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Bell wants Friedman to drop out of race (Kinky: "We don't negotiate with terrorists")
Austin American-Statesman ^ | Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | W. Gardner Selby

Posted on 10/11/2006 8:01:59 AM PDT by WestTexasWend

Kinky says he won't step down.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell called on independent Kinky Friedman to drop his 20-month-old bid for governor Tuesday night.

Friedman didn't directly answer his opponent but said in a telephone interview: "Hell, no. Why would I do that?

"I don't want to step down for anybody when I think America is going to have a big turnout" on Election Day, Friedman said from a hotel in McAllen. "I'm not looking for a way out. We don't negotiate with terrorists."

Republican Gov. Rick Perry "better watch this, because we're going to beat him," Friedman said.

Bell, Friedman and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn, bunched up well behind Perry in recent polls, have been jockeying to shoot past each other in the 20-odd days remaining before voters act Nov. 7. Libertarian James Werner also is on the ballot.

Perry did not crater in the only scheduled debate of the race Friday, leaving his challengers hunting for footholds.

Bell, coming off a solid debate performance, learned that Houston lawyer John O'Quinn will give or raise up to $5 million for his bid.

He said in a statement Tuesday night that he'd hoped to keep private a phone message left on Friedman's cell phone Tuesday suggesting a meeting at Friedman's ranch near Medina.

But since a newspaper found out, Bell said, "I'm going to ask him publicly. Please join me in defeating Rick Perry."

Referring to Friedman's declared goal of being a shepherd for Texas as governor, Bell said he and Friedman agree that voters want change. "And now is the time for us all to unite and elect a new governor. So I'm asking for Kinky to join me, and be a good shepherd for the state of Texas."

Bell's telephone message came to light because Friedman was campaigning accompanied by a reporter for The Dallas Morning News, which reported Bell's intent on its Web site Tuesday evening.

Bell acknowledged that Friedman is siphoning votes from him and Perry, whose campaign had no comment.

"He's taking from both," Bell told the Dallas newspaper. "But he's taking more from me."

Strayhorn spokesman Mark Sanders said: "That certainly is an unusual call. We've certainly had no calls like that nor placed any calls like that."

Democratic consultant Kelly Fero, who is not involved in the gubernatorial race, said: "You can't blame Bell for trying to get every possible advantage." But "all these candidates need to be worried about reaching out to voters, not reaching out to each other. . . . This will be a distraction."


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: backroomdeal; chrisbell; election2006; howtostealanelection; kinkyfriedman; rattricks; rickperry; supressthevote; txgovernorsrace; txpolitics
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To: mnehrling
Yes I am. I know Perry isn't 100% Conservative, but by all estimate, he is 75% and I would rather have 75% forward momentum than the negative momentum the others would bring.

I don't know if Perry is even 75% conservative, but he's better than those other losers. I'll be voting for Rick. I've come to the conclusion that a gutless RINO is better than a 100% democrat.

Worst case scenario is Bell winning.

41 posted on 10/12/2006 1:02:03 PM PDT by Sans-Culotte ("Thanks, Tom DeLay, for practically giving me your seat"-Nick Lampson)
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To: HushTX
When was the last time we saw anyone actually reach out to the voters?

It has been quite awhile. Now it is all about getting more money to run more incredibly pathetic ads to get name recognition...which is sad because there are plenty of free venues that will get you a lot of free exposure *if* you are willing to answer questions...which candidates don't like to do.
42 posted on 10/12/2006 1:25:36 PM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: HushTX

Here is a few links. But google is your friend is you really want to find out what Kinky has said when and where.

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/2006/03/press_release_immigration_poli.html

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/issues/faq.html

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/state/15511424.htm
Good luck with your research.


43 posted on 10/12/2006 2:58:39 PM PDT by deport (The Governor, The Foghorn, The Dingaling, The Joker, some other fellar...... The Governor Wins)
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To: weegee
And how sad this is..we don't have a candidate to vote for. I fear the same will be true in 2008 for the presidential race.
44 posted on 10/12/2006 9:55:19 PM PDT by berdie
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To: HushTX

I agree, four candidates for governor in one of the most conservative states and none of them is a John Cornyn - type conservative.

With Kinky and Stayhorn in the race, it'll draw as many Democrats to them as Republicans. I don't see Bell winning.


45 posted on 10/13/2006 7:24:09 AM PDT by Barney Gumble (A liberal is someone too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel - Robert Frost)
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To: berdie

Lt. Governor Dewhurst has also lost the support of Dan Patrick.

We need to get conservative Republicans on the ballot through the primary process. The state GOP isn't so friendly to us (I'm not talking about people at the precinct level).


46 posted on 10/13/2006 10:46:59 AM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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To: P-40

Kinky may not be the best outsider to vote for but the rest are lifetime politicians.

Chris Bell doesn't even seem to be concerned about which office he controls. He was on city council. He ran for mayor and failed. He was briefly elected to Congress but was replaced after losing to another Democrat after redistricting. His only significant act was filing an ethics charge against Tom DeLay on his way out (and yes his supporters cite that as a reason to vote for him). Now he's running for Governor. So which is it? Or is it just about the power, influence, and contracts?

Grandma and Perry are also life long politicos. Doesn't anybody WORK anymore?


47 posted on 10/13/2006 10:51:14 AM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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