Posted: August 8, 2012 at 10:36 pm

Cowgirl Finishes Her Sophomore Year

In July, the Cowgirl Blog turned two.

And, the blog is on the verge of receiving our one millionth viewer.  Montana Cowgirl has been featured on CNN, and in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, Mother Jones, and numerous Montana press outlets, much of it in the course of exposing the 2011 Republican legislature for the lunatics that they were (are).

But far more flattering is this: at a recent Washington, DC “summit” of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation group (the Koch brothers’ outfit of angry right-wing misfits), there was a panel at which I am told my blog was the main topic of discussion.  Who is this person, they asked. How does she do her research? What dark arts must she know?

It is truly hilarious that these dingbats believe my blog to consist of some sort of magic.  They view it with a sense of awe and bewilderment, like when Tarzan watched in amazement when he first saw the British artistocrat shave his face with a strait razor.  To the Tea Party set, this blog is an item of technological wonder, believed to emanate from some advanced, alien civilization.

A few pieces of advice for the panel participants. First, if you are literate, you can start a blog.  It costs almost nothing and can be done for free.  Second, if you know how to surf the web, conduct google searches, read a Facebook page and receive reader tips by e-mail, you can do all of the things that this blog does.  (Thank you readers! Your tips make up the most important content on this blog. Send tips to mntnacowgirl (at) gmail.com) True, this sets a high bar for an organization (AFP) whose Montana leaders are Joe Balyeat and Henry Kriegel. But it’s incomprehensible that there is such a dearth of credible GOP blogging in this state. The relative absence of conservative blogging (compared to all the really great Montana progressive blogs you see among those on the blog roll here to the right of this post) speaks volumes about the right wing.

As to the occasional remark made that this blog “lacks courage” because it is penned anonymously, these critics do not understand that anonymous writing is a crucial component of political discourse and has always been so.  Among other examples, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, a 1776 work that set forth the basic principles on which the American Revolution was based,was published anonymously.  I’m sure that Tea Partiers, with their intellectual command of American history, are aware of this.

18 comments

  1. Larry Kralj, Environmental Rangers

    Oh sweet Jesus! Now you’re really gone and done it. You done pissed off the Big Kockh brothers!……..bwhahahahaha!

    And for that, I thank you! Congrats on making their shit list.

  2. Dallas Reese

    Anonymous writing has a rich and deep history in the US. During the states battles to ratify the US Constitution in 1787-1788 many “anonymous” writings were published. It was an accepted practice at the time. Anonymous contributors both for and against ratification included “Centinel”, “Brutus”, “Federal Farmer”, “Cato”, “Publius”, “Landholder”, and “Countryman” just to name a few. Some of the names behind these anonymous contributors are known; there’s speculation about others and some are anonymous still today. Then, as now, it’s the message and not the messenger. Cowgirl continues the tradition. Thanks for your insights and information.

  5. Bill Dial

    The single best source for real news in the whole state of Montucky. Keep up the great work, and don’t ever give away your identity.

  7. Trust No One

    Happy Birthday, in your honor Emmy Lou shall be featured on my music play list today.

  8. Drunks for Denny

    Even though you pick on my bro Denny (who else will defend the drinkers of the Velvet Sage?) a little too much, this blog is a fine read. Happy birthday.

  10. Rob Kailey

    Oh crap! The terrible twos coming into the heat of the election cycle. EVERYBODY PANIC! Seriously, congratulations. It is difficult for any blog to make it past the two year mark, even more so to do it with accolades and acclaim.

    I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t point out that there are a whole big bunch of us wondering what this blog will be next year at this time. I think it was Anil Dash of Six Apart who figured out that less than 20% of blogs make it into year 3. This one is kind of a powerhouse, so the odds are good.

    Good luck to you.

  12. Publius II

    The Tea Party fans are often sadly deficient in understanding our Nation’s founding documents, and in particular the FEDERALIST PAPERS, a central publication in the construction of our Constitution, and ANONYMOUSLY crafted by no less than – yes Tea Partiers take notes – JOHN JAY, JAMES MADISON AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON. It’s as central a founding document as the MAYFLOWER COMPACT and the Declaration of Independence itself. So when I see folk on the street in tri-corn hats, buckle shoes and such, I admire their enthusiasm but I’d admire their intellect more if they could enter into SERIOUS debate as our founders did on the powers of government, the roles of a Republic versus Democracy, etc, and note that Democracy is where the majority may rule, but the MINORITY must be heard.

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  15. Ingemar Johansson

    Can’t quite remember exactly when the ass handing donkey showed up in your header.

    Was it before the 2010 elections when the R’s won the US House with 60 members? Six new US senate seats? Seven new Govs? How ’bout when the MT house flipped to R control and Denny was re-elected with 60% of the vote?

    Will it remain when Jon gets beat, a new R gov, US rep.?

    I guess we’ll see.

    • Norma Duffy (@Ilikewoods)

      Dream on Ingy!

      Your People promised change for the better and never gave it. They have already showed us their cards.

      They want to destroy 60 year old institutions like social security, they only want medicare in voucher form where life saving surgeries of any kind cost more then what the vouchers are worth.

      They want to destroy the labor movement, Kill education for everyone except those who can pay for it as they go, as well as give whats left of people pensions to corporations.

      They don’t believe in Climate change, clean water and air. The don’t care about paying a living wage, and they want women to become second class citizens again, all the while shoving only one kind of religion down everyone’s throats. Your party doesn’t want democracy anymore it wants fascism.

      My guess is you party wont win the presidency unless you cheat. and your kind doesn’t even care enough to even hide that they are cheating, since their trying there hearts out to keep folk from voting.

      I am guessing you wont win, and this election looks even more like 2008 everyday!