The Bridge

The liberal media wants to brand Palin’s original support for The Bridge as the twin to Kerry’s “before I voted against it” disaster. This tells me they still do not understand the problem with Kerry’s gaffe. We all know that bills are modified repeatedly to get votes, and that the yes/no/yes pattern is business as usual. The problem for Kerry was his utter cluelessness about the flip-flop meme that was already getting good traction. Kerry was just plain goofey and his obtuseness rivaled the Dukakis tank moment.

Palin’s flip-flop on The Bridge has little in common with Kerry’s memorable moment. Palin was eager to receive the money, and when it came time to spend the money she redirected it to better projects. That was neither goofey nor corrupt – it was smart.

Some like to say that her eagerness to accept earmarks runs contrary to McCain’s anti-earmark position, but there is a key difference. Senators are actively responsible for pushing Federal dollars to their home states. Governors are pleased to receive the money, but even as they encourage their returning tax revenues, their role is passive. Federal politicians, not state politicians, control the earmarks. Trying to connect all this back to Kerry's moment... there is no bridge!

Bottom line: It amazes me that so many brainiacs think voters won’t be able to tell the difference. Cant ’t you just smell the echo chamber?