Poor Old Jimmy Carter 

Poor Old Jimmy Carter

I'm not actually watching much of the Democratic convention. Typically of the way I follow events these days, I have been reading a lot of blogs.

Many Democrats seem to think Carter did OK, it's great to have everybody under the tent, etc. But:

Carter's theme was supposed to be foreign policy? I have to agree with Nick Gillespie that if anyone was paying attention, Carter does not do himself or his party much good on this score.

Once again, I gather, he was all smiling and pious (although not referring directly to his faith), yet nastier, working more with a knife than other speakers.

Carter was the biggest draw of all convocation speakers at a college I taught at in Minnesota. I didn't get in to a packed chapel, but I must have heard the speech somehow. Carter actually got off a pretty good joke--one he had no doubt polished for a long time. He had never been successful at working a joke into a speech. Then in Japan, he told a joke, the translator translated it, and the crowd erupted in laughter. He was pleased until he commented later that he was surprised at the laughter. With some embarrassment it was explained: the translator said President Carter has told a joke.