Free Republic

“I am the closest thing to a Jew that has ever sat in this office.” – Barack ObamaHa ha! That one’s a real knee-slapper:So what am I, chopped liver?In fact, I don’t even think Barry’s the first black Jewish president to sit next to a Jew in the Oval Office:Bill Clinton, our first black president, next to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the Oval OfficePrime Minister Netanyahu was not available for comment.For further evidence of U.S. presidents sitting close to Jews in the Oval Office, see this.And finally, an appropriate rejoinder from Kinky Friedman: “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like...

When Kinky Friedman mounted his unlikely Texas gubernatorial campaign against Rick Perry in 2006, he articulated a “dewussification” of Texas platform. Friedman has apparently since realized that what he has in Texas is much better than what the rest of the country has. On Monday’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” Friedman explained why Perry is his candidate for president and Obama isn’t.

When Kinky Friedman mounted his unlikely Texas gubernatorial campaign against Rick Perry in 2006, he articulated a “dewussification” of Texas platform. Friedman has apparently since realized that what he has in Texas is much better than what the rest of the country has. On Monday’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” Friedman explained why Perry is his candidate for president and Obama isn’t.

Infamous Texas humorist, Jewish cowboy, and recent candidate for both Texas Governor and Agriculture Commissioner , Kinky Friedman, plans to make an official endorsement in the Governor’s race, according to a number of sources. During his political career, Friedman has campaigned as a Republican, Democrat and Independent, so this endorsement could finally shed a little light on where his true political motivations lie. Turns out it does, sort of. Kinky is forgoing the two top candidates in the governor's race to endorse Woodrow, a once-homeless rescue dog. The Woodrow for Texas Governor Campaign, united behind the motto "How Ruff Could...

...Friedman's departure left outgoing Houston Mayor Bill White and hair-care millionaire Farouk Shami as the two main contenders for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and lessened the chances of the race going to a runoff. While it does not clear the field for White, it gives him the advantage over a less-known and less experienced opponent. White has a track record in office and proof he can win elections. Shami says he will spend $10 million of his own money to win the nomination with his rags-to-riches life story, but he still will have to answer the ultimate question: Is Texas...

Musician and humorist Richard "Kinky" Friedman today formed a committee to raise money for a Democratic run for governor next year. Friedman in 2006 ran as an independent, drawing 12 percent of the vote -- slightly more than a half-million votes. Here's Friedman's announcement: "Kinky Friedman today announced the formation of "Texans for Kinky," a 'specific purpose' committee that will enable him to explore and raise money for a possible run as the Democratic candidate for governor in 2010. "I am a humorist, but I know these are not humorous times," Friedman said in a letter to supporters. "There is...

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison filed papers today establishing an exploratory committee to run for Texas governor in 2010.

Some Republicans groaned at Gov. Rick Perry's announcement that he plans to seek another term in 2010, but Mayor Bill White's camp reacted with glee. White has made no effort to hide the fact that he is looking to run for governor after being term-limited out of the mayor's office next year. And Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the biggest vote-getter in Texas history, has been more than hinting that she plans to "come home" to run for the same office. She outlined to Texas Monthly last November a plan to resign the Senate in 2009 to make the race, while...

AUSTIN — Kinky Friedman is considering entering the campaign for Texas governor in 2010 as a Democrat. Friedman said the Democratic party, which hasn't won a statewide election in more than a dozen years, could use a nontraditional approach to connect with voters. "I consider myself a Democrat in the mold of JFK, (former Texas Gov.) Ann Richards and (journalist) Molly Ivins," Friedman said. During his campaign for Texas governor last year as an independent, Friedman couldn't overcome the financial and logistical clout of the two major parties, which he compared to the Crips and Bloods street gangs. Friedman, an...

Friedman won't run as an independent next time, he says. By W. Gardner Selby AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, August 09, 2007 Kinky Friedman might run again for governor in 2010, conceivably as a Democrat. "I'm open to running," Friedman said Wednesday before cautioning that he won't settle plans until after the 2008 elections. "Had I run as a Democrat last time, I think (Gov.) Rick Perry would already be (out of office as) a lobbyist for a cigar company," he said. The black-hatted humorist, who has a book coming out on his flashy 2006 campaign, said he realized after finishing with...

AUSTIN - Republican Gov. Rick Perry beat a unique set of challengers Tuesday for another term that could make him Texas' longest-serving governor as he presses priorities such as border security, strict state budgeting and an ambitious transportation plan. It was a less-than-cliff-hanging end to a race that started with a lot of potential for drama ? thanks to the entry of colorful independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn ? and ended with much of that potential unrealized. Early returns showed Perry ahead with about 40 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat Chris Bell, who had about 29...

The ability to move people and things in an efficient manner is essential to competing in a global environment. Economic and population growth have strained many aspects of Texas' transportation infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. Congestion not only decreases safety, it also reduces economic efficiency, raises transportation costs and otherwise hampers the competitiveness of the state economy. With the growing population and expanding economy of Texas, transportation constraints and congestion will only worsen over the coming decades. In fact, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects that road use will rise by 214 percent during the next 25 years. Although...

If all the meetings on the Trans-Texas corridor proved one thing, it was that the majority of the people, both Democrat and Republican, are against it. We still have one more chance to show our strong opposition and that is at the ballot box on Nov. 7. Since the contract for the corridor would run for 50 years, maybe more, by which time gasoline will only be a memory, how does it make any sense to build an ethanol plant in Temple while destroying the blackland prairie needed to grow the corn to process there? It doesn't! Since the motivating...

(October 30, 2006)—The multi-billion-dollar Trans Texas Corridor will pump billions of dollars into the state’s economy and will create millions of jobs according to a new study by Waco-based economist Ray Perryman. Click Here To Read The Full Report In “Moving Into Prosperity: The Potential Impact of the Trans-Texas Corridor on Business Activity in Texas,” Perryman says the project will make the state’s economy more competitive. “Because the TTC enhances efficiency, improves logistics, and reduces transportation time and costs, it increases the ability of companies within the region to expand intrastate trade and operations, and, thus, increase market size and...

Incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry faces Democratic challengers Chris Bell and Independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn in the 2006 gubernatorial race. In the fourth part of News 8 Austin's five-part gubernatorial forum, the candidates discuss transportation and energy. Q: Now, let’s combine public transportation and developing renewable energy. What do you think we should be doing to make Texas the leader in the nation in these areas and why should Texans care about that? Strayhorn: Well, we certainly need every renewable energy and we need wind generation and we also need telecommuting. Fifteen percent of my employees are...

One of the best pieces of advice given to people who inherit money or win the lottery is to not make any important decisions immediately. So what does Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell do upon receiving a check for $1 million? He leaves a telephone message on Kinky Friedman's cell phone asking the Kinkster to meet with him for the purpose of discussing why Friedman should drop out of the race to help Bell defeat Gov. Rick Perry. How stupid is this? Let's just say we're glad Bell is not in charge of negotiating with North Korea. One of the...

Kinky says he won't step down. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Bell called on independent Kinky Friedman to drop his 20-month-old bid for governor Tuesday night. Friedman didn't directly answer his opponent but said in a telephone interview: "Hell, no. Why would I do that? "I don't want to step down for anybody when I think America is going to have a big turnout" on Election Day, Friedman said from a hotel in McAllen. "I'm not looking for a way out. We don't negotiate with terrorists." Republican Gov. Rick Perry "better watch this, because we're going to beat him," Friedman said....

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!

All four candidates, one GOP, one Dem and two Indys will be holding the only debate for Texas Governor tonight at 7:00 p.m. Central time. Gee, I wonder whose influence had this debate scheduled during Friday night football?

AUSTIN - Can the four major candidates for Texas governor debate each other for an hour on live television without being seen or heard? Probably not, but Belo Corp., sponsor of the only such gubernatorial showdown this fall, will test that possibility Friday night, both with its restrictive distribution rules and the time slot. Originating in Dallas, the debate will be carried live on the company's WFAA flagship; Belo affiliates in Houston (KHOU-Channel 11), San Antonio and Austin; Belo's Texas Cable News (TXCN) and will be streamed live on their Web sites. TV stations in smaller towns outside Belo markets...