There is one thing that Republicans need to square themselves with. McCain is going to have to deal with a Democratic Congress. That is because Republican representatives sold their souls for pork and sold out their supporters. McCain didn't do that. Republicans did.
Whoa. Back up, Jack. What do you think constitutes "Pork?" "Pork" is the money a rep brings home to build roads, schools, and parks. "Pork" is the projects a rep is successful in obtaining financing to initiate.
If you want to argue about the budget, don't argue about earmarks and pork, argue about The Budget! Argue that The Budget itself must be cut, not that earmarks are bad. Once the budget is set, that money is gone. Spent. Lost. Getting a piece of it returned to your state is the best a rep can do, not the worst.