17 blog reactions to http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Defining_earmarks.html

the Colombian government to purchase the kind of drug interdiction boat pictured above — is funded by a similar mechanism, as detailed by former Democratic staffer Scott Lilly. The McCain campaign, as Ben detailed in full wonky detail in April, has said that they’re not against the projects that earmarks fund — but instead oppose the way in which the money gets allocated; and indeed, the Colombia and Israel money is only considered earmarks under the most expansive definition. But it

Here are just a few facts that can serve as a basis of comparison to the $10-25 billion in annual spending for such a fine-with-McCain presence: The McCain campaign's most recent claim (made by McCain chief economic adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin) is that McCain would manage to cut between $16-18 billion annually via his vaunted, constitutionally valid line-item veto-powered attack on earmarks. So, the attack on earmarks lies right in the middle of the annual cost estimates for a 100-year presence.

repudiated by....John McCain's chief economic adviser, Doug Holtz-Eakin. I've already posted on this issue: McCain has already had to change his "definition" of those nasty earmarks he'll eliminate (somehow, without a line-item veto). According to this story by the Politico's Ben Smith, Holtz-Eakin initially claimed that there were $100 billion in earmarks in the current budget... After a former senior Democratic staffer, Scott Lilly, pointed out that many of these earmarks included stuff McCain supports, like money for Israel, Egypt

repudiated by....John McCain's chief economic adviser, Doug Holtz-Eakin. I've already posted on this issue: McCain has already had to change his "definition" of those nasty earmarks he'll eliminate (somehow, without a line-item veto). According to this story by the Politico's Ben Smith, Holtz-Eakin initially claimed that there were $100 billion in earmarks in the current budget... After a former senior Democratic staffer, Scott Lilly, pointed out that many of these earmarks included stuff McCain supports, like money for Israel, Egypt

The reason the senator has said he opposes earmarks is because they are fiscally irresponsible. “No is always the right answer to wasteful spending,” according to McCain. Similarly, his campaign aides like to tout the costs McCain will supposedly save taxpayers by getting rid of all earmarks. So now, if McCain is only opposed to the “process” and willing to fund some “worthy” earmarks, which programs will he cut to come up with that $95 billion in savings he has promised? So far, his campaign

The reason the senator has said he opposes earmarks is because they are fiscally irresponsible. “No is always the right answer to wasteful spending,” according to McCain. Similarly, his campaign aides like to tout the costs McCain will supposedly save taxpayers by getting rid of all earmarks. So now, if McCain is only opposed to the “process” and willing to fund some “worthy” earmarks, which programs will he cut to come up with that $95 billion in savings he has promised? So far, his campaign

The reason the senator has said he opposes earmarks is because they are fiscally irresponsible. “No is always the right answer to wasteful spending,” according to McCain. Similarly, his campaign aides like to tout the costs McCain will supposedly save taxpayers by getting rid of all earmarks. So now, if McCain is only opposed to the “process” and willing to fund some “worthy” earmarks, which programs will he cut to come up with that $95 billion in savings he has promised? So far, his campaign

The reason the senator has said he opposes earmarks is because they are fiscally irresponsible. “No is always the right answer to wasteful spending,” according to McCain. Similarly, his campaign aides like to tout the costs McCain will supposedly save taxpayers by getting rid of all earmarks. So now, if McCain is only opposed to the “process” and willing to fund some “worthy” earmarks, which programs will he cut to come up with that $95 billion in savings he has promised? So far, his campaign

U.S. aid for Israel and military housing. Faced with this reality earlier this week, McCain told ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos that he would make an exception for such programs. Thus far, McCain refuses to “name programs he’ll cut” and when challenged on particular programs, he seems to always make an exception. Is that what he calls “straight talk?” Transcript: (more…)

as president. But his advisers have already started to recognize problems with that figure. Last week, McCain’s top economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said that the campaign was changing the definition of earmarks. Under the new calculation, “there are between $16 billion and $18 billion” of earmarks in the current budget. Guess McCain didn’t get the memo. Despite this muddled interview and lack of specifics on how he plans to cut spending, McCain still claimed that everyone in Washington feared him: “It’s the worst nightmare.