I just cant get as excited as McCain or some here about earmarks, which represent about 1% of the federal budget every year.
There are fewer in this omnibus bill than previous years and they are more transparent as a result of the Democratic earmark reform in '07.
I think Obama could have been more honest to simply suggest even greater transparency (ie requiring every member of Congress to publish and justify his/her earmarks on their respective website).
Then both parties could stop with the hypocrisy and admit that part of their role is to bring federal $$$ back to their respective communities.
All earmarks are not bad....many contribute to a valid and valued public function.
I recall Sarah Palin lashing out about an earmark for fruit fly research. On the superficial level, it sounds frivolous and wasteful.
I think it was during a speech where she focused on special ed needs and children with disabilities, from her own personal experience.
She might want to read this:
A couple $ million to a university for more fruit fly research to gain a even better understand to birth defects and/or autism? Sounds ok to me.