Obama brought two book

What does it mean that Obama was sworn in using two bibles?  Well firstly I'd suggest it reflects his inability to make a decision.  Episode 79 of the West Wing saw the same dilemma with poor Charlie running from pillar to post and almost no bible at the end.  But still, when it came down to it, one bible.

But more fundamentally, it points to Obama's entirely secular nature.  When you take an oath with hand on the bible you are calling on God to witness that oath.  What Obama was doing, instead, was calling on Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jnr.  And while he may have the despotic character of Lincoln he has nothing in common with MLK.

The hat for Róisín Bán at the Obama show

In case you missed it elsewhere, Justice Scalia turned up at the inauguration of President Obama wearing a replica hat as worn by St Thomas More.  Lynda, leaving a comment in one of my posts suggests it's an example of Róisín Bán. 

Future pub quiz question, who was sworn in four times as President of the United States?  Why Obama of course.