VULGAR - AT 7:20 A.M. ET:  Is there any end to Jimmy Carter's vulgarity.  The former president testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, mostly on energy policy, and Dana Milbank of The Washington Post reports on the greatness of the moment - as Carter reveled in the false praise committee members gave him, and even Code Pink applauded his appearance.  When Code Pink approves of you, you're in trouble with rational people, but Carter didn't seem to notice.  Major vulgarity alert:

Calling Jimmy Carter to testify about energy security, it might seem, is a bit like calling Michael Vick to testify about pet care.

But John Kerry is a gambler, and the new chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee invited the 39th president to talk to his panel about his cardigan-wearing days in the White House -- and why the nation, 30 years later, still hasn't solved its energy problems.

For a resurgent Democratic Party, the move risked all kinds of unpleasant imagery: gas lines, fuel shortages, the Iran hostage crisis, malaise. Even members of the committee staff joked about whether the former president would show up wearing a sweater, as he did when he appeared on television to urge Americans to lower their thermostats.

John Kerry and Jimmy Carter in the same room.  Can you stand it?

Milbank says:

Carter's reputation has soared since his star-crossed presidency, and yesterday he tried to settle some (very) old scores.

As they say, depends on who you ask.  Carter has conspicuously interfered with American foreign policy, led us astray on North Korea, undercut American efforts against terror masters, become a major-league Israel hater (which is why Code Pink applauded him), and has been unable to control his ego. During his committee appearance he bragged incessantly about his wisdom on energy.

It might be nice if Mr. Carter would finally admit that we are still paying the price for his reckless foreign and defense policies.  It might be nice if he would finally acknowledge his successor's (Ronald Reagan's) role in restoring national morale and ending the Cold War essentially on our terms.

It might be nice, but it will never happen.

May 13, 2009