A New York Times op—ed columnist pines for good speeches of Jimmy Carter—affection for "malaise" speech. Of course, some would blame Jimmy Carter's dithering and refusal to support the Shah of Iran as leading to the ascendancy of Khomeini and the rise of radical Shia Islam. Some would blame Carter's weakness during the hostage crisis as encouraging jihadists around the world, who now saw America as a paper tiger. Some would blame Carter for the disastrous military mission he finally undertook hundreds of days after the hostages were captured for embarrasing America before the world.

But not this NPR contributor and New York Times substitute columnist (for Maureen Dowd — who else?). She actaully looks back fondly on the Carter presidency.

Stunning.

Ed Lasky   7 13 05