Guess Who Wants to Be Governor (Kinky Friedman in Texas)

[Snellius]

MEDINA, Tex., Nov. 22 — As a campaign slogan, it leaves something to be desired: "Why the hell not?"

But Kinky Friedman, the irreverent Texas author, songwriter and salsa maker, and self-described "Gandhi-like figure" at the animal rescue ranch he runs here in the Hill Country west of San Antonio, says the message could propel him into the governor's mansion in Austin.
...
A White House official confirmed that the president had read the Friedman oeuvre, but declined to say whether Mr. Bush had gone so far as to offer his services as a campaign sounding board. At a recent White House dinner, Mr. Friedman indeed told the president that he was running, the official said, but Mr. Bush replied that he could not endorse him until he knew Mr. Friedman's platform.

That, Mr. Friedman said, is an easy one. He wants to make the declawing of cats illegal.

"People who think this is frivolous should come back as a cat," he said. "I'd be a Buddhist, except for Richard Gere."

He wants to make Texas a moviemaking capital with help from friends like Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. He is against political correctness — witness his 1970's band, the Texas Jewboys; their biggest hit, "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore"; and his cowboy ballad "Ride 'em Jewboy," perhaps the only country music Holocaust song.
...
Of gun control, he said, "I don't carry a weapon, so anyone who wants to shoot me will have to bring his own gun." He is not sure about abortion, though he proudly claims to have written what he calls the only pro-choice country song, "Rapid City, South Dakota." For the time being, he is prepared to dodge the question, declaring, "I'm not right to life, I'm not pro-choice, I'm pro football."

He was originally for the war in Iraq, he said, and argued with Willie Nelson about it. "He's a tyrannical bully," he told Mr. Nelson, "and we got to take him out."

"No," he says Mr. Nelson objected, "he's our president, and we got to stick by him."

In a Friedman administration, he said, Mr. Nelson would lead the Texas Rangers, unless he was called to Washington to head the Drug Enforcement Administration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/29/national/29KINK.html?pagewanted=2&8hpib

[GOPisEvil]

1. I met Kinky!

I bought some of his salsa, too. :9

[Catshrink]

2. Elvis, Jesus, and Coca Cola....

just one of his funny books.

But, at the end of one of them, he had the most beautiful poem in memory of his cat who died, the one who is prominent in most of his mystery stories. It was very touching.

But, politically speaking, another cornball candidate from Texas.

[Brazosboomer]

3. Care to step outside?

Who you calling cornball? Hell Honey, Kinky's got 75 IQ points and an original thought over Rick Prettyboy Perry. Plus, there ain't no way Kinky would ever be Tom DeLay's bitch.

I am told that I once had a date with Kinky back in the early 70's but we were both too drunk to remember it.

[Bucky]

4. An ACTUAL date w/ Kinky? That would be an awesome story...

If you can't remember it, hell, just make something up. Being a Texan does carry certain privilidges, after all. I await your magnum opus, ma'am.

[Catshrink]

5. I love Kinky!

And I'm jealous that you actually had a date with him. With Jr in DC, Ahnold in CA and Kinky in TX, this country can be real proud of its governors.