So...

[sdelmonte]

You would think that a lifelong Democrat and liberal would be excited today of all days. I'm still not feeling it. I'm still waiting to see what Obama actually does as president before I celebrate.

I hope everyone else who is celebrating enjoys this day. I'll keep of your way.

Comments

[innerbrat]

I don't know how a country can have the energy to have a coronation every four years. I appreciate ceremonies, but they are just that.

[sdelmonte]

I never thought about that. I was aware at some level that in the UK the new PM just sorta takes over, but now that I think about it, that's how it is in a lot of places. I guess the inaugural ceremony started as something of a surrogate coronation - George Washington was treated like a king, even if he didn't want to be one - and the customs stuck.

What's really odd is how we do the same thing all over when a president is re-elected. Obviously the oath of office runs out if you don't say it over.

We also do the same thing at a much smaller scale for every governor and mayor. You could be mayor for twenty years, and you still take the oath and have a party.

[innerbrat]

Which goes to show that it even works like a coronation. Obama doesn't need to take the oath to become president; he will be president at noon whether he's finished or not. In the same way, Johnson was president before he took the oath because you can only have one president, and you must always have one president.

Monarchs are monarchs the second their predecessor dies/abdicates: there is always one in existence.

[sdelmonte]

I seem to recall, however, that there was some non-entity of a president in the 1800s who refused to take the oath of office on a Sunday (when the inaguration date fell out). His VP did take his oath and was technically president for a day. I don't know if this is still the way things work now, though. Or if it ever did and the president in question was just being difficult.

Isn't America wacky?

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

You're thinking of the Zachary Taylor/David Rice Atchison situation:

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/atchison.asp

[sdelmonte]

Thanks for the link.

Clearly, this means that even though President Obama - and I will admit, that is catchy and a vast improvement on Pres. Bush - fumbled the oath today, he's still CinC.

I now am reminded, parenthetically, of a Green Lantern comic where Ganthet questions the need for Hal to say the oath even though the very presence of a Guardian kept the ring charged. Hal disagreed and said the oath. And didn't we all miss that oath during the Kyle years? There is something to be said for the power of such rituals, even if I occasionally question them.

[drcpunk.livejournal.com]

For the record, Roberts fumbled administering the oath. Obama did not fumble taking it.

Kohelet Lesson

[osewalrus.livejournal.com]

Live each day and each moment for what it is.

It ends a very dark chapter of our history. It breaks a barrier for achievement and makes accomplishment more believable for those who thought themselves barred as a matter of race.

Whatever follows, this is a great day. Celebrate for what it is, knowing that tomorrow brings what it shall bring.

[mannoftalent.livejournal.com]

Alex:

I'd like to send you my application for the writer job at the Jewish museum, and I realize I don't have a current e-mail for you. Can you please send it to me at mannoftalent@gmail.com.

Thanks

[rushin-doll.livejournal.com]

This is how I felt about the whole thing too. I am, in fact, a bit worried about the fervor. Not that it's an especially good comparison, but in 2000, and especially after 9/11/2001 there was a lot of fervor around Bush, and it kept people from paying attention to actual policy decisions.

We'll see. The Gitmo stuff today is promising.

Watching it all,
Ana