Conservative bloggers and taxpayer watchdogs expressed disappointment at President Bush’s decision to issue an executive order curtailing future earmarks. Bush’s action fell short of what many conservatives wanted him to do: cancel the nearly 10,000 pork-barrel projects included in the omnibus spending bill passed in December.

Although it was disappointing Bush did not fully capitalize on the opportunity, I share the outlook of Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit, who reacted this way to the State of the Union address:

Bush led off with earmarks. His actions aren’t as bold as I’d like, but still — back in 2005 when PorkBusters started, nobody in Washington cared and members of Congress were bragging about pork. Now the State of the Union leads of with an attack on earmarks, to thundering applause. Yeah, a lot of it’s a sham. But hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue, and this kind of hypocrisy indicates that the anti-earmark momentum is growing.

Last night’s remarks are special if for no other reason than they can be traced back to the work of bloggers who shared a common devotion to shine the spotlight on the earmarking process. Although I wouldn’t expect Bush to ever give credit to Porkbusters, Citizens Against Government Waste or the others who have fought this battle for years, it’s refreshing to finally hear some tough talk on earmarks.

Change happens slowly in Washington, but it does happen. This proves it.

Hat Tip: Beltway Blogroll