Jimmy Carter: The U.S. Is an "Oligarchy With Unlimited Political Bribery"

[bsnub]

This man is a true American hero.


Former president Jimmy Carter said Tuesday on the nationally syndicated radio show the Thom Hartmann Program that the United States is now an “oligarchy” in which “unlimited political bribery” has created “a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors.” Both Democrats and Republicans, Carter said, “look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves.”

Carter was responding to a question from Hartmann about recent Supreme Court decisions on campaign financing like Citizens United.
Transcript:

HARTMANN: Our Supreme Court has now said, “unlimited money in politics.” It seems like a violation of principles of democracy. … Your thoughts on that?
CARTER: It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2...tical-bribery/

[Black Heart]

True.

The US is an oligarchy.

[lom]

This man is a true American hero.

Jimmy Carter. Peanut farmer. One of the best US presidents during my lifetime.

[Davis Knowlton]

Wow, Snub...."A true American hero"?

You guys really LOVE that 'hero' word, don't you?

Being VERY generous, Carter was a low-average President. I just took a look at a poll of the worst US presidents, and he ranked 13th.

He is mostly remembered for leaving an entire Embassy of US diplomats languishing in captivity for almost two years while he munched goobers (peanuts) and drank Billy Beer with his retarded brother.

Even for you, that's a really stupid comment.

[BobR]

Carter was not much of a President, and please don't take this as anti-American rhetoric, but sadly in a series of cases starting in 2010, the SCOTUS essentially gave the political process to the wealthy and corporations by allowing virtually unlimited campaign contributions.

It started with this case in 2010 and has been followed by several equally unfortunate decsions:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citize...eechNow_v._FEC

Justice Ginsburg: Citizens United Is Supreme Court's 'Most Disappointing' Decision

Speaking at an event at the Duke University School of Law, Ginsburg said she thinks the decision was the court's worst blunder "because of what has happened to elections in the United States and the huge amount of money it takes to run for office."
Justice Ginsburg: Citizens United Is Supreme Court's 'Most Disappointing' Decision : US : Headlines & Global News


Corporate directors have a fiduciary duty to shareholders, that means they don't give away the corporations money unless they can justify it by favorable publicity or expecting something else in return.

[bsnub]

You guys really LOVE that 'hero' word, don't you?

Just who exactly are "you guys"? I think that standing up against the corporate machine is pretty awesome. Carter may not have been the best president but he is far from the worst. Dubya was by far worse he completely unbuttoned the middle east and did it all for money. All you got is the fact that Jimmy at grubers? Really?

He did launch Operation Eagle Claw. Its failure was not his fault and the blame lied with the militarily brass.

[bsnub]

Carter was not much of a President, and please don't take this as anti-American rhetoric

Not the best but not the worst. He has been a fine ambassador of the US afterwords.

but sadly in a series of cases starting in 2010, the SCOTUS essentially gave the political process to the wealthy and corporations by allowing virtually unlimited campaign contributions.

The more salient point and closer to the OP. Green dispatched.

[Davis Knowlton]

^Not arguing that the US is anything other than a corrupt business, Bob.

Just banging on Snub. He does babble on about a load of stuff he really doesn't understand.

He'd be better off just putting on his ball cap and going to the firing range with his arsenal.

And the American propensity to label virtually everyone in America as a "hero" has made the word totally meaningless, and simply serves to make them look like fools.

[bsnub]

Just banging on Snub. He does babble on about a load of stuff he really doesn't understand.

OK Davis. What exactly do I not understand? The US is totally fucked. I am not banging on about nonsense. I am worried about the state of the country. I am far from an empty headed flag waiving moron. Look to boon mee for that. If you think different then you must have got the wrong impression.

He'd be better off just putting on his ball cap and going to the firing range with his arsenal.

Nothing like squeezing off a few rounds to settle the nerves eh Davis? I know you own a gun or two. Almost everyone in the US has guns. I think you stated in the past that if you were back in the world you would have a gun because everyone else did.

And the American propensity to label virtually everyone in America as a "hero" has made the word totally meaningless, and simply serves to make them look like fools.

Touche. Let me get my Amerikkan flag shirt on.

[Davis Knowlton]

Carter pardoned all Vietnam draft evaders and deserters on his SECOND DAY in office.

Yep, a hero.

To some of you, I guess.

[bsnub]

Carter pardoned all Vietnam draft evaders and deserters on his SECOND DAY in office.

I am not as old as you Davis. How am I supposed to know something like that? All I know is the man after he was in office. He has proven to be a great statesmen. His comments with regards to oligarchy are spot on.

Yep, a hero. To some of you, I guess.

How do you define a hero? A man that is the toughest on the battlefield? Is that it?

[sabang]

Jimmy Carter was a succesful self made businessman (peanut farmer, my arse- a succesful commodities broker), who ended up becoming a mediocre President (but not as bad as he's made out to be), and then morphed into a great elder Statesman.

Great enough to speak truth to power, and be reported and listened to. He speaks the truth, for no personal gain other than to speak the truth.

Frankly I find your criticism a wee bit petty Davis. Do you fiercely despise Jane Fonda too?

[Humbert]

He is mostly remembered for leaving an entire Embassy of US diplomats languishing in captivity for almost two years while he munched goobers (peanuts) and drank Billy Beer with his retarded brother.

That's a ridiculous oversimplified version of events. Carter is mostly considered a mediocre president and lost to Reagan because he was blamed for high gasoline prices.
Funny nobody here blames Reagan for 13% mortgage rates during his term.

[Davis Knowlton]

^I don't despise Fonda, I just find her pathetic.

[Boon Mee]

Carter pardoned all Vietnam draft evaders and deserters on his SECOND DAY in office.

Yep, a hero.

To some of you, I guess.

Well, since we are all very aware of the ideology these TDMA members adhere to it's no wonder Carter is a hero to them.

The most Ineffectual and a dangerous president until Choomboy came along.

[harrybarracuda]

He is mostly remembered for leaving an entire Embassy of US diplomats languishing in captivity for almost two years while he munched goobers (peanuts) and drank Billy Beer with his retarded brother.

That's ridiculous. He launched a rescue attempt, remember? The fact that it failed is down to the military.

And as for letting them languish, it's common knowledge that Rocket Ronnie did a deal with the Iranians to keep the hostages until after the election, in return for him giving them weapons.

It was no coincidence that they were released on Ronnie's inauguration day.

The rest, as they say, is history, although it appears you suffer from the Reagan afflication of "I don't recall......".

[bsnub]

The most Ineffectual and a dangerous president until Choomboy came along.

More proof that you live in a bubble.

That's ridiculous. He launched a rescue attempt, remember? The fact that it failed is down to the military.

I pointed that out already. It went swoosh over the head.

[sabang]

The most Ineffectual and a dangerous president until Hillary came along.

Fixed that for ya.

[Boon Mee]

The most Ineffectual and a dangerous president until Hillary came along.

Fixed that for ya.

You may be right...

[bsnub]

^ Sabang lets be honest the worst US president was clearly dubya. He decimated the US economy, created ISIS, ballooned the debt and single handedly destroyed US relations with the entire world.

He and his entire cabnit should be indicted.

[HermantheGerman]

Carter pardoned all Vietnam draft evaders and deserters on his SECOND DAY in office.

Yep, a hero.

To some of you, I guess.

If Vietnam was wrong Carter had a lot of COURAGE to do it on his second day in office.
Some U.S. politicians get captured in Vietnam get a medal and are called hero. Ohh, and don't know Jack Shit about politics.

[Munted]

An honest ex-politician. Pity he didn't call it like that in the day.

[harrybarracuda]

Let's get back to what he said.

Is anyone in disagreement with this?

the United States is now an “oligarchy” in which “unlimited political bribery” has created “a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors.” Both Democrats and Republicans, Carter said, “look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves.”

[thaimeme]

True.

The US is an oligarchy.

Wonder if anyone would be paying attention if deriving from a wacko conspiratorial type, less a former President....


Always been oligarchical.
What's new?

[BobR]

There was a big deal in the media about Carter carrying his own suitcase and being a"just normal folk" when he was President. Later these stories allegedly from retired Secret Service agents came out saying it was all an act.

I wonder what the truth is???

" Carter is portrayed as a phony according to the agents interviewed by Kessler. Carter would put on a show for the public to convey himself as a common man, but it was never anymore than an act. For instance, we are told that when Carter would make a point of carrying his own luggage in front of the press, he was really carrying empty bags."
Read more at LiveLeak.com - Secret Service agents: Jimmy Carter was a jerk