Free Republic

There's a controversial new study group at the University of Minnesota. Students are not learning about science and sewing -- but about sex.

A Pardeeville mother accepted a plea agreement on charges she had a sexually explicit discussion with her two sons, even while she maintained she did nothing wrong and that she didn't understand why she was charged. Amy J. Smalley, 36, said in court Thursday that she accepted the plea agreement in part because she thought it would be in the best interest of her sons, ages 12 and 16, in that it would spare them from testifying in court. "I think this is what I'm going to have to do to make everyone happy," she said. According to the charges...

The New York City Council, which drew national headlines when it passed a symbolic citywide ban earlier this year on the use of the so-called n-word, has turned its linguistic (and legislative) lance toward a different slur: bitch. The term is hateful and deeply sexist, said Councilwoman Darlene Mealy of Brooklyn, who has introduced a measure against the word, saying it creates “a paradigm of shame and indignity” for all women. But conversations over the last week indicate that the “b-word” (as it is referred to in the legislation) enjoys a surprisingly strong currency — and even some defenders —...

Police found bondage photos on a computer disk, British currency and pills in former astronaut Lisa Nowak's car after she was arrested for trying to kidnap a romantic rival, according to documents released Tuesday by the State Attorney's Office. The floppy disk contained 16 images, 15 of them showing a woman sometimes nude, according to a forensic examination report by the Orlando Police Department. Nearly all of the images depicted scenes of bondage, the report said. The documents did not make clear if Nowak was the woman in the photos or who to whom the disks belonged. Nowak's attorney, Donald...

Two Brothers to debut Kinky cigars By Troy Brakefield, McKinney Courier-Gazette (Created: Friday, March 23, 2007 3:09 AM CDT) Former gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman will debut his new brand of cigars, Kinky's Select, this afternoon at Two Brothers Cigar shop in Plano. With his almost iconic image etched in Texas' popular culture, it seemed like a no-brainer for the Kinkster to put his moniker on a stogie. Two Brothers Manager Gary Irvin summed up the reasoning: “Have you ever seen a picture of Kinky without a cigar?” Rick Baldelli, owner of Two Brothers Cigars, said Friedman chose the cigar because...

Texas independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman made two special appearances Friday in the Hub City, both to campaign and to encourage early voting. Friedman strolled into both venues, the Lubbock County Elections Office and the Canyon Amphitheater and Pavilion, in his signature black duster and matching cowboy hat, with an unlit cigar dangling from his lips. He greeted all of his supporters with a friendly smile, handshake and the simple phrase, "Hi, I'm Kinky." Although fans greeted him at both places, the audience at the amphitheater was much bigger and more enthusiastic. "I came out because it is not enough...

Friedman unveils universal health care plan Hospitals, doctors would be taxed to pay for program. By Corrie MacLagganAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Friday, October 20, 2006 Independent gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman unveiled a health care plan Thursday that he says will ensure that all Texans have access to affordable coverage. His TexasCare plan — a serious proposal from the campaign of a comedian — is the latest in a series of ideas he has gleaned from the state of Minnesota, whose former governor Jesse Ventura is an inspiration for Friedman. Health care has emerged as a hot topic in the governor's race in...

During the recent gubernatorial debate, independent Kinky Friedman cast the Internet as "the work of Satan." Considering the swipes bloggers have taken at his campaign, his stance may be understandable. Last month, a Democratic-leaning blog called the Burnt Orange Report posted audio of a racially charged joke the satirist made during a 1980 performance he later said — in news reports that followed the posting — was packed with material to offend everyone. The blog and others also recycled an excerpt from a cable news interview a year ago in which Friedman said sexual predators should sit in prison with...

Dems have Kinky in the cross hairs Blitz depicting him as racist aims to rally base; his camp slams effort 09:42 AM CDT on Thursday, October 12, 2006 By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News Chris Bell hasn't been able to coax rival Kinky Friedman out of the race for governor, but his fellow Democrats are preparing a media and campaign offensive against the independent, planning in part to portray him as a racist. The blitz is aimed at not only stopping Mr. Friedman from poaching Mr. Bell's base voters but also at exciting Democrats who could determine...

If we all go out and vote for peace candidates and get our friends to vote, and if our votes are really counted, it's no contest. There'll be a change in the Congress, and then we'll just have to keep building so we can get a president who won't send our soldiers to fight a war based on lies. We should have thrown the bastards out years ago. Let's do it now! Give Peace A VOTE!

DALLAS, — Kinky Friedman on Friday said he would call for marshal law in border cities if he becomes Texas’ next governor during the only gubernatorial debate for this election. Each of the four candidates declared victory after the hour-long de-bate that included substantial discussion about the border and immi-gration. “Yeah, of course, whatever it takes,” Friedman said in response to a question from an Austin television reporter about whether he would declare marshal law, which would be required by law to make possi-ble his proposal to add 8,500 National Guard troops to the border. When asked in a lightning...

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...

-Burnt Orange Report provides recording of 1980 show in Houston- Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura helped Kinky Friedman rally college students for his independent gubernatorial bid Monday as more recordings surfaced that capture Friedman lofting a range of racially tinged comments. The comments came in an 84-minute audio recording of an April 1980 Houston performance made available to reporters by a pro-Democratic blog, the Burnt Orange Report. The recording features Friedman making nine comments touching on racial topics interspersed with 14 songs. The blog posted an excerpt last week. Friedman said then that he didn't remember the comments specifically but...

In most of his speeches, Kinky Friedman takes aim at Texas being 50th in education "with Guam and Samoa sneaking up," lottery money never reaching the classroom and the last teacher pay raise amounting to "a court-ordered crumb." His lament appears heartfelt. There's only one problem: None of it's true. Texas is 40th in spending per student – and there is no category assessed by the National Education Association in which Texas is last. All lottery profits are legally required to go to public education. And while some teachers might think their $2,000 a year pay raise was a crumb,...

Gubernatorial candidate and professional wiseacre Kinky Friedman was accused Wednesday of making another racially offensive remark _ this time in a year-old interview in which he said sexual predators should be thrown in prison and forced to "listen to a Negro talking to himself." The independent candidate already was under fire for referring to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Texas "crackheads and thugs." ... The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Houston Chronicle have reported on an interview with Friedman that aired on CNBC last year in which the country singer and comedian was asked what to do with sexual predators. "Throw...

Perry and Strayhorn have regressed, Strayhorn by a considerable margin, while Bell (15 to 23) and Friedman (16 to 23) have moved up. Bell is finally consolidating Democratic support (from a pathetic 32 percent in April to 44% in July and 55% this time) and is getting more Independents (from 10% to 18%), while Friedman has picked up Republicans (from 10% to 23%) and more Indies (32% to 39%). Both Perry (65% to 56%) and Strayhorn (20% to 14%) have seen their GOP strength decline. Strayhorn has also seen her Democratic support wane, as she's dropped from 30% to 20%.

AUSTIN - Kinky Friedman has thrived on brash commentary, outlandish attire and crude humor. But some critics say the independent candidate for governor has gone too far with his comments about African-Americans. Friedman, in a video clip that some of his opponents began circulating Tuesday, calls Negro a “charming word” and uses it in an explanation of what he would do to sexual predators if elected governor of Texas in November. “Throw them in prison and throw away the key and make them listen to a Negro talking to himself,” Friedman said in the TV interview, which CNBC broadcast late...

AUSTIN - Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman called Wednesday for the decriminalization of marijuana to avoid further clogging state prisons with nonviolent offenders. He also said he would favor a review of people already imprisoned on marijuana charges to "rehab them, try to get them back into society." "We've got to clear some of the room out of the prisons so we can put the bad guys in there, like the pedophiles and the politicians," said Friedman, a humorist and author. Friedman said he doesn't yet have specifics on how decriminalization would work, including what amount of marijuana a person...

DALLAS -- Legalizing casinos in Texas makes sense because residents already drive to nearby states or fly to Las Vegas to gamble, independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman said today. ADVERTISEMENT "This is common sense," said Friedman "It's crazy to have Louisiana gamblers mad at Oklahoma for taking away their Texans." Friedman, a musician, author and humorist, said he recently returned from a "fact-finding mission" in Las Vegas and estimated that half the people he met there were from Texas. Texans are also responsible, Friedman said, for transforming the regional gambling hot spot of Tunica, Miss., from the "poorest little town...

HOUSTON - Kinky Friedman, the proudly politically incorrect entertainer running for governor, said Wednesday he wouldn't put just 1,500 National Guard troops on the Texas-Mexico border, he'd send 10,000. ADVERTISEMENT "We've waited 153 years for the feds to help us," Friedman said. "They haven't yet. We have our own army. I want 10,000 Texas National Guard troops on the border and I want them now." It was one of four broad policy issues Friedman outlined Wednesday along with crime in Houston, state spending and taxes. On Houston's crime problem, Friedman said Hurricane Katrina evacuees who relocated to the city and...