The sleepy little district on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City, was lucky enough to get some federal funding to fix infrastructure that probably had been broken since the time of Rip Van Winkle. Then, what did they go and do? They elected a Tea Party candidate who promised to banish earmarks.

Guess they thought earmarks were expensive gifts to other people, you know, like those city folk who seem to have so much to begin with. Kind of like "Government, get your hands off my Medicare."
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From The New York Times
February 4, 2011

District Liked Its Earmarks, Then Elected Someone Who Didn’t
By Raymond Hernandez

In the villages, towns and cities of the 19th Congressional District north of New York City, the signs of federal largess are all over: money for a library in South Salem, road improvements in Peekskill, renovations on an aging old bridge in Dover and a communications network for the Police Department in Tuxedo.

The projects have drawn strong support from community activists, business leaders and local politicians of both major parties. But the stream of federal money that has long financed such purchases, in this Hudson Valley district and elsewhere in the nation, is about to dry up.

And some residents of the district may be surprised to learn who one of the main instigators is: Nan Hayworth, the district’s new representative, who was swept into office last fall along with other  Tea Party-backed candidates bent on changing Washington’s way of doing business.

Congress, prodded by outspoken newcomers like Ms. Hayworth, this week essentially imposed a temporary ban on earmarks, money for projects that individual lawmakers slip into major Congressional budget bills to cater to local demands. 

For the complete story, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/nyregion/05earmarks.html?_r=1&hpw

In anticipation of tomorrow's State of the Union message, fellow blogger Citizen K looks back at the right wing's snarling critique of President Obama's attempt last week to heal the nation's wounds after the Tucson shootings.  

For at least two days after Obama's non-political speech, the ugliness that surrounded us receded ever-so-slightly. Some naive souls may even have thought it could continue. But no, as long as a black man is in the White House, opposition will remain vicious, even at the expense of our national security and well being. I don't expect anything less after tomorrow's nationwide event.

I could go on and on, but nobody nail's it like Citizen K. If you're still laughing at or secretly wishing to emulate the antics of Joe and Josephine Sixpack, America's gun-loving, anti-elitist heroes of right-wing extremists and GOP hopefuls, I urge you to click below to read Rush to Judgment:

http://killiansaid.blogspot.com/2011/01/rush-to-judgment.html

You heard it here first -- the campaign begins! Whatever.