disco! Carter did the best any human cold do with the pile of cr*ap he was handed, yet he took the blame because he couldn't work a miracle and clean the whole thing up in one term. He couldn't part the seas are move a mountain, at least not immediately. Bush on the other hand was handed a nation in it's best shape in all ways in generations and in only one term managed to scr*ew it up beyond all recognition (FUBAR).

[bmadeline-2009]

Mr. Carter is an American and is not irrelevant regardless of what that bunch of liars says. Bush should be impeached!!!!!!!!!1

[coffeehead-2009]

uhhh - cfin,

hate to break it to you, but the reagans ran the office on the word of their astrologer.

[bernieb14]

carter IS IRRELAVENT!!

BRAVO WHITEHOUSE, SAY IT LIKE IT IS!! CARTER WAS THE WEAKEST LINK IN ANY PRESIDENT WE'VE THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD AND APPARENTLY STILL IS!!

[bernieb14]

carter = kucinich = weak = petty = pu$$ies

[coffeehead-2009]

Of 415 historians who expressed a view of President Bush%u2019s administration to this point as a success or failure, 338 classified it as a failure and 77 as a success. (Moreover, it seems likely that at least eight of those who said it is a success were being sarcastic, since seven said Bush%u2019s presidency is only the best since Clinton%u2019s and one named Millard Fillmore.) Twelve percent of all the historians who responded rate the current presidency the worst in all of American history, not too far behind the 19 percent who see it at this point as an overall success.


Among the cautions that must be raised about the survey is just what %u201Csuccess%u201D means. Some of the historians rightly pointed out that it would be hard to argue that the Bush presidency has not so far been a political success%u2014or, for that matter that President Bush has not been remarkably successful in achieving his objectives in Congress. But those meanings of success are by no means incompatible with the assessment that the Bush presidency is a disaster. %u201CHis presidency has been remarkably successful,%u201D one historian declared, %u201Cin its pursuit of disastrous policies.%u201D %u201CI think the Bush administration has been quite successful in achieving its political objectives,%u201D another commented, %u201Cwhich makes it a disaster for us.%u201D

[bernieb14]

Who the heck is Carter to say that anyone's Presidency was a failure? That's an oxymoron!!

[cfin5]

Coffeehead........Nancy was not the President either.

[randalds]

That "seventies" Koolaid must be alittle, uhm....Extra-Specialestrial!.....Check it out on worldnetdaily.
Posted by cfin5 at 06:23 PM : May 20, 2007

World Net daily!!! LOL!!! That right wing propaganda sheet! LOL! Why not just quote the Weekly World News from your local bait-store checkout stand! LOL! Every time you bring up their website you have to grab your monitor to keep it from sliding off your desk...to the right! LOL!

All you have to do is ask yourself "Is my country better or worst off because of the policies and decisions made by this administration" and if you decide better, then all I can say is "what planet do live on?"

[iceman_1960]

"White House Calls Carter "Irrelevant"

If they really believed that, they wouldn't have responded at all.

[rharrin1]

"I think it's sad that President Carter's reckless personal criticism is out there," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Sunday from Texas, where Bush spent the weekend.

"I think it's unfortunate," Fratto said. "And I think he is proving to be increasingly irrelevant with these kinds of comments."

What is really sad is anybody that disagrees with this administration is considered irrelevant.

[randalds]

Coffeehead........Nancy was not the President either.
Posted by cfin5 at 06:49 PM : May 20, 2007

Yes she was, during the last term. By that time Ronnie was well into his Alzheimer's and not processing very well. Just about anyone who wanted to speak to him had to go through Nancy first. She did run the White House and, in effect, the country during the last four years of his pathetic mess...er...I mean his sainted presidency.

[tomtomasters]

According to Bush the UN is irrevelant. If Jimmy is irrevelant why the major thumping of Republicans in the last election? Those who use guns reflect their weakness, their inabilty to communicate, their inability to admitt their mistakes, their inability to use diplomacy. Bush is a wreckless, calleous man. Someday his own will turn on him.

[cfin5]

Hello randalDS! I have to hand it to you. You really have improved in your hatred for southern hillbilly christians. I'm impressed!....... It really does stink when a new president has to come into office and clean up the previous administrations mess. Maybe that's why Clinton did not want to release the money for Bush to set up his cabinet to run the nation when he was supposed too. He just sat his behind down in the big chair when 911 happened. And the economy was tanking before he took office at that. What's the stockmarket, inflation, unemployment, at the moment now?

[randalds]

Maybe that's why Clinton did not want to release the money for Bush to set up his cabinet to run the nation when he was supposed too. He just sat his behind down in the big chair when 911 happened. And the economy was tanking before he took office at that. What's the stockmarket, inflation, unemployment, at the moment now?
Posted by cfin5 at 07:12 PM : May 20, 2007


LOL!!! What a load of right wing cr*ap!!! LOL! "Economy was tanking before he took office"!!! LOL!!! ROTFLMFAO!!!!!! Whew! I needed that!!! LOL! I mean come on! NO one preaches that old lie anymore!!! Hell even fat boy Rush has dropped that one!!! Whew! Keep working on that comedy act though. I'm sure that soon you'll be appearing at better trailer parks throughout the sountern hills soon!! LOL!

[myidoncbs]

Bush's war in Iraq is a dismal failure, one he says has no end in sight. Since Iraq was supposed to be a "piece of cake", and since many more American soldiers have died in Iraq *after* Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" than died before he declard "major combat is over", it is hard to deny that Bush's presidency has been a complete failure. And, if you don't think that this has had "an adverse impact on the nation around the world", then you really need to stop watching FOX news and take a look at some international press reports.

Speaking of FOX, on April Fools Day this year, they asked "Who is the most foolish American?" and the results they published were:

Britney Spears 33%
Paris Hilton 12%
Mel Gibson 1%
OJ Simpson 13%
Pres. George Bush 40%

The announcer declared Britney the winner, "edging out her close friend, Paris Hilton". Anyone with an IQ above 50 should note the obvious: according to FOX news, Bush's biggest cheerleaders, GW Bush is "the most foolish American". However, I might add that those who blindly support him and his disasterous policy of endless war must themselves be even more foolish. As GW himself said, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and those are the ones you've gotta concentrate on."

[cfin5]

coffeehead..... I still do not see where that was President Reagans fault as nobody knew he was getting Alzheimers Disease. And I sure dont advocate what Nancy was did at all.....But Carter does NOT have Alzheimers. Although he could have baked his gord up on those hot roofs. I will give him that.

[cfin5]

Sorry coffeehead. I meant my last post for randalDS.

[randalds]

I never said anything about Reagan having Alzheimer as being his fault or that he had a scr*ewed up presidency because he had Alzheimer's. He was a lousy president before he got Alzheimer's, but it sure didn't make him any better.

[larryb071]

I am neither a democrat nor a republican.I have no love for either party, however, I entirely agree with Carter on this one. As near as I can see, Halibuton is running the country with Cheney as Vice president and Bush as the puppet with Halibuton pulling the strings. If anyone doubts this, ask yourself who is profiting from this war, who moves all supplies into the battle theater, feeds our troops, operates the mess halls, all with-out having to place a bid. Why hasn't Bush called for an investigation into the high prices at the pumps at a time when oil at the barrel head is lower than this time last year. All together now say "Haliburton". What president has stolen more civil rights from the people of this country ? Who helped industry farm our best paying jobs out of country, and who is letting even more un-skilled labor in so as to lower the price of wages ? George the puppet. Only a complete fool could not see this and only if their blinders are firmly in place. We are losing our middle class and it's no accident. And btw,, thank you president Carter for saying what needed to be said....

[larryb071]

I am neither a democrat nor a republican.I have no love for either party, however, I entirely agree with Carter on this one. As near as I can see, Halibuton is running the country with Cheney as Vice president and Bush as the puppet with Halibuton pulling the strings. If anyone doubts this, ask yourself who is profiting from this war, who moves all supplies into the battle theater, feeds our troops, operates the mess halls, all with-out having to place a bid. Why hasn't Bush called for an investigation into the high prices at the pumps at a time when oil at the barrel head is lower than this time last year. All together now say "Haliburton". What president has stolen more civil rights from the people of this country ? Who helped industry farm our best paying jobs out of country, and who is letting even more un-skilled labor in so as to lower the price of wages ? George the puppet. Only a complete fool could not see this and only if their blinders are firmly in place. We are losing our middle class and it's no accident. And btw,, thank you president Carter for saying what needed to be said....

[larryb071]

I am neither a democrat nor a republican.I have no love for either party, however, I entirely agree with Carter on this one. As near as I can see, Halibuton is running the country with Cheney as Vice president and Bush as the puppet with Halibuton pulling the strings. If anyone doubts this, ask yourself who is profiting from this war, who moves all supplies into the battle theater, feeds our troops, operates the mess halls, all with-out having to place a bid. Why hasn't Bush called for an investigation into the high prices at the pumps at a time when oil at the barrel head is lower than this time last year. All together now say "Haliburton". What president has stolen more civil rights from the people of this country ? Who helped industry farm our best paying jobs out of country, and who is letting even more un-skilled labor in so as to lower the price of wages ? George the puppet. Only a complete fool could not see this and only if their blinders are firmly in place. We are losing our middle class and it's no accident. And btw,, thank you president Carter for saying what needed to be said.....

[cfin5]

randalDS....... I will rest my opinion about President Reagan's "pathetic" terms in office on his LANDSLIDE ELECTION RESULTS.

[jegibbons]

If there ever was someone who is PERFECTLY QUALIFIED to speak about the WORST PRESIDENTS in history; that would be: THE PEANUT FARMER,
Jimmy Carter!!
Geeze, talk about being
SOMEONE WHO IS TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH! WHEW!

Someone point the old gent in the direction of the Depends aisle before he wets himself!

[larryb071]

I am neither a democrat nor a republican.I have no love for either party, however, I entirely agree with Carter on this one. As near as I can see, Halibuton is running the country with Cheney as Vice president and Bush as the puppet with Halibuton pulling the strings. If anyone doubts this, ask yourself who is profiting from this war, who moves all supplies into the battle theater, feeds our troops, operates the mess halls, all with-out having to place a bid. Why hasn't Bush called for an investigation into the high prices at the pumps at a time when oil at the barrel head is lower than this time last year. All together now say "Haliburton". What president has stolen more civil rights from the people of this country ? Who helped industry farm our best paying jobs out of country, and who is letting even more un-skilled labor in so as to lower the price of wages ? George the puppet. Only a complete fool could not see this and only if their blinders are firmly in place. We are losing our middle class and it's no accident. And btw,, thank you president Carter for saying what needed to be said.....

[bm6005]

Someone point the old gent in the direction of the Depends aisle before he wets himself!
Posted by JEGibbons

Just share yours!!

[larryb071]

I am neither a democrat nor a republican.I have no love for either party, however, I entirely agree with Carter on this one. As near as I can see, Halibuton is running the country with Cheney as Vice president and Bush as the puppet with Halibuton pulling the strings. If anyone doubts this, ask yourself who is profiting from this war, who moves all supplies into the battle theater, feeds our troops, operates the mess halls, all with-out having to place a bid. Why hasn't Bush called for an investigation into the high prices at the pumps at a time when oil at the barrel head is lower than this time last year. All together now say "Haliburton". What president has stolen more civil rights from the people of this country ? Who helped industry farm our best paying jobs out of country, and who is letting even more un-skilled labor in so as to lower the price of wages ? George the puppet. Only a complete fool could not see this and only if their blinders are firmly in place. We are losing our middle class and it's no accident. And btw,, thank you president Carter for saying what needed to be said.....