It's bad enough to be an evolution-denying, theocracy-touting knuckle-dragger. But does Mike Huckabee have to be race-baiting, evolution-denying, theocracy-touting knuckle-dragger, too?

Well, here we are gearing up for the South Carolina primary, so the answer is yes:

"You don't like people from outside the state coming in and telling you what to do with your flag. ... If somebody came to Arkansas and told us what to do with our flag, we'd tell them what to do with the pole. That's what we'd do," he declared to applause at a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach Thursday.

• Holy Constitution
  By Joe Conason
• Huckabee's radical religious friends
  By Alex Koppelman and Vincent Rossmeier
• Mike Huckabee hearts Israel
  By Mike Madden

Now that we have reached January 6, the end of the Christmas season according to Church calendars, the War on Christmas stands in adjournment. But take heart, Christian Soldiers, for a new battle front has opened.

Thanks to Steve Benen, I have recently learned of the War on BC. Missouri Republical legislator John Loudon of St. Louis County wants to legally enshrine A.D. (Anno Domini, which means "In the year of our Lord") and B.C. ("Before Christ") as the state dating standard. Louden apparently considers the widespread use of B.C.E. and C.E. ("Before Common Era" and "Common Era" respectively) to be an "attack" on (practically) America itself:

"NASA has adopted it," Loudon said. "It's definitely coming to a neighborhood near you, textbooks and so forth, we're just wanting to preserve another American tradition that's under attack."

Common Era, also known as Christian Era and Current Era, abbreviated CE, is a designation for the period of time beginning with year 1 of the Gregorian calendar. An earlier date is then designated BCE, described as "Before the Common or Current Era". The numbering of years is identical to the numbering in the Anno Domini system, neither system using a year zero

File this under "How Stupid Does Huckster Think We Are? Oh, wait..."

A few days ago, Huckabee pretends nobility while trying to get the press to air his anti-Romney attack ad for him. I haven't seen the ad covered anywhere, and I refuse to search for it. According to the Slate piece, the press essentially laughed in his face. I hope the ads did not receive free coverage.

Robert J. Elisberg has the perfect response:

Here is the commentary I will not be posting because it's much too negative, no matter how correct. Judge for yourself if I am right, not to post it.

Mike Huckabee has shown himself to be unqualified for president. By making religion the center of his campaign, he has venally descended into demagoguery. To tell Americans of every faith that "All that matters is the celebration of the life of Jesus Christ," is spitting into America's face, a despicable abrogation of responsibility. To tell his supporters, as reported by Marc Cooper, that "We will go to the caucuses having knelt on our knees and having asked God for his wisdom," Mike Huckabee is not campaigning for the White House, but mounting a religious Crusade for the rapture. He has confused running for president with trying to become pastor of the Church of the Holier Than Thou. To be President of the United States, you must protect and defend all its citizens, not just those who belong to your sect. His words are an affront to Buddhists, Mormons, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Shintos, Sikhs, atheists and more, indeed Christians, too, who understand the U.S. Constitution and freedom of all religion. What Mike Huckabee is pushing may be un-Christian in its selfishness, but it most certainly is un-American. Mr. Huckabee may end up getting 30% of the vote by pandering to the Republican base, but as President George Bush learned, when you pander to that base, the base is all you end up with. Mike Huckabee should be ashamed and withdraw from the race. And by "race" I just mean political, not human. Some of us still believe in kindness to others, no matter how much their views may differ."

You see? Wasn't that too negative? Yipes! I'm Robert Elisberg, and I don't approve that message.

Penelope Trunk, better known as the Brazen Careerist, has a piece on Huffington Post entitled "Christmas Does Not Belong in the Workplace."

Her issues include:

1. Forced time off for someone else's religious observance -- when your own religious observances such as Yom Kippur generally entail the sacrifice of a
vacation day.

2. Annoying parties for 6 weeks, resulting in subtle peer pressure and exclusion.

3. Hostile reactions to the discrimination being pointed out -- these range from "This is a Christian nation so shut up" to "Christmas isn't really Christian anymore so shut up" to "Oh, shut up. The songs and decorations are pretty."

On the forced time off issue, I agree so completely that I have a hard time believing that it even merits discussion. I don't know what's worse: being forced to take an unpaid day off because the workplace is close December 25, or having to choose between observing Yom Kippur and retaining a vacation day because your company won't let you work December 25 instead.

On the larger "oppression" of office parties I can't really get on board. It's a losing battle to achieve anything other than not calling it the Christmas Party. Even if we outlawed Christmas parties they'd become New Year's Parties (as in the Soviet Union, when "Father Frost" would leave presents for children under the "New Year Tree.")

Even though I enjoy the holiday season despite having no personal religious beliefs, I do sympathize with the low-level oppression that the holiday season can become. It's a time of stress for many people -- just tally up the pressure of gift-giving and travel even in loving, non-dysfunctional family, and if you say one word about it you are a Grinch.

While I don't think it's any kind of masterpiece, I do recommend John Grisham's novella "Skipping Christmas" as an over-the-top demonstration of Christmas
Oppression. In this story, an accountant named Krank tallies up the cost of Christmas and gets his wife to agree to skip the whole thing -- everything, even the charitable donations -- and apply that money to a dream cruise instead. Their grown daughter will be out of the country, so what's the point?

The best part of this story is the incomprehension and resistance the Kranks encounter in their neighbors and coworkers. (The blowhard next-door neighbor is named Mr. Frohmeyer -- after the German word for Joy.) Skipping Christmas just does not compute -- so much so that there begins to be a scary, Shirley Jackson-like vibe as the Kranks are met with challenge after challenge to their plan.

I dislike the ending, because Grisham backs away from this theme and turns it into a Neighborhood Pulling Together, Spirit of Christmas thing and we already have enough of those. But for awhile there, it seems like Christmas is imbued with a creepy, all-too-powerful, conform-or-else feeling.

Most importantly, the sense of Christmas Oppression in "Skipping Christmas" has little or nothing to do with religion. It's about participating in the partying, decorating and SPENDING traditions that the community as evolved over the past umpteen years.

I'm just getting back to keeping this blog after a month or so off, so this is old news. Most readers probably have heard about the angry Christmas mob that attacked a group of Jewish subway riders for chanting "Happy Hannukah" in response to their menacing shouts of "Merry Christmas."

The bystander who jumped to the aid of the Jewish riders? Hassan Askari, a Muslim student.

Otherwise, Congress might not have time for important legislation like this:

"Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

 

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world."

I'm not sure they're correct about the historical importance of Christmas (which the Pilgrims, for example, did not celebrate), or their grasp of the role played by Christianity in the founding of the United States, but I really don't object to the sentiments laid out in this resolution. Nor do I object to the similar, innocuous nods to Ramadan and Diwali that have taken place recently. My objection is that this in not worthy of Congress's attention.

And let's be clear that this resolution IS a War on Christmas volley by a congressman incensed at having to share the country.

My definition of "Christianity Under Attack" has always been that childish persons perceive themselves as being "bashed" merely by being deprived of center stage. But I have been wrong, because Christianity certainly still has center stage. No, these folks define persecution as being "reduced" from a monologue to a mere starring role.

I know, I know. The Halloween candy is barely eaten, and Thanksgiving hasn't even rolled around yet. And already, the punditocracy has started to celebrate War on Christmas!

This year the runup to the primaries is highlighting a Christian soldier that may surprise a few people: Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Yes, the same guy that some liberals have been looking to as a palatable alternative to Republican extremists.

Don't be fooled, Ron Paul fans, by his libertarian political philosophy (which was already a problem for those of us with no desire to live under feudalism). The guy's a religious extremist, just like the others.

Carpetbagger has this Ron Paul quote (plus a nice reference from Paul's official website stating that the Constitution is "replete with references to God," commenting that the only difference between Paul and the 700 club is "Better writing.":

Through perverse court decisions and years of cultural indoctrination, the elitist, secular Left has managed to convince many in our nation that religion must be driven from public view. The justification is always that someone, somewhere, might possibly be offended or feel uncomfortable living in the midst of a largely Christian society, so all must yield to the fragile sensibilities of the few. The ultimate goal of the anti-religious elites is to transform America into a completely secular nation, a nation that is legally and culturally biased against Christianity.

If I had the opportunity to get in front of this guy, here's what I'd say:

Senator: When are you planning to introduce legislation officially clearing the names of the Japanese soldiers who were prosecuted for waterboarding American soldiers during WWII? Since you recently led the Senate's effort to facilitate the current adminstration's torturing acitivites for the rest of their administration -- as well insulating them from legal accountability once they leave office -- what other position could you logically take regarding those poor Japanese men?

Instead of appointing Ted Olson, the apparent first choice of the White House, Schumer pushed for Mukasey as a "consensus candidate" -- and won.

If the De