“ I think it shows that the Tea Party has already had an impact in Washington,” crowed Senator-elect Rand Paul of Kentucky, and who could argue with him after the Old Bulls in GOP went along with an earmark moratorium. For years they have been bringing home the bacon in the form of earmarks aimed at projects throughout their respective home states. Like everything else in America these days the smorgasbord has become supersized, with the number of earmarks doubling between 2001 and 2005.

So are earmarks good or bad? That depends on what they are used for. There are earmarks for bridges that go nowhere and earmarks for bridges that go somewhere. So how do you know? Well that’s where the 4^th Estate comes in, you know, the news media. It’s not too tough to find out where the money is going, especially today when most of the information is just a website away.

So how does Iowa, the nations leader in pork production, the real thing, stack up?

In 2009 we were ranked 28 nationally in total earmark value, pulling down $37.90 per capita.

How about Iowa’s pork producers in the Senate? Well Senator Chuck Grassley steered 9 earmarked projects worth $355,000 to the state in 2009, while Senator Tom Harkin packed $75,860,000 into 60 projects. But these numbers don’t show the whole hog. Both Senators also had a hand in co-sponsoring earmark. Senator Grassley co-sponsored 145 worth $541,402,000, and Senator Harkin’s numbers came in with 169 earmarks worth $592,735,000.

Since the Republican candidates never really fleshed out their travel plans during the campaign, it is a bit of a stretch for the GOP winners to claim that they have a free leash to tromp on any part of the budget they wish.

A quick and dirty look at some of the voting numbers should lend some perspective as to how far, and fast the Republicans wander afield.

The Pew Research groups analysis of exit polls show that neither the Republican nor Democratic Parties are held in high esteem. In fact both run higher negative numbers than positives.

Those notorious independent Independents broke for the Republicans during this election cycle.  They voted 55% to 39% for the Republicans, while back in 2006 blessed the Democrats 57% to 39%.

Vast numbers of younger voters reverted to their old behavior patterns and decided to stay home and watch The Biggest Loser on TV.

Toss in an administration that has a communication problem and you get what you get. A mandate? Hardly. The American people are quickly running out of patience with both parties and will be quick to shock this year’s Congressional winners if they feel that they are heading in the wrong direction.