The 4 Minute Gap?
EmailABC News’ John Cochran reports: Was Joe Biden, who had already taken his oath before noon Tuesday, president for about 4 minutes until Barack Obama took his oath after noon? No, according to a Supreme Court Justice who spoke to ABC News with the proviso that he not be identified. (Well, now you know it was not Ruth Bader Ginsburg). The Justice said Obama became president at noon. But, said the Justice, Obama had no authority to carry out his duties until he took the oath at 12:04 pm. So, for about four minutes he was a president with no legal power, noted the Justice who impressively whipped out the relevant Constitutional language from his coat pocket to prove his point. And indeed, when we later took a closer look at the U.S. Constitution, we found: "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.’" Of course, we know that Obama and Chief Justice John Roberts botched slightly the reading of that oath. So does that cast into doubt the legality of the Obama presidency? No, said the Justice who spoke to us: "They stumbled a bit but it was close enough."
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Just as you wanted Bush to fail & gloated at his failures – was that “hating America” too?
For ALL you hypocrites who want us to “unite” under Obama yet STILL bash Bush and have bashed Bush – TUFF! You will get EXACTLY the same respect and admiration of Obama from us that you have soooooooo lovingly showed Bush, even up till the last minute (the lowlife pond scum who sang “na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye” at the inauguration as Bush was introduced).
you CANNOT expect what you CANNOT and HAVE NOT delivered.
Soon the media honeymoon w/ Obama will be over & he will be shown for what he is – a FRAUD who has absolutely NO experience and NO reason to be in the position he is in!
Posted by: Irony | January 21, 2009, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
dubya was the worst president in the history of our country and has the lives of over 4,000 soldiers on his conscience – however, irony is right – obama supporters cannot demand the same loyalty and respect to the 44th President from those so loyal to the 43rd for the reasons outlined -
Posted by: chris | January 21, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Is all this really necessary? Too many of our brothers and sisters are jobless,homeless and hungry. We need to stop pointing fingers and blaming each other. Let us learn from the past and now put our best foot forward to make sure that our today and future is a better one.
“History doesn’t repeat itself, people repeat History”
God Bless this country and help us all!
Posted by: over it... | January 21, 2009, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Some of these comments are way off base.
I know it’s difficult for some people to understand this or to admit to this, but MOST Americans (whether you’re a democrat, republican, or independent,etc.) want Obama to succeed.
It’s to each individual’s best interest.
Some of the Republican Senators have already noted that it’s not most of the Republicans that Obama will probably have trouble with, it’s his own party. The Democrats in the Senate are far-far-far left. That’s just a fact – not my opinion.
It’s looking like (of course, I can’t be certain) that Obama is more in the Center – more like a Blue Dog.)
It’s shaping up to be an interesting time.
I think that’s why Obama is courting McCain (i.e. remember McCain’s special dinner that Obama put on?)
Well, my point is this:
stop name calling; it only reflects on the name caller.
Posted by: Blue Dog Obama? | January 21, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
“To want our new president to fail, is to hate America.” – I Love the USA
Unless our new president wants to make the USA more Socialistic which would be in violation of his oath when he vowed to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”.
In this case it would be patriotic to want out president to fail.
Posted by: Noz | January 21, 2009, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
People are rude. Selfish. Ignorant.
Soon enough we will see the mettle of Obama’s worth.
People wanna unite now.
Where was the unity during Iraq.
How soon we forget.
People may hate Bush, but he kept us safe. He protected us. So did the soldiers who served.
Posted by: Capitalism & Patriotism | January 21, 2009, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
In response to a few posts on here: I disliked Bush during his first campaign in 99. I thought that he was riding his father’s coattails. However, I never wished he would fail because of my dislike. I now feel that Bush was one of the worst President’s ever because of decisions that he has already made, but I hoped I was wrong at the beginning. To wish someone to fail simply to see your own beliefs vindicated is petty, selfish, and frankly rather evil. And please retire that tired line that Bush kept the country safe. 9/11 was under his watch, anthrax attacks were under his watch, and getting American troops into an unneccessary war in Iraq was under his watch.
Posted by: Ordermonger | January 21, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
The first WTC attack was under the watch of Clinton (also, USS Cole, embassy attacks,etc.).
Clinton ignored it pretty much.
I remember the democrats on board with the war. Don’t rewrite history.
Posted by: cc | January 21, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
To everyone,
We all Love the U.S.A, but once again we are looking at the wrong thing…SKIN COLOR…it’s not about having a black president it’s about getting us back to work, helping us keep our homes, feeding the hungry, staying safe and bringing our sons and daughters home from war. Why can’t we see that, yes is black but as long as he try to get our nation back to somewhat what it used to be and help the economy and we are free from attack, THEN LETS JUST PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO GET THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BACK ON TRACK….”HE (Obama) CAN’T DO IT ALONE” let’s do out parts
Posted by: Gina | January 21, 2009, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
Irony- First off it’s tough. Now Bush wasn’t bashed until he made decisions that didn’t put country first! He made decisions that underminded our rights as citizens of this country! If Pres. Obama does something against country or the rights of it’s citizens bash away, but the pettiness you are showing makes you look small and bitter! By the way, President Obama has every right to be in the position he is in, the MAJORITY of the country voted him into office, he didn’t use the Supreme Court to steal it!
Posted by: try the truth | January 21, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
sure doesn’t take much for you guys to think you have news– Obama is president no matter if he said it right or not– get a life and report important stuff
Posted by: linda | January 21, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Oh, so avoiding answering questions is better than not being asked? I guess Dubya’s coke habit and lack of commitment to the air force was irrelevant to the position of President.
Posted by: jester76 | January 21, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
“Dubya’s” coke “habit?” He was asked, and he explained that it was in the past (at least he was asked, Hussein even admitted in one of his SEVERAL memoirs about himself before he even accomplshed anything) that he did coke. But alas, that was never even brought up by the “unbiased” (cough cough) media.
As far as Bush’s “commitment” to the Air Force, at least HE served, as opposed to hanging out socialists and terrorists (Hussein ADMITTED he sought out Socialist professors while in college).
But again, the media deemed it not newsworthty, they were more worried about Palin’s wardrobe or her daughter’s pregnancy than actually ASKING hard questions to Obama.
Besides, what’s it matter about Bush anyway, he’s gone – get it? Or are you Liberal HATERS still so stuck on him that you will still be hating on him for the next four years (while expecting the rest of us to “unite” under Obama).
hahahahha
hahahahaa
Posted by: Irony | January 21, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Obama was indeed given a pass on his coke habit of his youth. Do you really think Oliver Stone is going to write a movie called ‘O’ in which Obama is depicted stoned? No, I don’t think Ollie will do that one.
Admit it. If Bush had a name that was ‘different’ somehow, the democrats would be having a field day.
Posted by: cc | January 21, 2009, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Leave it to Bush to appoint a flunky who can’t even administer the oath of office.
Posted by: Sara B | January 21, 2009, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
So he did and soo what?? How many times did we laugh at Bush?? Ok this is something else that he will have to deal with. Besides he will go down in the books for the amazing thing he did by become the first African American president. He might have slipped up but he smiled and went on very gracefully.
Come on now you guys are just looking for anything to pick at.
Posted by: Christy | January 21, 2009, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Leave it to democrats to blame this on Bush, too.
Posted by: cc | January 21, 2009, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
As much as I would have prefered Mc Cain to Obama, I had given him credit to be able to get through the oath of office. Do you think that the slip up was a Fruedian slip?
Posted by: Patricia Reeves | January 22, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm