Wow, gambling to support the public schools, it’s worked SO WELL in every other State that claims that’s what it’s good for. Yea, the property taxes and crime went down for all the people living in those States, NOT. Idiots. Might as well make whoring legal and claim that’s gonna support the public schools too. Oh, wait, how about abortion to support the public schools, yea, that’s the ticket.

NRA4Freedom on September 22, 2006 at 10:26 AM

I AM a Texan and I just might vote for him. Hell, he can’t do any worse than Perry, Strayhorn or God-forbid, Chris Bell… Besides, it doesn’t really matter since the Governor of Texas is really just a figure-head. It’s the Lt. Governor who has all the power. Go figure. It’s a Texas thang…

pullingmyhairout on September 22, 2006 at 10:27 AM

I want to know more about the Oklahoma Wars…

allie on September 22, 2006 at 10:34 AM

His campaign headquarters in Austin is an old car rental office on Ben White; I drive by there all the time. Not much goes on there during the day; maybe they gather at night. I don’t know..that whole folksiness thing gets on my nerves. As far as declaring war on jOklahoma, I’ll wait and see how dirty Stoops plays his team against our baby quarterback at UT at the Red River shootout.

austinnelly on September 22, 2006 at 10:57 AM

Gay Marriage and Prayer in Schools. He’s making sure he has a negative for everyone.

Some campaign slogans:

Why vote Old and Stinky when you can vote New and Kinky?

Have a Drinky with Kinky

While the Other Guy is Shooting Off His Mouth,
Kinky is Shooting Off His Forty Five

Campaign ad:

My name is Kinky. I’m not ashamed of my name. It’s a name to live up to. Down here in Texas a man’s name means somethin. Somethin real. Real Kinky. That’s me.
Vote.
Vote Kinky.
It’s real. It’s real good.
Kinky.

Paid for by the Kinky Texan Governors Group. Not associated with any party or position.

His action figure is cool . We need more action figures. how about:

an Arlen Specter action figure: pull a string and it does what you want

Richard Armitage action figure: pull a string and he won’t say anything

Kerry action figure: pull a string and he remembers what he would have done

Bill Clinton action figure: pull a string and he tells you what he would have done better

-pull the string again and he tells you what Bush should have done

-pull the string again and he tells you he is Bush’s friend

-pull the string again and he tells you his dog Buddy was his best friend

- pull the string again and he tells you what happened to Buddy

-pull the string again and he asks for his speaking fee

Hillary Clinton Action Figure: pull a string and she tells you where she stands on issues

- pull the string again and she tells you where she stood on issues yesterday

- pull the string again and she will talk macho

- pull the string again and if you get lucky she will tell you what she really thinks

George Bush action figure:

- pull the string and he will speak Spanish

- pull the string again and he will tell you you should speak English

Dick Cheny action figure: pull a string and he won’t shoot you

Al Gore action figure: pull a string and he will show you his good side

entagor on September 22, 2006 at 11:20 AM

Forgot these:

Chavez action figure: pull the string and he buys another friend

Ahmadinejad action figure : pull the spring and he glows in the dark

Osama Bin Laden action figure: pull the string and he blows up

entagor on September 22, 2006 at 11:35 AM

If he wanted to live up to his namesake, he should have pledged legalizing prostitution for the benefit of the schools and called it slots for… aw nevermind. I think Texans like to gamble more than roll in the hay anyway.

We have a guy who keeps running for Mayor of San Diego named Loch David Crane. He runs in every Mayoral election and loses every election and has for about 20 years. He rides a motorcycle-trike that looks like Star-Trek’s USS Enterprise. He also looks like either a young Colonel Sanders, or Buffalo Bill.

Colorful eccentricity and money, plus being bored, equals great entertainement value, but little else.

SilverStar830 on September 22, 2006 at 11:41 AM

Sometimes it’s a good thing that we have outrageous figures (not the action kind) run for public office. We allow them to say outrageous, politically incorrect things that actually MAKE SENSE, because we don’t neccessarily take them seriously. It’s like Penn (of Penn & Teller) once said in a role on Babylon 5, “We say seriously things in a funny way, but when the joke ends, people stop listening.” (Paraphrased, my apologies to JMS) Kinky may be politically incorrect, and his stance on some issues may sound like he coin flipped every one of them, but he does add one benefit to the discussion. He breaks through the barriers we all hold on discussing certain issues, with candid, in your face beliefs. “I support Gay Marriage because I believe they have the right to be just as miserable as the rest of us.” Now it may not be politically correct, but it’s a position you can’t argue with. It’s funny, but it also points out the absurdity of the positions and arguments that most politicians take. I dont’ know if I’d vote for him (where I a Texan), but then again, I think he’s more honest than any of the other candidates out there.

DakRoland on September 22, 2006 at 11:45 AM

Sounds pretty libertarian to me. Still, I’d like to see him in a eal debate before I make assumptions.

bentman78 on September 22, 2006 at 12:14 PM

With nothing but the deepest respect and admiration for Michelle and all the wonderful guest hosts that have appeared here, I must say it’s a nice change to see and hear a fellow Texan. It’s the twang, folks, it’s the TWANG!

SailorDave on September 22, 2006 at 12:33 PM

Good day, everyone.

Hmmm. I don’t know that much about Kinky, but from what I do know, and based on from what I have seen from his being interviewed, and from what my ex-boss (a Texan) has told me about Kinky, he MIGHT JUST MAKEa good governor. You never can tell.

He does admit to flip-flopping on issues. He wants to put thousands more Texas National Guard on the borders.

At least he does appear to be more honest than most other folks running for office, does not appear to be a moonbat, and lets face it, what America needs is…A LOT LESS PC.

War with Oklahoma? Hmmmm…well, I must admit I have always been suspicious about a state that has had a Broadway show made about it.

In any event, as Kinky says: “May the God of your choice bless you.”

Later, my fellow commentors.

The False Dervish on September 22, 2006 at 2:11 PM

I live in Austin and work a couple of blocks away from the capital, and if I’m already sick of “He Ain’t Kinky, He’s My Governor” bumper stickers.

That being said, I’m none too happy with Rick Perry’s toll roads, so I’ve got some thinking over to do before I hit the voting booth.

thirteen28 on September 22, 2006 at 2:45 PM

Kinky Friedman is running on attitude instead of issues. Unfortunately he just might win because of it. There’s way too many people here who would simply vote for him for no other reason than his flippant manner. They’re so fed up with how things are being done, they’d vote for anyone with the same devil-may-care approach. Also, there’s quite a few people who would vote for him as a joke so they can say, “Hey, I vote we get Kinky. Ha ha.”

I’m with Cathleen McKinley: He might be cool to hang with as a friend, but NOT as the governor of the second largest state in the U.S. He’s for same-sex marriage, legalization of marijuana, and legalized gambling for…supporting schools. Texas has defeated numerous attempts at legalizing these things, and it looks like it’ll have to keep doing it ‘til Kingdom Come.

He wouldn’t take the job seriously. I think he’d do better as a spokesman, political commentator, or something where he didn’t actually have to make decisions, just talk.

thirteen28 is right, however, that Rick Perry seems drunk with power. Dallas, too, is getting hit hard with all the toll roads. Looks like Texas might be headed for trouble after the next election.

Lone Star on September 22, 2006 at 4:31 PM

A bunch of us Texicans hang around here.
It may play out thins way; Perry and Kinky in a runoff. And, under those circumstances, who knows. Kinky only stands a chance because Perry has been a very uninspiring governor.

Since Kinky can’t actually enact his liberal ideas without the legislature (and they’re pretty stubborn about their role down here), it just might be worth the entertainment value. Texas government has been a joke for a long time; might as well make it official. (I say this from up-close experience a couple decades ago; was in line for a State Rep slot, but my honesty got in the way.)

Mike O on September 22, 2006 at 9:26 PM

Kinky

He’s hysterical and so would the government be - the problem with Perry is that he doesn’t spend money - Texas is 50th in taxation and 50th in state spending per capita despite being 32nd in spending on education

Perry is boring - most fiscally responsible people are

But when you look at kinky, Strayhorn and Bell they are promising more money to teachers than the budget can generate might get them some votes but it will also usher in a state income tax currently prohibited and vetod by Perry

In other words despite the hilarity, the Grandma whose switched parties, platforms, husbands more than an entire county, The city councilmen who lost his district and tried to get Delay in jail, and Kinky who is self explanatory despite all this - it comes down to three candidates who are tax and spend liberals and a strong conservative.

EricPWJohnson on September 22, 2006 at 11:07 PM

Jol are correct (and I am tired); no runoff. Unfortunately, that minimizes Kinky’s chances, based on the one factor that skews the polls here; the single-ticket vote. There is a healthy percentage that go in and punch the single slot. And, unlike most off-years, there will be heavy focus on national issues (like national security), so the straight votes will be enhanced.

Also, Texans may love to gamble, but the religious community hates the idea (cuts into their bingo take, I guess :)) And the religious community votes in numbers disporportionate to their popular numbers.

In any regard, forget the income tax idea for Texas. It was the guaranteed kiss of death when I was in the thick of it and it hasn’t changed.

How about making Kinky Ambassador to Mexico?

Mike O on September 22, 2006 at 11:56 PM

For those of you just waking up to Kinky, you’ve missed much in the last 20 years. His books are hilarious and sometimes touching. He’s good friends with Willie no last name nessesary, and his ode to Women’s Liberation, “Git Your Bisquits In The Oven And Your Buns Into Bed” will someday be played at his Inauguration (party later at his double-wide Govenor’s Mansion).

Doug on September 23, 2006 at 12:58 AM

I’ve heard him saying that we should pay a fixed monthly contribution to the Mexican border patrol to control the border, and discount a fee from that payment, for each illegal that we catch on this side.

Ropera on September 23, 2006 at 1:54 AM

Mike O,

first, I was disagreeing with you on the chances not on the premise, sorry if I was unclear.

I am definitely against a state income tax and a property tax - I’m for - sales taxes on everything and the current Business tax but I would like to see a little smaller percent maybe a 1/3 of one percent on the business tax.

In other words if you use it you pay for it in Texas, not on your wealth or property but on your activity.

But don’t delude yourself about them trying to do the state income tax and its not a real big secret that ONE party is using that approach

And yes unfortunately some Republicans and most Democrats in the Perry days DID run on that platform you described “for the Children” and too many were successful to ignore or discount the threat.

Also, you are 1000% right on Robin Hood is a bad thing as well, and nothing good ever came out of it.

EricPWJohnson on September 23, 2006 at 6:11 AM

I AM a Texan and I just might vote for him. Hell, he can’t do any worse than Perry, Strayhorn or God-forbid, Chris Bell… Besides, it doesn’t really matter since the Governor of Texas is really just a figure-head. It’s the Lt. Governor who has all the power. Go figure. It’s a Texas thang…

pullingmyhairout on September 22, 2006 at 10:27 AM

That’s painfully obvious.

honora on September 23, 2006 at 11:14 AM

Georgia has had a lottery program to pay for college educations for a few years now that seems to be working okay. The pols can’t keep there fingers out of the till, of course, and parental pressure has lead to grade inflation in High Schools, but it hasn’t turned the state into a modern Soddom and Gommora as near as I can tell.

I see it mostly as a way to trick dumbasses into saving for their kids education.

B Moe on September 24, 2006 at 12:23 PM

DAT60A3

I hear you, the problem with the sales tax is that its not on the most common items such as groceries and standard clothing and so it gets artificially raised to cover the spending

The Democrats are dangling increased education spending to force a State income tax relying on the retired and soon to be retired wanting homeowners tax relief (The strategy is they will substitute the Income tax for the property tax)
Also the one million employees and their families that are in education represent a huge turnout block, bribing them is a fundamental of the Democrats strategy.

Its a battle they keep losing, but by less and less

EricPWJohnson on September 24, 2006 at 10:52 PM