Cowboy Confessional

Guy Smith – writer, songwriter, political provocateur

Mirkarimi’s Malady

Guy Smith | January 26, 2012

It is unsafe to live in San Francisco, especially at the sheriff’s house.
In this city known for institutionalized corruption, citizens rarely blink over common City Hall scandals. But when the newly elected pro-gun-control sheriff has his personal firearms confiscated while being saddled with an emergency protective order separating him from his wife and kid, even [...]

Bare Claus

Guy Smith | December 12, 2011

A large gathering of naked Santa Clauses caused nobody in San Francisco to do a double take.
Immune residents are to the chaos that is San Francisco. From the moment gold was discovered in California and a mob of disreputable drifters, brewers and prostitutes landed here, San Francisco has been uniquely American, Un-American and [...]

Tehama’s Plank

Guy Smith | October 1, 2011

Larry Ellison – billionaire CEO of Oracle Corporation and avid yachtsman – would like to thank the 418 residents of Tehama, California for building him a new dock.
This may come as a surprise to Tehama tenants whose only experience with large watercraft is watching upstream housing travel down the Sacramento River during periodic floods. [...]

Spiritually Horny

Guy Smith | April 18, 2011

San Francisco is a spiritually horny town. Sometimes its ministerial mixing make for interesting intersections.

Better Begging

Guy Smith | March 17, 2011

One has to admire spunk.  It appears in odd places, with even odder people and those for whom you least expect it.
While piloting my pickup down a gray San Francisco street, I encountered yet another homeless panhandler pacing the cars parked at a traffic light. Like most sidewalk dwellers, he held a cardboard sign with [...]