Cowboy Poetry Festival (An end to a vital cultural event?)

Washington Examiner ^ | March 9, 2011 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

Oh, the tragedy! Because of those evil budget-cutting Republicans we are now facing the loss of that great cultural landmark, the Cowboy Poetry Festival. Thank you Senator Harry Reid for exposing this nefarious act with your bold attack upon the Republicans:

The mean-spirited bill, H.R. 1,, eliminates National Public Broadcasting...It eliminates the National Endowment of the Humanities, National Endowment of the Arts. These programs create jobs. The National Endowment of the Humanities is the reason we have in northern Nevada every January a cowboy poetry festival. Had that program not been around, the tens of thousands of people who come there every year would not exist.

And if the Cowboy Poetry Festival does not exist next year, then the world would be deprived of my brilliant piece of poetry designed to appeal to the NPR types. Since that festival’s future is now in doubt because of the heartless Republicans, your humble correspondent will post “Drugstore Cowboy” now before it is lost for all eternity:

[PJ-Comix]

Sniff! The world will now be deprived of my entry into the Cowboy Poetry Festival because of those heartless Republicans slashing away at the budget.

[laweeks]

And how can an elected official possibly hold a strait face while sniffing for funds for something as STUPID as this? Incredible! And to think that I’m actually paying for such stupidity with my money for something as dumb out there in Nevada . . . why not do it with ticket prices or Nevadan taxes . . . what the hell do I care about this crap???????

[Lazlo in PA]

This is what passes as a cowboy these days to Dingy Harry. The man is delusional. Bets on whether this is a man or a woman.

[RC2]

If they have ever hung around cowboys very much, they should know that cowboys don’t rely on the government for much. Those events as well as others related to cowboys, will continue, with or without the government. If cowboys want to do something bad enough, I’ll guarandamtee you it will get done. Been there.

[cripplecreek]

There's always the soulful sounds of Travelin John.



I gave my love a chicken, a chicken that had no bones.....

[tet68]

Had that program not been around, the tens of thousands of people who come there every year would not exist.

Gone in the wink of an eye.

Remember, YOU don’t exist unless you’re taking
advantage of a government program....at least till
April 15.

[Raebie]

Reid lies. They have plenty of private sponsors.

http://www.westernfolklife.org/site1/index.php/Donations/2010-Gathering-Major-Sponsors.html

http://www.westernfolklife.org/site1/index.php/Donations/Western-Folklife-Center-Supporters.html

[PJ-Comix]

Could “Drugstore Cowboy” be set to music?

[Migraine]

Hey, maybe if your cowboy poetry was worth a steaming bushel of meadow muffins...

Here’s the real deal:

A skinny young cowboy named brocko
Best known for his bein’ mulatto
Hornswoggled the land
With his Communist brand;
So we kicked his ass back to Chicago.

[Outlaw Woman]

ewww...you’re good :)

[FormerACLUmember]

The democrat party's idea of "cowboys." Defund all this insanity!

[dblshot]

They gathered around the fire pit
Some stood some sit
To recite some cowboy poetry
That maybe they had just writ.

Ole Harry tall and gray
Said I got one today
About this here cowboy poetry
And how we can make it pay

No point stoking up a fire
Just so we can all admire
Some cusses shot at poetry
When we can aim so much higher

Fellers this here’s an art
An I think we oughta start
Getting money for our poetry
From them eggheads that pay fer art

Ya’ll know we all pay taxes
So don’t get upset when I axes
For funds for cowboy poetry
Via e-mail, letter and faxes

We’re at least as good as hip hop
And that philharmonic sop
Ain’t no more cultural than our poetry
Just because it’s higher bought

So come on National Foundation for Arts
And send some dollars out to these parts
To fund our cowboy poetry
Send lots, heck haul it out in carts

So Harry that ole coyote
Told them cowboys that’s whut he wrote
To save your cowboy poetry
And now ya’ll don’t ferget to vote!

[marron]

So, I guess they’re saying a real cowboy won’t write poetry unless the government pays him.

And I say, a real cowboy won’t take money from the government unless its to wear a tin star and a six gun.

[Arrowhead1952]

Bets on whether this is a man or a woman.

"Alex, I'll take stinking, aged hippies for $400."

[Liberty Valance]

Out Where The West Begins

Out where the handclasp’s a little stronger,
Out where the smile dwells a little longer,
That’s where the West begins;
Out where the sun is a little brighter,
Where the snows that fall are a trifle whiter,
Where the bonds of home are a wee bit tighter,
That’s where the West begins.

Out where the skies are a trifle bluer,
Out where friendship’s a little truer,
That’s where the West begins;
Out where a fresher breeze is blowing,
Where there’s laughter in every streamlet flowing,
Where there’s more of reaping and less of sowing,
That’s where the West begins;

Out where the world is in the making,
Where fewer hearts in despair are aching,
That’s where the West begins;
Where there’s more of singing and less of sighing,
Where there’s more of giving and less of buying,
And a man makes friends without half trying —
That’s where the West begins.

Arthur Chapman © 1917-1918

[Prokopton]

And how can an elected official possibly hold a strait face while sniffing for funds for something as STUPID as this?

How can the voters have a straight face while pulling the lever for this clown?

[Migraine]

Thanks; I’ll just mosey along now...

[Migraine]

To quote Slim Pickens (as Taggart): “You use that tongue prettier’n a two-dollar whore...”

[dblshot]

Thanks, I think.

[freedombird]

Here is my entry.....

Out on the range is where I roam
cuz I can’t no longer own a home
unless you will pay my loan
Big Gubmint, I can’t quit you

Turned my truck in for a mule
Cuz I couldn’t afford the fuel
You say to drill would be a fool
Big Gubmint, I can’t quit you

Cooking cactus for a meal
Cuz I can’t no more raise veal
Too big a footprint you say you feel
Big Gubmint, I can’t quit you

So now my days seem pretty free
As long as you’re not too far from me
To give just enough to be
Big Gubmint, I can’t quit you

I know......don’t quit my day job!