How was Jimmy Carter ineffective?   

Hi Netsbridge! First let me say that I am not a Republican and I still also think that President Carter was an ineffectual President. I will explain why in a moment, but I would also like to say that I think he is a wonderful and good man, just not a great President. I also don't think many of the things that went wrong were his fault, but he had no experience in Washington, DC--he had only been Governor of Georgia and so didn't have the same political connections that many other Presidents do. Some people also thought that was his biggest strength, as everyone was tired of the Republicans at that time, after Watergate, Nixon's resignation and then Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon so soon after his resignation that many people were very angry.
They wanted the Republicans out and many people wanted someone very new in politics. It's the main reason why Mr. Carter won the election. He was a Democrat and he was a brand new face in national politics.
In my case, the main reasons why I consider him to be ineffectual is that during his presidency, interest rates on mortgages were the highest they have ever been in our country. Gas prices increased dramatically and there were long, long lines at the pumps. There was also a policy of only allowing people to buy gas on odd or even days--depending on what their license plate number was. This all went on through most of his term as president and many people were angry!
Then, he offered medical asylum to the Shah (Pavlavi) of Iran, who had been a great ally of the US. Due to the Shah being in the US and his health in danger, people in Iran became angry and afraid. Many in Iran felt that the Shah cared more about the US and it's money than he did about the people in his own country. People in the streets of Iran attacked the US embassy and captured about 400 Americans and kept them hostage for over a year. Nothing like that had ever happened to so many American citizens at once during peace time, ever before--or since. US citizens were demanding that the President get them released, but Ayatollah Khomeini and his council refused to negotiate with President Carter. He did try to accomplish a rescue mission of the hostages, but it failed. That only made the US citizens lose even more respect for him. He ran out of time to do anything else, as it was the end of his term and he lost the election. Shortly after Ronald Reagan became President, most of the hostages were released. It was a way for Iran to make Jimmy Carter look even worse.
I don't know if I could say Jimmy Carter was the most ineffectual President we have ever had, as we have had others in the past, but he was probably the most ineffectual we have had in modern times.

You know how people keep saying this is the worst recession since 1980? Yeah, Who was the president from 1977-1981? That's not even getting into the Panama Canal, highest gas prices EVER prior to Bush and that's not even counting inflation. I'm sure someone here will post a 10 page list for you, but seeing as you just think all republicans are bad and all democrats are godsent, I'll choose not to waste my time with all that.

Jimmy Carter was perceived as ineffective because he was honest and realistic, and also because he lived his christain values. I found it ironic that all the people who at the time wanted a Christain in the White house, then turned on him when he lived by those values.

If hugs were effective in Middle East affairs he would have been effective.