Bible-Thumpers, and the Future of the GOP

"By all means, let faith inform one's values, but let reason inform one's public arguments."
- Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 5 Dec 2005.

Kathleen Parker has written a couple of columns in the Washington Post, highlighting the concerns she and other lifelong Republicans have regarding the undue influence of Christian fanatics upon their party.

South Carolina ready to move forward with Christian-themed license plates.

Despite the pending legal challenge from Americans United, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is apparently ready to start issuing license plates advocating Christianity. The plates, which were authorized by the South Carolina legislature, look like this:

A New Day

This country has a remarkable ability to do amazing, wonderful things. Over the past few months, I've enjoyed enormously joining with the many people in my neighborhood who have been working for the election of President-Elect Barack Obama. It has been an astounding ride, and I've been thrilled to be a part of it.

And now, a word from our president . . .

First Nominee for "Fucktard of the Year"

Our first nominee for "Fucktard of the Year" is Bobby Jindal, the creationist governor of Louisiana, who will go down in infamy as the first American governor to sign one of these "equal time for scientific nonsense" bills being promoted by the cdesign proponentsists at the Disco Institute.

An Open Letter to Governor Jindal

Dear Governor Jindal:

SB 733, which is based on sample legislation drafted by the infamous Discovery Institute, is a terrible bill that will do immense harm to Louisiana. I urge you to veto this bill.

Every other state that has considered this legislation has rejected it (with the sole exception of Michigan, where this bill currently sits in committee, with no action pending). If you allow this bill to become law, then Louisiana will be the only state in the country to have passed this Discovery Institute-modeled law. You have seen the criticism and ridicule that was directed at Kansas while it considered adding Intelligent Design Creationism to its public school curriculum; I am sure that you would not want to see Louisiana reap the same ridicule. By vetoing this bill, you will help insure that Louisiana schools do not become the objects of nationwide scorn.

Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have devastated so much of the Louisiana economy, it has become desperately important for Louisiana to attract new investment and new businesses. Economic development has been a key effort for your administration. It would be a tragedy if your efforts in this area came to naught. But if businesses perceive that Louisiana’s schools are becoming deficient in science education, they will have every reason to build new facilities elsewhere. I’m confident that you do not want that to happen.

You have done a great deal of good for Louisiana during your term as governor. It would be a shame if your legacy came to be seen as an enemy of science education. I’m sure you’ll do the right thing, and veto this bill.

Very respectfully,

John the Skeptic

I swear I thought this had to be a joke.

Have you heard about this?

Some Republican from Texas named Robert Hurt is upset that some of the artwork in Washington DC actually features nudes. “At the National Gallery, he was appalled to see statues of unclothed people. “I found it very inappropriate,’ he said.”

That’s right, innocent children can walk right into the National Gallery of Art, and see paintings and sculptures with men showing their unclothed weenies and women with bare boobies. These poor kids will no doubt be scarred for life by the Cassatts and Degas that are blatantly displayed for the public to see.

And it's not just in the museums: “He discovered Arlington Memorial Bridge, flanked by the bare-chested figures of Valor and Sacrifice.” Nekkid ladies on our bridges!! That’s a terrible safety risk. Just imagine some impressionable young man who just got his drivers license, driving across Memorial Bridge, seeing these bare breasts, and becoming so excited that he swerves wildly into oncoming traffic. Can you picture the devastation?

Fortunately, Hurt is doing everything he can to fight this depravity: “Hurt notified his elected officials of his concerns but believes nothing was done. While he said he respects free speech, ‘I believe art affects a country indirectly. I have been studying the decline of morals in this country. It's sending the wrong message to children that nudity is fine, that nakedness is fine. . . . There are degrees of vulgarity, and it opens up the door for the other stuff.’”

Good for you, Bob Hurt! And while you’re at it, see what you can do about putting pants on all the animals at the National Zoo.

Those pandas are completely naked!