| January 20 |  |
Editor says, what if Mitt Romney had missed his own inauguration? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the March 2013 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
| Share this Article on: |  Facebook |  Twitter |
In 2013, just one hour ahead of the sunset deadline required by the US Constitution, the swearing-in of Mitt Romney was finally conducted in the unlikeliest of locations, the resort city of Las Vegas.
So help me GodDue to an excess of weather caused by a solar flare, the President-elect had been trapped on the West Coast. Finally, the weather itself had permitted him to set off but the electrical storms meant that the prospect of making it to the Capitol soon receded sharply.
The rumour mill had then kicked in, suggesting that he was heading to Salt Lake City to be sworn-in with his hand on a Mormon bible. True or false, time began to run short and the Romney Party was forced to land in Las Vegas to complete the oath of office. It was a far cry from the smooth transition promised on the President-elect's web site.
Entry posted by
Jackie Speel
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Politicians Source: Wikipedia Labels: Mitt Romney, Inauguration, Presidency, President-elect, Constitution. Editor says, the picture is of course from his Gubernatorial oath of office. This story was proposed by Jackie Speel with an assist from Jeff Provine.
~ Actually, there's no "sunset deadline". The 20th Amendment spells out that the *outgoing* President's term ends at noon on Jan 20, but doesn't specify exactly when the incoming President's oath of office has to happen. For that matter, they *could* have sworn him into office *on the plane* - after all, LBJ was sworn in on a plane (though it *was* still on the ground). And although the use of a judge is traditional, all that would be *required* would be *witnesses* to him taking the oath (which could hopefully be found in the retinue traveling with him on the plane).
~ But why would anyone object to his being sworn in on the Book of Mormon, since everyone knows he is a Mormon by now. And if he had to take the oath in Las Vegas...well, no one can imagine that he would choose to sin in Sin City.
~ OH, believe me, there are plenty of people who would object, even though there is no constitutional need for a holy book in the ceremony at all.
~ The media types would have a field day with this one. So would the late-night comedy hosts.
~ Maybe he wanted to meet the cast of "CSI"? :D
~ I rather think the planners wouldn't let this happen. And he'd be sworn in on a regular Bible. The standard-issue LDS uses the same Bible as other Christians; they just have other writings as well (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, etc.)
~ Partly inspired by the 'excess of weather' in the US - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_2013_nor%27easter
~ One storyline that could be developed from this - what if there is 'an ongoing crisis' (?the fiscal cliff) that overlaps the two Presidencies - but it is not immediately obvious whether the new President is sworn in and taking on the baton. If there is intermittent communication there might well be two official presidents issuing orders (as the 'next in line' is sworn in pro tem until it is clear the elected President has taken the oath)
~ It'd be a major battleground for Evangelicals in 2014. Could even tear apart the Republican party.
© Today in Alternate History, 2013-. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
