Grapevine: Jimmy Carter believes he's being monitored by NSA

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...

Divine Endorsement

After the disastrous rollout of his namesake health care law, President Obama deserves a holy reward according to his vice president.

Joe Biden told health workers on Friday that the president's handling of the glitches that left millions unable to sign up for health care should qualify him for divine recognition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: My boss, my friend, Barack Obama is an incredibly patient man. I suggested after going through the first couple of weeks I would nominate him for sainthood that he kept his patience.

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As you might imagine, some folks beg to differ, lashing out on Twitter.

Saying -- quote -- "Obama is a saint? So, you force health care on the population. Then, praise yourself for handling the fail out!

And -- quote -- "Biden is condescending. Obama a Saint? Unbelievable. What about average Americans hurt by ObamaCare?

Somebody's Watching Me

Former President Jimmy Carter believes he is being watched -- so he opts for corresponding the old fashioned way.

Mr. Carter says the ability of the NSA to keep tabs on Americans has been abused.

Saying -- quote -- "I have felt that my own communications were probably monitored. And when I want to communicate with a foreign leader privately, I type or write the letter myself, put it in the post office and mail it...I believe if I send an e-mail, it will be monitored."

President Carter has previously said that while former NSA contractor Edward Snowden broke the law, the information he revealed about the extent of government surveillance on private citizens is ultimately a good thing.

Ship, Camera, Action!

And finally, Iran claims a fake U.S. aircraft carrier spotted in the Persian Gulf is nothing more than a prop for a movie.

Last week, the New York Times reported Iranians had replicated an American nuclear-powered ship -- possibly to destroy for anti-American propaganda.

But Iranian media says "relax," it's just the set for a movie about an Iranian airplane that was shot down by the United States back in 1988.

The Alef news website says western media are just trying to make Iran look bad.

A Navy spokesman confirms, the ship does not appear to be functional.

He says in the past, Iran has used similar mockups for missile exercises, then broadcast the images on state-run TV.