Yes, I think most people will agree that Carter was not effective as president. He is a good man, however. Look at all the charity work he's done since retiring, especially with Habitat for Humanity. I do think that repairing America's image abroad will be a daunting task for our next president, whoever he or she will be. I guess that's one of the things that appeals to me about Obama. He's calm and measured, intellectually astute, and seems to be able to work across party lines for consensus. That, and the fact he would be the first black president, and has openly advertised his plan for "change" should play well internationally. I find McCain worriesome, with his obvious hardball attitude, and his well known temper tantrums.