"I did it!" SO CUTE.

Roberts didn't screw it up their aids did
CNN Senior Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin reported in his recent book, "The Oath," that Roberts is known for his "superb memory" and had obsessively practiced reciting the words at home for weeks.
Government sources told CNN and Toobin that Roberts and his staff also e-mailed their own copy of the oath to inauguration organizers weeks earlier.
Slash marks were clearly indicated to illustrate how the phrases would be divided and where Roberts would pause, to ensure the president-elect would be on the same page.
No one is sure why it happened, but "the oath card never reached anyone on Barack Obama's staff," Toobin wrote.

So since both didn't know how the other was saying it both got flustered.

(How do we know Roberts didn't have his fingers crossed?)

Seriously, Michelle looked like she was about to get the giggles.

@2 no. Roberts flubbed the oath the first time. And then Obama hesitated about whether to say the actual words or just repeat what Roberts said.

It was obvious to anyone watching who knew the actual oath that Roberts screwed up. You should have heard us yelling at the TV when it happened.

I have a dream--That John Roberts will spend the rest of his life swearing in a very long succession of Democratic presidents.

@4, @2 has the just of it. You should read Toobin's account. Roberts got flustered after Obama started repeating at the wrong time. It messed up the whole rhythm. Who wouldn't get flustered in front of two million people.

Christ, I actually got teary eyed watching this. What a beautiful family, and man, those girls are getting big. Digging Michelle's bangs - being a bang-wearer (?) myself.

Who's the woman with the bob standing next to the President?

#2

Maybe Roberts was thrown off by Obama's recitation because they did not practice or something. But Roberts still got the words wrong.

You sure did do it, Mr. President!

Here's hoping we get four years of enlightened leadership. I can hope all I want.

I'd be happy if we stopped that drone war in northern Pakistan or closed Guantanamo. The past several years have shown me that America isn't a country for freedom and justice; it's only a country that aspires to be so. That's not nothing. It's a good place to start.

If not that, then maybe more funding for NASA and comparable science programs. Studies show that they pump far more money back into the economy than they cost. I want America to be a force for justice in the world, but I also wouldn't mind if we stayed on top of the heap!

Roberts screwed it up again. When you're swearing someone in, you feed the oath-taker the exact words they're supposed to say.

Roberts started out right. "I, Barack Hussein Obama" that's correct so far: Roberts used the pronoun "I" so Obama could repeat back exactly what Roberts gave him. But then at the end --

"... so help you God." NO NO NO. NO. Roberts was supposed to say "... so help me God." not make Obama convert the pronoun on the fly.

Sheesh. He did the same thing last time, along with a bunch of other stuff (http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2009/Se…).

BBBBBBAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-AAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGSSS!!!!!

@13 "So help me God" is not part of the Oath given in the Constitution. It has always been said afterward, according to tradition, but is not a part of it (you can imagine that the Buddhist president we elect in 2036 isn't going to want to add it).

As a result, Roberts, having administered the Oath, says, as a question, "So help you God?" (you can hear his voice raise at the end as a verbal question mark). And Obama answers, "So help me God."