This country needs Jimmy Carter's impeccable cardigan collection now more than ever

Like many of you, I'm feeling nostalgic for certain parts of America's political past: checks and balances, leaders who could spell, and President Jimmy Carter.

Don't @me with all of your "But Jimmy Carter wasn't a good president" defenses. I took AP U.S. History too, and I don't care about long gas lines. Jimmy Carter is a kind soul with a superior intellect who cared deeply about America's humanitarian leadership in the world. Fact!

Plus, he had an impeccable cardigan collection -- one the puts our current leadership to shame.

I'm gay, but there's something about a man in a cardigan that puts me immediately at ease. A pastel cardigan is the opposite of toxic masculinity. And while I'm sure there are plenty of men who wear cardigans and commit terrible crimes, President Jimmy Carter is not one of them.

Carter became known for his cardigan couture soon after he became president. Just two weeks into his term, Carter delivered a fireside chat to the nation while rocking an unbuttoned beige cardigan. I'm talking earth mom, tote bag neutral, folks.

The choice was purposeful: Carter wanted to show the country that they could conserve energy by turning down the heat and putting on a layer or two.

This is liberal porn.

Carter during his famous fireside chat Credit: Corbis via Getty Images

As Time said at the time, "[This] may prove to be the most memorable symbol of an Administration that promises to make steady use of symbolism." Or as I like say, "Ka-yoot!"

Right now, we've got a president with a coke-snorting Wolf of Wall Street aesthetic and three-year-old-tying-his-shoes-for-the-first-time execution. He is the opposite of a pastel cardigan. He is a sweat-saturated, yellowing Hanes undershirt made human.

Tell me these Jimmy Carter cardigan lewks don't make you melt.

Cardigan over plaid? Jimmy, you tease me Credit: Bettmann Archive/getty images

I don't know if this is a jacket or a cardigan but honestly who cares? Credit: Corbis via Getty Images

What can I say, ladies go crazy for a president in a cardigan! Credit: Peter Bregg/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Whole lot of cardigan, even more sock Credit: ABC via Getty Images

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

America's greatest beige beauty Credit: Corbis via Getty Images

Whoever put Jimmy in a bad mood, I'm coming for you! Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

Saving the world one earth tone at a time Credit: AP/REX/Shutterstock

A darker moment. Credit: JOHN DURICKA/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Daddy's gotta make those decisions today Credit: Anonymous/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Don't tell me that Jimmy Carter was just a product of his time. Here's what our current president was wearing in the '70s.

Never trust a man *not* in cardigan Credit: Bettmann Archive/getty images

I will say one thing. Carter seems to have picked up his aesthetic from Mr. Rogers and never gave him credit. Public television cultural appropriation is totally a thing, and I just wish Jimmy Carter could have acknowledged the role Mr. Rogers played in his sartorial development.

Progressives continually appropriate the PBS aesthetic and fail to give it any credit Credit: pbs television/Getty Images

No matter what, I'm just grateful for Jimmy Carter and the entirety of his wardrobe. He could rock double denim like the softest butchest lesbian on the block. Sometimes the man even tucked his t-shirts in.

Doing white socks right Credit: karl schumacher/AFP/Getty Images

Mountain man Credit: keystone/cnp/Getty Images

Hipsters, this is how you do double denim Credit: photoquest/Getty Images

Couch-to-5K Jimmy Credit: wally mcnamee/Corbis via Getty Images

He tucked in his shirt and our country's hearts Credit: art seitz/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

I'm sorry, I can't complete this caption because I'm crying Credit: mark peterson/Corbis via Getty Images

That's the kind of person I trust to be leader of the free world.