Deseret News | Reader comments: Congress officially declares Obama president

Reader comments
It's official: Obama's president

Diligent Citizen | 10:57 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

The Electoral College process is not a "centuries old tradition" and it is not "largely ceremonial". It is in compliance with the Constitution. The electoral college ensures that every state will have input into the selection of the president and that an election will occur without regard to natural or man made disasters, communications failures, etc.

Informed voter | 11:18 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

What do you mean "drama-free", there is still the little thing in the courts concerning whether Obama is a citizen and can legally be president.

I guess that wasn't worth mentioning?

Ricardo | 11:28 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Um, 20th century + 19th century = 2 centuries, hence "centuries old tradition". Add to that part of the 18th century and part of the 21st.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 12:26 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Well, if it is official, then now the Republican, Conservative, Moral Majority, Religious Right wackos can now start showing the sky falling in horrendous chunks!

Watch for it...
Watch for it...
Watch for it...

Wait!!! | 12:28 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

I have to run home and "nail down" the remainder of my money and make a list of my rights.

Both will be quickly disappearing over the next 4 years.

Shades of Grey | 12:34 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Hey Informed Reporter, maybe you can explain to me the laws and statutes that would suggest Obama is not a citizen of the United States.
A) His mother is/was a citizen.
B) He was born in the USA (Hawaii)
C) If you do not claim citizenry in Kenya by age 21, then it is forfeit.
D) He is a citizen of the United States. If you really think they overlooked this, then go back to your Republican world of redneck shootings and Bible-thumping ways.
Ever heard of dual citizenship?
Go educate yourself and get over it.

RE: Wait!!! | 12:45 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Are you serious? George Bush and his republican genius didn't take your money and destroy your 401K? I must be missing something here. Somehow I thought the Republicans were in office while we went into a recession. Oh, and the last time we were in a Recession another Bush was in charge. I can't believe the level of insanity in Utah sometimes.

sky not falling | 12:53 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

My future and my chldrens future will be mortgaged into oblivion by ridiculous government spending but you are right.....the sky is not falling.

But the weight of Government (tax payer) debt will eventually fall on all of us and crush us like the mindless government manipulated drones they wish us to be.

Headline is wrong | 12:58 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Congress did _not_ officially declare Obama president, they declared him the next president. That's a big difference. Obama will officially be president when he takes the oath on the 21st.

Citizen | 1:05 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Obama the new president. Now that a democrat is in office, lets pin the recession on them.

Re: informed voter | 1:11 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

If Obama isn't a U.S. citizen, how did he serve as a U.S. senator, much less run for the presidency?

Wait...I think I understand where you're coming from...you must be one of those Ron Paul revolutionists.

Brother Chuck Schroeder | 1:31 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

OH MY GOD, Barack Obama is officially the next president of the United States, Congress declared?, I guess that broad Nancy was busy hey, you know the one running the show, loud-mouth I mean Speaker of the House, that got it wrong again, they declared him the next president. That's a big difference. I take it she swore him to right?. GOD HELP UA ALL, if that's the case. We are all doomed. We all are gonna die. The sky will fall, turn red in the east and Jesus will come and save us all hopefully.

GTO | 1:39 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Did Congress check first with the Secret society in Utah, that is a term used to describe a variety of organizations. Although the exact meaning of the term is disputed, several of the definitions advanced indicate a degree of secrecy and secret knowledge, which might include denying membership or knowledge of the group, negative consequences for acknowledging one's membership.

Richard | 1:50 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Get a life! Obama was declared President before the Western United States were through voting. Don't tell us that was proper! Our votes didn't count and it was a waste of time to vote. The liberal media and the money decided the president of the United States of America. We Officially lose a President of the United States of America on January 21. WE will not have a "President" until an American is elected, hopefully, in another 4 years. As we have witnessed, Money can BUY anything, including a sit in the government.

It's Official!!! | 1:56 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

What is official is that Obama appears to be trying to outdo Bushes ridiculous spending practices and he has not even taken office.

Wait until he gets in there an pumps out a few "scare the electorate" speeches with talk of "imminent doomsday" scenarios in order to justify ridiculous government control and spending.

Spending may temporarily avert meltdown but the meltdown will just be larger now when it truly does occur...and it will eventually become so big that even democratic spending will not prolong the inevitable.

Obama's a moocher not Prez | 1:59 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Washington D.C. continues to grow because we continue to send way too much money to the Disneyland of politics. It makes no difference who is President. Until Americans demand more control over the money they earn, the government will continue to crowd out investment and job creation. Just the talk of 600,000 more government jobs is a disgrace when state governments need to join the 21st century and reduce government to its core responsibilities. We need less government. We could use a reduced or a zero Capital Gains Tx and a reduced tax on dividends and a one year holiday on payroll taxes. The federal government needs to downsize and young people need to educate themselves for a future of work that grows our economy. Cheney was always a counselor and Bush was the manager. Obama may think he can control events in his decision making but Eisenhower learned he had more control as a General than as a President. Obama's problems will be with the leftist lurch of Reid/Pelosi and the need for Obaama to buy these loons off with standard Democrat legislation such as helping to bail out the failed states of Michigan, California.

1 question for the Prez BHO | 2:04 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Ok then Congress, and President Obamacon, where's OUR MONEY?. We are still waiting. I think I to will do some reflecting here. Hey Obamacon, where's OUR CHECKS promised last year to us over $5000 that McCain said he'll give us and you said yours would be much more, you lieing BS artist, we ARE STILL WAITING son ?. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday tried to sell the media on a trillion-dollar government spending bill in a gaggle that somehow resembled a Congressional hearing. House Democrats then held the Wednesday meeting to ram home this notion while barring Republicans from participation at this faux hearing. Democrat members of Congress and witnesses both used the same "the-sky-is-falling" tactics employed by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson when hastily pushing through the initial failed $750 billion Congressional banking bailout. Now, the Democrats hope these same tactics will help them justify nearly $1 trillion in additional government spending. Pelosi urgently warned that the bill must be passed by mid-February and downplayed the staggering expense, saying, many will focus on the up-front cost of it. Did you know one trillion seconds constitutes 31,000 years?. WHERE'S OUR MONIES?.

sounds niiiiice.. | 2:12 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Lincoln,
TR, Reagan, Obama.

Yikes!

awsomeron | 2:17 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Not until January 20th he isen't, Not one moment before then.

Anonymous | 2:42 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

"Anonymous | 12:26 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009 - Well, if it is official, then now the Republican, Conservative, Moral Majority, Religious Right wackos can now start showing the sky falling in horrendous chunks!

Watch for it...
Watch for it...
Watch for it..."

Hey, Anonymous...here's what's going to happen: Obama will further push this country towards an "It's not my responsibility!" country as the lazy and stupid become more lazy and stupid and the mainstream media won't report it. As a matter of fact, they won't report hardly anything that just might put The Chosen One in a bad light.

Watch for THAT....

Noticed This? | 2:47 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Has anyone noticed that Obama, who campaigned relentlessly that he could take care of everybody's needs by providing more government (which conservatives and liberals alike all know this means INCREASING taxes) while insisting he could do so by only raising the taxes of the top 5% of income earners, has now said "American's need a tax cut to spur the economy."

What?

Wasn't that what McCain was saying all along?!?!?!?!

RE: RE: Wait!!! | 2:55 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Typical liberal. Your head is in...the sand and you forgot to mention that while a Republican buffon has been in the White House for the recession both houses of Congress have been run by the Democrats and your saviors Barak Hussein, Joe Biden and Harry Reid did SQUAT in their capacity as Senators to head it off at the pass.

Just guessing here but I'd assume that as the economy continues its swirl around the toilet bowl and down the drain, under the direction of a Democratic White House AND Congress, that it will somehow STILL be the Republicans' fault, no?

RE: GTO | 2:56 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Huh? Is that long dribble secret code for "I'm an idiot?"

Bro Chuck's Rock & Roll | 3:10 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

For the last eight years, President Bush has led our country with firm determination and a steady hand in the face of numerous challenges and crises. He restored honor and integrity to the White House and protected America from another terrorist attack.

As President and Mrs. Bush prepare to leave Washington in a few weeks to return to Texas, I know I speak for Republicans and grassroots leaders across America when I say we are all grateful for their tremendous service to our country.

re: informed voter | 3:42 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Are you kidding me people? You're buying the story put forth by the regular media that his birth certificate is from Hawaii when NO ONE will actually provide a certified copy? If he has nothing to hide, show the copy. Show the copy 6 months ago.

He never had to show his citizenship to run for office (senator) or president because no one has called him on it.

Look up Barry Soetoro. But then again, let's dismiss the fact that he's traveled on an Indonesian passport in the past, let's forget that birth certificate he provided to the republican party was a fake.

In actuality, it's not like he's beholden to anyone anyway, what with all the millions he's obtained from "unknown" donors. Of course, face value means everything these days and there's nothing fishy about that.

Open your eyes sheeple.

social izm | 3:43 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Everyone run to the hills and hide. We are going to become a bunch of slaves to our government from mars. If you have a spaceship please consider evacuating earth to save yourselves. Be prepared my fellow earthings, the government and new chief in commander has so many ridiculous plans to take our money its sickening. This so called change smells of old moldy beef. obama should come to utah to buy his cigs for 7 bucks a pack. Think how our local economy would boom.

Obama Citizen? | 5:52 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

By his own grandmothers interview on tape, Obamas Grandmother claims she witnessed Obama's birth in Kenya.

Obamans are on record that Barack was born in two separate hospitals in Hawaii!

Obama also has several alias and refused to release his college tuition records wherein it is suspected that he filed for aid as a foreign student!

But what do the Liberals care about the constitution, that is why Obama is their president and why Blacks told Howard Stern that they supported an Obama/palin Ticket!

FL don't care about Obamacon | 7:00 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

From a national perspective, the Republican Party is at a crossroads. Many Republicans around the country are concerned about the future of our Grand Old Party. Fortunately, here in Florida we have developed a roadmap for success that can be used as a national guiding light for Republicans. While Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in Washington, D.C. here in Florida Republicans continue to flourish because we have remained true to our principles: lower taxes, control spending, and limit the reach of government into the lives of Floridians. Under our leadership over the last two years the Republican Party of Florida has demonstrated that even in the most challenging of times, our principles and our message can be successful.

To: Obama Citizen? | 8:38 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Claiming that Obama is not a US citizen is just plain silly. Had there been one shred of proof otherwise it would have come to light during the early days of his campaign or sooner. The courts have repeatedly rejected cases claiming his citizenship is anything other than as he claims.

I don't agree with everything in his platform but am willing to give him a chance. He certainly cannot mess things up more than President Bush has.

@8:38 | 10:22 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009

"he certainly cannot mess things up more than Pres. Bush has."

Well, this country will find that out soon enough. He has already selected some characters with much baggage for his administration. He has already put forth a bail out bigger than that of 'bailout bush'.

I think he will desamate many of the freedoms we enjoy because he is a socialist at heart. So is Nancy Pelosy, for that matter.

mark | 12:09 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

It is unbelievable the number of drastically ill informed people posting here, and sad that many of them take pride in their ignorance.
It is funny the ones that are reciting Rush and Hannity spiels of the day, like they are original thoughts. Hey guys, if you are just going to repeat what you heard on the radio today at least don't pretend it is yours.

Anonymous | 2:13 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

Corporate greed, deregulation, inferior products, outsourcing of jobs, NAFTA, destroying the living wage and construction unions with immigrants, deregulated health care for the few, Enron, Tom Delay, Iraq, Failure to secure Bin Laden, low wages, lack of affordable higher education, loss of good lifetime jobs with benefits, golden parachutes, destruction of the middle working class, deteriorated infrastructures, increased crimes, cuts to peace office funding, huge massive deficit spending, lack of consideration for our fellow citizens, highest incarceration rates in the world, highest infant mortality rate in developed nations, 19th rated in industrialized health care, 39th in the world, partisan obstructionism, lack of consideration of others who are different, hatred,intolerance. Can we take any more of the republican ways and philosophies? The people have had enough, we want change!!!

tom | 11:51 a.m. Jan. 9, 2009

the only change I want is a party that isn't controlled by the illuminati (or the international dynastic families) and that, folks, means that both the republican and democratic parties need to exit stage left.

If Mr. Barry Soetoro, or whoever he is, is allowed to be sworn in as President then the constitution is null and void. The Berg case referenced earlier was rejected because "[his] stake is no greater and his status no more differentiated than that of millions of other votersï¿½. This harm is too vague and its effects too attenuated to confer standing on any and all voters"

Interpret that and you see that no one, effectively, has the right to bring a case saying they've been injured when the constitution is thrown to the wayside.

With an effect as large as this would have, it's not totally unbelievable to think that there are powers that be who do not want Mr. Soetoro/Obama removed and because they dictate as much he remains. Let's not discount the fact that our government is "managed" by people we do not know, do not see and do not agree with.

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