SENATOR JIM DEMINT has led a crusade against pork barrel spending during his tenure in office, successfully blocking the omnibus spending bill last winter, pushing for various lobbying reforms, and even chastising his fellow Republicans for some of their earmark indulgences. Most recently, he tried, for a second time, to enact immediate rules changes in the Senate that would require increased disclosure of earmarks. But Democrats attempted to steal his thunder almost two weeks ago with a "reform" of their own.