[Guest post by DRJ]

Mobile, Alabama’s Azalea Trail Maids marched in the 2004 Inaugural and have been invited to participate in Barack Obama’s Inaugural Parade:

You don’t see that everyday, at least not where I live.

The Trail Maids’ dresses have been described as reminiscent of Gone With the Wind or Disney Princesses, but they remind Alabama State NAACP President Edward Vaughn of slavery … and he is not pleased the Azalea Trail Maids are the only Alabama participants selected by Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Andrew Malcolm at the LA Times Top of the Ticket does not seem to sympathize with Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner’s problems: An illegal immigrant housekeeper and unpaid self-employment taxes totaling $34,000.00 that were only paid after an IRS audit.

“Honest mistakes,” say an Obama spokesman and other Democrats.

“How do you know?” says Malcolm.

Meanwhile, the Senate Majority Leader may be distancing himself:

“I do not know Mr. Geithner well,” says Harry Reid.

Geithner will be in charge of the IRS if he is confirmed as Treasury Secretary. Instead of being a role model for American taxpayers, perhaps he will concentrate on feeling their pain.

— DRJ

Sarah Palin has slammed “bored, anonymous, pathetic bloggers who lie.”

She’s obviously confused. Andrew Sullivan is his real name.

[Guest post by DRJ]

Joe Biden warned Americans to “Gird your loins” because Barack Obama will be tested early, and he was right. Obama hasn’t even been inaugurated and he’s already been challenged twice — first by Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich’s appointment of Roland Burris, and now by his fellow Democrats in Congress:

“Tested before taking power, President-elect Barack Obama privately delivered a pre-inauguration veto threat to fellow Democrats on Tuesday, saying they would not deny him use of the remaining $350 billion in federal bailout funds.

Obama coupled his threat with a promise to revise elements of the original bailout program that have drawn widespread criticism, pledging that billions will go toward helping homeowners facing foreclosure. Several Democrats said his commitments, to be made in writing, would be enough to prevent an embarrassing pre-inauguration drubbing for the president-elect when the Senate votes this week.”

This suggests Obama plans to deal with Democrats in Congress by using the carrot and the stick — the same approach he tried last month with Iran. Iran immediately rejected Obama’s policy and tactics. For now, I predict the Democrats will give in.

— DRJ

Michael Newdow is suing John Roberts and a slew of others over the words “so help me God” in the oath of office to be administered to Barack Obama. And he had John Roberts served at home.

Here is his complaint, complete with e-mail address.