Generally, when “2008 politics” are mentioned, it is the presidential contest that is being discussed. But that year, there will be an even bigger issue on the ballot than who will sit in the White House — even though it will be on the ballot in only one state. Because 2008 will be the year that gay marriage disappears from America.

The folks who imposed gay marriage on Massachusetts chose their target with care. Amending a constitution is an ungainly task in any state, but it is particularly ponderous in the Bay State. The same-sex marriage proponents knew that if they could get a court to overturn marriage law in Massachusetts, it would take years for the people to set matters right again.

But years have a way of passing. As soon as the ink was dry on the 2003 ruling which undefined marriage, the arduous work of rectifying the law was begun. Since then, the clock has been quietly ticking down to 2008, when the people of Massachusetts will vote on, and approve, a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Three days ago, the first hurdle was cleared, with the submission of a petition containing twice the number of signatures needed to put the issue before the voters.

The ticking of the clock will not be so quiet later on, as the eyes of the coutry turn to this most crucial of elections. Expect it to be a major issue in the presidential race, and the focus of many, many media reports and blog posts. Every major newspaper will editorialize about this amendment. People on both sides of the issue will actually move to Massachusetts just to register and vote there. The money spent on advertising will be staggering. But the clock will keep ticking regardless.

Every time marriage is on the ballot, marriage wins. Nineteen states have ratified marriage protection amendments, and nowhere has such an amendment been rejected by the voters. This is true in conservative states and liberal states. In 2008, the only American state to sanction homosexual marriage will put an end to it.