While the abusable system is in place, she is perfectly justified in playing the game the way everyone else does, and not placing Alaskans at a disadvantage vis-a-vis every other state when it comes to getting some benefits back from their tax monies that went to fatten the Federal treasury.

She can still advocate reform of the system without being labelled a hypocrite. Governor Palin has her feet on quite solid ground, both practically and morally, when it comes to the issue of earmarks.

Hey where the heck is Palin anyway??

Alaskas a long trip... by dog sled.

Hey where the heck is Palin anyway? Why does McCain have her hidden away?

Obviously, she is in an undisclosed bunker somewhere in the continental US with Cheney. What better place to learn to become the new Dark Lord of the Sith.

There can only be TWO!

Sitting where I do, it is hard to treat credibly the position of anyone who claims that their side is always right, that their candidates have no flaws, and that the other side's people are only immoral, inexperienced, corrupt baffoons.

well you can come down off the fence for you truly have come to know how liberals think to look on others, just make sure you climb down on the right side.

And again, the whole "queen" characterization is a play on "welfare queens". Given that Obama gives the earmarks, not receives them, it seems kind of odd to ask the challenge you did. To coin a phrase, it's apples and oranges.

Hmmm. So, I guess leading the pitchfork crowd and continuing with the personal attacks is in the job description.

lol did you see the liberals getting sprayed outside the convention, they should have gave the cops stun guns.

liberals talking about earmarks as a bad thing and labeling someone else as the pitchfork crowd lol were do you guys get all the crack from.

Let's keep the comments to the topics brought up by the post and not to petty squabbling. I don't want to close comments to this post.

Alex, I think its time to close the comments. We need to stop this squabbling about Palin for the good of our country and for the good of the troops (whom she has visited, by the way, and has pictures to prove it).

She is going to be our new Vice President. She is qualified enough.

The last thing we need are a bunch of neer-do-wells asking questions about her past. She is with us. She is a new face. She is a tough cookie. She is a hockey mom. She is great and likely the best we can do.

I am proud to call her the next Vice President of the United States of America.

God Bless you Alex, and god bless America.

Earmarks are not put into a budget as new spending but instead are priorities given to the budget. If my state needs a new freeway interchange an earmark can direct the Highway Administration to prioritize that interchange before something like a resurfacing project. Not all earmarks are stealing or collecting welfare like a welfare queen.

The infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" is a classic example of earmark abuse. I have yet to see any argument in support of Palin's earmarks as abusive in nature. Local officials can and should have a say in prioritizing projects.

So this answers Alex's question about spin as well. It's not earmarks but earmark abuse.

Now what would really be cool is is more of the commenters would surprise the rest of us every once in awhile and admit the flaws in the candidates or policies of the parties they generally support, like James does, and even the merits of the other party's candidates or positions. There seems to be no shortage of opportunities available on either side, but perhaps that is just my own unique perspective from being on the "Fence." Sitting where I do, it is hard to treat credibly the position of anyone who claims that their side is always right, that their candidates have no flaws, and that the other side's people are only immoral, inexperienced, corrupt baffoons. Sometimes I wish I could drop a fact pattern on some of you guys, say, did you hear McCain did X, then watch half of you defend it and the other half rip it, then come back and say "Oops, did I say McCain, I meant Obama did that."

Palin's Lobbyist Linked To Jack Abramoff
As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin oversaw the hiring of lobbyist Steven Silver to help win earmarks. Who is Silver? He appears to have been part of "Team Abramoff," working on Native American and gambling issues for the now-imprisoned lobbyist's firm.