Farewell, Mr. President

I remember, not quite like it was yesterday, walking and standing in the Mississippi National Guard Armory in November 1980. I suppose I was physically present for something similar in 1977, but I really can’t remember that as yesterday or any day. But at the time, in the fall of ‘80, I was a little too young to vote. Mom and Dad, however, were of age, and they both voted to reelect the South’s man, a Georgia peanut farmer nicknamed Jimmah. 


James Earl Carter, Jr. was the 39th US President, in office from 1977 until 1981. On Sunday, December 29, 2024, he died at the age of 100. No doubt, many of you already knew that before you made it here to my make-shift column. 


And most of you have probably formed your opinions about Carter, his life, and the legacy of his administration. Some say, or, rather, many say, that he was a much better ex-president than an in-office chief executive. Personally, I lean that way, though my understanding of Carter, the US, and geopolitical history might be slightly outside the norm.


It is my opinion that many of Carter’s policies, domestic and foreign, were misdirected, ill-conceived, or plain ruined by the then-developing Deep State. See, for example, the works of Zbigniew Brzezinski. It is also my opinion that Carter was the final “real” American president who genuinely had the best interests of the American people in his mind and heart. Following his 1980 defeat to Reagan, the office, like almost all others of any importance, has since been held by some shade of Clown World agent. 


As I’m typing this one out, much is being made of con man Donaldo Trumpster’s coming second take on the idea of “America First”. I would say it looks less like America first, or second, or even last, and most like America never. To wit: the Trump has assembled a cast of gutter clowns that appears to be 99.7% NON-American. One of these foreign invaders, speaking about bringing in even more foreign invaders, told the MAGA brigade to “Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face.” 

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In the face, no less…


Jimmah was a lot of things, but no one would have ever conceived of such wicked stupidity blasted at heritage Americans on his watch.


As I’ve noted before, Carter was the only American president I ever met. I found him and Mrs. Rosalynn to be among the very highest and best kind of people available. For the short time longer that it lasts as a semi-unified political entity, the United States will not see Carter’s type again. The good and true former First Lady died last November. The best part of this story will be the reunion of these two lovers, married since 1946. Mike Luckovich’s late AJC cartoon sums up the reunion nicely.


So, thank you, Mr. President, for all you did, in and out of office, and for the honor of our brief acquaintance. Godspeed, Jimmah! Requiescat in pace.

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Deo vindice.

This piece was published at Perrin Lovett on January 3, 2025.