Palin: Just kidding, I'll take the money (1,000 hits!)

After putting up a huge stink about how the stimulus funds for her state would restrain Alaskans from "charting their own course," Gov. Sarah Palin has decided to take the money after all, rather than rejecting money intended to improve health care and education.

A Palin spokesperson said that public opinion was a big turning point in the governor's decision to accept the funds:

Palin spokeswoman Sharon Leighow said the governor changed her mind after the public weighed in during legislative hearings prior to lawmakers passing bills to seek almost all of the funding.

Of course, the only reason Palin rejected the funds in the first place -- the real reason, not the "it will restrict our options" reason -- was to look strong in the face of President Barack Obama. If she could appear to be against Obama's liberal spending plan (rather than be a part of it), she would further her ambitions to win the Republican nomination for president in 2012.

The Republican Party is slowly self-destructing.

ALSO THIS: as of last night, Political Heat received its 1,000 hit! Thank you to everyone who came to the site, keep coming!