Kinky Friedman for Gov of Texas

I'm surprised i have not seen more info about this from folks, but I believe a major story is happening in Kinky Friedman's bid to become the first independent governor of Texas since Sam Houston in 1859. A Jewish cowboy in Texas, who fronted a band called the Texas Jewboys and authored mystery novels and has a documented history of cocaine problems has started to run a renegade campaign that just might well be the tonic for most folks of all political stripes who are sick and tired of politics as usual. there's enough about Kinky to offend right wing moralists and politically correct lefties and inspire the imagination of the rest of us. As Molly Ivins says, "Why the hell not Kinky?"

www.kinkyfriedman.com

As a sign of how much promise the Kinky campaign holds, Jesse Ventura's ad man, Bill Hillsman (who also did Wellstone and Nader's ads) and his campaign manager, Dean Barklay, have signed onto Kinky's campaign.

Kinky on the campaign trail:

http://web.herald-zeitung.com/story.lasso?wcd=13729

His biggest obstacle now is getting 50,000 signatures to put his name on the ballot--but under Texas law, anyone voting in the GOP or Dem primary cannot signon.

The New Yorker has an entertaining profile on Kinky's quest:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050822fa_fact

Among Kinky's platform are his calls for Texas to stop being number 50 in education (as he says, "we can't say thank god for mississippi anymore!) he has a Leave No Teacher Behind idea to give teachers more support. He promises to appoint his good friend Willie Nelson as an energy czar and is very big into biodiesal.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/19/sunday/main788935.shtml

Friedman just speaks his mind as is. Answering a reporter's question at a recent news conference, Friedman said, "I support gay marriage because I believe they have right to be just as miserable as the rest of us!"

Editor Smith chimes in that, "Kinky is not plastic. Kinky is real. And at a very gut level, he connects with those people. And I think, whether it's Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakam or the man on the street in some small town, Kinky speaks to them. And that's why he ultimately cannot be written off."

An observor of previous Texas governors agrees:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/23/004951.php

Kinky seems to be generating enormous interest from the largest political party in America: the ones who don't vote, and hate politics. Dems and GOPs always want to think how "deeply divided" we are when the truth is most people aren't dividied. most people just don't give a shit and think all politicans are in bed with special interests.

Its owner, Ace Cook, a squat man with a yellowing walrus mustache, wanted to inform Kinky of his political philosophy.

"I'm for you," Cook said, sitting down to write the campaign a check. "I'm sick of these assholes who don't represent me, or represent people." By now, this sentiment had become a common refrain. "They represent A.T. & T. and Enron. How you gonna come and beg for my vote and then have nothing to do with me? Did Enron elect you or did I? I'm paying your salary, hoss. How'd it be if someone went up to the capitol and did what they said they would?"

Anything that reinvigorates Texas politics and away from their current right-wing hell i think is good for democracy.