JIMMY CARTER BAD?

Hapless Jimmy Carter. We blamed the former president for the Federal Reserve's raising interest rates and for rising prices caused by OPEC oil production reductions. Now his detractors call him an anti-Semite. If you want your reputation besmirched in 20 minutes, just mention that Israel possesses 150 nukes. It worked for Jimmy.

He's been smeared and swarmed by Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, and Newt Gingrich. All of those neocons have been vacation guests of Israel multiple times. Rush was the only one who visited Palestine on his way home. How did he dare? Then Rush exclaimed that before Israel seized half of Palestine (the most fertile part) in 1949, "There was nothing there. All progress came after the Israelis moved in."

Anyone can lie, but few can get away with such whoppers. Why do the media and other influential authorities let that go without correction? History records that Israelis TOOK BY FORCE Palestinian homes, farms and businesses. The people were herded into refugee camps where they have been for 60 years. Palestine had many schools, hospitals, and the other institutions worthy of admiration. Palestinians had the most educated and socially sophisticated society in the Middle East when the United Nations told them to move out and promised them their own state - which never happened.

Meanwhile, Carter can recall his arrangement of the Camp David Accords with Israel's Begin and Eygpt's Sadat. That was a positive step towards peace and quite an accomplishment at the time. Old Jimmy can hold his own in history as a leader, statesman and humanitarian.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Cleaning the Garage

Maybe Mars will change everything. I mean, couldn't we get all the powers of this world to sign a pledge of peace for Big Red? Let's not fight there, too.

Overheard on the Street

"My wife wants me to look into one of those jobs Americans won't do."

Help Wanted

Clean-up crew for the Democratic convention in Denver. Can't be squeamish or faint-hearted. Be prepared for the worst. Union wage. Contact Dr. Dean.

Illegals wanted for clean-up crew at Republican convention in St. Paul. Not much mess / really neat folks. Just sweep up a bit. Option of cash payment or direct deposit in Bank of Nogales. Contact Liz Dole.