Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Notes on Inauguration

1. Joseph Biden was sworn in as Vice-President of the United States of America at 11:57 AM EST. Although Barack Obama was sworn in at 12:05 PM EST, the Constitution states that his Presidency officially begins at noon. That means between 11:57 and 12:00, George Walker Bush was President of the Untied States, and Joseph Robinette Biden was Vice-President of the United States. So, did everyone enjoy the three-minute Bush-Biden presidency?

2. Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution states:
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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."


If we follow the letter of the law, Barack Obama said today:
"I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear, that I will execute -- 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."


He moved the faithfully! He hasn't officially taken the oath of office! He's not the president! He's a witch! Burn him! [Just kidding.]

3. ABC News: you fucked up, big time. Seriously, what the fuck? This is one of the biggest stories of the decade, and you fuck it up. Skipped audio and video, botched footage, mangled transitions, interrupted speeches, annoying inappropriate graphics (I'm watching Obama right now; no, I don't want to go to ABCnews.com), corny America shots (you show the Golden Gate, the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, but where was Mount Rushmore?): all these and more tied together to show that really, ABC was not on its game today. Then again, Obama did stuble a tad as well, so no harm, no foul.

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