When several liberal bloggers all choose to spotlight one particular news report by an Alaska CBS affiliate, one begins to wonder if we’re seeing a coordinated message. Adding to Dean’s observation, it sure is strange the way the liberal blogs all spotlight the same obscure story at the same time, huh?

The Alaskan CBS affiliate report begins with an Alaska Democratic state representative disapproving of Palin’s use of the term, “Bridge to Nowhere.” Stunning!

The reporter says, “Congress killed off the earmark before Palin had the chance to say ‘no thanks.’”

Eh, not quite. Congress removed the requirement that the money be spent on the Bridge, leaving it to the state’s discretion. It was Palin who actually decided no bridge would be built with that money, and that instead the money would go to other projects.

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, both Republicans, championed the project through Congress two years ago, securing more than $200 million for the bridge between Revillagigedo and Gravina islands.Under mounting political pressure over pork projects, Congress stripped the earmark — or stipulation — that the money be used for the airport, but still sent the money to the state for any use it deemed appropriate.

The CBS affiliate story mentions that under Palin, Alaska applied for nearly $200 million in earmarks in Fiscal 2009. That sounds terrible, until you hear that they applied for about $400 million the year before. Meanwhile Obama delivered, not requested, $100 million last year, and since joining the Senate has requested about a billion dollars worth of earmarks for his state.

Yes, she requested earmarks as mayor. She wasn’t an early convert to the pork-busting cause. But we’re still left with her and McCain vs. two guys who voted against diverting Bridge to Nowhere funds to Hurricane Katrina victims. Take your pick.