He's not Kinky, He's my Governor

[Transition Force]

Well, he would be signing the bill :P

OK, so how's about this : Vote for Kinky, Micheal Badnarik, and Ron Paul. Prohibition problem solved

[andruejaysin]

I don't in texas, but I'm gonna vote for him anyway.

[Hamlet]

A Jew quoting St. John in Texas politics, and you missed it. You need to watch more TV

Why not? Contrary to conventional conservative/evangelical belief, John was a Jew too.

[birdgirl73]

I can't believe you haven't seen that: "I'm a good shepherd not a politician"
he's got the stray dog and everything.

A Jew quoting St. John in Texas politics, and you missed it. You need to watch more TV

I don't watch much TV, it's true. And on the rare occasions when I do, I always put the ads on mute. But I'd have gotten a kick outta that ad. Stray dog and everything!

[KiEfBoyjBm]

...But I don't perceive him as being highly smart, perceptive or compassionate. Just sort of a concocted character, which is what he freely admits to being. ..

Kinky Friedman graduated from the University of Texas with their plan II Honors major and psychology, my opinion is that he is a very smart man. Bell and Strayhorn graduated from UT as well, and Perry from Texas A&M. They all seem to have received a high level of education.

...Where's Kinky been all these years when it comes to public service, philanthropy, volunteering, or community support? Nowhere that I've seen. But I have seen some obnoxious tendencies that concern me...

Well, during college he was active in the civil rights movement, then after graduating with honors from UT, he volunteered for the Peace Corps in Borneo from 1967-1969. He came back and began his professional career as a musician alongside his childhood friend, Little Jewford, who is also helping with his campaign. They eventually became part of a group called "Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys." Kinky used his musical talents to lampoon racial stereotypes, in an attempt to combat racism. Up until he announced his intentions of running for Governor he was a frequent writer for Texas Monthly, as well as writing several books. I think he has been active in the Texas Community his entire life. And it also sounds like the life story of a man who would be a legendary Governor, that is why I will vote for Kinky Friedman. Besides, a democrat has not won a state-wide election in 12 years, I don't think Chris Bell is the man to break that cycle.

[birdgirl73]

I'm aware of Kinky's educational background and career history. And yet even with his academic history at UT (also my undergraduate, including the Plan II program, and first post-graduate alma mater), I have been underwhelmed with his seeming lack of sensitivity in interviews, his not being very well aware of some of the issues facing Texans, and a sort of imperceptiveness/insensitivity on a number of matters.

In recent years, Kinky has been woefully inactive in community service, a fact I know because his staff has had to scramble to spin him as having been otherwise. I'm familiar with his writings and met him personally late last year through one of his top marketing/PR advisers, who's a long-time friend of mine. His staff do not find him to be an organized or logical leader. So my personal impression has simply been that Kinky might make a legendary gubernatorial character, but I specifically haven't been terribly impressed, which explains why I didn't vote for him. I'm glad you have been impressed and that you'll cast your vote accordingly.

All this is moot anyway since Kinky's not going to win this election any more than Chris Bell will. We'll have Rick Perry for another term.

[Breukelen advocaat]

He'd get my vote for ANY office he ran for - from governor of New York to the presidency. He's got a lot of ideas that I agree with.

BTW, the nickname "Kinky" refers to his hair, which he has had a lifelong problem managing.

Here's the latest on his campaign:

Sunday Herald - 29 October 2006

Kinky Friedman: the next governor of Texas?
From Marion McKeone in Fort Worth



OUTSIDE Kinky Friedmanâ??s Fort Worth headquarters, crowds are waiting for Americaâ??s most unlikely candidate to sign an array of items, from tanned midriffs to Kinky Talking Dolls. â??The strangest thing Iâ??ve ever been asked to autograph,â?� he says as he dispatches his silver inked scrawl on a piece of flimsy underwear, â??was in Glasgow. A Scotsman insisted that I autograph his scrotum.â?�
Did he oblige? â??Well,â?� he grins, â??he was bigger than me. It would have been churlish to refuse.â?�

Welcome to the Kinky Friedman gubernational campaign. Where High Noon meets South Park. Where the candidate is a 61-year-old Texan Jew who dresses in an all-black preacher-style outfit, complete with cowboy hat and an elaborate leather waistcoat that was a gift from Waylon Jennings. Where Lucille Oâ??Brien, 100 years old, wears a T-shirt that declares: â??Iâ??m saving myself for Kinky,â?� and billionaire realtors sport sweatshirts that pronounce November 7, 2006 â??Texas Independence Dayâ?�. John Steinbeck described Texas as â??a nation in every sense of the wordâ?�.

This might explain why, with mid-term elections looming, Texas has become an electoral ground zero, a focus for a creeping discontent that has seeped through all 50 states during the second term of the Bush presidency.

Last time around, the candidates spent $100 million on a race that nobody noticed: 71% of eligible voters stayed at home and Republican incumbent Rick Perry was declared the victor to a response of withering lethargy.

This time, things are different, Friedman, a former country singer, novelist and satirist has injected a shot of adrenaline into a comatose race.

While his political rivals were laying the foundations of their political careers, Friedman was chopping out lines of cocaine on Led Zeppelinâ??s private jet en route to performances with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan.

That this, in the view of many Americans, makes Kinky Friedman supremely qualified to become the next governor of Texas, tells you something about the level of disenchantment with career politicians. Invariably, the loudest cheer on Friedmanâ??s campaign stop comes when he declares: â??Iâ??m the only candidate running who has no political experience.â?�

Pointing out that his three rivals have, between them, clocked up 89 years in politics, he concludes that â??politics must be the only job where the more experience you have the worse you getâ?�. He cheerfully proclaims himself â??too young for Medicare, too old for women to careâ?�, and supports gay marriage on the basis that â??gays have every right to be as miserable as the rest of usâ?�. A self-described â??compassionate redneckâ?�, heâ??s running on an unlikely combination of education reform, environmental protection and the legalisation of gambling in Texas.

Friedmanâ??s stump speech, delivered in his rasping Texan drawl, while chomping down on a Cuban cigar, never fails to spark a standing ovation. The rapier-like ripostes always find their mark but campaign manager Dean Bartley, who masterminded Jesse Venturaâ??s surprise victory in Minnesota, says the campaign is no joke. There is a difference, he says, between taking what one does seriously and taking oneself seriously.

Itâ??s a distinction that has been lost on many politicians, but the Bush White House has been watching closely of late. Bush strategist Karl Rove thinks Friedman poses a serious enough threat to warrant dispatching Bush to Texas to campaign for Perry.

When heâ??s asked who would be the first lady of Texas, heâ??ll call out casually to Little Jewford, his sidekick and road manager: â??Ya doinâ?? anything on the eight of November?â?� To which Little Jewford shrugs and replies: â??Itâ??s a gig, I guess.â?�

But there is a first lady waiting in the wings, a green-eyed Londoner half his age who is smart, funny and immensely likeable.

Back in August, Friedman predicted that he would be â??swift-boatedâ?� â?? a reference to the dirty tricks campaign against John Kerry. He was right. Notwithstanding a record of activism against segregation, charges of racism were levelled by the Democrat candidate, Chris Bell. When Bell asked him to withdraw from the race, Friedman retorted: â??We donâ??t negotiate with terrorists.â?�

As with all rollercoaster rides, there is a good chance that this one will derail or reach a shuddering halt short of the finish. Right now polls of likely voters put Friedman 20 points behind Perry.

Friedman shrugs and says: â??Weâ??re going after the 71% of unlikely voters. So weâ??ll either win by a landslide or weâ??ll get well and truly whupped.â?�

The key is voter turn-out. If the voters stay home again, Perry will win. If, on the other hand, the hundreds of thousands of Texans, who have been lining Friedmanâ??s campaign trail turn out in the same numbers on election day, he just might pull off the biggest upset in Texas since the Alamo.

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[andruejaysin]

He is my write in candidate for noxious weed commissioner. In the little town where I live they'll put it in newspaper- guyineverheardof1 1435, guyineverheardof2 863, kinky friedman 1.

[KiEfBoyjBm]

I personally think that Chris Bell would be the worst Governor out of the bunch. During the debate when he pledged, "I am a serious man, with a serious plan," it just didn't do anything for me. I'm tired of candidates who try to please everyone. Kinky may sound a little unpolished, but that is what gives me confidence in him. At least you vote though, many Texans have become apathetic towards local and statewide elections which are essential elements of a great democracy.

[minnesota man]

Chris Bell is a loser.
Rick Perry is a cardboard cut-out.
Grandma is inspirational.
So is Kinky.
I'm voting for Kinky Friedman because he inspires me.
I carved this pumpkin in his likeness but it looks more like Juan Valdez, I know.