Harry Reid’s Impassioned Plea to Congress: Save the Cowboy Poets!
- Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:52pm by
Meredith Jessup
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In the middle of making his case of opposition toward House Republicans’ “mean-spirited” H.R. 1 budget bill on the Senate floor Tuesday, Majority Leader Harry Reid took a moment to defend the National Endowment of the Humanities, a federal program he says supports an annual cowboy poetry festival in his home state of Nevada. With a $14 trillion debt crisis looming, Reid pleads for his colleagues to save the cowboy poetry:
h/t Townhall
“The mean-spirited bill, H.R. 1 … eliminates the National Endowment of the Humanities, National Endowment of the Arts,” said Reid. “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.” (emphasis mine)
So without federal funding, they will what… die? Vanish without a trace…?
Additionally, who knew it was the federal government’s role to support local poets? And, better yet, who knew Republicans were seemingly so anti-poetry AND anti-cowboy?
Not so, announced Sen. Jim DeMint during a floor speech later on Tuesday. “Now, I love poetry and cowboys as much as anyone else. But we’re looking at bankrupting our nation,” DeMint said.
In response, Mark Steyn offered his own brand of cowboy poetry at NRO:
An ol’ cowpoke went ridin’ out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once he spied a posse from the GOP
A-hangin’ from that ol’ mesquite his fed’ral subsidyHis pen was still a-fire and he knew how to spell “git”
But an ol’ paint can’t outride a trillion-dollar deficit
If only Harry Reid can head ’em off at that there pass
‘Cuz he hasn’t finished paying off creative-writing classYipp-ki-o yippi-ki-ay
Cow Poets On The Dole
Yipp-ki-o yippi-ki-ay
Cow Poets On The Dole…
For the record, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Reid refers to takes place in Elko, Nev. The next annual meeting promises a “week-long celebration of life in the rural West, featuring the contemporary and traditional arts of western ranching culture.” According to the event website, thousands are expected to attend.
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Comments (204)
daisymay
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:49pmMaybe if he hadn’t stuck us with the extra $105 billion in the health care bill we could maybe, just maybe, have the cowboy poets – I think this guys mother dropped him on his head when he was a baby…
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:46pmif harry and his boys want a cowboy poetry
Report Post »festival,pri. money
bho in a cowboy hat. one word [ dork ]
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:45pmHarry has gone “Charlie Sheen”…What a troll!
Report Post »Lone Ranger
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:44pmAs much as I love cowboy poetry, the use of taxpayer funds to support the arts is completely unconstitutional. The crowned heads of Europe taxed the people to sponsor their favorite artists. What’s next, crown jewels for the first lady?
Report Post »ChipK
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:44pmAMERICA…… WAKE UP! barry is a poison hell bent on destroying our country. ACTIONS speak louder than words. vote him and all of his communist/socialist cronnies OUT! AND michelle too!
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 7:44pmMaybe if you put it in a Cowboy poem, you’ll get more attention. And some cash to boot (pun intended).
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:42pmHopalong Harry looked like he was going to cry as proclaimed that the mean spirited Republicans was trying to do away with the cowboy poet festival. Harry is upset because that is the one time a year he can go out in public wearing his leather chaps. No pants, just chaps. What’s next? Is he going to lay on the floor and cry because those cruel s.o.b.’s are going to next do way with the lumberjack musical belching and farting contest? This is crazy. We are out of money.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:07pmI’m a lumber jack
Report Post »And I’m Okay
I sleep all night
And I work all day…..
dcwu
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:39pmNew word: Drivelplex – That which comes out of Harry Reid’s mouth.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:38pmif cowboys need money to write they should talk to spoooky dude let HIM pay for it NOT ME
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:37pmIf he feels so strongly about the Cowboy Poetry Festival then I think he should pull it out of his own pocket to fund it.
Report Post »ofallon
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:33pmDon’t think Harry will be leading the Senate anymore in 2012..Happy Trails Harry.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:28pmhe is a wack job.why don’t he and polcie and obama take some of that stolen money and pay for it themselves? i am sure dirty harry has a stash of cash for a rainy day or for running away when he is throw out of this country for treason.
Report Post »jose wasabi
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:24pmIf this doesn’t finally prove to you how out-of-control these idiots are, nothing ever will.
Report Post »exliberalgrl
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:23pmIt is disgusting that this man keeps getting voted into office. Fools vote for fools.
Report Post »needanotherReagan
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:15pmHow pathetic is that photo of Barry in the cowboy hat?
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:09pmIt‘s time for a third party these fools both republicans and dems in Washington have and continue to destroy not only the county but every American citizens and they’ve done for their own personal greed! These fools would sell out their own children, wifes, etc…to futher their political careers!
Report Post »fertlmind
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:07pmHarry Reid ……Horses Ass
Harry Reid ……
Now that’s a cowboy poem!
Report Post »can I get money now?
WHITE LOTUS2x
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:07pmMomas dont let your babies to grow up to be cowboys! I didnt know Harry and Barry were cowboys too. Yehaaa!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:46pmCan you guess which one is the Guilding?
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:06pmroad apples hawry !! road apples
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:06pmI just went to this Cowboy Poetry Website. They have a couple dozen sponsors but I didn’t see the American Taxpayer as one of them. You must also buy tickets to attend so why in the world are taxpayers subsidizing it? Another Liberal fleecing of taxpayers.
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:04pmSounds like ‘ol Harry is headin out to Brokeback Mountain.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:27pmand taxpayers are heading to a bareback mountain
Report Post »fedfreakingup
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:22pmHarry looks like he’s got a full membership to that club
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:04pmAre you freaking kidding me?? This is what he believes is important in this economy?? This idiot needs to be removed from office. He has to have dementia to believe this crap!
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:12pmEvery last career politician should be removed! I‘m totally convinced it’s time for a third party! Every last representative in Washington is incompetent!
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 12:36amZcat
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:12pm
Every last career politician should be removed! I‘m totally convinced it’s time for a third party!
—————————————————–
I have two suggestions.
1. The Constitution Party. Before you give an opinion go to their webpage and read their platform.
2. I would love to help with forming an official Tea Party party. But if it’s going to be done it has to be done very, very, very soon. 2012 is coming fast!
http://www.americasteapartynews.com
Report Post »ElaineA
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:03pmAre you kidding me? Watch what the other hand is doing folks. This is too stupid to be real.
Report Post »felina g
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 7:26pmThere once was a cow from Nantucket……………….
Report Post »roe
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:51pmYipp-ki-o yippi-ki-ay – that poem stinks! Liberals call anything “mean spirited” that makes any kind of sense.
Report Post »Susan Harkins
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:01pmUhmmm….Cowboy Poetry???
Guys, watch out! Reid is distracting you again!!!
Don’t look at his right hand — he is waving it around on purpose!
Go behind him and look in his hidden left hand. THAT is what he doesnt want you to see. Pay no attention to the Poetry nonsense! He is up to something (else)!
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:51pm“Guys, watch out! Reid is distracting you again!!!”
YOU AGAIN
What about you ?
Report Post »Are you that much more informed than we?
(The lowly, undeducated, sniffling, hard working, self reliant taxpayers?)
How about us … Susan
PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:49pmCat got your tounge?
Report Post »Meow
Blackhawk1
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:00pmReid can’t possibly be serious about this. Federally funded Cowboy Poets? I hope all the Dems of Nevada are proud of this idiot. It would be interesting to find out just what other money liberals waste.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:22pmHarry is losing it CAT scan immediately for him
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:24pmAnd we wonder why we are broke!!!
Report Post »BecksTheMan
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:31pmGEORGIEJO,
They love it when we believe that they are incompetent. Then they get extremely competent when it comes to their reelections. Take Reid for example even his own party had pretty much written him off as a loss last election, but He is the best of the best at serving himself and getting back in office. Then magically he becomes totally incompetent and stupid when it comes to his judgement pertaining to the welfare of our nation, just like his best buddies Obama and Pelosi.
Report Post »Margie Kerstine
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:56pmI am for cutting off any monies Congress is paying for PBS and Endownments to the Arts…keep it up. Harry Reid can put up his funds if he wants to support Cowboy poetry and the rest of that type of culture
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:01pmMaybe ol’ Harry should just “cowboy up” and ride away into the sunset……I miss him already……
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:01pmHere is cowboy poetry
Report Post »Save a horse
ride a cowboy
:D
cheezwhiz
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:06pmBTW a big muuuuuuaaaaah to Steyn
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:06pmWell, Harry, why don’t YOU make a big donation to them? I don’t need NPR, nor PBS showing me old movies, broadcasting old radio shows, or fixing up “This Old Million Dollar Shack.” You have sponsors and you beg for money every 6 months, you don’t need my money.
Report Post »That cowboy hat on Obama looks as out of place as a burka on Sarah Palin.
Blackhawk1
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:08pmThe movie Brokeback Mountain comes to mind. Cowboy Poetry what a waste of OUR MONEY!
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:11pmShut up Reid,,,,,,,,you’re a has been. You BARELY got rel-elected last november, but you are over, you are finished, you are lame.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:13pmMore wasteful spending by the prog-trogs……..and for a state that has no income tax.
The only waste bigger than the gov’ts spending is Reids place in government.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:15pmHow much are you trying to get for the little festival, Reid……ten, twenty million? what a farce. what an example of wasteful spending in dire times.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:16pmNice, cowboy poetry is an adequate way to be spending when we’re 14 trillion in the hole.
Report Post »MOMonFIRE
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:30pmWhen you are broke and in debt, you don’t redecorate your house. Sorry Arts & Humanities, you must be put on the back burner until we are solvent once again.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:32pmOld Harry lost the one brain cell he had left … This truly is insanity.
Report Post »BecksTheMan
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:34pmStop the presses, how cruel! defund cowboy poetry, Obama needs to weigh in on this one. Give me a break, a very good example why the cuts need to go a whole lot further than even what the republicans are proposing. I can just imagine how many wasteful events and activities our taxpayer money is being wasted on. This is just one example of tens of thousands I am sure. Thanks Harry for pointing that useless, ridiculous waste of money out to us. How this joker ever got reelected is beyond me, isn’t it funny how competent they become at managing their reelections yet then play as stupid as a box of rocks once they are back in, I for one know they cannot be this stupid, just really good at playing us the taxpayers for fools.
Report Post »MOVETERAN
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:35pmArtists will still create their art without government funding. A true artist doesn’t do it for the money. Most out there are not true artists, because they wouldn‘t continue to create their art if it wasn’t for the money.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:44pmWe always knew Reid and village idiot Pelosi were whack jobs.
Blazers
DO NOT FORGET TOMORROW.
1 year since Nancy shoved it you know where. Our work is just beginning.
March 9, 2010 Nancy Pelosi
“But we have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.”
I am so happy she read my mind last year. Put her in a jacket.
Report Post »Contrarian51
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:53pmSounds like a real “shovel-ready” project, and I know what Harry’s shoveling.
Report Post »Lisa
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:04pmMr Reid if you think the National Endowment of the Humanities and the National Endowment of the Arts is so important then you should fund then with your private funds not our public tax dollars. We NEED to pay off our countries debt and that should be a priority of yours.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:06pmare there cowboys in the unions…must be if reid is begging for them!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:27pmgodlovinmom
Report Post »are there cowboys in the unions…must be if reid is begging for them!
————
Remember when TEA partiers were harassed @ Searchlight NV ? When eggs were thrown at TEA party buses ? When someone threatened Breitbart with killing him ? On tape ?
Those were all Reid’s cowboys, they had union signs and t-shirts and everything. They were even bussed in to chant slogans, just like real cowboys.
Augydoggy
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:29pmI know of no Cowboy poets that make 2 bits off of this program and I take it you don’t like cowboy poetry. Well it shows how much fun you like to have . As to Reid I really dislike the guy and his poly TICKS
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 7:12pmWhy can’t everyone on the planet see that he is a phony poo poo head!!!?
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:21pmHere is cowboy poetry
Save a horse
ride a cowboy
:D
oh cheezwhiz … that was a good one!!! still laughing
Report Post »Justin.Long
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:23pmnow I like poetry I write it and read it but I mean come on a cowboy poetry festival I mean come on we have to make cut have to be made the cowpokes can get back to real jobs like I dont know being cowbows lol trust the will survive
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:52pm@BecksTheMan
Report Post »Posted on March 8, 2011 at 5:34pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fantastic! You woke up early this morning! Still waiting for the rest of those still sleeping.
Mustanger
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 9:22pmCowboy poetry would survive without subsidies. Most of the cowboy poets are working cowboys and ranchers. The best way to save them is to get the enviro’s out of the way and let them work the land as they have for generations. Read the mag RANGE for a good incite into the government obstruction.
Report Post »pitboss711
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:31pmI’ve lived in Vegas for 18-years and have never heard of this stupid festival.
Report Post »BecksTheMan
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:34pm@SHOWTIME,
Keep the faith…the people are waking up it might be 5 minutes to midnight but we have a lot of good things going on that leaves hope for us all still.
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:17pmIt would make more sense to cut off funds to Harry Reid. Any Senator who makes an irresponsible statement like that should be sent home to write poetry instead. It sounds like ole Harry has a little hitch in his getalong, doesn’t it?
Report Post »touch
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:06amReid is a two-faced liar. He isn’t independent like Nevadans, he is dependent on the MORONS of Nevada who are up his A!! for a $$$$
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:33amjhaydeng…well said!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:58amI never would have guessed that the “Gathering” in Elko had Federal funding.
Report Post »All the casinos and other businesses in Elko and other concerned parties should pay for it out of all the profits they make when thousands of people flock there for the doings for a week. The hotels that charge an arm and a leg for lodging should be able to handle it by themselves.
Dirty Harry is a joke!
exdem
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:20amWhat is a cowboy poet?? Are their redneck poets? How about socialist poets? Can we put the word poet after anything and expect federal funding? If so I am a Blazer poet:
Report Post »There once was a Senator named Reid
Who made all the taxpayers bleed
He championed his cause
Gave the Nation great pause
Because he is a commie indeed
smithclar3nc3
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:08amIt shouldn’t be the tax payers or the government responsibility to prop up Artist or their community. Folks it’s called charity. If PBS,AND THE ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS need money have a fund raiser,sell some of your works do whatever but it ain‘t the tax payer’s effin responsibility. We’re 14 plus trillion a debt programs like these should have been cut before we went 1 dollar in debt.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:18amAnd we thought Charlie Sheen was “out there”. Nevada you should be embarrassed. I know the rest of America is.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:08amIf these cowboy poets were any good they woulodn’t need public support. So, another case of Good Riddance to a Worthless entitty.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:37amIs there a lack of cowboy poets??? don‘t those poems usually end up in SONG’S? Why do they need TAX dollars..?? let those who want to listen to their work PAY to do so.. Reid is an idiot.. he still THINKS he controls everything the man should do us all a favor and RETIRE.. NOW..
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:32pmAlong about a country road
I met a man whose legs were bowed.
What kind of man is this
Who carries his jewels in parenthesis?
Anonymous Cowboy
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:44pmCowboy poets don’t need taxpayer money. They do this to keep alive a tradition unknown to most Americans. They do it for the love of it, not money. Nevada (I forget what town) has cowboy poetry events one weekend a year and if you ever get the chance, go. It’s a dying art-form, but it doesn’t need taxpayer money. These guys will go anywhwere they are invited… for FREE!
http://www.americasteapartynews.com
Report Post »fedfreakingup
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:36pmit’s sickening to know this is why I pay taxes to support this crap. I agree Harry and Barack can both dig in their own pockets to support this. Have they ever heard of charging for admission?
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:06pmHow long ago did Harry suffer a severe blow to the head?
Report Post »His speech doesn’t make any sense.
Ruler4You
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:53pmThis shows you the level of insanity that permeates the socialist left.
Report Post »