Jeffrey C. Stewart Professor of Black Studies :
It really just signals that reason has returned to American politics
First, the Swine Flu epidemic started spreading, making Obama's investment in local government in the Stimulus Bill seem sensible, given that the American public always looks to government for help in a crisis. Second, there is Specter's defection to the "big tent" party; and now this--Governor Sarah Palin's announcement that she, indeed, now, after further reflection, is going to accept most of the money intended for her state in the Stimulus Bill, despite earlier saying she would not accept such monies because of the "strings attached." Democrats might be thinking that this all signals the tide is turning. It really just signals that reason has returned to American politics.