Monday, December 07, 2015

A little good news to start our week. This magnificent bastard is now cancer free!

Courtesy of BBC:  

"My most recent MRI brain scan did not reveal any signs of the original cancer spots nor any new ones," Mr Carter said in a statement. 

The 91-year-old first announced the news during a Sunday school class in Plains, Georgia. 

Mr Carter, who was president from 1977 to 1981 and won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, revealed his illness in August. 

Doctors have been treating four small melanoma lesions on his brain. 

Last month, Mr Carter said he was responding well to treatment and there were no signs of further cancer growth.

There are only a handful of people who I would get on a plane and fly just to have dinner with them. 

Th first, of course, is President Obama.

The second is Jon Stewart.

And the third is President Jimmy Carter.

And I would gladly pay for the meal and sit for hours after eating, just to listen to him talk, and pick his brain.

It would be a joy.

He is, probably not surprisingly, also one of only two Christians who I believe exemplify the very best that that religion represents.

The other is Fred Rogers, who I think may be one of the kindest, most gentle people ever to walk this earth

I am very glad that Jimmy Carter is going to remain with us a little longer. And I have little doubt that Jimmy Carter will spend the time that he has left making this world a better place to live.

Just like he has been doing for the vast majority of his life.

42 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:03 AM

    Great news!

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  2. Anonymous9:16 AM

    That is wonderful news. However, Jimmy Carter deserves more than being called a magnificent bastard.

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    Replies
    1. In internet speak that is the highest compliment that one can bestow.

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    2. Anonymous10:19 AM

      I am with you 9:16. I find it offensive. "INTERNET speak" be damned. Boo, hiss, Gryphen.

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    3. Anonymous10:30 AM

      I wrote President Carter an appreciation card back when his diagnosis was announced -- because I truly feel that history will reveal that he was a good and solid president.
      Now I'll send him a Merry Christmas message, with great joy at his good news.
      I'm sure he isn't bothered by getting positive notes in his mailbox.

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    4. Anonymous5:08 PM

      Hmm... If 'magnificent bastard' is complimentary, then what is Sarah Palin? An unimaginably smart twat?

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    5. Anonymous9:51 PM

      George C. Scott as Patton. amirite, Gryph?

      Context is everything.

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  3. Anonymous9:25 AM

    2 men I respect the most in life have been saved by science and new medical treatments for melanoma this year, one is my Dad and one is President Carter.

    But I disagree with your list, President Carter, whom I have has the pleasure of volunteering along side, would be my first. Then President Obama.

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  4. Anonymous9:29 AM

    All I can say is.... DITTO!!!! (Although I would substitute Stephen Colbert for Jon Stewart.)

    I hope Jimmy Carter is with us a good long time to come. He is a national treasure.

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    Replies
    1. Ooh ooh, yes Stephen Colbert. I totally forgot to include him.

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    2. Anonymous6:39 PM

      "He is a national treasure."

      Perfect description. He has truly made this world a better place by his being in it.

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    3. Well, the ultimate dinner party would be to have Obama, Carter, Stewart and Colbert all together. Just to watch them all interact and play off one another.

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  5. SallyinMI9:42 AM

    YEs, GOP. Please name one of your precious ex-Preisdents, Reagan included, who ever lifted a finger for the betterment of anyone but their donors and their bankers? There are none. They could have used their experience and vast wealth to do good, but no..they built monuments to themselves, retired to the golf course or the ranches, and from there, complained about liberals. Pitiful.
    Jimmy Carter is, and always was, a blessing to this nation. I abhor the way Reagan tricked his way into the WH, and then tricked an entire generation into believing he was some saint. Reagan was no Christian; his wife believed in astrology and palm readers, and so did Ronnie. The Bushes do nothing for anyone without a camera in place. What homes has a Bush helped build? What peace plans have they helped secure? What hostages have they personally rescued? Right. NONE. The GOP is the party of greed and lies and hatred of others, and Jimmy Carter stands for peace, goodness, care of our neighbors, and love. I choose love.

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    Replies
    1. Otto Katz11:21 AM

      Well, technically Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. I'd like to have a meal, or even just a whiskey, with him

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    2. Anonymous1:18 PM

      Hear, hear, Sally.

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    3. I would have like to talk conservation and National Parks with Teddy Roosevelt.

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  6. Let's see, if I'm 61, Amy Carter is probably circling 50 herself, so Jimmy might well be a great-grandfather these days? The man is a mighty powerful inspiration of how to author one's life, religion or no.

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  7. Hooray for President Carter! I love the man, and this remains one of my favorite SNL skits (Dan Ackrod doing "Ask President Carter").

    http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/ask-president-carter/n8649

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  8. Anonymous10:32 AM

    Jimmy Carter
    Fred Rogers (a Presbyterian minister)
    Stephen Colbert
    Christians who have acted out their faith.

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    Replies
    1. Otto Katz11:23 AM

      Wonderful men all. Can we think of any women? Leave Mother Theresa out of this list before any of you get any stupid ideas. O! How about the Nuns on The Bus?

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    2. Anonymous11:47 AM

      I always admired Rosalynn Carter as a woman who wore her role as First Lady, wife and mother with grace and dignity.

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    3. Anonymous12:49 PM

      @ Otto
      Mother Teresa was an awful woman. She told the suffering and the dying that they needed to suffer, she worked against organizations that were trying to bring medical care to many areas because she didn't think the poor deserved pain killers.

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    4. linda1:21 PM

      I nominate Maya Angelou

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    5. Crystal Sage1:30 PM

      Yes, Otto @ 12:49 PM, Mother Teresa was a fraud. Liked the book by the late, great Christopher Hitchens that exposed her. So true that there are many who have been elevated to sainthood who don't deserve it. Jimmy carter has done more for this country out of office than the Repubs mentioned have accomplished in their whole lives.

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    6. Anonymous1:52 PM

      I second Linda's nomination of Maya Angelou. She was a visiting professor at our university & won my heart forever. Top of my list of the most influential women past or present.

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  9. Tamar Sweeting11:18 AM

    Magnificent news for a magnificent man! President Carter is a national treasure.

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  10. Anonymous11:46 AM

    Reminds me of John Prine's famous lyric "Jesus was a good guy he didn't need this shit". Same goes for President Carter, good guy, didn't need that shit. So happy to hear that he is well.

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  11. This is the only decent news that I've heard all year.

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  12. Anonymous11:52 AM

    Great news. He personifies "family values" and "Christian principles" He was too decent for the cesspool that is Washington DC.

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  13. Anonymous12:12 PM

    I heard him say once that two of his biggest mistakes/regrets were leaving the Navy and running for public office without consulting with his wife first. He and his wife are a true partnership and a real example of family values.

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  14. Anonymous1:46 PM

    If anyone in the world deserves a true miracle, it's President Carter. He's one of the very few public figures who would be welcomed into Heaven with the words, "Well done, my true & faithful servant." Many sincere wishes for his continued good health.

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    1. Anonymous6:46 PM

      I suspect they'd have a hard time getting him through the Pearly Gates. He'd want to adjust the latch, oil the hinges and polish the rails before he entered!

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    2. Anonymous8:26 PM

      :)

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    3. If anyone deserves this sort of news it's Jimmy Carter. I am so thrilled he is in remission.

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  15. Anonymous2:56 PM

    Gryphen you don't want to have dinner with THE Dr. Rachel Maddow? I'm shocked!

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    Replies
    1. No I'd have dinner with her for sure.

      But would I board a plane, which I hate, to leave Alaska specifically to have dinner with her?

      Maybe not.

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    2. Anonymous6:53 PM

      Wasn't Rachel up here one time and met that Shannon chick? I heard she was in Anchorage back during the second Obama campaign?

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  16. Anonymous4:34 PM

    What great news in such a troubled time.His works speak for themselves. He's an honorable man.

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  17. Anonymous4:44 PM

    I'm glad this humble man is doing as well as he is. He's one POTUS I didn't appreciate enough while he was in office, but seeing his humanitarian work and living his belief without looking for credit tells me all I need about this man's heart.
    Cancer didn't realize what a fighter he is.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:52 PM

      I was 1 year old when he was elected so I appreciate him now but didn't really follow politics back then :-)

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  18. Jimmy Carter always got a bad rap, I felt, because he was a honest and honorable man. Given that, it is a miracle he even became president.

    He is a president, I feel, whose legacy will only get better and better as history is written, just as that of Bush II (and even Reagan) will get worse and worse.

    JImmy lives his convictions. He is a role model for do as I do. He walks the walk.

    All presidents can take a page from his book on how to continue to do good works after they leave office. (Rather than giving $100,000 a plate speeches to the choir.)

    What does Georgie do? He paints self portraits of himself.

    Jimmy builds houses.

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  19. Anonymous7:47 PM

    My dinner fantasy would be Mr. Carter at the top of the list. The finest most honest man to ever sit in the Oval Office. Too good a man to be a successful president. I may have to give that prayer thing a second look. This is kind of a miracle, don't ya think? I don't think he ever quit working and building houses, except maybe for doctor appointments. Great news. Sorely needed right about now.

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