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Jimmy Carter

Op-Ed

A Guide to the Gaffe

Gaffes seem to be gushing as much as Gulf Coast oil. John Boehner's antsy metaphor and Joe Barton's apology to BP were heartfelt PR disasters. After his interview, General McChrystal was on his own, like a rolling stone. Last month, it was Carly Fiorina caught on camera mocking her general-election opponent Barbara Boxer for hair Read More

Barack Obama Talks for the Cycle

Maybe it would have been more interesting if the White House had taken a page from Ronald Reagan’s old playbook.

It was back in December 1987 when, with just over a year left in his second term, Reagan played host to a Washington summit with Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev. In terms of domestic Read More

The Obama Bloc

Something funny happened last Friday, when Barack Obama detailed his plans for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which include an increase of 4,000 troops to train Afghan security forces: the most outspokenly anti-war Democrats in Congress kept their mouths shut - or even, as in the case of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, embraced his vision.

This Read More

Sweater

At a press conference in Brooklyn this afternoon to announce tougher rules to home heating oil meter-readers from overcharging, Michael Bloomberg was asked by a reporter how he heats his own home.“It’s oil,” Bloomberg said.

He advised people to be conservative with energy use and, Carter-like, to "wear a sweater."

At a press conference Read More

Jimmy Carter Thinks the Convention Got a Lot Better Last Night

President Jimmy Carter acknowledged the tension between Barack Obama and the Clintons in an interview, but said it added excitement to the Democratic convention and set the stage for last night's dramatic speeches that ultimately left the Democrats better off.

“I thought Bill Clinton made a perfect speech,” said Carter, speaking to The Observer in the Read More

At the 2008 Convention, Carter Wanes, Again

Some nominees treat Jimmy Carter better than others. This marks the seventh Democratic convention of Carter's decorated post-presidency, but he wasn't exactly shown a great deal of respect by Barack Obama and this year's planners.

Carter addressed the convention in a pre-taped video message that aired well before primetime, after a speech by a Read More

Mondale Is Sure That Biden Will Work Out

DENVER -- Howard Dean came up from behind and clapped Walter Mondale on the shoulder. “Joe Biden,” he said. “Great choice. Great choice.”

It was two glasses into cocktail hour on Sunday evening at the International Leaders Forum, a quadrennial powwow of foreign dignitaries hosted by the National Democratic Institute, an organization that promotes good governance Read More

Obama’s Coattails and the Senate Majority

The latest wave of polling has been an almost uninterrupted parade of good news for Barack Obama – widening leads in national surveys, solid advantages in most swing states, and startling strength in numerous Republican bastions.

It could all mean nothing, of course. Michael Dukakis led George H. W. Bush by 13 points at this Read More

The Calculations of Barack Obama

Barack Obama the naïve sapling is out, replaced – for the time being at least – by a different caricature: the cunning opportunist, wrapping himself in the mantle of reform in ruthless and amoral pursuit of the White House.

The image began taking hold in the media last week, when Obama rationalized his way out of Read More

Obama’s Poor Finish and the General Election

“In many ways,” the New York Times’ Adam Nagourney wrote over the weekend, “Mr. Obama is wheezing across the finish line after making a strong start: He has won only 6 of the 13 Democratic contests held since March 4, drawing 6.1 million votes, compared with 6.6 million for Mrs. Clinton.”

Actually, it’s now worse than Read More