Kinky Friedman Runs for Texas Governor

Associated Press ^ | 2-03-2005 | AP

[BobS]

SAN ANTONIO — Musician-turned-mystery author Kinky Friedman (search) is promising an unconventional campaign in his independent bid to get elected Texas governor next year.

Wearing blue jeans, black cowboy hat, a black fringed Western jacket and smoking a cigar, Friedman announced his candidacy in front of the Alamo on Thursday morning.

[BobS]

He wears boots to "walk knee-deep in tacos":)

[freedom44]

Odd platform.

He supports merry christmas, cigars but yet is opposed to death penalty and finally supports gay marriage.

[BobS]

Kinky Friedman Runs for Texas Governor Thursday, February 03, 2005 SAN ANTONIO — Musician-turned-mystery author Kinky Friedman (search) is promising an unconventional campaign in his independent bid to get elected Texas governor next year.

Wearing blue jeans, black cowboy hat, a black fringed Western jacket and smoking a cigar, Friedman announced his candidacy in front of the Alamo on Thursday morning.

"We're going to wake up this great slumbering giant of Texas independence," he said just after sunrise.

About 200 people were present for the announcement.

Friedman's announcement came 13 months before Democrats and Republicans select their nominees. He labeled the parties as "decaf or regular, paper or plastic."

"I want the thing to be fun," he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. "But you can do something fun and still have it be important."

"It's no choice at all," he said of the established parties. "Now we'll have a choice, a voice, and see if it means anything."

One hurdle he faces will be getting on the November 2006 ballot since filing regulations clearly favor the traditional parties.

He'll have up to two months in 2006, following the March primary, to collect 45,540 valid signatures on petitions to get him on the ballot later in the year as an independent. That's 1 percent of the votes cast in the November 2002 governor's race.

But according to filing rules, signatures he collects can't come from people who voted in that primary. And if there's a primary runoff, the signature period shrinks to 30 days after the runoff.

"We'll get it," he says confidently. "Things will happen."

Incumbent Rick Perry (search) is expected to seek a second full term, but a pair of fellow Republicans, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (search) and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (search), have been mentioned as rivals for the GOP nomination.

"The Kinkster's independent candidacy is no less of a joke than what Democrats have put up in recent years," says Luis Saenz, Perry's campaign manager.

Friedman's nearly two dozen books include one called "Kill Two Birds and Get Stoned." His campaign bumper stickers proclaim: "Why Not Kinky?"

His humor often plays on his Jewish background. He quotes Bob Dylan (search) and Willie Nelson (search), both friends, and he views the success of Jesse Ventura (search) in Minnesota and Arnold Schwarzenegger (search) in California as a sign he can prevail similarly in Texas.

Friedman's given first name is Richard and picked up the nickname Kinky for his wiry curly black hair when he was at the University of Texas in the 1960s.

After graduation, he joined the Peace Corps (search) and spent two years in Borneo. He had some modest success on the entertainment circuit with his band, The Texas Jewboys (search), attracting the attention of Rolling Stone magazine in 1972 and eventually touring with the famous all-star Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue (search) in the mid 1970s.

A decade later, he traded music for a typewriter and wrote the first of 17 mystery novels. His readers include President Bush and former President Clinton, and both had him as an overnight guest at the White House.

In 1986, he ran unsuccessfully for justice of the peace in Kerrville, where he lives on a ranch nearby. Until now, it was his only bid for political office. More recently he has been writing a column for Texas Monthly magazine.

A key element of his campaign is the fight against what he calls the "wussification" of Texas, which he defines as political correctness run amok.

He favors legalizing casino gambling to solve the state's education finance dilemma, would push for life without parole to provide an alternative to the death penalty and create a Texas version of the Peace Corps, enlisting the help of his friends in the entertainment industry.

[Semper Paratus]

His Lt. Governor would be some A*****E from El Paso.

[ElPatriota]

Now I wonder about this guy

Tries to look 'macho,' say important things are: Religion, soldiers, fireman (heroes), freedom of religion, Christmas displays, he is for smoking - which is fine by me too, as long as I don't have to breather your smoke - basically appears to be conservative enough...

But he also happens to be in favor of homosexual marriages (a small detail).

Let's see how Texas welcomes this clown :)

[fat city]

In a related story: Jerry Jeff Walker played at a private party for the Republican Convention.

[BobS]

A-Hole from El Paso is worth listening to now!

[BobS]

A-Hole from El Paso is worth listening to now!

[B.O. Plenty]

About 200 people were present for the announcement.

Which would be his entire voting base, we would hope. But what the heck do I know?....Jesse Ventura....a wrassler.... was elected gov of Minnesota...(sigh)

[sheik yerbouty]

Some of his other stuff is funny too. Maybe they could play "Get Your Biscuits in The Oven and Your Buns in The bed" at a NOW convention!

[Jeff Chandler]

The Texas Jewboys! I remember them. "First Piece of *** Blues" LOL!

[Richard Kimball]

This is a constantly recycled "Pat Paulson" parody that Friedman's been doing for at least twelve years. It is older than a duck ordering chapstick and wanting it put on his bill. This is older than take my wife, please. Somebody please give Kinky Friedman a new bit. He would be funnier putting on a bow tie and imitating Fozzie Bear. Wocka, Wocka.

[deport]

His name is Richard Friedman Jr. But he goes by Kinky so people want call him 'Little Dick'

As Governor, Kinky, or “the Kinkster”, would: •  Legalize casino gambling to fund education •  Abolish political correctness “We didn't get to be the Lone Star state by being politically correct” •  Take a good look at death row. “We need to make sure that we're not putting innocent people to death, which I believe we are” •  Outlaw the de-clawing of cats •  Bring young people into his administration. “Young people are less corrupt. They are the future of Texas ; it's theirs to win or lose.”

I'm a Jew, I'll hire good people. “If elected, I would ask Willie Nelson to be the head of the Texas Rangers and Energy Czar and Laura Bush to take charge of the Texas Peace Corps to improve education in the state. I'd ask my Palestinian hairdresser, Farouk Shami, to be Texas ' ambassador to Israel . We've worked together to create Farouk & Friedman olive oil. The oil comes from the Holy land and all of the profits go to benefit Israeli and Palestinian children.”

[BobS]

"We reserve the right to refuse service to you
"Your friends are all on welfare and you call yourself a Jew"

[gorush]

...or his campaign theme from his unsuccesful JOTP bid, Elect me, a Jew, and I'll lower the speed limit fromm 55 to 54.95.

[mercy]

I know Kinky personally. Not close but have been to his ranch with just my wife and him for an afternoon. I used to go to his performances thirty years ago. The Texas Jewboys. I've read most of his books. He is a liberal. Not a leftist but very much a liberal.

[ArmyBratproud]

The guy is an idiot! He just told Brian Wilson on Fox News Channel that he is not dead serious about the governor seat!

Kinky can't claim to be for family values...and then speak in favor of the opposite.

He can't claim to be for police officers.....when he has bashed them in the past.

Running this state is serious business.......Kinky and his stupidity nead to stay out of it.

[ArmyBratproud]

Yeah....even the folk music folks in Kerrville knew not to vote for the guy.

[mercy]

I know Kinky personally. Not close but have been to his ranch with just my wife and him for an afternoon. I used to go to his performances thirty years ago. The Texas Jewboys. I've read most of his books. He is a liberal. Not a leftist but very much a liberal.