"Of course, Obama could still have a trick up his sleeves -- he could, after all, just cross his fingers while he takes the oath."

Instead of crossing his fingers, Obama could do what Dubya did and issue a "swearing in statement," like a signing statement.

... hopes for a day when the oath of office is sworn on the constitution instead of Jehovah's book of fairy tales.

I think Alex Koppelman got caught up in his own web of irony and humor.

If someone without a sense of humor reads the first paragraph, he or she might conclude that a certain “segment of the population” wanted the Sharia law to take effect on January 21, 2009, but it is not going to happen because Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the Bible.

On the other hand, a person with a fully developed sense of humor would figure out right away that Mr. Koppelman meant GOOD news for that segment of the population.

Both readers would be wrong. Mr. Koppelman couldn’t care less about bringing good news to this group of people. I think what Alex Koppelman is trying to say is the following: you right wing extremists who did not vote for Obama, do you see now how wrong you were? Obama is not a hidden Muslim. He is going to use a Bible while taking an oath! If this is sufficient enough for the people, it’s OK.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, can Alex Koppelman explain to me why both parties involved in a law suit, while in the court room, swear on the Bible to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, but only 50% do it?

Most presidents historically have sworn on their own family bible. This is actually a fairly rare thing to reuse one.

But wasn't Lincoln the only president with no professed denomination? Maybe he was a closet Muslim? In fact, as Michael Stivic pointed out on "All in the Family," maybe he was Jewish. After all, his name was Abraham.

...has used it since Lincoln? Which Presidential Bible has gone the longest without reuse?

... didn't I?

Doesn't anyone provide their own Bible any more? :-)

The irony is that he is not a descendent of slaves.

Which makes such a difference in this country. I mean, with cops checking genealogy databases before pulling people over for Driving While Black and so on ...

"I mean, the first African American president is using the same bible as the guy who liberated slaves here in the US."

The irony is that he is not a descendent of slaves.

Obama has taught us now that the only people it is still okay to discriminate against are gay people.

If I recall, you were a Hillary Clinton supporter. Surely you didn't imagine that she was going to be sworn in on something secular?

Why are we still using a bible?

"a transparently prevaricating, addicted adolescent, who has cliqued-up with war criminals and disordered demagogues"

You're talking about W, right?

Bible? OK, then all we have to do is fear living in a society governed by biblical law. Oh, wait, they're trying that already.

you don't mean to say that Obama has been pallin' around with Bush and Cheney do you! That would be a REAL INSULT! ;-)

As a devout and fully paid up Salon Liberal I'm sure you do too.

The significance of this I'm sure isn't lost on anyone. I mean, the first African American president is using the same bible as the guy who liberated slaves here in the US.

Well, it was obviously lost on me, but I can be remarkably obtuse sometimes.

Excuse me, I'm off to find a convenient wall to whack my head against ...

Is Obama going to wear a stovepipe hat? Grow a beard? This Lincoln thing is getting a little silly.

The significance of this I'm sure isn't lost on anyone. I mean, the first African American president is using the same bible as the guy who liberated slaves here in the US. That is hard core. And awesome. Awesomely Hard Core. If nothing else, Obama knows how to fill a historic moment chocked full of symbolism.

The irony and pathology here, of course, are less about straw man he’s-a-Muslim paranoia, than about the fact that a transparently prevaricating, addicted adolescent, who has cliqued-up with war criminals and disordered demagogues, will place his hand on a magical book, solemnly utter noises, and you will be soothed and inspired by that.

Guys if we keep on being allergic to Muslims we might end up in a mess bigger than Iraq. I mean some enemy of both sides might come up with a similar package of deceit to plunge us into another bad decision. Let's hope Obama is a true Christian. That would make him Muslim enough for me.

Muhammad Zafrullah

Whether christian or muslim they both promote hatred and discrimination

DON'T BE FOOLED! HE WILL INVITE AL-QUEDA OVER FOR THE INUAGURAL DINNER AND HELP PLAN THEIR SECRET TAKEOVER! WAKE UP, AMERICA!

Yep, the black-helicopters people will say that it was a hollowed-out Bible with a Koran (or Quaran) inside. I'm sure the same people who photoshopped pictures of Jane Fonda and John Kerry together are already working on an inage of Mr. Obama holding the "wrong" book. And Gawd help us, people will believe it because "I heard it from a friend" and because "I read this on th' innernet!"