Inaugural Balls and Oaths of Office

I was invited to an inaugural ball! Little ole me.

Unfortunately it wasn’t one where the first couple would grace us with their presence. No, this ball was called Ottawa’s Second Inaugural Ball. The invitation was “calling all Democrats Abroad in Ottawa-Gatineau (and their friends)” and urging us “to celebrate this historic event with fellow Americans, dual citizens, and their Canadian friends.” I have a sneaky suspicion that there might have been more parties in Canada for Obama's recent victory than for Harper when he won the last election.  And even if there weren’t, tell me, which would you rather go to, an Obama party or a Harper party?...Me too.

Not knowing about this “Democrats Abroad” group, I did some surfing and found its on-line home: https://www.democratsabroad.org/. It has a drop down menu to select your country and, once at Canada’s page, you'll find ten Canadian chapters. The global head of the organization, Ken Sherman, is even based in Canada and looks like a kind-hearted former hippie. The U.S. being the U.S., it’s not a big leap to assume there is an equivalent group for the Republicans. Why would one party cede those overseas votes to the other? No sirree, THAT would be un-American.

And so there is: Republicans Abroad  with a Canadian chapter http://www.republicansabroad.ca. I’m glad to say they didn’t have an Inaugural party but they did have an election night party and its invitation is available on their website as a downloadable PDF. Republicans Abroad listed its election night party as having a start time of 7:30 pm and then stated the party’s end time in bold letters When a Romney victory is declared! I might be wrong, but doesn’t that mean they’re still partying? Their party, by the way, cost 20 bucks at the door; the Democrats inaugural party cost 4 bucks and proceeds go to the band. I dunno but maybe that’s why the Democrats won, people can afford their parties.

     *             *             *             *             *

I confess I didn’t watch this inauguration. I earned my stripes by going to the last one and didn’t need to earn my stars by paying attention to this one. The change we can believe in never happened and I figure that if he could disappoint all those people who were on the mall four years ago, my presence—live or sitting in front of the tv—wouldn’t make a difference this time. I figure he had a four year presidential apprenticeship and now he’s got two years to make things happen. I’m pulling for the man. I really am.

Plus, how can you not root for a guy who decides to get sworn in on 3 Bibles. That must be one serious oath. I read that he was sworn in on Lincoln’s Bible, Martin Luther King’s Bible and the Obama family Bible (by the way, isn’t that called the Koran?*) Anywho, that has me wondering what happens with a new Prime Minister of Canada?  Does he take an oath? I’ve been up here twenty years and I don’t have a clue. It just isn’t a big deal. The Prez of the U.S. is, on certain occasions, a kind of sacred, symbolic God-King prone to be treated like dog-meat the rest of the year. But the PM, he’s a kind of bureaucratic, intelligent, schlemiel who oversees the party that got the most votes. Do we really care how he gets sworn in?

Here’s what it says on the Governor General’s website:
The Oath of Office is administered to the prime minister designate by the Clerk of the Privy Council at the commencement of the swearing-in ceremony. The prime minister, the governor general and the Clerk of the Privy Council sign the Privy Council Oath Book. If the prime minister designate is not a member of the Privy Council (Privy Councillor) he or she will be sworn in as a member of the Privy Council before the Oath of Office is administered.
Well, boys and girls, I can’t wait to go either! And just think, we can even watch it again on Youtube.

What keeps me awake at night is wondering which 3 items the Prime Minister of Canada should use at the swearing-in ceremony. The first one is obvious: a new Prime Minister simply has to be sworn in holding the NHL Rules Book. After that, it’s a toss-up. The Articles of Confederation? A Hudson’s Bay blanket? The Charter of Rights and Freedoms? A novel by Mordecai Richler or a bra of Pamela Anderson’s? A plate of poutine? A photo of the Avro Arrow? Leonard Cohen’s guitar? The possibilities are endless. Just not a Bible. That much is clear. Thank God.

*okay, so I’ll admit he’s Christian, but he was born in Kenya.