“It’s not as if we didn’t see some of this coming,” said Barack Obama, a note of bleak humour in his voice. “I will admit it’s worse than even I expected, but I did warn y’all!”

The crowd at a sports arena in Norfolk, Virginia, half-laughed and half-groaned. “I did,” Obama added. “You can run the tape.”

Now Obama is back on the campaign trail, for Democrats running for governor in New Jersey and Virginia. It gives him a platform to deliver an alternative State of the Union address. And the gloves are off.

To hear the expectant buzz of the 7,000-plus crowd in Norfolk as candidate Abigail Spanberger promised that Obama’s entrance was just moments away was to be reminded that Democrats did once have a president who could match Trump’s superstar charisma.

  • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    Just what we need, more people drone striking weddings schools and hospitals. I think Putin and netanyahu are doing a fine job carrying on Obama’s legacy.

    • ⓝⓞ🅞🅝🅔@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      And this is honestly one of the biggest struggles I’ve always had with him. I genuinely want to like him, but I can’t forget the 26,000+ bombs dropped in seven countries in just 2016 alone. Effing hell.

        • PeacefulForest@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          The only difference here is Obama did that to other countries while Trump does it to everybody

          Not at all justifying what Obama did, and I think for the progressive party to win, we need truly progressive candidates.

          • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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            2 days ago

            feel like alot of people are falling for right wing propaganda against obama , thats where the hate is coming from. no word on what trump is doing at all? why is that, he isnt black thats why. even if it is criticism, its extremely mild.

            • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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              1 day ago

              feel like alot of people are falling for right wing propaganda against obama

              Obama killed 12,000 civilians and bombed a doctors without borders hospital. That’s not propaganda it’s verifiable fact.

              no word on what trump is doing at all

              This isn’t a thread about trump. Are you saying nobody can criticize any president without giving trump a shout-out?

              why is that, he isnt black thats why

              Oh fuck you

            • PeacefulForest@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              I was only a kid when Obama was in office, honestly one of my better memories as a kid was Michelle Obama’s “worldwide day of play” on Nickelodeon and the increased “Green” education.

              I don’t know a lot of his international affairs but maybe that’s something I’ll read about. However from first glance’s it does look like he was more destructive overseas than I personally prefer. I don’t think it’s “right wing” propaganda at all to think critically about who we idolize as our progressive candidate, even more so considering current affairs.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Those have increased since he left office. You think he’s out there pushing those buttons or something?

      • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        2 days ago

        They increased because Obama legalized and normalized the worst excesses of the Bush admin and gave those powers to subsequent presidencies. But sure let’s stand up more for the guy who said “we need to look forward, not backward” when it came to prosecuting the Bush admin for war crimes, and then wondering why no one would stop Trump from criming all his presidency when we couldn’t even lift a finger for war crimes.

        I’m not saying Obama is a villain, but he fucked up in some very major ways on those issues.

      • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        If you kick me in the balls 40 times I’m not going to celebrate you even if the next guy kicks me in the balls 50 times. Obama was a piece of shit and it’s way past time to look past the charisma and accept that.