The GoP in the House want to declare 2010 “The Year of the Bible.” Why not the Koran, the Talmud, the Gita, or, for that matter, Thus Spake Zaruthstra? Oh, because “the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have unified Americans…” Is that it? A whole year for that?

No good will come if this, and if we are very lucky, no good means no bad either. At the very best, the country will ignore this as thoroughly as we ignored it in 1983, which was also designated The Year of The Bible. Do you remember that? Me neither, and I was in Kansas at the time, where the Bible has a little more presence than some other places.

More likely, however, is that bad will come if it—outrage, anger, and you can say goodbye to bipartisanship. At the forefront will be the “separate church from state” group, who will have to drop more important, legitimate battles, in order to address this more publicized and ridiculous one. Rather than striking down every anti-gay statute based on religious motivation, they’ll be called upon to denounce this act of clear pandering.

Because that’s what it is. The Republicans are losing their grip. They’re losing constituents, and losing confidence. This is nothing more than an attempt to shore up votes, to draw a thick line. The declaration is obvious: if you believe in the bible, you are a Republican.

Me, I’m an American before I’m either a conservative or a liberal, but if these time-wasters in the house want to draw lines, and force us to declare our party affiliation, if they demand that we make this a purely political issue, fine: My president is a Democrat, my representatives in the House and Senate are Democrats, and therefore, you cannot make 2010 the year of the bible, since you do not represent the will of all or even most of the people.

Shame on you.