Barack Hussein Obama just took the oath of office and his presidency officially begins. Obama was noticeably nervous and stumbled over the presidential oath as Chief Justice John Roberts recited the official oath to him. Roberts had to repeat a couple of lines for him at the beginning. I don't recall a president in my lifetime botching the oath. Will anyone notice? Who forgot the teleprompter? Drudge has the text of his inaugural speech here. Not a particularly memorable speech from a literary standpoint. The one line I liked particularly: "Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." It's a variation of a line delivered by the late-President Ronald Reagan.
UPDATE: And then there were these bitter words from Rev. Joseph Lowery:
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen'...
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Will Dave Letterman lead off tonight with 'Great Moments in Presidential Inaugurations'?
Probably not.
I doubt the oath was on the teleprompter. I don't blame Obama for messing up. The problem is not his nervousness but that Justice Stevens and Chief Justice Roberts went on too long before asking that the words be repeated by Biden and Obama. Actually Biden too botched a few words, but he didn't stop like Obama did.
The entire oath is quite short, although I suppose could have shortened. Actually, Roberts screws up the oath too after Obama botches. Here's the entire oath:
I, [Name of president], 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.
Roberts started off the disaster by pausing incorrectly after stating Obama's name tricking Obama to have to start, stop, start again and I think that got both of them off their game going forward. HOWEVER...it's not that long of an oath...don't you think Obama has practiced it in the shower, the mirror, laying in bed a hundred times the last couple of years?! It's kind of like cops having to read the Moranda rights...c'mon...EVERYONE knows it! Just goes to show you...even though he can a great written speech...he's still human and actually gets butterflies.
I just remembering hearing how long Stevens and Roberts were going before asking for Biden and Obama to repeat the words and think I would have messed it up too. I doubt Obama spent time memorizing the oath, which would have cured the problem.
I find humor in your assertion that Obama "botched" the oath. If you actually read Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the Constitution, you will find that Roberts, not Obama, stated the oath incorrectly.
Roberts said "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemn swear, that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully (faithfully the presid.. the office of the president of the United States faithfully) and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.
So who really "botched" the oath?
I knew I could count on the Obamanauts to come riding to his rescue. Let's agree they both botched. What do you expect from two Harvard grads?
This is very similar to the oath that every serviceman takes. If an 18yr old right out of high school can get it right so should a 42 yr old Senator. This guy is quickly going to make Bill Clinton look like Einstein. Pray for America...we are going to need all the help we can get.
It's all Roberts' fault, Ernie. Haven't you read the updated AP story after the Obamanauts screamed bloody murder for daring to blame Obama on his first day in office for anything. Nothing has changed. Obama never makes a mistake. Whatever he says is the gospel. Anyone who says differently must be destroyed at all costs. This is going to be a long four years of no accountability for anything which goes wrong.
The Obamanauts are now trying to blame HBO for cutting out the prayer delivered by the gay bishop, Eugene Robinson, at the concert Sunday. HBO is having no part of it. The company flatly stated that Obama's committee cut Robinson's prayer from the live show.
Never trust a republican to administer an oath..they will screw up the words.
"Never trust a republican to administer an oath..they will screw up the words."
Never trust a democrat who took an oath...they will lie and not uphold the promise... every time.
I am wondering why Obama has been President for over 8 hours and things haven't gotten better yet? American workers are still laid off, stock market is still down, gas prices are still too high. He was supposed to bring change.
The Democrats gave Mayor Ballard only a few minutes, I gave Obama 8 hours, nothing changed yet. What a lousy job he's doing!!!!!
When I got married in September the same thing happened to me (no joke.) The pastor went on for about 3 sentences at the dress rehearsal and I lost him after 1. For the real deal he shortened it. I'm sure they had a dress rehearsal. I'd call it nerves. It happens.
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