Comments on: Like a Tiny Omen

By: PHB

PHB — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:53:51 +0000

George W. Bush, inaugural 2000:

“A hundred years from now, this must not be remembered as an age rich in possessions and poor in ideals.”

Looking at the results of Republican era economics, I think we can be sure that future economists will not make that particular judgment.

By: PHB

PHB — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:42:06 +0000

The day would not have been the same without some ritual incompetence from a Republican to remind the assembled masses of what had taken place for the past 8 years, plus the time the Republicans on the SCOTUS were finding excuses not to count the vote.

They have redone the oath. Which is hardly a surprise. The problem is that every single act following might have been challenged in court and it is not such a trivial case as it may seem. Every person affected by any act of an Obama appointee would have standing. Even though the outcome is certain, it would eat up months of court time.

Now can we impeach Roberts?

By: Beryl

Beryl — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:25:12 +0000

To ~~boldy~~ timidly go…

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/opinion/22pinker.html?hp

By: bad Jim

bad Jim — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:51:42 +0000

Everything is taken seriously. Civilizations have been rent by the question of which end of an egg to break, or whether the lsb is presented first or last.

In replay I’m impressed by Obama’s patient playing along (in contrast to my own immediate rage at Roberts’ fumbling). A monumental fuck-up, faced with a calm smile and no drama. This may actually augur well for the future.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:47:50 +0000

Also, that BBC website does state that he amended the oath to say “So, God, help me to CRUSH THE INFIDELS”, before cackling manically and having Justice Roberts flayed alive.

For some reason this hasn’t been widely reported in the rest of the liberal media. Probably something to do with one or other of those secretly powerful social groups that I feel are threatening to my particular status quo.

By: Ciarán

Ciarán — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:33:20 +0000

He didn’t use a Bible the second time, proof if it was needed that he’s a Muslim. Also the Antichrist.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:37:58 +0000

Comic relief maybe, but he just retook the oath, to be on the safe side – though according to the BBC it’s not the first time that a fluff had has to be corrected later. Which implies that getting it right is in fact taken seriously.

By: Wissen

Wissen — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:24:04 +0000

So he took the oath again. Conclusive proof that Obama reads Crooked Timber.

By: bad Jim

bad Jim — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:01:30 +0000

The ceremony was arguably improved by this bit of comic relief.

By: Righteous Bubba

Righteous Bubba — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:01:09 +0000

I trust the vault copy of that photocopy remains available…

By: Beryl

Beryl — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 02:54:35 +0000

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/01/not_standing_on_principle.php

But the only evidence of the event is a photocopy…

By: Muhammed

Muhammed — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:09:17 +0000

We’re all doomed!

Saved, rather.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:12:37 +0000

Clearly, Obama stumbled since he’d been practicing the oath in his real mother tongue, Bahasa. That Roberts also stumbled shows that he, too, must be a secret Muslim. We’re all doomed!

By: Dave S.

Dave S. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:57:48 +0000

Luther, no joke there. Section 1 of the Twentieth Amendment states: “The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January… and the terms of their successors shall then begin.”

By: Matthew Kuzma

Matthew Kuzma — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:12:23 +0000

I took President Obama’s pause to be a stumble, but it does look rather deliberate. The real stumble, then, is splitting the difference between going with the oath as misquoted and waiting long enough for the Chief Justice to correct himself.