On his radio show Wednesday Rush Limbaugh called former President Jimmy Carter a national hemorrhoid and said he should be an embarrassment to the Democratic party. He also said Carter was the worst president of the 20th century.
Limbaugh lashed out over Carter's remarks last week that he believes some of the harshest criticisms of President Barack Obama are racially motivated. He did not say everyone against the president is racist, or anything like that, but some people prefer to take it that way.
I'm sure everyone reading this can think of at least one person they know who is unhappy that the president is black, so it's not that much of a stretch to reason that some people are really, really angry about it.
If I think the president — or anybody else for that matter — is an idiot, I'm going to reserve the right to say so. And whatever their race, political party affiliation, or spiritual beliefs were wouldn't make them any less of an idiot to me. But those things factor in to a lot of people's emotions. It magnifies their disappointment and they do and say things that are pretty hateful.
Hate isn't inherited. It's learned. There are still a lot of folks these days who grew up learning to hate along the boundaries of race, politics or religion, sometimes all three. I think it's less prevalent with each generation and hope that continues. Anybody who seeks to bring peace between people across those lines is OK with me. That's why I like Jimmy Carter.
I even like Rush Limbaugh. Clowns are my favorite part of the circus.
Just for fun
A survey of 65 presidential historians and scholars done earlier this year for C-SPAN ranked the former 42 presidents of the United States based on 10 points of leadership: public persuasion; crisis leadership; economic management; moral authority; international relations; administrative skills; relations with Congress; their vision and setting of an agenda; how they pursued equal justice for all; and their performance within the context of their times.
According to the presidential historians and scholars Warren Harding would be the worst president of the 20th century and George W. Bush would be the second worst president of the 20th century. The other 20th century presidents who ranked below Carter were Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Richard Nixon. Of course Rush would dismiss this since they are all Republicans.
The list is not gospel by any means, and it would never change anyone's mind about their favorite president (my No. 1 is No. 5 on the list) but it is interesting:
1. Abraham Lincoln
2. George Washington
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt
4. Theodore Roosevelt
5. Harry S. Truman
6. John F. Kennedy
7. Thomas Jefferson
8. Dwight D. Eisenhower
9. Woodrow Wilson
10. Ronald Reagan
11. Lyndon B. Johnson
12. James K. Polk
13. Andrew Jackson
14. James Monroe
15. Bill Clinton
16. William McKinley
17. John Adams
18. George H. W. Bush
19. John Quincy Adams
20. James Madison
21. Grover Cleveland
22. Gerald R. Ford
23. Ulysses S. Grant
24. William Howard Taft
25. Jimmy Carter
26. Calvin Coolidge
27. Richard M. Nixon
28. James A. Garfield
29. Zachary Taylor
30. Benjamin Harrison
31. Martin Van Buren
32. Chester A. Arthur
33. Rutherford B. Hayes
34. Herbert Hoover
35. John Tyler
36. George W. Bush
37. Millard Fillmore
38. Warren G. Harding
39. William Henry Harrison
40. Franklin D. Pierce
41. Andrew Johnson
42. James Buchanan
Steve Gillespie is managing editor of The Meridian Star. Email him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.
Editorials
September 27, 2009
Don’t be hatin’
- Editorials
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- Military cuts and BRAC to challenge leaders
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Governor takes lead on state budget
Sound, principled leadership is needed in times of economic uncertainty.
- A tiny little straight line fracture – the show must go on!
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Fruits of investments becoming evident
Investments by Mississippi State University and the Riley Foundation continue to breathe life into downtown Meridian.
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Questionable decision by outgoing governor
When former Gov. Haley Barbour left office last week he was supposed to enjoy a comfortable legacy as one of Mississippi's most popular governors.
- East Mississippi's position in House should strengthen
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Election day is right around the corner
Tuesday will be here before you know it.
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East Miss. welcomes new plant with open arms
If you haven't driven north of the Lauderdale County line on Highway 493 into Kemper County lately you need to.
- Incomplete arrest reports a problem
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The public deserves answers
Sometimes in life we drive down the same road in the wrong direction for miles, too stubborn to admit we need to change course or turn around. Doing so, we believe, will only serve to make our passengers question our ability to drive. They should just trust us.
- More Editorials Headlines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
