Rude Awakenings is a fantastic story that serves as a window into the White House at a time when our Nation is besieged by attack and impending threats both foreign and domestic.
As a self-described ‘Progressive Conservative’, the emergence of a Centrist party was a particularly intriguing premise; one that will also ring true for the growing numbers of Americans that are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the perception that the two parties are serving their own interests, rather than those of the American people.
This book serves as a strong reminder that complacency, dependency, and waste can bring down the strongest economy; and if left to our continued compulsions of fiscal frivolity, then we too will in fact all be in for a very rude awakening.
But beyond the politics that set the stage for a centrist President dedicated to reigning in the National Debt; the character, goals, and decisive leadership of this book’s hero – President Mike Macdonald are exemplary of how our nation should expect our president not just to act, but to perform. Through his understanding of economics, the international markets, and the strength of people relying on each other instead of a government, President Macdonald is able to set the course needed to right a nation on the brink of disaster.
This is truly a great read and scarily relevant to the growing concerns we may soon be forced to face.
-Walker Rutherfurd [
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Keith M. Donaldson’s controversial book, Rude Awakenings, illustrates a disgruntled electorate who rises up behind a wealthy philanthropist/social activist/former Marine and a former Democrat Lieutenant Governor who had run as an Independent for Governor and won. Together, they created the National Centrist Party. Mike Macdonald and Bryanna Dudley were swept into the White House as president and vice president respectively in 2012, along with enough senate and house candidates to create a three party Congress with no major party.
Far fetched? Who knows? The current political upheaval leading up to the real 2010 national elections shows a clear sign that America wants a real change, not the bubblegum and popcorn variety of ‘change’ that was promised in the ’08 elections. Kathleen Parker wrote in the Washington Post, in March 2010: “I spoke to a journalism class a couple of weeks ago. I talked a bit about the wingnuttery* that has hijacked politics and how some of us who consider ourselves moderates (otherwise known as apostates) have decided it's time to denounce the harsh partisans who feed on polarization. It's time to give independents a voice.” *(Taken from centrist John Avlon’s book, “Wingnuts.”)
I haven’t read Avlon’s book, but Parker referred to the centrist as saying, “…that we (centrists) have the numbers”, and then she continued, “Isn't it time we stand up to the extremes on both sides?” Following her address, a woman came up to her and said, “…in an almost conspiratorial voice, ‘You know, what you said in there? Please do that. Do it soon’.”
Aside from the politics, Donaldson’s Rude Awakenings is a highly entertaining read; dramatic, spiced with an enduring romance and intrigue as his band of rookies rapidly coalesces into a veteran team in hours, when on day one of this new administration an American city is nuked.
I heartily recommend Rude Awakenings for enjoyment and enlightenment.
-Sally R. [
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In Keith M. Donaldson’s fictional account of 2012 American politics in his novel Rude Awakenings, Trafford Publications, November 2009, he takes Margaret Chase Smith to heart when she wrote; “It is time that the great center of our people, those who reject the violence and unreasonableness of both the extreme right and the extreme left . . . shed their intimidated silence and declared their consciences.”
In Rude Awakenings, you have a new administration elected to balance a runaway Federal budget that had risen to over 14 trillion dollars. In an interview he gave in April, Donaldson was quoted as saying, “That seemed impossible to me when I began writing the book in October 2007.” The book was published in late 2009, but not fully released until the spring of 2010.
Rude Awakenings is about much more than budgets and an America on the precipice of falling into third world status. It also involves the mystery of who nuked an American city on the first day of the new Centrist Party President’s administration in January 2013, which we learn on page one. International intrigue, patriotism, and the immense challenge of recovering from a physical recovery before beginning the financial one kept me turning pages and wondering, would there be another bomb?
The old saying, ‘truth is stranger than fiction’, has been turned on its ear by what Donaldson wrote fictionally in ’08 and the early half of ’09. In that same April interview, in an answer to his picking on any one president in particular, he replied, “Back then I thought Hillary and Mitt were going to be the nominees; that show’s you what I know. Actually,” he went on, “my book is more about a corruption of the spirit than any one individual.”
In Rude Awakenings, Donaldson takes a male nonpolitical Rhodes Scholar with a PhD in Finance and a multiracial very political female Independent Governor and turns them into a dynamic political duo who draw in the splinter Libertarian and Independent parties, plus millions of disenfranchised Republicans and Democrats to create a powerful National Centrist party. The author demonstrates an uncanny feel for what’s needed politically in this country. The insertion of a third political party into the mix, leaving Congress with no majority party would certainly change the face of Washington politics. We can only hope that reality will once again catch up to his clairvoyance.
-B. J. Moore [
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Rude Awakenings is another hitI read quite a bit and am always excited to find another author to add to my favorites. Rude Awakenings is a timely book that had to have been started before our current economical and political upheaval began. Mr. Donaldson's insight is eerie. This book has it all, mystery, romance, current day application, and maybe a bit of ESP. I highly recommend this book. You will enjoy every page!
Great readingAvid reader loves this book. Rude Awakenings has intrigue, romance, fear, and hope all wrapped up in some really good reading that will leave you thinking long after you have finished the book. Recommend whole-heartedly.
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What a great book!!This is a great book. The characters are fully developed and used in great balance to one another. You get a real sense of how their relationships formed and why they continue on. There is a fantastic camaraderie between the major characters. I love how we get a look into their past lives to fully understand who they are today in this story. Keith Donaldson has done a wonderful job blending together a suspense theme with very poignant and romantic aspects. It has everything a reader could want. The premise of the book should not be lost to anyone following the last few years of American financial history and our government’s response to it. This book is a must read for anyone going into political office or who wants to understand how this country got into the financial crisis that is now ongoing with no real end in sight.
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Rude Awakenings, by Keith M. Donaldson begins with a nuclear bomb destroying a major American city and killing millions on President Mike Macdonald’s first day in office. None of his cabinet designees have yet been approved by the Senate, and because voters disenchanted with the 2-party system have elected a President and several senators and representatives from the new Centrist political party, no one party has a majority. The attack was timed when the Government would be its most vulnerable.
Cleverly interwoven themes of international terror, global financial manipulation, investigation, espionage, romance, brilliant management, and enduring personal relationships makes for an engaging mystery. The story’s hero, President Mike Macdonald, is very effective in dealing with the disaster, a government in disarray, and the country’s need for revenge. His ability to organize, delegate, and manage the vast resources of the Federal Government with the help of friends he met when he was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford; a graduate student in finance at Wharton; and the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, when he was a Marine ForceRecon Captain running covert missions in the Middle East, really held my interest.
There are a large number of secondary characters and I found myself wishing I had made a list of names, nicknames, titles, and abbreviations of titles. There is some help deciphering government abbreviations in a Nomenclature at the back of the book. Also, on an occasion, Mr. Donaldson explains what President Macdonald knew after he relates some action that depended on that knowledge. Because I wanted to understand the story from the President’s point of view, my personal choice would have been knowing what the President knew at the time he learned it.
The ending left me uncomfortable, but it mirrors the way many despicable acts are dealt with in the real world. I hope it sets up a sequel in which the relationship between Macdonald and this book’s antagonist, who was left standing, is more fully developed. My comments are deliberately vague so as not to give away the story. If you like mysteries, international intrigue, heroes, and heroines, I think you’ll enjoy reading Rude Awakenings.
- Marvin S. Schwartz, Ph.D. [
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A well-written spellbinding novel Although a neophyte in political shenanigans and financial wheeling and dealing, I read and enjoyed this fictional masterpiece. My review is through a prism of experiences garnered from 35 years in the U.S. Army plus 16 years as an entrepreneur. Mr. Donaldson's writing style makes for an easy read. Short but snappy sentences and short but cogent chapters seem choppy but that aids the readers' understanding of the fast moving complex plot.
Rude Awakenings has a smattering of intrigue, romance, politics, economics, finance, and governmental interagency modus operandi. With our political upheaval and financial debacle, it is difficult discerning fact from fiction as spun by Keith Donaldson, an extraordinary and acclaimed author. Politically, a third party and a third party president is feasible in the near future.
Keith Donaldson portrays prescience and clairvoyance as he weaves this web of intrigue. His insights into the interagency machinations recognize the difficulties in effective communications and in avoiding the pitfalls endemic in-group dynamics. The military scenario was a strategic and tactical coup de grace. The twists and turns in the plot were intriguing enough to tweak the readers' intellectual curiosity.
There was just enough romance, sprinkled with hot steamy sex, to make us realize that an unmarried President of the USA has basic needs and desires. This lends a human touch to the main character. The financial transactions were too deep for me to understand fully. However, the leverage gained and worldwide impact came through loud and clear. The Global financial world could be another bestselling book for Keith with the help of his comrade Rich DeLuca.
From a military perspective, that was a hellacious C-130 military ‘jet’. This was a clear signal that this was a work of fiction. A US Air Force C-130 is not a jet but a four-engine propeller driven aircraft capable of carrying about 50 heavily armed troops not over 100 as stated in Chapter 101.
However, that did not detract from a well-written spellbinding novel. Everyone should read Rude Awakenings. Readers young and old will be able to relate to this beautifully crafted work of art.
-Teddy Allen, Lieutenant General U.S. Army (retired) [
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