Earmark this …

This serves as a good lesson.

Now, I know that this $410 billion spending bill is subject to wrangling and political jostling and fair-minded people can come down on both sides of the "spend, or not to spend" question. Both sides of aisle admit that the bill is laden with earmarks. Nevada Sen. John Ensign called it a "pig" of a bill. Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye spun it as essential spending. Yada, yada, yada.

But there is one ironclad take-a-way: Obama did not mean it when he promised to eliminate earmarks. He's going to sign the bill, with earmarks, because it's "last year's business."

Because it's last year's business? I don't care how smart you are, what good does it do you if you're not intellectually honest.