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Starting a 
of thoughts/observations as I read Obama’s memoir.
I’m mostly reading to understand how he defends his legacy, which I am critical of & think Dems need to reckon with.
With Biden up next, we need to do what we can to prevent him from repeating mistakes.
of thoughts/observations as I read Obama’s memoir. I’m mostly reading to understand how he defends his legacy, which I am critical of & think Dems need to reckon with.
With Biden up next, we need to do what we can to prevent him from repeating mistakes.
Obama inspired me to get involved in electoral politics for the first time: volunteered for his '08 campaign in several states as a college student, then worked full time on Dem campaigns for most of 2010-2016 (w/ 2 short stints as a Congressional staffer in between races).
In preface (Aug. '20), he acknowledges critique that "the nation's ideals have always been secondary to conquest & subjugation, a racial caste system & rapacious capitalism." He's not sure if his approach was right one, but invites young ppl to work to align US with its ideals
Many have posted about how he read leftists because he wanted to impress women he was into.
But he also says he formed a habit of "questioning my own assumptions" which he credits with "inoculat[ing] me against the revolutionary formulas embraced by a lot of people on the left"
But he also says he formed a habit of "questioning my own assumptions" which he credits with "inoculat[ing] me against the revolutionary formulas embraced by a lot of people on the left"
Obama talks about Republican obstruction in his first chapter - Repub. opposition to Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor. He also notes what he sees as the limits of a "campaign based on racial redress" as well as the inspiration it instilled.
Obama spends just one page talking about his time at Harvard Law School: basically says he was a gunner, it was a lot easier than organizing, & credits his success there to just being super into it. "Enthusiasm makes up for a host of deficiencies."
2nd mention of R obstruction is when he is an IL State Senator. Rs "adopted the same uncompromising approach that Newt Gingrich was using at the time to neuter Democrats in Congress."
It didn't matter that it was bad policy - 90% of the time voters weren't paying attention.
It didn't matter that it was bad policy - 90% of the time voters weren't paying attention.
I felt this heavily.
Even now, Obama doesn't shy away from his hawkish view of foreign policy, praising Sen. Lugar for "the prudent, internationalist impulses that had long guided mainstream Republicans like George H.W. Bush."
The elder Bush had A LOT of blood on his hands: https://theintercept.com/2018/12/05/george-h-w-bush-1924-2018-american-war-criminal/
The elder Bush had A LOT of blood on his hands: https://theintercept.com/2018/12/05/george-h-w-bush-1924-2018-american-war-criminal/
Why did Obama run for President? I found this revealing. Not for any ideological reason, not because he thought he would be better at materially improving people's lives. Mostly for the inspirational potential he thought he would hold. So many of us thought this was enough.
In the ~15pgs he spends on his decision to run, the possibility that he *could win* figures more heavily than what he wants to do if he does. Dem Senators quietly encourage it bc they see his potential to bring new voters to the party.
Harry Reid: "Ten more years in the Senate won't make you a better president."
Schumer & Durbin "delivered the same message: The country was desperate for a new voice."
Ted Kennedy warns if he doesn't run, he'll need to "live with the knowledge that chance has passed you by."
Schumer & Durbin "delivered the same message: The country was desperate for a new voice."
Ted Kennedy warns if he doesn't run, he'll need to "live with the knowledge that chance has passed you by."
