Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/21/obama.oath/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITI...dex.html</a> Sounds like Obama and Roberts were pretty good natured about the whol thing. So the real question is, what on earth is wrong with Chris Wallace? >>And Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said: "We're wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States. They had a kind of garbled oath. It's just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts."<<
Originally Posted By oc_dean Keith on MSNBC gave him the Number One slot for .... WORST PERSONS .. IN THE WORRRRRRRRLD. I wish I could remember what Keith said word for word. The two parts I liked - "Over there at Fixed News." And "Chris Wallace are you 11 years old?!"
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>However, per the Constitution, Obama became president at noon Tuesday without taking the oath. << But whether Wallace knew that or not ... it was of no surprise to me ... that Fox .. err .. I mean ... FIXED News was going to make an idiot of themselves for the 8,576,291 time!
Originally Posted By beamerdog Biden mentioned that he was giving the oath correctly to some senate members. The look on Obama's face was priceless. If looks could kill...
Originally Posted By WorldDisney LOL, the courts?? Over an oath? Wow, a certain anchor came in drunk to work that day .
Originally Posted By Tony Manero Fox News and Chris should know better than this. Also, "If looks could kill..." this is just the beginning. Joe is a screw up kind of foot in the mouth guy. It will only get better. Also I look for Michelle Obama to soon forget that she is "only" the first lady, with no political power. Political influence yes, but power, no. And I think Hillary as Secretary of State, LOTS of real political power, to eventually mix it up with Michelle. I hope I am wrong on this. But the cabinet choices seem to indicate a wild ride, ala Mr. Toad. Pray for peace not only abroad, but peace within the administration.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Good natured or not, it absolutely should have been flawless the first time. Why didn't the doofus (Roberts) just use a simple 3"x5" card with the oath printed on it? We were watching at home (Mr. Alice had a medical exam early that a.m. that required post-babysitting by me - great timing for a day off and that was the first thing we said to each other. The flub was a disappointment in what should have been a wonderful AND perfect moment.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 so before radio and TV- is there some kindof record that every word was perfect ? I doubt it... unless words were changed somehow that had different meaning - it was crazy to have to re do this
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Yeah, but where IS his birth certificate?!? (Note my tongue placed firmly in my cheek. ;-) That... is an example of why they re-did it. Some idiot somewhere would have made some stupid stink about it.
Originally Posted By mele Yeah, that's what I figured. Man, there are some idiots running around this world. LOL
Originally Posted By ecdc >>so before radio and TV- is there some kindof record that every word was perfect ? I doubt it...<< Chester A. Arthur, President from 1881-85 had to retake the oath. So did Calvin Coolidge, who replaced Harding in 1923 after his heart attack. Arthur replaced James Garfield after his assassination; he first took the oath at a private ceremony in his home, and took it a few days later at the Capitol. Coolidge retook the oath because he first took it from a notary public following Harding's death. Since it was unclear whether this was valid, he later received it from a judge, but not a Supreme Court Justice. So in these cases, it was over questions of who administered the oath, not because the wording was flubbed. Obama is a first in that case - that's recorded. Stuff happens, and it really shouldn't matter. I'm sure the Chief Justice is terribly embarrassed. But there is a small part of me that's disappointed it didn't go better. It's shallow of me, I know, but there it is.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan So in these cases, it was over questions of who administered the oath, not because the wording was flubbed.<< Most people don't know that Chester A. Arthur had the same speaking voice as Daffy Duck. After he said "I, Chestthpter A. Arthpuur, do thssolemly thsswear," the poor supreme court justice's glasses were so coated with spittle he couldn't continue reading his notes. The oath was administered later that afternoon at a safer distance. True story.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^I don't think it's shallow, ecdc. I feel the same way. And isn't that because we wanted it for Obama as much (or more than) as for ourselves?
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin This made me think about the first POTUS swearing in I could remember from my lifetime...so of course I looked it up on Wikipedia. <Two hours and eight minutes after President Kennedy was assassinated in a motorcade at Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas, Johnson was sworn in as President on Air Force One in Dallas at Love Field Airport on November 22, 1963. He was sworn in by Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes, a family friend, making him the first President sworn in by a woman. He is also the only President to have been sworn in on Texas soil. Johnson did not swear on a Bible, as there were none on Air Force One; a Roman Catholic missal was found in Kennedy's desk and was used for the swearing-in ceremony.> So appearently there is room for leniency in the ceremony.
Originally Posted By alexbook Truly trivial: In 1853, Vice President William R. D. King was sworn in by a U.S. consular official in Cuba. The Vice President-elect had gone to Cuba for his health. King died later that year in Alabama, never having set foot in Washington, DC, as Vice President.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan It's all for the best. How confusing would it have been to have a President King? Civics lessons in elementary school would become Abbott and Costello routines... Teacher: "In this country, we don't have kings, we elect presidents." Student: "But a King IS president!" Teacher: "Yes, but our president is not a KING." Student: "What's our president's name?" Teacher: "No, What is our vice president. Our president is King." Student: "Our president can't BE king." Teacher: "You're incorrect. Our president today is King. What is the name of our vice president." Student: "What?" Teacher: "Vice president." Student: "Who?" Teacher: "Who is our secretary of state!" Student: "Who is?" Teacher: "Yes. But he's no King, thats for sure."
