Seems like a natural extension of Faith Based Initiatives, Michele. Especially given the amount of money that the Saudis have pumped into the Presidential Library projects for both Clinton and Bush.
And when you consider the Bush family holds a number of business interests in Saudi Arabia, it’s only natural that his administration would want to promote those interests.

For more info on this , read “House of Bush, House of Saud” by Craig Unger. Unger talks about the ties between the two families, which go back decades, and have involved billions through the Carlyle Group.
BTW, the Carlyle group was meeting in NYC on 9-11, and they stopped their meeting to watch the events on TV. Among those attending George H.W. Bush, and many members of the Saudi royal family, and the Bin Laden family, including his brother and father.
Regarding earmarks, those have increased dramatically under the GOP. The latest budget included about 11,000 of them. In Reagan’s time, and Clinton’s , it was more like 120.

They’re just buildings … as churches are … just buildings.
Doesn’t their austere aesthetic appeal to you, O Reformed Christian?

I’m somewhat disappointed from not getting to see more of those mosques, even though I’m Christian. A calender of mosques hardly promotes Islam. I agree with Moonshadow, though I wonder how ‘austere’ their aeshetic really is. The typical Christian Churches here in America are bland, rectangular prisms, unlike some of the grand, many-shaped, many sized Cathedrals of oldentime.

I do see the point. One might use the mentality of some EXTREMIST (and common) LEFTY LIBS who cry foul any time anything remotely religious, and especially EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN, is associated with government activity.
My guess is that if this were a calender of Christian churches their would be a LEFTY LIB dirty diaper fest by LEFTY LIB extremists crying foul (and probably some common LEFTY LIBS who would know they are wrong in principle but are too immature to resist the role of antagonist).
Now it is true, the BIBLE does clearly make distinct, the functions of the church and government. Any attempt for the church to exert AUTHORITY over a government or to attempt to use the GOVERNMENT to institute those doctrines that are UNIQUE to the church is wrong. As well, the government is not given the authority to dictate to the church its doctrines and practices.
However, this does not mean Christians may not, as citizens, influence and participate within their own country’s government. What they must understand is the distinction between that which is uniquely CHRISTIAN and morality that is applicable for ALL citizens.

“My guess is that if this were a calender of Christian churches their would be a LEFTY LIB dirty diaper fest by LEFTY LIB extremists crying foul (and probably some common LEFTY LIBS who would know they are wrong in principle but are too immature to resist the role of antagonist).”
No, I don’t suspect they would, Guy. You see, most LEFTY LIBS are intelligent enough to know that simply showing a picture of a place of worship doesn’t promote that particular religion.
As a matter of fact, I’ve only ever heard conservatives complain about something like this. But then, conservatives have whining down to an art form.

“Seems like a natural extension of Faith Based Initiatives, Michele. Especially given the amount of money that the Saudis have pumped into the Presidential Library projects for both Clinton and Bush.”
I guess you really don’t understand the concept of “Faith based Initiatives” to have said that. You might want to go research it a little more.
Also, I don’t think that you get the relationship of the State Department to Bush, it isn’t exactly amicable so this isn’t a Bush thing.

“But then, conservatives have whining down to an art form.”
Bwaahahahahahahahaahaha! Oh.My.Heck! Thank you for the laugh tonight, I needed it. I haven’t laughed this hard since yesterday when I watched the lefties try to justify adding to our global warming problems by driving in taxis to hear Al Gore speak instead of using public transportation or bikes.

“Also, I don’t think that you get the relationship of the State Department to Bush, it isn’t exactly amicable so this isn’t a Bush thing.”
So you are saying that our President is running the government in the same way he ran the Texas Rangers?
Harry Truman’s sign must be in a museum somewhere. Ever since Reagan the conservatives have tried to blame their failures on someone else. Kinda funny for the party of “personal responsiblity” … for everyone but them.

um… the state department is selling the calendar, not giving it away. this is hardly “promoting islam.” it’s a bad choice in methods to show that the u.s. government isn’t anti-muslim (because it’s saying the opposite with other things it does) because with all the hatred for anything non-christian in this country, i really wonder how few they’ve sold. what a waste. maybe they would have better luck by not racially profiling the group instead.
what’s ironic is the most furor is coming from the same crowd who rushes to the front line to save christmas trees and nativity scenes on display at the state buildings. hypocrites.
“I haven’t laughed this hard since yesterday when I watched the lefties try to justify adding to our global warming problems by driving in taxis to hear Al Gore speak instead of using public transportation or bikes.”
gee, maybe they’re like you and can justify just about any reason for not conserving. what makes you think they’re liberals? oh, because they don’t hate gore to the same extent that you do, they must be “lefties,” huh? got some breaking news for you, genius: flat-earthers, young-earthers, and other fundies will continue to deny the problem, but some conservatives care about our planet, too.

“…some conservatives care about our planet, too.”
Yep…but it’s damn few. Most of them only care about their own pocketbook. Look at what happened when they took over Congress and the White House…deficits as far as the eye can see.
But by god they got their tax cut!