Obama changes his name, drops "Hussein" at Inaug

[one...two...tree 2,762]

He said his full name.

Kaydee needs new hearing aids...

ABOUT THAT OATH....

The presidential oath of office is quite straightforward, and only 35 words long: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Somehow, Chief Justice John Roberts, with the whole world watching, managed to flub it.

As you can see in the video, Roberts initially made the first sentence too long. It should have been "I, Barack Hussein Obama," and then wait for the response. In fact, Obama started to respond at the right time, but Roberts kept going, adding, "do solemnly swear." Obama recovered and corrected it. No biggie.

But then Roberts, who had allegedly practiced this, rearranged the words of the oath, saying, "that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully." That's wrong in two places -- the "to" and the placement of "faithfully." Obama stopped, realizing Roberts had misspoken, before saying "that I will execute ... the office of president of the United States faithfully." That's not what the oath says, but that's what Roberts told Obama to say.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer said, "John Roberts had one job to do today and he sort of screwed up." True. Roberts, I noticed, wasn't reading from a prepared text, apparently confident that he could just memorize the 35 words. Note to the Chief Justice: four years from today, bring notes.

Josh Marshall added that some "nutballs" who'd hoped to prevent the inauguration, claiming that Obama isn't a natural-born citizen, "may get a second lease on life by claiming he didn't take the oath correctly."

Count on it. A reader told me a few minutes ago that Fox News' Chris Wallace speculated on the air about whether Obama is really president, since the oath didn't go as it should have.

I'm not an expert, but my understanding is that at noon today, by law, Barack Obama became president. The oath was a formality. Wingnuts and their lawyers really shouldn't bother rushing to court to challenge this, though I suspect they'll give it a try anyway.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Caladan 19]

The oath is a formality. Transfer happens at noon. (Bush couldn't pardon people at 12:04 just because the ceremony was running late.)

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I don't care what his name is or what color he is or what church he goes or doesn't go to. All I care about is that he does a good job as President and that he is able to get the country back where it belongs.

[SAT 9,609]

I don't care what his name is or what color he is or what church he goes or doesn't go to. All I care about is that he does a good job as President and that he is able to get the country back where it belongs.

You're only saying that because you think that this thread is being watched by a joint task force of The CIA, FBI, Secret Service, and the USCIS.......

Goodwork scoring some brownie points........

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't care what his name is or what color he is or what church he goes or doesn't go to. All I care about is that he does a good job as President and that he is able to get the country back where it belongs.

You're only saying that because you think that this thread is being watched by a joint task force of The CIA, FBI, Secret Service, and the USCIS.......

Goodwork scoring some brownie points........

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

kaydee, why do you hate America? Where's your patriotism?

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

There are no patriotism here since Hussein is an Ayrab for her

Edited January 20, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[Chica Yeyé 41]

There are no patriotism here since Hussein is an Ayrab for her

WAIT. kaydee is a female????????

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

Isn't? ooops! sorry Keydee seemed kind of a feminine nickname to me, my baaad

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

There are no patriotism here since Hussein is an Ayrab for her

WAIT. kaydee is a female????????

No, he isn't.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

There are no patriotism here since Hussein is an Ayrab for her

WAIT. kaydee is a female????????

No, he isn't.

For a moment there I was about to puke. Thanks.

[HAL 9000 96]

Not surprised it was Kaydee being one of the pundits for the day.

Poor Kaydee... get thee to an ER for some blood pressure medication.

[Ban Hammer 13,978]

Well, it's Barack Ehch Obama...or is it Aich, i dunno!

How does one spell his new middle name, anyway?

maybe he decided he's part german, as that sure sounds german.