A fitting national holiday for it to fall on. King had to walk before Obama could run.
Since all the constitution says is that he has to take the oath “before” exercising his powers, isn’t any repetition of the oath redundant? 2009 is obviously before 2013. It doesn’t say anything about the oath only having a four year shelf life.
(If it’s like Reagan’s “private” ceremony, it will be anything but private. In 1985 there was a band, a sizable audience, and full television coverage.)
“One milestone of early 21st century America was the first President of (orange) color…”
Which will no doubt lead to an interesting trivia question: “Besides FDR, what other president was sworn in four times?”
…2009
I think you’re right and this will be a trivia question/ answer. Unless there are other similar coincidences(?).
The biggest silliness about the David Rice Atchison thing is that Atchinson was never sworn in, either, and yet, the whole case for him being President is based on it supposedly being impossible to be President without being sworn in.
In 1985, the Super Bowl was played on January 20th - I always thought that the reason Reagan moved it was that it wouldn’t interfere with that momentous national event. :dubious:
It would conflict with church services if it was held on a Sunday. IIRC Inauguration Day is only a pulic holiday in DC & it’s suburbs; and that’s only to help cut down on traffic.
[hijack]
And that fabulous week-long funeral they put on for him in 2004! Wow. What a spectacle!
[/hijack]
While I’m sure that would never ever be “officially” true (no way, no how!), and while I know nothing of the actual facts, that sounds like a very plausible theory for the “real unspoken” reason.
(Such is the material of which urban legends are spawned. 
)
Well, good. Roberts can get in a little practice this time before the public event. 
I’ve actually been wondering how they will manage to keep from cracking up. When Roberts walks up on that podium, if the President so much as tips an eyebrow at him, all bets are off. It will be full-on guffaws through the whole thing.
But MLK Day is a holiday everywhere in the US, and that’s the holiday to which I referred.
This brings up a question: Obama has already taken the mandated oath, back in 2009. Does he really have to take it again?
Not “really?” as in “do we need to spend all of this money for something that technically may not be necessary?”, but “really?” as in “would he not be able to execute the duties of his office if he did not take the oath again?”
They’ll be sitting in a pub discussing it over a Black and Tan.
“I liked president Haig.”
– Doonesbury
Sixteen trillion or so, actually.
What are the “executive actions” that presumably are not taken when the oath is late but we still have a president. So, say, if he’s walking around the White House.
Besides starting a war, signing a bill, kissing babies.
I think he would. A president’s term last for four years. If he is elected for another four years, he has to start fresh. He is “entering on the execution of his office” again. The oath four years ago was good for that four year term he won last time. He won again, so he needs to reaffirm his vows, if you will.
I think he would need to take the oath before doing anything that a President has the power to do that you or I wouldn’t have the power to do if we were on a private tour of the oval office. Obama would still be President, but have no power to act as President.
Now, that’s all theoretical. I’m sure that Congress would retroactively affirm whatever things Obama did in an emergency situation should one arise.
Mitt Romney will be guest president for 24 hours. Sort of a consolation prize.