Have you ever regretted reading a book — which one and why?

… instead I had a political awakening halfway through reading Barack Obama’s 2020 presidential memoir A Promised Land.

The awakening did not come from reading the book. It came from elsewhere – many corroborating sources. I was devastatingly disappointed to learn at the time, that Obama was yet another U.S. president who played nice domestically, but sustained America’s imperialist foreign policy with ferocious determination.

Obama carried out more than double the deportations of foreign nationals during his 8-year presidency than Trump did. He also ordered more than 540 drone strikes outside of major war zones that killed an estimated 3800 people, many of whom were civilians. That’s more than Trump has done so far, but he’s apparently only just warming up.

Before picking up his memoir I was shamefully ignorant of Obama’s warmongering proclivity. I had bought the liberal nice-guy image of him that was sold to the world. No more!

His hardcover memoir now sits half-read collecting dust on the bottom most shelf, it’s usefulness as a doorstop, hardly worth considering.

9 responses to “I was promised a fairytale rise to power…”

  1. Under the mask.. Avatar

    To be honest, I personally couldn’t stand the man after one of his first speeches clocked in at 154 “I”s used, as did many others! I I I… Although any US citizen should’ve known of his genuine presidential sins in his two terms, I did not; thus, your post lodges a disappointment in me, too — especially considering that a November-midterm blue wave (Democrat) here is crucial to controlling a Repuglican madman and his fellow loonies. However, the fact that Obama along with the Pope lives rent-free in the madman’s head would be well worth the cost of the book to me!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. lenny unencumbered Avatar

      Your Republicans deserve a sound beating in the midterms. If only to piss Trump off. It wouldn’t change anything in terms if foreign policy, however, as both parties are in lockstep on that front.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Under the mask.. Avatar

        Currently, yes. Maybe we’re learning, though…🤞

        Liked by 1 person

  2. complicatedpoliticsblog Avatar

    Obama yes was a continuation of reckless American foreign policy. Not just the drone strikes but ruining Libya and Hilary Clinton is also responsible for that. Also domestically Obama was a continuation of corporate establishment of both the Republican and Democrat parties. During 2009 my country was still going through a rough financial recession and Obama continued federal bailouts for big Wall Street banks just as George W Bush was doing the previous year in 2008. Many Black Americans were very disappointed by Barack Obama

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lenny Appadoo Avatar

      Yes. It’s a pity that not many Americans see the hypocrisy. They’re being limited by a corrupt system to a false dichotomy of choice between Blue and Red.

      Like

      1. complicatedpoliticsblog Avatar

        Many Americans including in my family are so blind. So caught up in their stupid political parties of Red and Blue.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Lenny Appadoo Avatar

        I sympathize. You’re not alone, though. 😒

        Like

  3. complicatedpoliticsblog Avatar

    Obama getting a Nobel Peace Prize never made any sense to me

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lenny Appadoo Avatar

      Absolutely! The same as warmonger Henry Kissinger receiving one.

      Like

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Lenny, here

Join me as I contemplate a bewildering world through empathy, understanding, and a touch of irreverence.

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