Carter never really saw the need to cultivate Congress. He didn't really have support from the more conservative Democrats, but the liberals saw him as a sell-out when he tilted slightly rightward. And he was rather stand-offish with Congressional Democrats, when he should have done everything to make them his pals, all of them. His own Georgia Democratic delegation was amazingly distant from him.
Better Congressional relations would have pre-empted a primary challenge. I voted for Kennedy in the 1980 Democratic Primary. I regret that now. Carter was not deserving of being replaced as the nominee, and I believe, in hindsight, that a second term for Carter may well have pre-empted the permanent tilt of politics toward the wealthiest in our society that is the single worst characteristic of out politics today.
My ignore on you seems to have been lifted. I don't remember doing that, but it coincides with me thinking more highly of you. (I certainly hope you never cared about my opinion of you though.)
This is another example of Carter's impractical idealism. He wasn't just standoffish with them, but he refused to accomodate their porkbarrel politics or earmarks. Certainly high-minded idealism and the 'right thing' to do, but he never had an alternative approach to get Congress to go along with him.
It's much easier to be ethical when you have alternatives.
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