Jimmy Carter was just before my time, but watched this film on the Sky documentaries channel (available on catch up) and oh my, what a film and man. Fantastic clips and interviews with a range of rock & roll, jazz and country stars and some wonderful live clips. From Dylan to Dizzy Gillespie. If you haven’t seen it, seek it out – you won’t be disappointed. The best music archive film I think I’ve ever seen.
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Alistair Campbell just tweeted this:
As the worst US President of our lifetime prepares to leave office, we’re watching a wonderful @SkyArts documentary on Jimmy Carter and the role of music in his politics. My God the difference between the values of a good guy and a bad guy. Strongly recommend
“In our lifetime”? Very generous to the orange blimp…
I just watched Katie Hopkins’ latest video on YouTube. Why? I dunno. I know I shouldn’t give her the oxygen of an added view, but when a video by someone I despise crops up on social media I get kinda curious. The video is every bit as pathetically stupid and shallow as you’d expect (basically: “Trump’s inaugeration was a joyful event, look at how depressing Biden’s is”), but the comments on it are the more disturbing aspect. Comment after comment after comment, over 800 of them, calling Biden’s victory fraudulent and an affront to democracy and expressing continued support for Trump. These people geniuinely, sincerely and passionately believe what they say. Scary.
Hard to avoid, but try not to. These people are quite mad. After the riots, the number of Trump demonstraters who came out deploring violence was staggering. What the hell were they doing in Washington anyway, shouting about fraud and stolen elections. Bonkers and scary
Whispering Bob presented Jimmy Carter with an OGWT badge which he wore.
Not seen the documentary yet but looking forward to it.
Watched this on Saturday evening and can heartily recommend it. From asking his favourite bands and performers to do fundraising gigs during the presidential race to inviting them to perform at White House garden parties.
The difference between him and Trump really is chalk and cheese. There’s a section of the film about the Camp David accords and someone says that he did what he thought was right, not what he thought was popular. It cost him a re-election but I don’t think he’d have done it any other way.
The last US president not to drop a bomb, fire a bullet or go to war.
It’s a fascinating film.
Thanks for the tip. How interesting!
Time for a quick visit to Wiki.
Here’s an article abut the documentary mentioning some songs and artists that were important to Carter.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/02/us/jimmy-carter-rock-and-roll-president-soundtrack/index.html
Some presidents seem to done a lot of valuable work after their period in office.
Big Orange seems determined to ensure his legacy is continued hatred, confusion and a loss of faith in American democracy.
Kaisfatdad said: “Big Orange.”
I like the name “Emperor Cheeto.”
The doc is also available from ARTE (if you’re in Germany or France).
And Mr. Dylan’s great.
Musically, it’s an interesting film. I particularly enjoyed the footage of Dizzy Gillespie playing ‘Salt Peanuts’ with Carter doing the vocals.
But ask the average American, including dyed in the wool Democrats, about him and they will typically dismiss him out of hand as a brief, ineffective waste of time. Americans really don’t care a jot about his foreign policy achievements. His presidency is very much in the shadow of his successor Reagan, who, depressingly, is held in Thatcher-like reverence by many Americans – and not only by Trumpistas.
Despite being widely panned as being the ultimate one-term POTUS, he’s now seen as probably the best ex-President the US has ever had
Exactly. Look where America’s aggressive foreign policy since his presidency has got the world.
Who now sees him as “as probably the best ex-President the US has ever had” ? Certainly not the average American.
Can you name a former POTUS who has played a more statesmanlike role or had a more positive impact since leaving office?
Given their notorious lack of interest in what goes on in the world at large, many average Americans probably wouldn’t even know who Jimmy Carter was.
Carter is also one of only four US presidents to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and the only one to do so after leaving office.
Missed it. Bugger. He was a big Southern Rock fan.
It’s being frequently repeated on Sky Arts at the moment.
I scrolled through and didn’t see it.
It’s on Sky Catch Up. If you try search you should also find it repeated a couple of times on Sky Arts during the week
1am on Sat 23rd it says on Sky website.
I’m a Freeview Sky Arts customer
Ha just tried harder. It’s on Saturday at 1am (aka Friday night late). PVR set.
Born in 1924, he is still alive, making him the longest-lived president ever.
The Independent wrote:
“Carter is widely considered a better man than he was a president.”
“Not” having a war doesn’t sit well with huge swathes of the electorate.
It’s something for them to watch on TV in between the soaps.
Personally, I’ve always been fine with it.
What sank him was the hostage rescue cock up. Turns out deserts are dusty.
Waiting until the first day of Reagan’s presidency to release the hostages was a particularly savage blow, aimed at Carter personally.
The majority of the US electorate, Democrats included, seem to prefer to see their country throwing it’s weight about on the international stage, rather than getting along with the rest of the world.