Posted on 03/21/2006 7:17:05 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
During a brief stop in Nacogdoches Monday, independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman unveiled his secret campaign weapon to a roomful of supporters, college students and a few who showed up just to be entertained.
"I'm the only candidate running for governor who has no political experience whatsoever," he bragged.
Judging from the Aggie-style "whoops" and the thunderous applause that followed, that lack of experience may very well be enough to give him a shot at the governor's mansion.
Friedman claimed that his two biggest opponents — Rick Perry and Carole Strayhorn — had a combined 59 years of political experience — "exactly not what the founding fathers had in mind."
He said he was running simply because he believed that "the guy with the most money should not always win," because all too often, politics in Texas has been a government of the money, by the money and for the money.
Friedman referred to lobbyists as "money changers in the temple," and he said the only way to get rid of them was to get rid of the politicians who meet with them.
It was a concept he said he picked up from former wrestler turned Minnesota governor — Jesse Ventura.
The other big problem with current politicians, Friedman said, is a deflection of the issues that matter.
"This government has been visibly banning gay marriages while the public school system is cratering," he said.
Friedman said he offers a choice that can't be found in any of the other candidates for governor.
"I'm for gay marriage, and I support prayer in public school," he said.
As to his stance on gay marriage — he said homosexuals should have the opportunity "to be just as miserable as the rest of us."
His stance on prayer was more straightforward — "may the god of your choice bless you."
Over the years, Texas has fallen to the bottom of the 50 states in education, he said, taking care of the elderly and children's health-care.
Friedman said if the people of Texas stop listening to the Republicans and Democrats, who are telling them what to think, then Texas can start to come back to its rightful place at the top of the line.
"I would dearly love to be first in something other than executions," he said.
He also has a "plan" to fix the illegal immigration at the border situation. It might be more of an allegory, but he said it represents a "common sense" approach that Friedman said he would bring to the office. The allegory goes something like this:
You take five Mexican generals and put them in charge of guarding five sections of the Texas-Mexico border. Each general starts off with a $1 million award for protecting the border. But every time Texas catches an illegal from that sector, the general looses $5,000 or so. Every time drugs are found coming from that sector the general takes a $25,000 hit.
Friedman's answer to fixing education is to appoint the very best people he can find, and then "get the hell out of their way," and let them do their job. He said he wanted to put teachers back in charge, instead of having "a bunch of little FEMA directors" running things.
"It's never been tried before — not since Sam Houston," he said, "but in order for no teacher to be left behind, we've got to leave one governor behind."
With new funding and the best teachers, Friedman said Texas could stop "teaching to the test" and start teaching things that really matter.
"No one knows who Mark Twain is, anymore," he said. "He wasn't on the test."
As to funding the education system, Friedman's answer is to put all the money in the education system and let the corporate sector bid on funding athletics. Then he would legalize gambling, which could bring in billions toward education.
"Right now, Texas Hold 'Em, a game we invented, can't even be played in our own state," he said.
The Trans-Texas Corridor, or as Friedman calls it, “Perry's big road,” will be a waste of time and money that will destroy some of the oldest farmlands in the state and pad the pockets of a Spanish corporation.
During the last few weeks of campaigning, while trying to get folks to sign his petition so he can get his name on the November ballot, Friedman said his overwhelming support is starting to make the process feel like a revolution — like democracy should feel.
If elected, he said his only agenda will be to do what's best for Texas, and with energy adviser Willie Nelson at his side, he said he thinks they have something to offer.
"We may not do a hell of a lot in the morning, but we'll work late and we'll be honest," he said.
But the trick to winning, Friedman said, is to get as many people to the polls as possible.
"The last thing Rick Perry wants is a big turnout," he said. "But I don't think the heroes of the Alamo died so that there could be a small turnout."
Friedman predicted that if the November turnout is 29 percent, Rick Perry will win. But if the turnout is 50 percent ... "I'm going to be the governor."
In his closing remarks, Friedman wanted to make sure the younger crowd, which has always been "taught to the test," got a little education.
“Martin Luther King is not a street, and sons and daughters of Texas, JFK was not an airport," he said. "They were people — just like us. Maybe they just dreamed a little bit bigger and lived a little bit kinder. So I say, ask not if you are proud of Texas. You should be asking if you have done something to make Texas proud of you."
By ROY MAYNARD, Staff Writer
03/20/2006
If Monday's audience at The University of Texas at Tyler didn't look like the typical turnout for a political rally, independent candidate for governor Kinky Friedman didn't mind.
He says the Republicans and Democrats can have the 29 percent of registered voters who turned out for the last gubernatorial election. He'll take the other 71 percent, who are disaffected and disgusted with the present system, he says.
"I don't see how the people who created the problem can fix it," said Friedman, speaking to a packed University Center Monday afternoon. "Texas is worth fighting for, and the best way to fight is to get the politicians out of politics."
Friedman, a musician, author and humorist, says he's uniquely qualified to lead the state of Texas.
"The people of Texas want truth - they are drooling for truth," he said. "They just want a little honesty. Mark Twain and Will Rogers were humorists, but they were also truth-tellers."
But to get on the ballot on November, Friedman and his supporters will have to gather 45,540 signatures of registered voters who did not vote in either party primary by May 11. At Monday's event, a line formed at a table with petition gatherers.
"Young people are the key to this election," Friedman said.
And he tailored his speech to issues more relevant to young voters. He discussed education at length.
"Legalized casino gambling is the only way to pay for public education in Texas with something besides a Band-Aid," he said.
"And I would get rid of the TAKS test," he said to applause. "No more teaching to the test."
The TAKS has resulted in gaps in students' knowledge, he contends, because teachers focus only on the subjects likely to appear on the test.
"Students don't know who Mark Twain was because he wasn't on the test," Friedman said.
He repeated his "No Teacher Left Behind" slogan, noting that to accomplish it, "we'll need to leave one governor behind."
He proposed removing sports from education budgets, and letting corporations bid on sponsorships of teams and stadiums.
"It's working in Georgia," he said.
Friedman also discussed renewable energy - a subject he'll put county singer (and bio-diesel bus owner) Willie Nelson in charge of.
And he denounced toll roads and the planned Trans-Texas Corridor.
"I haven't met one person who thinks the Trans-Texas Corridor is a good idea," he said. "Except maybe those people who own land on either side of it."
Friedman acknowledges he doesn't have all the answers.
"I can't balance a checkbook. I may be the only Jew in Texas who can't. But because I'm a Jew, I'll hire good people," he said.
The mix of students - both those who support him and those who were just curious - and members of the community who turned out were heartening, he said.
"There is an independent spirit sweeping this country, especially Texas," he contends. "I guarantee you that by the time November rolls around, the soul of Texas will be riding on this campaign."
This guy sounds like a holier-than-thou putz.
Just my opinion.
Another fading "has-been" or "never-was" entertainer turning hard core lefty in an attempt to add another 10 years to their career.
Kinky is a fun candidate. If Jesse Ventura could win in Minnesota, Kinky has a shot at it. Ventura won because the electorate was fed to the teeth with lying politicians from both parties. So, they voted for Jesse in protest.
Same thing could happen in Texas.
And just like Jesse, his lack of experience would be his downfall. Like it or not experience is essential to running a business or a government. When voters trivialize the process and vote in unqualified people in "protest" they usually end up with what they don't want: chaos and confusion.
"And just like Jesse, his lack of experience would be his downfall. Like it or not experience is essential to running a business or a government. When voters trivialize the process and vote in unqualified people in "protest" they usually end up with what they don't want: chaos and confusion."
Kinky Friedman platform & policy alert.
Voters want change from the same-ole BS. Just appoint SME's, not your friends, in your cabinet and you'll do just fine. Career freeloaders, err I mean polititians, need to be made aware that they are being watched and the common-sense is beginning to prevail. As far a Kinky, I like him just based on that he states what he believes - you can't get that from a lifer, can you?
"Err, ahh, based on the polls taken last week, my beliefs are....." "I voted for the war before I voted against the war." "Hillary and I are on the same side of the port deal"
Voting for a barking dog is change. And just about as stupid.
This guy may be a whacked out loony - but this particular idea doesn't sound half bad.
Most of the time I am happy with the elected officials I have voted for. Too many times, though, it's the elected officials I haven't voted for (usually Democrats) that I am unhappy with. One thing I will never do again is vote for any candidate who doesn't meet my litmus test of conservatism. If I don't have a conservative choice then I won't vote.
I said I like him for being able to state where he stand on an issue. I never said that I'd vote for him.
Go Kinky!
When do you think they'll be out?
I don't know, but I'll proudly be displaying one on the bumper of my Silverado when they do!
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