The Palin Corporate Empire announced recently that the former half-term Alaska governor and one-time vice presidential candidate is writing a new book to be titled A Happy Holiday IS a Merry Christmas.

The Associated Press reported that the tome will blast the "over-commercialization" of Christmas and stress the need to return to the holiday's religious roots.

A statement from Palin read, "Amidst the fragility of this politically correct era, it is imperative that we stand up for our beliefs before the element of faith in a glorious and traditional holiday like Christmas is marginalized and ignored. This will be a fun, festive, thought provoking book, which will encourage all to see what is possible when we unite in defense of our faith and ignore the politically correct Scrooges who would rather take Christ out of Christmas."

HarperCollins, the book's publisher, says the book will focus on "reserving Jesus Christ in Christmas - whether in public displays, school concerts (or) pageants."

Sigh.

In other words, this book sounds like yet another "my way or the highway" tome from the Christmas Police at Palin's erstwhile employers, the Fox News Channel.

Look, no one is stopping anyone in this country from celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday. Every year, Christian churches throw open their doors and practically beg people to attend services. Lots of people do, but that apparently isn't enough for Palin and her crowd.

It's not enough for them to celebrate Christmas with all of the religiosity they want. They seek to force everyone else to take part in this religious celebration as well. And they insist that the government - though official holiday displays and school programs aimed at kids - adopt their faith's version of how the holiday is to be celebrated.

Woe unto you who dare to celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday or incorporate elements from its pagan roots! How dare you work to "marginalize" and "ignore" this holiday? It's almost like you think we have religious freedom in this country and the right to make your own decisions!

What's especially exasperating about this is being lectured on the need to highlight the religious roots of Christmas by the likes of Sarah Palin. This woman and her grasping family have repeatedly proven themselves to be media-hungry celebrity wannabees. At this point, who - besides the most addled Tea Party/Religious Right zombie - believes she cares about anything other than notoriety and her bank account?

Palin certainly didn't care about the people of her allegedly beloved Alaska, whom she abandoned after serving half a term of governor. She saw that the right-wing gravy train express had rolled into town, and she could strike it rich by climbing on board.

Since then, it's been nothing but a steady stream of books full of toxic "us-vs.-them" rhetoric, obscenely compensated speeches and reality TV.

It's one thing to be lectured on religion and morality by someone who actually has a claim on those things. Hearing it come from someone like Palin is just annoying.

As I wrapped my scarf around my neck, pulled on my gloves and stepped outside this morning, I took solace that these chilly days will pass. Soon spring will come with robins, colorful flowers and gentle rains. Then summer, with cook-outs, vacations and D.C,'s famous humidity, will arrive. Autumn follows with chillier air, falling leaves and the familiar troika of holidays that so define American culture - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I enjoy them all - but in good time. It's hard for me to think seriously about Christmas today when it's more than nine months off.

But apparently Palin does have Christmas on her mind. That's OK. Perhaps she's even thinking about presents. That's OK, too. In fact, I have an idea for a really good one that Palin could give to the entire nation. If you really love Christmas, Sarah, prove it: Stop exploiting the holiday to make a quick buck.

In fact, consider going back to Alaska and clamming up for a while. Frankly, we could all use a break.