Mine is




My reasons (in no particular order, since they all point to what a complete fucktard he is)

1. The final negotiation and signature of the "Panama Canal Treaties" . Those treaties, which essentially transfered control of the American-built Panama Canal to the nation of Panama, were bitterly opposed by a majority of the American public. The treaties transferred a great strategic American asset - one that nearly 30,000 men died while constructing it over a decade -- to a corrupt third-world military dictatorship. Carter could not care less.

2. America's worst president also terminated the Russian wheat deal, which was intended to establish trade with USSR and lessen Cold War tensions. Even as a former farmer, Carter didn't value the grain exports, which would have been beneficial to many people employed in agriculture. This embargo marked the beginning of terrible hardship for American farmers.

3. The main conflict between human rights and U.S. interests came in Carter's dealings with the Shah of Iran. Though Carter's presidency was marked by several major crises, the final year of his term arguably was his worst. It was dominated by the Iran Hostage Crisis, during which the United States struggled to rescue diplomats and American citizens held hostage in Tehran, paving the way for the rise of Radical Islam now threatening the free world.

The Shah had been a strong ally of America since World War II. He was also friendly to the Jews of Israel, an idea subsequently non-existent in Iran for more than three decades now. Al Qaeda and the Taliban did not exist and Radical Islam lacked a major state sponsor. Shah Reza Pahlavi was one of the "twin pillars" upon which U.S. strategic policy in the Middle East was built.

When the Iranian Revolution broke out, the Shah was overthrown, and the U.S. did not intervene. The Shah, in permanent exile, was refused entry to the United States by the Carter administration, even on grounds of medical emergency. Nearly a year later, Washington relented and admitted the Shah into the U.S. Gaining strength and confidence, Iranian militants seized the American embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage.

The Shah died a few months later in Egypt, but the hostage crisis continued, dominating the last year of Carter's presidency and putting his misguided policies on display for the world to see, embarrassing America in the process. Carter's response was to do nothing at first. He simply stayed inside the White House. Then he attempted a rescue he closely managed, which failed. (Contrast this to President Bush after 9-11, though he was still criticized in the press). The redeeming factor in this telling ordeal was Carter's crushing defeat by Ronald Reagan in the presidential election.

The hostages were released on January 20, 1981 moments after Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th President of the USA. Carter's greatest achievement was leaving office.



There are certainly many other reasons as well

A very good book on the man, certainly biased, but very informative



The Real Jimmy Carter




I actual met Carter once when he visited my company, It was a pleasant surprise to learn that he was just as big of an arrogant prick in person as I had always believed him to be. Meaning that at least he was consistent in that....if not in anything else.

Dishonorable mention.....James Buchanan (which I will be glad to go into if anyone wants)

Carter is the worst in my lifetime.

Of ALL time? I'd have to go with Woodrow Wilson, the father of modern bureaucracy.

Agreed with Carter being the worst of my lifetime. I've never met him, but unlike Silentbob, I've never gotten the feeling of arrogant prick from him. Just incompotence.

I've always thought he was a great humanitarian, and that makes for a poor Commander in Chief. His main failing both as a president and in his later humanitarian efforts is that he opperates on the assumption that all dictators are good and can be trusted at their word. But things like habitat for humanity prove how good of a man he is.

As for worst of all time, I'd have to give serious consideration to Roosevelt for the New Deal. While it can be argued that the new deal helped pull America out of the depression (it can also be argued that gearing up for WWII did that job), there is no doubt that it created the modern welfare state in Amercia.

I agree with you on this point, the funny thing is FDR is right behind Lincoln and JFK regarding the passion in the support he receives. I think he opened this country up to several Socialistic (Uh'oh theres that word) ideas, and has not received the scrutiny that he deserves. That said, he was a great war time President (for the most part), which probably accounts for his skating by on the issues that you raised.

Tied between Carter and Nixon.

If you're talking policies and competency, then Carter wins hands down.

If you're talking about which president left the country and the office in the worst shape when he left, then it's unquestionably Nixon.

I also think that GW Bush has done an enormous amount of long-term damage to the federal government by consolidating too much power in the hands of the Executive Branch. The "enemy combatant" stuff is scarier than anything Nixon did in office.

I don't think Bush is the worst president overall, but I do think he's the president who has implemented the most dangerous policies to the long-term health of the country than anyone in recent history.

For me, it would've been between Nixon & Bush, but Bush wins worst because he's an even bigger lying sack of shit than Nixon was. Carter? Yeah, he wasn't great, but I think AEN is right. His heart was in the right place, but he didn't have the fortitude to get the things done that needed to be done.

Oops. My bad. Just realized the thread said "excluding W". In that case... Tricky Dick.

I was too young to really remember Carter's presidency.

GW is the worst. I know you said excluding him but you can exclude him since he's the worst

Either Harding or Grant. Both were incompetent and puppets of their party. Both fielded the most corrupt terms of all time. Carter may have been a bad President but at least he was honest.

Speaking of him personally I have met him several times. He has been unfailingly polite and warm every time I have met him or heard from people who have met him. My father puts the "arch" in "archconservative" and even he can not fault the man's character.

Carter was the worst in my lifetime. I'm sure there were other really bad ones in history but I can't really judge since I didn't live in that time.

Due to Carter's Humanitarian efforts I honestly can't attack his character, but having lived though his Administration I can say he was a worst President.

SilentBob mentioned a lot of Foreign policies that pissed most Americans off; but on the home front those were some rough times and this country suffered dramatically during his days in office.

Double-digit inflation and interest rates. The prime rate hit 21.5% in December 1980. The all time record high in the history of this Nation.

High unemployment and slow economic growth. Productivity growth dropped to less than 1 percent.

Oil Shortages and an energy crisis that makes todays problems look like a cake walk. Constant threats of rationing gasoline to 10-12 gallons per week.

In his election campaign, he promised to reduce government departments and spending, and major reform of the tax system; but instead he did nothing and actually increased the payroll tax for Social Security. I could go on, but what's the use?

Simply put, HE SUCKED!

BUT, he was the first to do so and fought for gay and lesbian rights and met with gay rights activists.

I think his biggest accomplishment was legalizing home-brewing. It's been said that revolutionized the beer industry and opened the market for what has become today's micro-breweries. (It probably made Shiney No Pants happy too. :lol:) Wonder if his brother Billy had anything to do with that?

The most devastating long term effect's from a President???

I have to agree with Alf about FDR creating the "modern welfare state". The foundation for income redistribution was laid during his Administration.

But FDR's lack of action in one specific area probably had the most damaging and long range effects. The Federal Reserve could not open March 5th 1933 because of huge withdrawal rates.

At that point, having a golden opportunity, he should have abolished the Central Bank and the US Treasury should have become responsible for the distribution of currency and total regulation of the banking industry.

Instead he choose to leave the Fed intact. That mistake was probably as bad as the creation of the Fed in 1913.

I wasn't too fond of Reagan or Bush Sr. As fas as pure incompetence, W has them all beat.

Too many possible choices...Nixon was the first President who left office under criminal investigation. Reaganomics damn near bankrupted the country, and his defense spending over ridiculous projects like "Star Wars" was completely irresponsible. Clinton may or may not have been a genius in repairing many of our economic woes, but his foreign policy along with downsizing of the military made us ripe for terroristic attacks. Carter depresses me on so many different levels, but he's gone on to do such great things to help his fellow man, it's hard to be dislike him as a person. Both Bush's have been disappointments...I can't speak on the Presidents before Nixon as they're before my time...so I'd have to say that my choice for worst President of the USA, EVER, is....

President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho


Aside from being a former porn star turned President, he singlehandidly set farming back to the stone ages, because of his constant refusal to research "water" and the possiblity it was more than for flushing the toilets. Combine this with his over enthusiastic display of violent tendencies, and you can see why this is the President to initiate the next World War... n7rryb

I have to agree with Ton80 on this pick. Repressing water rescearch is worst movement known to mankind :D