[Ghoulish Delight]

As I suspected, the "no earmarks" stipulation on the new stimulus package is turning out to be a purely symbolic move. I've already read articles about how it's just shifted where the favors are done.

Perhaps it is just the beginning, and if Obama keeps it up, maybe there will be fewer and fewer dark corners for the greedy to scurry into when the light is show. But I'm not holding my breath.

I'm still not convinced earmarking is as evil as everyone makes it out to be. Even vocal anti-earmarkers have said, "At least if there are earmarks in the stimulus package we know where the money's going."

Whether it happens in the bill itself or down the line, money is going to be given to people asking for it. The issue isn't earmarks, the issue is questionable favor-doing. Getting rid of earmarks doesn't solve that problem, it just delays it until a later date.