Evidently, FOX news twerps are jumping all over the way Justice Roberts fouled up the administration of the oath of office to President Obama. I’ve been told they are even speculating about whether or not President Obama actually IS legally the president.
Give it a break fellas!
There have been deviations from the language in the Constitution before–and not just because someone got tongue tied. On religious grounds, Franklin Pierce chose to "affirm" rather than "swear".
Sorry to ruin your daydream Fox Boys, but Obama is truly and legally our president.
Related posts:
- Chief Justice Roberts on Michael Jackson: Let Him Carry His Own Lantern
- SCOTUS: Selecting Justice, A Live Chat with CAC’s Doug Kendall
- Conservative Justices Roberts, Scalia, Alito, Thomas Say Virtually Bribing Judges is Okay
- Chellie Pingree: Lobbyists Will Spread “Fear and Confusion” During August Break
- Holder Overturns Justice Jackson and Nuremberg
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That’s it, Roberts is FIRED!
I can’t believe Fox news isn’t blaming Obama.
If I were the FOX News crowd, I’d be much more worried about Roberts’ rather listless demeanor and slip-up than about whether Obama was really president. Especially considering Roberts’ having had two “benign idiopathic seizures” in the past fifteen years.
Of all the topics…
fine by me if they find someone other than Obama to critisize. Obama was president as 12:01 NO MATTER WHAT.
I think Roberts flubbing something as simple as the Presidential oath is completely understandable. He was probably distracted by thoughts of the Constitutional crisis that could occur if Bush toadies left the federal bench because their salaries were insufficiently bloated.
Hmmmmm, Fox’s web site has a slightly different take on it, claiming it was Roberts who aided Obama:
“WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John Roberts swore in President-elect Barack Obama as president of the United States on Tuesday, helping him through a slight stumble . . . .
Separated by a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inaugural, Roberts asked Obama: “Are you prepared to take the oath senator?”
Obama indicated he was, and Roberts started reciting — and Obama repeating — the 35-word oath that is prescribed by the Constitution.
But at one point early on, Obama paused, as if grasping for the next words. Roberts helped him over the brief awkward moment, repeating a few words to get Obama back on track.”
That was kinda funny. Everything imaginable going like clockwork, and the actual oath screwed up!
after 8 (thousand?) long years of Bu$hisms and they’re gonna jump on THIS???!
lol
desperate shadenfreud of such beauty!!!
they WILL become totally irrelevant will they not?
someone convince me.
NO!
Cmon, LHP{
Don’t spoil the fun. Feel the hate.
I guess it is way too much for them to actually check the constitution. They are such a reflection of Bush and his administration…totally inept
They want to make a big deal about this to cast a shadow on whether Obama is actually President … all part of their new motto … We can go lower than anybody !
I’m with cathy @2….really amazing they hit up roberts….but they’ll soon forget that part and blame it on O.
Heard that with me very own ears; can’t identify which one said it specifically because I make it a general practice to stay *far* away from that place. Just couldn’t resist checking in to see how miserable they were. *g*
I can only imagine the pressure of knowing that a billion – with a B – people are watching you on international television. I’m willing to cut him the slack. We’re just human beings, doing the best we can.
What a crock of sh*t. Roberts transposed some words and mis-spoke another. Obama probably didn’t want to make him feel/look bad by just saying the line correctly (because you KNOW he could have just said it, from memory, without help.) Sounded like Roberts put the first pause in an unusual place, too. But what do I know…haven’t watched an inaug. in YEARS!
FunnyD
Guess they are creating a ‘happy place’ that they can escape to from reality
“that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully… “
kind of interesting phrasing…
PW, you don’t think slip up= mild seizure?
I’m more inclined to go with stage fright
LOL Yeah a constitutional law professors don’t know shit *g*
Would Everybody Just Give Justice Roberts a Break?
Sorry – no can do.
P.S. I just mean that in general terms – don’t really give a rat’s ass about today’s oath administration…..
This is just more silliness that we can ignore. I do find it curious, however, that the Chief Justice of The United States of America was either incapable of memorizing 35 words, or was so overawed at his responsibility that those words just went …WHOOSH… out of his head. I’m praying for the latter, and it was all handled very well by Obama.
That’s what I thought at the time…even before POTUS tried to repeat it and sort of went “wha?”
FunnyD
They already did, in Crawford …
Plus, Roberts may reasonably have believed he could safely memorize the oath and that everything would be fine.
I used to sing the national anthem to open sports events – of course everybody knows the words – but realized midway through one time I wasnt absolutely sure about the middle section. The words came back before it was necessary to mumble into the microphone, but it left me forever sympathetic to people who perform before crowds.
LOL I never looked at it that way (I’m a lit geek)
You’re too kind, eg; I’m with Knut, “Don’t spoil the fun. Feel the hate.” *G*
Not ready to make nice……e.v.e.r.
Bingo. It fits very nicely into a narrative they’ve been pushing for quite a while now…that Obama isn’t legit. I would not be surprised at all if it was intentional on John-boy’s part. Roberts has long been plugged into Repub machine, and his actions have backed this up.
How very typical of Faux Noise. Consider me completely unsurprised that they don’t know where the error lay.
where were they when Peeance Freeance hit the waves???????????
LOL!
PS:
Ironic that we DFHs are cutting the Chief Justice far mor slack than Teh Wingnuts, eh?
FunnyD
Dallas too. Poor folks. I knew he wasn’t headed for Austin LOL
Strange. At first I thought POB screwed up, and then when he looked at Roberts…like…”hellloooo”…and they spoke over each other…
I feel bad for Roberts…Scalia, Alito, and pubic hair on a can…not so much.
Wonder who gave him the script he was reading. He was reading it.
when I watched this I couldn’t tell what happened only that it was flubbed. It bugged me because this is Obama’s moment and our moment. So it bugged me. I’ll get over it.
Actually, when I saw it, my first impression was that Obama was the one who stumbled. It helps if you know what the oath is actually supposed to be, and I didn’t.
Bob in HI
Occasionally, even the terminally coarsened may develop certain sensitivities…and from such irritants even the lowliest of mollusks may produce things of great beauty.
;>)
wow – step away and the PRESIDENT OBAMA is already from the Capitol Building to the White House and now back to the Capitol building? i missed the parade?
Thank Goddess!!!!
I think it could be a result of that meeting Obama/Biden had with the Supreme Court Justices … the Wingnuts know there’s a new Sheriff in town and they’re a little scared …
Actually the thing that first struck me was when Robert’s talked over Obama at the front end. Huge faux pas. You never speak when POTUS is speaking and you always stand when POTUS enters the room/ your presence. And you don’t sit down agin until POTUS tells you that you can.
I believe he was formally and officially president as of noon, regardless of oath. Hoping some of you legal folks can help us out with the cite.
I couldn’t remember exactly, I just new that “faithfully” came before “execute” and “to” didn’t make any sense where Roberts put it.
If it matters, put me in the “stage fright” column. Though I did enjoy sharing my snarky comment in the previous thread.
Live performance…stuff happens.
FunnyD
Snort! No spew alert? I snorted beer (yeah, I’m celebrating early… you got a problem with that?!) all over my screen!
Watching GB41 toddling along and Cheney in a wheelchair…wowwee…and the Na, na, na, na…goodbye…
WowweeII
They’re having lunch now. Parade to come, I believe.
Art. II Sec. 1
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:
20th Amendment Sec. 3
You’re exactly right.
That made me snort biatch!!!
Resignations are required. This is getting out of hand. Allowing war criminals on stage with you makes good theater, but not government.
“pubic hair on a can” 707!!!!!!
What I am nonplussed about is that I have heard not a peep about any more Bush pardons.
Maybe Bush really believes that because Yoo gave him the all-clear, he could order war crimes at will. After all, his life experience is that you hire lawyers as fixers, right? You pay them good money so that whatever you do, its legal, right? So what’s the big deal?
He’s delusional. But in this case, perhaps his delusions prevented him from offering pardons. c’est la vie.
Bob in HI
hmmm…a plan that just might work…wait till they leave and THEN raise compensation for udges of the scotus
BRILLIANT!
OH My F’n God.
Who ya gonna believe? Faux News or your lying eyes (and ears)?
stupid pubic hair on a can
Sorry! i’m watching the rerun on c-span2. Back to c-span.
The joke is of course that Fox News had no problems with the most lawless Presidency in memory but they go all hyper-legalistic about a pro forma ritual.
The other possibility is that in order to issue pardons he would have to admit to himself (well, and the world) that there were pardonable offenses. I wonder if he can do that? He’s probably that clueless…
The alternative of affirming rather than swearing is not a deviation from the Constitution, which states:
The Quakers, among others, see swearing or oaths of any kind as against their religion, and this exception was put for them, and for the many others that took the words of Jesus seriously when he was quoted in Matthew as saying
On the other hand, “So help me God” is extra-Constitutional.
Well, I think everyone believes Biden was properly sworn in. The Dems have the steering wheel in any case.
If the wingers want to argue about Obama’s oath, then they have to accept Biden as president until things are clarified.
Attagirl ! *g*
Gallows humor, at best…
I’m sorry, I’m so rude. It is Justice Pubic Hair on a Can. There. I’m done.
I’m sick of hatred in DC.
Which is NOT to say that I have givien up on accountability–AT ALL.
But hate serves no purpose. I want professionlism and competence in place of hate.
tweety should STFU
DUDE!
u r the wickedest with the great artwork linky thing!!!!!
CHEERS!
Someone has collapsed inside of dinner hall!
Breaking Teddy Kennidy
Can’t we have all three? /snark
NO, Byrd
I never believed in such protocols. Roberts simply went past a normal pause for Obama to repeat and that left Obama wondering and waiting to see where and if Roberts was going to pause.
Breaking: Ted Kennedy taken from Presidential luncheon suffering from convulsions.
Try CSPAN.
Anyone wonder who was horrified at the prospect of Seafood Soup and Braces of Birds…Birds don’t even have teeth….Yuck.
Amen, LHP!
Bob in HI
so sorry, Sen.Kennedy*
I’m just glad Section one of the 20th amendment is there. In other words, on Jan 20th at noon Bush was no longer pres and Cheney was out of a job as well. Oath or not
Could that be chiseled into the front of MSNBC headquarters? Could MSNBC add that to their corporate logo and stationery?
Honestly, that’s been my take for awhile. He lives in a bubble barge on the River De-nial.
California is well represented, which is a far cry from the way the largest(population) was treated by Bush. I think he encourage Enron to screw over California in retaliation for him losing the state.
CBS reports Byrd wheeled out of luncheon.
Ted Kennedy collapses at Congressional luncheon.
Ow my side hurts I’m laughing so hard.
WTF? Crystal from China?
LHP!
Hate is always out of date.
But a huge spewing will definitely occur, with threats and innuendo and all the ‘trimmings’ with it…
But it won’t matter, one damned little bit.
Whre are they reporting that? I’m watching MSNBC, CSPAN, and CNN…no mention of such a thing…
I sure hope not.
IF I had a dollar for every time i’ve said that evah, i’d bail out the economy my OWN self!
And that section is:
No, actually both…no details. Uggh
WTF Byrd and Kennedy!! Holy Cow!
Like I said…Seafood soup and braces of birds…
Maybe they just left to get outta there!
God, I hope that is all it ls.
Oh no! And Bob Schrum was just mentioning that Sen. Kennedy might actually see a new health care plan pass during this administration. hope he is ok.
She was wearing a lovely gown..
You know he did. Interesting considering how much Reagan loved the state. (I so DO hate the Reagan was from my state)
OMG.
Btw – lhp!
LHP always has something significant to say, usually something I didn’t know.
I didnt know anyone had affirmed rather than sworn, let alone that story about Pierce. Rather moving.
Hey, PW..do you think that he possibly had a slight ‘event’ right there?
yeppers
That was a photoshop? I thought it was a slice of real life.
;>)
I can’t find anything at NYT, WaPo or Teh Great Gazoogle about a stricken Senator… Any updates that I’m unaware of?
Thom Hartman on Air America Radio.
Oh dear. I hope they are both okay.
My prayer..that they were just overwhelmed and hated the weird menu. Both men have had way too much excitement for the day so far. Godspeed both of them.
CBS correcting themselves. Kennedy removed. Now being loaded into ambulance.
Uh-oh, Keith now mentioning a medical emergency.
Aaargh – Kelly O’Donnell didn’t say who!
I got an email that said it was Mike Wallace talking with Brit Hume.
I didn’t see it myself–being at the office and all
msnbc reporting medical emergency but not who…
KO says medical emergency at luncheon, still no details for sure. KO says there was “some form of medical emergency.” All else is rumors.
Did you expect the corporate media to report the “news?” They only report what they want you to know.
Fuck!
They are reporting it on CSPAN now as well but not naming names
Obama is mentioning Teddy now
Teddy??? BO giving prayers to his family…Holy Shit!!!!
President Obama is acknowledging Sen. Kennedy. (God, it’s so good to type ”President Obama.”)
Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Dang. both Keith and CNN crawl confirming it’s Sen. Kennedy.
Something has happened.
Obama said part of him is with Senator Kennedy
Prayers for Sen. Kennedy. It may have just been too much excitement for him.
the tape of him earlier, he looks ROBUST!
A fact I learned today was that George Washington took the oath of office twice—once in New York (when it was our Capitol) and then in Philadelphia when the Capitol moved there.
So the simple solution is to have Obama take the proper oath. Maybe get someone less arrogant than Roberts to administer it, someone who’s willing to have a written copy in front of him or her.
Oh, that’s so funny?
Come on: malaprop nation?
It is most likely a collapse of exhaustion…JMHO
Seconding that Matthews should STFU, esp. on the topic of Sen. Kennedy.
Fuckin’ Tweety seems to be delivering what sounds like a eulogy. COMPLETELY uncalled for, and bound to fan the rumor flames. Tweety’s a moron.
Obama looked pretty mortified.
msnbc reports that friends and family are very protective of Kennedy and do not say anything about his condition, (and won’t now). words to that effect.
I’m with Faux Noise on this…all that Roberts had to do was simply memorize and repeat a couple of time honored lines and he managed to screw it up…thanks again to Sandra Day O’Conner for retiring and allowing this right-wing monster to become head of the Suppies…
Thank you for this. Sheesh. I feel as badly for him as I would for Obama.
What is wrong with Chris Matthews? He is babbling even more oddly than usual today.
CBS repeating that both were taken out…Noting Obama was “visibly shaken” about Kennedy.
seconded
Oh no!
ABC reported that Kennedy began seizing at a table with Kerry and Mondale. The seizing lasted for a few minutes and continued as he was taken away. It is not clear whether there was a loss of consciousness or not.
Without a doubt, bless his heart.
Byrd left supposedly to rest … Kennedy had a seizure (unconfirmed)
Did you expect competence from a Bush appointee?
Oh, God, Senator Byrd stricken too?
Reality readjustment twitters, from Roberts to Matthews to whomever, gonna take a while for it all to sink in.
They nevah thought today who arrive.
I mean, who could have imagined, ironranger?
“They” obviously could not …
yes
*gigggggggle*
True he was named to replace O’Connor but then renominated to take Rehnquist’s place as Chief Justice at Rehnquist’s death. IIRC Roberts was one of Rehnquist’s pallbearers.
Not to keep bashing Chris Mathews or anything -
but did he just callthe venerable Sen. Byrd – “Bobby” Byrd?
of the WORST caliber. how does he keep that job?
he’s such an oxygen waste.
he really just destroyed my festivities watching this over the past 3 to 4 days.
seriously.
Look at the “competition.” He fits right in with the other gas bags.
How many ya think will announce their retirement, effective at the end of the current term?
He’s all aflutter waiting for his puddy tat to come back.
;>)
idiot
Um, looseheadprop: we didn’t elect a king. The protocols you claim apply are basically derived from those for British royalty.
Pres. Obama was elected to be our servant, not our master. He’s commander in chief of the military, not of all of us.
What in the world could Jimmy Carter be carring in that bag?
Reagan was from the midwest, I’m from California!
omg!
is that our “hil”?????!
LOL
priceless darkblack. i do not know how you do that but it’s priceless.
LOL!
I have a confession. I like Tweety.
But I imagine you would defer to Obama at a public event, refraining from speaking while he spoke?
And, perhaps wait to seat yourself until the President, he or she, had first seated themselves?
Purely the social amenities, not fawning deference.
As well as one of his clerks.
Indeed, a newly minted Secretary…And she worked DAMN HARD to get into that catsuit, let me tell you.
;>)
You is the BEST, db, absolutely!
Stevens is 88 and Ginzburg is 75. I would expect both to leave during Obama’s Presidency. Stevens definitely, Ginzburg probably.
Roberts screwed it up because he is underpaid.
I assumed that the oath kerfuffle just indicated that Chief Justice Roberts really doesn’t know the constitution http://tr.im/avw0
Although, on second thought, it will probably turn into a new birth certificate wingnut zombie mythos, i.e. that Obama is not the president because he didn’t take the oath properly.
(crossposted http://www.fivethirtyeight.com…..7065542609) I swear this was before I read this posting.
Maybe he should join a union and fight for fair wages.
aMy copy of Miss Manner’s Guide is home and I’m at work, but you will see similar in Emily Post, Debrett’s.
He is not a king, but he IS a head of state
Why, thank you, DWB – that’s very kind of you to say.
Thank you, Solai! I’m glad you said that. As a matter of fact, I do too! And I think it may be time to point out to those that don’t, he’s only on one channel, unless you count the very small part of the time that he may be on NBC!
I have a somewhat different point of view. What do you think the chances are of securing a raise if you flub your first of likely very rare performances under your administrator? Do you think the powers that be will think you deserve a raise for a performance like that?
Well, your images ‘leaf’ me on the floor gasping for breath often enough that there is a large, indented area where muh computer chair sets …
I purely do appreciate your stellar (and always successful) efforts, db.
And, sharin’ initials, like we does, well, ya always got my innerest …
;~D
looked to me as if Roberts repeated a bunch of words and paused for a breath- then as Obama started to repeat the words, Roberts threw in some more- as he didn’t think he was finished yet…after that, there was some silence as Obama didn’t seem to know what to repeat….Proper conclusion to Clusterfuck’s final seconds in office.
It’s sort of typical for a certain sort of gooper to think that if the magic incantation wasn’t pronounced EXACTLY right- the spell wouldn’t work and Obama wouldn’t be pres. Magical thinking is at least interesting.
Actually, I believe there is jurisprudence to the effect that oath givers and takers must be of sound mind at the time the oath is given and taken, something like the principle applying to legal capacity in contract law. Roberts always struck me as something of a Dostoyevskian (sp?) character. Not really in the real world to say the least.
BINGO! That’s exactly what happened. Fox will never admit this either.
The flub appeared to come right after CJ Roberts said “I, Barack Hussein Obama,” and it’s a tribute to his steeliness that he didn’t faint dead away hearing his own voice say that, especially “Hussein”. Made me think back to the night Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. became Muhammad Ali.
That’s too funny. After it happend my father knew Roberts had flubbed it. The rest of us thought he and Obama just got tripped up over each other. But when you watch it again, Obama is being patient and trying to work with Roberts, who then gets the wording wrong.
And 5 minutes later I told my brother “Somewhere, the wingnuts are already speculating this means Obama’s not really president”. So predictable. Yes, you big dummies, all the vote certification stuff matters less than whether he properly incants a magic spell. Predictable morans.
No mistake!
You don’t understand. It’s just like a person possessed by a demon can’t say the Lord’s Prayer without making some error, because if he got it right, he would destroy his own demonocity, or something. This is a widely known fact.
I think that what’s going on here is that Roberts was doing a little bit of witch-hunting, which really is a traditional value for this country’s judiciary, by trying to see if Obama could say the oath properly, like a person not possessed by the demons of socialism and abortion rights. The answer is clear for all to see.
I don’t think that’s really unusual in Washington. I’ve often heard him referred to as “Bob”. “Bobby” is a bit more familiar, but probably normal. OTOH, Matthews does get overly emotional these
days.