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| Long may he wave |
As everyone hears but apparently no one notices, the treatment of the new "Leader of the free world" is more like a frustrated parent trying to give directiosn to a reluctant 3-year-old:
CHIEF JUSTICE: "Do you, Phil N. Name, . . . "
NEW PRESIDENT: "I, Phil N. Name . . ."
CJ: ". . . solemnly swear . . ."
NEW PREZ: ". . . solemnly swear . . ."
If the LOTFW cannot remember the 35 words of the oath, possibly he/she is too stupid for the job.
Oddly, the CJ remembers them; the CJs don't read off a crib sheet concealed in one hand.
It would be more dignified if the CJ asked the president-elect, "Will you swear the oath?"
And then he/she would swear it if he could.
As I say, RtO was planning to again call for a seamless oath. But now I'm not so sure it's time. If the winner is Trump, there's a real question whether he can manage 35 consecutive scripted words.
A huge question.
People say the Pledge of Allegiance exactly the same way, despite everyone knowing the words.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
People say the Pledge of Allegiance exactly the same way, despite everyone knowing the words.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
I have never heard anyone say the Pledge that way. That includes at the opening of the weekly meeting of the Maui County Council.
ReplyDeleteI pledge allegiance (breath)
ReplyDeleteto the flag of the United States of America (breath)
and to the republic (breath)
for which it stands (breath)
etc.
Every time I have heard the Oath of Office, it is said the same way.
When I was in a position to give it, I tried to get it done naturally, as it is written.
Impossible.
You've got too many breaths in there, but you have mistaken the point: why does the new president have to be led through the short statement?
ReplyDeleteTo repeat, nobody (except possibly teachers of young children teaching pupils the words) says the pledge as a call-and-response
You are right, the first one doesn't belong.
ReplyDeleteThe point you are missing is that is, for who knows what reason, the way people work.
It isn't just the new president, as my voluminous first hand experience with the oath of office uniformly confirms.
OK, it's a pet peeve of mine.
ReplyDeleteOK, it's a pet peeve of mine.
ReplyDeleteMine, too. It's an inexplicable, unstoppable, force of nature.
ReplyDelete