WE HAVE LIFTOFF!!! - T-plus 38 minutes and counting.

David on 22/1/2009 at 07:35

To pre-empt the LOL WRONG OATH Brigade, Obama (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7843881.stm) has taken the oath a second time. Correctly

Quote:

Barack Obama has been sworn in as US president for the second time in two days, because one word was given out of order during Tuesday's ceremony.
The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, John Roberts, administered the oath again at the White House.
The decision to repeat the oath was taken out of an abundance of caution, an official said.
But Mr Obama joked: "We decided it was so much fun...." before adding: "We're going to do it very slowly."
In contrast to the first oath-taking, Mr Obama did not swear on a Bible and his wife Michelle was not at his side.
And instead of an audience of millions, only a few close aides saw the second attempt, with even journalists excluded from the Map Room of the White House.

Nuth on 22/1/2009 at 07:46

They both screwed up the oath. Obama jumped the gun and stepped on Roberts' line which threw Roberts off.

jtr7 on 22/1/2009 at 09:17

Until I read the niggling news about what happened, distracted by the boo-boo and knowing it was now embarrassing recorded history to debate about, it simply appeared to me that Obama began to speak at the natural point, but Chief Justice Roberts kept going a bit more.

Instead of:
"I, Barack Hussein Obama..."
"I, Barack Hussein Obama..."

It was:
"I, Barack Hussein Obama..."
"I, Barack--"
"...do solemnly swear..."

That's how I perceived it when it happened, but since it's a big deal, I've gone back and looked again. Roberts never paused.:p

Bush Jr. was allowed to repeat his name first before the "do solemnly swear" bit.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8kW2ytA0AA)
Bush Sr. began speaking at the natural point, but stopped at "I".
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJF1iQrvd0M)
Clinton didn't flub and started repeating after the "swear" bit.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUXUkMG6R9M)
Reagan also started after the "swear" word, but the Chief Justice (Warren E. Burger) didn't pause at all after the name.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA-niEN1Ttc)
Carter repeated after "swear" and the pause after the name was minimal, and the tone of Chief Justice Burger's voice suggested he wasn't done speaking, too. Warren knew how to administer the oath.:D
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUoXXEl8pQc&feature=channel_page)

Trance on 22/1/2009 at 11:54

And (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_v0zxM23Q) FDR did it all in one go! Why can't we have Presidents who do that anymore?

Dia on 22/1/2009 at 13:28

Quote Posted by Trance

And (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_v0zxM23Q) FDR did it all in one go! Why can't we have Presidents who do that anymore?

Probably because now and then we lose our collective minds and elect presidents like this guy:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm9Eb0IwZwI)

I saw a newsclip of Pres. Obama entering the Oval Office for the first time yesterday morning. On his desk was a letter from W; the letter was simply addressed, '44'. I immediately thought, omg... how rude. Then I realized W probably couldn't spell Pres. Obama's name.

fett on 22/1/2009 at 14:01

Quote Posted by Trance

And (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_v0zxM23Q) FDR did it all in one go! Why can't we have Presidents who do that anymore?

I shudder to think what other atrocities Obama might commit if he can't even pause in the right place during his oath.

Matthew on 22/1/2009 at 14:07

Quote Posted by Dia

I was under the impression that quite a few presidents used their number as a 'nickname' for that purpose?

Dia on 22/1/2009 at 14:44

I'd never heard that. Guess that changes the 'tone'.

(I'm still so angry about the total cockups W made while in office that I'd prefer to think W'd have trouble spelling the new Pres' name though. Yeah, I'm being petty, but refuse to apologize for it.)

rachel on 22/1/2009 at 15:30

What I read is that the label was along the lines of "To the attention of 44, from 43", so it's just a case of them using their numbers. Let the presidents have some fun, Dia ;)

june gloom on 22/1/2009 at 15:58

Petty-san politics. ;)