Seizing on this today while giving his otherwise lame excuses for signing the overall bill anyway, the President made an unfortunately great point:

The president used his announcement Wednesday to take a swipe at political opponents. Some of the same Republicans who had assailed the omnibus bill because of earmarks, he said, "actually inserted earmarks of their own."

Republicans.... placed roughly 40 percent of such provisions into the omnibus bill.

Last Monday, Reason's 'Hit and Run' blog took one of them to task when it asked: "Is Ron Paul Dr. No or Dr. Maybe?" Working alone and with other members, Taxpayers for Common Sense credits Texas' champion of limited government with requesting 20 earmarks worth $73.8 million -- good enough for 9th place in the U.S. House of Representatives, ahead of every single House member from Michigan, including all of the Democrats. (So, hey, things could be worse!)

Hit and Run also quotes Sen. Tom Coburn (R - OK), a longtime earmark critic who calls them the "gateway drug to big government." Indeed.

It's also worth nothing that Coburn, McCotter and Camp were not unique -- dozens of others resisted the urge as well. Apparently, you CAN serve in congress and swear off the pork.

What does Michigan get for the deal?

Some of the fun stuff that jumped out at me...

$1,427,250 for the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon for an offshore wind demonstration project, requested by Hoekstra.

Dutch lawmaker from West Michigan requests $1.4 million to see if windmills are worth the trouble? Insert your own punchline.

$300,000 for the United Way of Southeastern Michigan for a prisoner re-entry program, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Rep. Kilpatrick.

Kwame's mom is obviously planning for his future.

$3,800,000 for railroad relocation in Grand Rapids, requested by Ehlers.

Are you really sure this is where you want it, Congressman? Because it's gonna stay there. We're NOT moving it back!

$3,800,000 for the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy for preservation and redevelopment of a public park and related business activities in the Corktown Neighborhood, requested by Levin. AND $142,500 for the Kent County Convention Arena Authority for and outdoor amphitheater and support facilities at Millennium Park, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.

Why can't you vote to kill the silly pork for Detroit? Because there's silly pork in West Michigan to go with it.

$238,000 for Detroit to promote daily physical activities, requested by Levin, Stabenow, Kilpatrick and Conyers.

Give us $652 per day or nobody moves!

$237,500 for Buena Vista Township for town center infrastructure and streetscape, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Kildee.

Streetscapes... Dow Jones average off by 50 percent, banks failing, unemployment at double-digits... At least the roads will look pretty as people leave the state.

$142,725 for Grand Rapids to replace the city government building roof with a green roof system, requested by Levin, Stabenow and Ehlers.

I wonder how many taxpayers in Grand Rapids need a new roof on the homes that are falling in value? Meanwhile, the city government building gets tax dollars to plant grass on their roof. Essential spending, there, Mr. President. Critical.

$475,750 for Cleary University in Howell for geothermal energy retrofit, requested by Rogers.

Publicly-funded green energy utility upgrade for a private university. You may not be able to pay your heating bills, but Cleary University has a neat new gadget to get the job done for them. Again, really critical stuff, here.

$384,000 for the Michigan Biotechnology Consortium at Michigan State University for biofuels research, requested by Rogers.

Ethanol, in other words. Just smell the money on fire!

Also posted at Charlie Marlow's War