In what can only be described as a tour de force of investigative journalism here in my sleepy upper left hand corner of Sanford's Plantation, the Greenville News has laid bare the earmarking wiles of U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, Congressional backbencher and aspirant to the porch swing of Massa Mark.

According to the News, Barrett slipped nearly $2 million in earmarks for Lowcountry development projects into the omnibus spending bill passed earlier this month. The problem, as astutely noted by Dolph Bell of the News, is that the projects have only a tenuous connection to Barrett's Upstate district.

Barrett claims the largesse is intended for the general benefit of all South Carolinians and have absolutely nothing to do with his run for governor. Barrett suffers from low name recognition in the eastern half of the state.

What makes an otherwise ho-hum story more interesting is that Barrett is a self-styled earmark hawk who recently announced his very own personal Earmark Pledge.

To be fair, Barrett has not sworn off earmarks. Instead, his eight-point pledge includes a call for transparency and a commitment to use the tactic only for infrastructure projects. Laudable goals indeed.

But a visit to his official website suggests that this latest pork barrel escapade may have broken the very first of Barrett's Rules: to disclose all earmarks on his official website.

I couldn't find a one. Can you?

Update: Readers have pointed out that the information is in fact both available and accessible. I apologize and should probably refrain from posting late at night when I'm mad at Republicans. Thanks for straightening me out.

P.S. In its Sunday editorial, the News called on Sanford, its former BFF, to stop grandstanding and accept South Carolina's share of stimulus money. In a game of chicken that would be entertaining if it weren't so alarming, the legislature has prepared a duplicate budget that axes thousands of state jobs and closes prisons in the event state coffers aren't refreshed.