TC
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 9,480
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Post by TC on Sept 21, 2010 15:00:10 GMT -5
Thanks. Carter probably could have worded it better, but he's not wrong. Imagine how much Presidents with strong international reputations like Bush Sr. or Clinton could have accomplished if they'd done half as much as Carter's done since left the White House. When people are making arguments that the Clinton Global Initiative could eclipse the UN, I think it's hard to argue that Clinton has been inactive. www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-20/is-clintons-cgi-the-new-un/ |
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DFW HOYA
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,911
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Post by DFW HOYA on Sept 21, 2010 15:40:44 GMT -5
Hey, what about that Dam that Hoover built! OK, bad joke. The irony is that Herbert Hoover was considered a brilliant individual and a remarkable Cabinet official but that economic circumstances overwhelmed him. The dam that bears his name was also the subject of a political grudge. When FDR took over as President, he signed a law changing the name of the dam to Boulder Dam, and never invited Hoover to the opening ceremonies. Hoover spent most of his post-presidential career fishing and traveling, as there was really nothing for ex-presidents to do. The situation was worse for Harry Truman, who was poor enough to be living on his Army pension of $112 a month until the Congress authorized salaries for ex-presidents, of which there were only two at the time: Hoover and Truman. I give Truman a lot of credit for not being someone to profiteer out of being an ex-president. In his later years, after people learned of his lack of income, he was offered seats on various corporate boards of directors. He turned them all down, saying "You don't want me. You want the office of the president, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale." Were that his successors could say the same. |
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Post by jerseyhoya34 on Sept 21, 2010 15:44:13 GMT -5
I may be in the minority, but I think some ex-presidents have a lot to offer. I think it would be a great benefit for the country, for example, if H.W. Bush spoke out about the current state of the Republican Party - for or against. He brings a unique historical perspective that, say, an O'Donnell or Palin lacks.
It is far more common that ex-presidents speak out about the other party, and I am not sure that serves anyone. H.W. Bush has done this - see his ill-considered comments last year about media figures.
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Post by The Stig on Sept 21, 2010 16:14:12 GMT -5
I think there's a big difference between ex-Presidents using their former office for their own good (serving on boards, etc), and using it for the good of the country or the world (dispute resolution, encouraging public service, supporting relief efforts). The former is the type of thing that Truman rightly rejected, the latter is what Carter is doing, and what hopefully more ex-Presidents will do in the future.
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Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Elvado on Sept 23, 2010 12:11:43 GMT -5
Clinton Global Initiative
Isn't that just his desire to get laid in every country on earth?
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prhoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 23,605
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Post by prhoya on Sept 23, 2010 12:24:50 GMT -5
Both sides of the aisle just went "ohhhhh" and laughed a little...
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theexorcist
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,506 
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Post by theexorcist on Sept 23, 2010 14:59:24 GMT -5
I may be in the minority, but I think some ex-presidents have a lot to offer. I think it would be a great benefit for the country, for example, if H.W. Bush spoke out about the current state of the Republican Party - for or against. He brings a unique historical perspective that, say, an O'Donnell or Palin lacks. It is far more common that ex-presidents speak out about the other party, and I am not sure that serves anyone. H.W. Bush has done this - see his ill-considered comments last year about media figures. So, is Clinton going to speak out about how Obama has been a miserable failure in foreign policy? He brings a unique historical perspective that, say, an Emmanuel or Biden lacks. |
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theexorcist
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,506
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Post by theexorcist on Sept 23, 2010 15:00:34 GMT -5
Hey, what about that Dam that Hoover built!  OK, bad joke. As for Carter, I do think he's done an outstanding job as ex-prez, but I can't disagree that calling his work "superior" was not an admirable statement. Keep on laughing about the Hoover Dam - it's keeping us safe from the Decepticons. |
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Just Cos
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Eat 'em up Hoyas
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Post by Just Cos on Sept 23, 2010 15:03:07 GMT -5
Having your wife as Secretary of State is clearly not getting involved in foreign affairs.
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Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Elvado on Sept 23, 2010 15:06:18 GMT -5
Having your wife as Secretary of State is clearly not getting involved in foreign affairs. No but banging everything you can get your mitts on in every country you visit is... |
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