Posted on 09/07/2006 5:33:57 PM PDT by Dubya
DALLAS -- Legalizing casinos in Texas makes sense because residents already drive to nearby states or fly to Las Vegas to gamble, independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman said today. ADVERTISEMENT
"This is common sense," said Friedman "It's crazy to have Louisiana gamblers mad at Oklahoma for taking away their Texans."
Friedman, a musician, author and humorist, said he recently returned from a "fact-finding mission" in Las Vegas and estimated that half the people he met there were from Texas. Texans are also responsible, Friedman said, for transforming the regional gambling hot spot of Tunica, Miss., from the "poorest little town in Mississippi to the richest little town in Mississippi."
Legal casino gambling in Texas would generate between $6 billion and $8 billion annually for the state, he said. That money would improve public schools and lower property taxes, which Friedman described as "obscene and outrageous."
"We would bring the money back home," Friedman said. "Legalizing casino gambling is very popular in Texas, and I think most people want it."
Friedman's comments on gambling were part of an overall political message he described as K.I.S.S.P.: Keep It Simple, Stupid Politicians.
Friedman positioned himself as an outsider to incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, an independent who is the state comptroller. Those three have a combined 89 years of political experience, Friedman said.
"A politician is thinking about the next election," Friedman said. "A statesman is thinking about the next generation. Get the money changers out of the temples. Get the politicians out of Texas."
Friedman repeated ideas he discussed Wednesday in Houston, including beefing up security by increasing the number of National Guard troops at the Texas-Mexico border from 1,500 TO 10,000. He also wants to give Houston $100 million to address rising crime.
Friedman complained about the budget surplus in Austin, saying he would use it to strengthen the state park system and improve social services.
"These areas have been so gutted by this governor that I don't think any policy I would create could hurt them any worse," he said.
No.
Bell, the democrat, doesn't have a prayer. If either Strayhorn or Kinky (both running as independents) were to drop out, the other might have a chance at upsetting Perry. But as it stands, this race is just what mylife said: a mess.
I'm with you on gambling -- don't like it, don't want it near me.
But there's a horsetrack not far from where I live, suckers lining up to buy lottery tickets at all the convenience stores, and traffic jams on I-35 north of Denton as DFW gamblers cross the Red River to the Indian casinos near Thackerville.
It's here. I might just as soon keep the money in state, cut down on weekend traffic to Oklahoma and Louisiana, and put those largely unregulated Indian casinos out of business.
Don't like it the way it is, but don't really want it in state either. Still thinking about it.....
Sure.
- steal cable TV
There's an actual victim there, so not really.
- speeding (repeal the speed limit!)
Speed limits should be set at a point where exceeding them is actually dangerous, instead of using them for revenue generation.
And I'm sure a few others.
Quite so.
Could we tell the difference if he did?
:-)
LOL
ping
Makes sense if Louisiana is going to get $100billion to rebuild New Orleans as the new Las Vegas and yet Houston is going to retain most of the evacuees who originally claimed they would be going home (and even already voted in the New Orleans election this year).
The money will dissappear down a dark hole and we will never see it again.
No, she's being a very bad Republican. She has had a blood feud with Perry on every possible issue. She's a Democrat in all but name, and she's switched parties more often than she's switched husbands.
Her bid for Governor is to hurt Rick Perry, not help him.
I really don't want to vote for Governor Goodhair, Kinky actually is making more sense these days.
Strayhorn is Ma Richards in drag.
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