The darkest days in American history was during Carter's term. During the late 70's, if you had gas in your car, a home loan, a job; you were lucky. If he was such a great ambassador, why couldn't he get Iran to release the 12 hostages? He was mocked all over the world. It took strong leadership from Ronald Reagon to get the job done. Reagon lowered taxes and turned the economy around. It was only then that I could afford a home for my family. We now have the strongest economy ever and it's because of President Bush, yes the "BIG W". I don't agree with everything he has done but I like the economy and I like being safe. If it wasn't for the good economy, Carter couldn't help build those welfare houses. People donate when the economy is good. I wish Bush had four more years. I vote with my wallet, I didn't need a wallet during Carter's term because I had nothing in it. If he was so great, why did he serve only one term? This is my opinion and my right to express it, thanks to Pres. Bush

Brett, Bessemer City, North Carolina

My only dissapointment with President Carter is that he retracted his comments. He obviously spoke the truth from his heart;we all know that what he said is true. He should have remained true to his words and stuck with his position. Isn't that what President Bush does? No matter how how wrong, incompetent, unjust, illegal, un-American and just plain stupid his policies and decisions may be, he never changes his mind or admits mistakes. Carter was absolutely right, this administration will soon be judged as the worst in history. The question remains if we can recover from it.

David N, Tifton, Georgia

Carter is painting the kettle BLACK. I got married during his term. I know how bad of a president he was. I could not afford a house with interest rates over 20% and my family builds houses for a living. Now, he builds houses to make up for his terrible mistakes. He couldn't rescue 12 hostages from Iran. He's a joke then and a bigger joke now!!

Brett, Bessemer City, North Carolina

As a citizen of this Country, I can proudly state that NO political party has my
undivided loyalty, I claim neither the Democrat or Republican Party. Why? Because
I can NOT in good concience conclude that the BEST person for the job at hand
(PRESIDENT - SENATOR - CONGRESSMAN - GOVERNOR, ETC., ETC,) ever
really has a chance to obtain that job or office! We don't want the best anymore, we
want who has been pronounced "electable", by our revered media pudits! People
who can elicite and or attract large sums of money for their respective campaigns.
But I'm getting off point! I have been alive 60+ years. I have seen both GOOD and
not so good, and really BAD politicians. In my humble opinion, Mr. Carter (notice I did
NOT refer to him as "President") should shut his mouth! It's amazing to me that he has
done quite a bit more GOOD since he left office, than he ever did while in power. His policies failed miserably (Iran, Panama, etc., etc.) It took Reagan to save his
bacon!

Don, Springfield, OR / USA

It's about time someone stepped forward and told the truth about the horrible conditions that President Bush has forced on the American People. Where have all the leaders gone? This isn't the America that we can be proud of. Someone needs to take on the President if Congress and the Senate won't. I think someone besides Carter should step up to the plate. As far as people saying it is unpatriotic for Carter to speak against Bush and his policies are nonsense. I hate the fact that Carter is saying that his words were taken out of content. America is built on free speech. The Bush administration is full of corrupt lying people. If you don't agree with Bush you're attacked. The sooner Bush is out the better this country will become.

West, New York, NY

Just as Jimmy Carter is an ex-president. He has the distinction of now being the ex-worst president in history.
Since "W" has taken the presidency to new depths of incompetency and moral corruption. Talk about increasinly irrelevent, this administration will be regarded as such while he ("W") occupies the space in the White House till the moment of liberation in January 2009.

Dan the Diceman

Dan Dickman, Santa Rosa, California

Jimmy Carter, the worst president in recent history, is not even a good ex-president... He has broken a 210 year old precedent of former presidents not insulting current administrations.

President Carter mentioning either Richard Nixon or George W Bush should happen in no manner except respect and reverence as both were better Presidents than himself. Yes, I said Bush is better than Carter... Disagree with the Iraq war all you want, but there is no denying the successes of the Bush administration in domestic and other foreign policies.

Brian B, Jacksonville, USA / Florida

Mary Dougherty is right. If anyone is irrelevant right now, it is Bush who is more and more irrelevant by the day. But it is also right that Carter himself was pretty dismal as a president, and has only been really good at being an ex-president. Bill Clinton was really good at being a president, but also good at being an ex-president. He just wasn't a very good nominating speaker before being president. Outside of these two I wonder how many ex-presidents have created and filled the type of role these two have. I think Clinton is more relevant as ex-president than Bush is as president.

Christopher Hobe Morrison, Middletown, Orange County, NY, USA

. Mr. carter should have stuck with his original statement, afterall he was just telling the truth.

T.C. Acosta , Lake City, Fl.

Jimmy Carter is right on every point and should retract nothing. He is a faithful worker for peace an real participatory democracy in the world. It is GW Bush that is growing increasingly unimportant as his lame status and stubourn attitude is recognized as error not leadership.

Linda An, Dallas, USA/Texas

The Bush administration has it correct, Carter is irrelavent--much like his Presidency. This isn't nothing new however, Carters term as President is undoubtably the darkest time in US history since the beginning of WWII. Carter has apparently forgotten about double digit unemployment and inflation, the hostage crisis, Panama Cannel and gas lines that really are the hallmark of his administration. Carter should concentrate more on building homes for Habitat For Humanity and let the governing of the USA up to those who actully know how to.

Todd, Mesquite, Nevada, USA

Don't backtrack Jimmy. You're dead-on in your assessment. This administration will most certainly be judged as among the worst in US history. This emperor has had no clothes for years, and it's about time people stop tip-toeing around that fact.

Mike, San Francisco, CA

I am deeply saddened by President Carter's retraction of a statement he made that was absolutely true and correct! With his outspoken "truthiness" he rose in my estimation as a brave and honest man! My God, men like Lee Iaccoca and Donald Trump have come to the same assessment of this presidency (the "worst" in history) and the harm it's done our nation internally and globally. The majority of Americans feel this way, and we all stood up and cheered Carter's honesty! If anyone can name one positive accomplishment of this administration, I would like to hear it! I am disappointed in Mr. Carter, but I guess he just is trying to keep the peace! How Ironic!

Lois Hamilton, Santa Barbara, CA

Carter should have sympathy for Bush since Bush is dealing with all of the problems created by Carter's presidency.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

Mr. Carter was the worst president. We had the highest interest rates, long lines for gasoline in general the worst
economy. Where does he come off talking about any president being bad.

Jerry, North Port, Florida

President Carter, Please don't back down! Finally, we have a man that we respect that says what people are feeling. I have always had repect for you, so do not back down on how you feel.

lori, Republic, ohio

Wow. This is great news. I was really worried for a while that someone might actually think that Bush was a shameful disgrace. "More horrible than Richard Nixon but not the world's worst leader." -- gosh, that's practically an endorsement, isn't it?

Tom , Gothenburg, Sweden

I appreciate the clarification made by Mr. Carter as to the current administration, but, I believe the original out of context statement is factual and true. The Bush administration will deservedly take its place as "the worst administration" in US history. As to the Bush Admin. calling Mr. Carter irrelevant...the Bush Admin. is without merit and irrelevant to all human life. Any statement by the Bush Admin. is now disbelieved and questioned thoroughly by the public it was to serve.

Mary Dougherty, Mendocino, CA

Great President. I think he got it right the first time. Worst administration in US history. But I will support his recant as well, or his rewording of the answer to the original question. "Worst in US history" Well, I don't think Jimmy Carter is afraid of Bush Jr. and I respect him for stating his opinion and then tempering his words to prevent yet another media circus. By the way, who is this freak with his talk of irrelevancy? "I don't claim to have any relevancy" That was funny. Does he know that he is funny?

MIchael, Dyersburg, TN

Jimmy Carter is a rare honest and genuine human-being; and still more rarely, a Politician. I like to think that he represents the America that I love and know.

Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, UK

I believe Mr. Carter should speak his mind freely about the current administration. He has earned the right and my respect as I believe this current Bush Administration is indeed the worst ever in it's disregard for what America was. They have overseen the removal of most if not all the provisions of the Constitution for the freedom of the American people. And now they want to extend some sort of amnesty to those living and working in this country illegally. It is enough. I will not be happy until our freedoms are restored, this invasion of Iraq is settled and our counrty is returned to the values upon which it was founded - those of individual rights and responsibilities. If you too are not angry you aren't paying attention.

Kelvin, McMinnville, Oregon

If you're going to make the statements, at least have the guts to stand by them. Perhaps the wiser course of action would be not to say anything at all and just hope that people forget how hopelessly ineffective the Carter administration was. Glass houses and all that...

C Heathcote, Brick, USA, NJ

sounds like the jackals were sent in to me !!

grace thompson, Sheffield , UK

Isn't G. W. Bush, in fact, the worst president? I thought he was. Didn't Bush foreign policy bring about this unnecessary war, based the facts as we know them to be? And isn't it President Bush who insists we remain in Iraq indefinitely? I was just wondering...

Howard Randall Smith, New York, New York

President Jimmy Carter has "hoof in mouth disease", and should attend a school for diplomacy. His words are echoed around the world and could cause more harm.

Bee Ellisman, Ventura,, CA. USA

Jimmy Carter should stick with Habitat for Humanity! That's the reason why he got the Nobel Prize....not because of what HE accomplished as President.

He is our worse President!!!!!!!!!!

Eileen Hansen, Tinley Park, Illinois

Consider the source...

While I am in general agreement with Mr. Carter's assessment (pre-retraction), I wish the point had been made by someone with a little more credibility than the man widely regarded as the most ineffectual president in history.

Ben Hoff, NJ, USA