Posted on 10/01/2006 2:33:13 AM PDT by MadIvan
Kinky Friedman, irreverant country singer, satirist and self-proclaimed "equal opportunities offender", was his usual ebullient self as he bounded on to the stage at the latest stop in his remarkable campaign to become governor of Texas.
"You know the definition of politics?" the former frontman of the Texas Jewboys band asked a packed audience at the Flying Saucer bar in San Antonio. "Well, 'poli' means more than one and 'tics' are bloodsucking parasites!"
The crowd roared as Friedman, in his trademark black cowboy hat and vest, ever-present unlit Montecristo cigar in one hand and glass of Guinness in the other, attacked the "failed two-party system" of his Democrat and Republican rivals.
But Friedman's independent campaign has proved no joke. The latest opinion poll gave him his highest rating yet — 23 per cent, level with Democrat Chris Bell and making ground on Republican incumbent Rick Perry on 35 per cent.
Friedman, 61, is riding high on the mood of disillusionment with politicians across US and targeting the 71 per cent of Texans who stayed at home four years ago. If he can persuade another 10 per cent to vote on November 7, he believes he will win the office from which George W Bush launched his White House bid in 2000.
Last week, the former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura threw his considerable weight behind his fellow political outsider on a swing through campuses and bars in eastern Texas. A hulking figure with dreadlocks and braided beard, Ventura stunned the political establishment in 1998 when he won the Minnesota governor election vote as an independent.
Friedman has already signed up Ventura's campaign manager and advertising guru as he attempts to stage a similar shock. Indeed, at this stage in his campaign, Ventura was polling just 15 per cent, 30 points behind the frontrunner.
As he hit the road, Friedman invited The Sunday Telegraph to ride with him while his long-time friend, warm-up act and musical partner Little Jewford (born Jeff Shelby) took the wheel.
Despite a racism row over a 26-year-old tape of him using the word "nigger" during a comedy routine, Friedman appeared relaxed. "I offend everyone," said the man whose best-known musical hit, They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus No More, took satirical swipes at just about every group.
"I have always used humour as a weapon to attack bigotry. I don't pretend bigotry doesn't exist. I'm a realist, not a racist. I've campaigned against racism for years but this is the price you pay for taking on the entrenched interests of the two-party system. Somebody organised this hit job pretty well, but they only attack you when you're carrying the ball, and we're carrying the ball."
He outlined his eclectic political platform: his social policies range from support for prayer in school and more police on the streets to backing gay marriage and decriminalising marijuana to clear space in prisons for real criminals "like paedophiles and politicians". Friedman says he has not touched hard drugs since 1985.
He has a predictably unconventional plan for dealing with the influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico. As well as deploying 10,000 National Guards along the border, he proposes placing five Mexican generals in charge of their side, putting $2 million in a holding account for each and deducting $10,000 for every illegal caught crossing. "It's a joke but it also happens to be a good idea."
Friedman has lined up his friend and fellow singer Willie Nelson — a strong proponent of bio-fuels — to head his proposed Texas Energy Commission. Indeed, he mused, "musicians could do a much better job of running this state than politicians. We wouldn't get much done in the morning but boy we'd work hard late at night." That brought him to the inauguration ball he would throw. "That's the only party I want to hear about in this race," he said. "It would be a People's Ball, $5 a ticket."
Born Richard Friedman, he has been known by everyone as Kinky since a college friend gave him the nickname because of his curly hair. His flamboyant style and message of change — campaign slogan: "Why the hell not!" — is particularly popular among the young. Megan Cleary, a 21-year-old waitress at the Flying Saucer, said: "The two party system sucks. We need someone like Kinky to shake things up."
Despite the constant one-liners, Friedman has shown himself to be a canny political operator. Arriving in San Marcos, he offered a final snippet of political philosophy. "My opponents like to say I'm a flip-flopper. Well, we could use a flip-flopper as governor of Texas. A flip-flopper is open to the notion of change and that's what we need now."
He's had, IIRC, two failed campaigns in my county-JP & Sheriff-he won't be getting my vote in this election either.
Say what you want about Friedman, and I disagree with some of his left-leaning policies, but people are sick and tired of blow-dried, pompous elitists who believe they know what's best for you. Politicians are always trying to coddle voters and promise them a bunch of goodies. I just wish one politician would cut the BS and say that government stinks and he's going to get it out of my life as soon as possible. Freidman is that politician and unfortunately he'll be attacked by the party bootlickers who want their hands held.
Voting for him. I attended a meeting this Wednesday over at Texas A&M and the auditorium was packed to standing room only. Jesse Ventura was also there and I was surprised at how good a speaker he is. Kinky pretty much restated this talking points but if he can get the college vote he'll win the election. The real estate taxes down here are unconscionable.
constitutionparty.com
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