« I Don't Want To Turn Into A Hack | Main | Hardballin' »
October 11, 2007
Cheney
Are Carter's comments on Cheney really supposed to be controversial? Calling Cheney "militaristic" is like calling him the Vice President of the United State of America. Not only is it unambiguously true, but it's supposed to be one of his selling points!
October 11, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
You're a smart guy, so I'm at a loss to understand why you choose not to see that it's not Carter's statements of fact or opinion that are the problem, it's the fact that *former President* Carter is exactly the wrong person to be making them.
There is a very good reason for the rule that former Presidents should not criticize their successors, regardless of how much they deserve it. A former head of state publicly criticizing their successor has the effect of undermining the authority and even democratic legitimacy of the Office of the Presidency and the unity of the country.
Imagine if Reagan or Ford had come out against Clinton's use of force in Bosnia, or imagine (and now that Carter has shot his mouth off, you can count on it) a future situation in a couple of years where Bush or Cheney starts taking potshots at President HRC/ Obama/Edward's foreign policy at a delicate point in negotiations with Iran, or at a critical tipping point between war and peace with China or Russia. The effect of undermining the policy of a current Administration could be devastating to the country and/or world, and obviously even further aggravate partisan rancour and reduce the scope for political compromise. Even worse, the precedent could be used in an especially weak presidency or divisive national period to stir outright coups/rebellions.
This of course has no bearing on the right of almost anyone else, including the public, Congress or *retired* military/judiciary to freely speak their minds. But the unique role of a former President requires that for the stability of the democratic system that they restrain themselves from undermining the authority/legitimacy of the Office of the Presidency, (regardless of the mendaciously aggressive stupidity of the current occupant), most especially in the area of foreign policy. At most they should confine themselves to factual statements of national problems or challenges, expressed only in politically neutral or positive terms.
As we have already discovered (e.g. Presidential signing statements), using dangerous double-edged rhetorical swords has the effect of leaving them around to be picked up in future by others with far less benign motives.
The mere fact that Carter doesn't understand this indicates that he is mentally slipping. He should be taken aside and either be told to shut up, or be officially rebuked and eased off the public stage by the Democratic Party establishment, before he becomes a Robertson/Limbaugh style public embarrassment.
Posted by: quietpc3400 | Oct 12, 2007 1:40:41 AM
I'm pretty sure that Clinton was critized by St Ronnie about 6 months after taking office.
Posted by: merlallen | Oct 12, 2007 9:37:48 AM
Fast shipping.
buy valtrex
buy tetracycline
buy prozac
buy ativan
buy lorazepam
Posted by: asdas | Nov 30, 2007 7:20:27 AM
Most cheap pills.
alprazolam pharmacology
difference between clonazepam and alprazolam
paxil withdrawal symptoms
cheap oxycontin
buy klonopin
phentermine 37.5mg
buy tenuate
Posted by: asd | Dec 1, 2007 3:56:58 AM
ORDER ONLINE! NO PRESCRIPTION!
wellbutrin sr
buy zolpidem
buy prozac
buy oxycontin
tylenol with codeine
Posted by: chepok | Dec 1, 2007 6:15:19 AM
immediate delivery.
buy cialis
buy cialis online
buy cialis soft tabs
buy corisoprodol
buy diazepam
buy female viagra
buy lexapro
buy phentermine
buy renova
buy retin a
Posted by: verty | Dec 2, 2007 1:26:59 AM
buy buspar
buy carisoprodol
buy cialis without prescription
buy diflucan
buy effexor xr
buy fioricet without prescription
buy lamisil oral
buy levitra without prescription
Posted by: asdas | Dec 3, 2007 1:38:59 PM
buy tramadol
buy valium
buy viagra
buy viagra online
buy viagra soft tabs
buy xanax
Posted by: fsdfsd | Dec 3, 2007 2:48:09 PM
To be able under all circumstances to practice five things constitutes perfect virtue; these five things are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and kindness.
Posted by: Derme | Oct 18, 2008 8:59:50 AM
