Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Puts the Kibosh on This Whole Obama-mania Thing

Apparently the Republican Party has completely run out of ways in which to throw cold water on President Obama and the Democratic takeover of the federal government. Consider Tuesday's inaugural festivities. What's an emaciated political party—detritus, road-kill—to do when just about all networks from the Sci-Fi Channel to Weird Korean Channel is covering every Obama hair follicle and Sasha eyebrow-raise ?

How can the Revile-a-cans get out their messages—torture-fun, war, pollution for all, fat rich white guys rule—on Inauguration Day? Their only savior? Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who was charged with the rather simple task of administering the oath of office to Obama. Call it payback for Obama voting against confirming the right-wing justice. Instead of reading the oath, the cocky justice thought he could just recite it by memory. Here's how the oath should have been administered according to Article 2, Clause 8 of the Constitution:

"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."

Pretty easy to memorize, right? But why memorize it? Who gives a crap whether you can wing it? Just get it done Johnny boy...unless of course you don't want to get it done. Instead of reading it, Roberts blurted it out, like messy diarrhea, off the top of his head.

From the AP article "First inauguration for Roberts as chief justice":

The oath includes the phrase "that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States" but Roberts didn't say "faithfully" until after saying "president of the United States."

Obama apparently realized that something was out of order.

Roberts then repeated the phrase correctly, putting "faithfully" in the right place after execute: "faithfully the office of president of the United States."

But Obama instead repeated Roberts' original, incorrect version: "... the office of president of the United States faithfully."

What better way to rain on Obama's parade than to trip him up during the swearing-in. It was pretty successful; upon first view, it did in fact appear that Obama was the one who screwed it up. Seeing the footage again proves that Roberts was the one who made the serious gaffe.

Honest mistake? Maybe, but I'd rather believe this event was plotted by the Republican hierarchy. I can see the meeting now of the top Republicans: Rep. John Boehner and Sen. Mitch McConnell. "How can we fuck up this Obama guy? We got nothing, NOTHING. Someone get Roberts on the phone. I have an idea."

UPDATE: Obama retakes the oath of office from John Roberts.

Comments

[RightWingMarine]

This is where the disconnect occurs between the right and the left. This seems to be nothing more than the vicitm mentality that the left is infamous for. It couldn't have been a mistake it must have been an intentional slight. Everyone knows that it's a sin to make a mistake when in the presence of the new messiah.

Why do so many writers on here feel the need to use profanity in their articles? It just detracts from what they have to say and gives the reader the impression that the writer didn't really have much to say and has to resort to shock value.

[propitiousmoment]

And this seems to be nothing more than the lack of humor that the right is infamous for. This article was tongue-in-cheek.

[RightWingMarine]

yeah the tone of the article is clear that it is all meant in fun and if so I am the first poster on here to miss that tone.

[DocWylie]

It's been said never to attribute to malice what is explainable by stupidity.
Heck of a job Glovie.

[goatboyslim]

As someone who has performed in public, I can tell you: practicing in front of your mirror is nothing like doing it in front of people who are watching your every move.If Justice Roberts thought that he "had it covered," that reading a written decision in front of a courtroom prepares you for being in front of a million-plus people as well as TV cameras-well, he just got schooled. If he was able to screw up on purpose, and make it look like an accident, his talents are being wasted.

[phinney]

As this very event was unfolding, I turned to husband and asked him how long he thought it would be before someone started yelling right-wing conspiracy. You folks never let me down, just once I wish you would.

[DAE]

I would contend the the oath has still not been administered correctly since the original constitutional phrase does not include "So help me God," which was included in the first and I assume the second try.

[gany]

Roberts made special trip to white House today the 21st to administer oath again correctly. Not everything is a conspiracy !!!!!!!

[pcplz]

I imagine that the 'special trip' was something that surely, wasn't out of his way! Since he flogged it up, he HAD to fix it. Special trip, indeed!! Like he was doing his president a 'special' favor!!!!!

[gany]

Roberts made trip to White House and swore in Obama today Jan.21 and readminstered oath
correctly. Not everything is a conspiracy!!!!!!

[TIME]

If Roberts wanted to appear not to be reading from a note card, he could have at least had a note card in his pocket just in case. Roberts shows his arrogance by not having the oath written down, on him. As it should, this will be a blot on Roberts, not Obama.

[StopCensoringMe]

.
Roberts will get it right in 2013 when he re-swears President Obama for his second term as POTUS..

[ToonMoene]

Let's get over it - there are those who hate split infinitives, like "will faithfully execute" and then there are those who don't.

Oh, wait ... "do solemnly swear".

Yeah, that's the kicker.

Let us rewrite this ancient stuff - it's not fit for this here 21st century, anyway ........

[JustADumbFireman]

That's not a split infinitive, ignoramus. An adverb can correctly occur in several positions within a sentence. (Jeez, and I'm just a dumb fireman!)

[propitiousmoment]

An infinitive starts with "to". "To boldly go" is a split infinitive.