Sunday evening was one of those perfect nights where a man can really just sit back and think. I was tending a grill with a couple of t-bones from some of Nevada's finest range fed beef on it and an ice cold Miller High Life in hand (just in case of a fire). Above me the sky soared from a fiery orange/pink in the West, just behind the Hungry Mountains to a deep midnight over Spanish Peak and Sugar Loaf. In between was a carpet of stars and the only sounds were the snorts of the horses in their pen munching on their hay, the crackling of the beef and the occasional shout from the neighborhood kids. The temperature was mid 60s and it was still too early in the year for bugs. In short it was the kind of night where a man can give thanks to God for being (in no particular order) an American, a Westerner and in particular a resident of Red Country. A place where he can tune into KHWG broadcasting classic country music and the Central Nevada Farm and Ranch report out of Fallon.

A long time ago I wrote that America achieved greatness because of beef, pork and chicken. Think about it folks. Beef in particular is unique to the diet of the Americas. Not that other countries don't eat it but nowhere in the world has beef assumed the central role in the diet that it has in America. I would argue that this reliance on our bovine friend has served us well. In short, anytime you turn your back on beef and to a lesser extent, swine and yardstrutter, you turn your back on Americana. Some of you all are no doubt asking yourselves where I'm going with this well I'm here to tellya, America is unique to history. Those ingredients that are particular to the American experience all contribute to our national soul and well being. I expect a few lurking lib'ruls will probably refrain from eating their 3.2 oz of beef per year now but I also expect that folks like the Chop, Bull and Spider will make up their shortfall with an extra chicken fried steak or two this year.

Some you reading this have known me for better than 30 years and know I've been playing at cowboy all that time. I've got Tony Lama boots I wore when I was crawling through Honky Tonks with D.P. and Bull, Spider and the Chop. I still wear my Stetson to Sunday services and love my Red Steagall tracks. The image of the cowboy is even more central to the concept of America than beef is to the diet. For Americans, when you call someone a cowboy, it is usually done with a note of respect or admiration. Unless of course you're an effete Easterner, a European or an academic.

What set me off on this topic? Well I was reading a book recently called "Virgin Land" written by a man named Henry Nash Smith. Generally I'm suspicious of books written by men with three names but in this case, I had no choice, the book was assigned. Actually it was a fairly entertaining read until near the end, when the author exposed his agenda. Now according to the author, the problem with America is that it has always looked inward, toward the West or the prairie for its heroes rather than looking overseas. Consequently, this has inhibited our acceptance into the "community of nations" because we idolize the cowboy. So if we just give up our continued fascination with the imagery of John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Clint Eastwood, we'll be far happier. By extension, if we just disavow our pleasure at watching "True Grit" we can expect to be lauded by Islamonazis instead of being bombed by them and the French would finally quit sniffling at the mere mention of "American." Needless to say, the book left me a little bit cheesed off.

Not to speak ill of the dead, because the late Henry Nash Smith was Professor Emeritus at Cal Berkeley and he never lived to see it but he needn't have worried. When was the last time Hollywierd made a decent western? Not that they could if they had to. Who would you get to star? Besides Tom Selleck and Robert Duvall, I can't think of many actors who could take the time away from their agents, press clippings and hookers long enough to ACT like a legitimate American. You see conservative politics and cowboys go hand in hand. You never saw the Duke asking for gub'mint handouts or sniveling that some job was too tough. He always found a way to do the job and if he didn't, he inspired others to do it. Americans loved cowboys because they were independent, proud and just. They had simple beliefs and worked hard at thier jobs, they believed in God and didn't need a Supreme Court decision to tell them when or who or what to worship. Cowboys viewed the Second Amendment as etched in stone and guns were another tool for them. In short, cowboys are everything that is anathema to the left. So go out and have a steak tonight and give thanks to God for inspiring me to inspire you to support our cattlemen. Someday, I'll do the same for hog growers cause we're laying in a half pig for the freezer tomorrow...

Smilin' Paul Villa U.S. Senate 2010
cyber-Congressman, R-Reno
Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and 2 SUV Family