"There is a fine line between fiction and nonfiction, and I believe Jimmy Buffett and I snorted it in 1976."

Matt Labash writes the best profile yet of the Kinky Friedman campaign. Here's the key line:

One of the reasons it's great fun campaigning with Kinky is that he's in on the joke. Which joke, you might ask? All of them, pretty much.

Comments

Joseph Majsterski | October 15, 2006, 2:06pm | #

I've voted Libertarian my entire voting career, but I'm really coming around on Kinky. I mean, clearly, there is no chance for a Lib candidate in Texas, and Kinky, although not perfect, is definitely far, FAR superior to the other candidates. I think his primary campaign slogan really nails it: "Why the hell not?"

Franklin | October 15, 2006, 3:22pm | #

"'If you ain't offending somebody,' he says, 'you ain't getting anything done.'"

Oh, how I hope this great man wins.

Buckshot | October 15, 2006, 3:38pm | #

Texans are fortunate to have a man like this running. I'm an asshole who was born in El Paso and I've been using that line for years. Thanks, Kinky.

Trey | October 15, 2006, 4:07pm | #

This was going to be the year that I finally quit voting. But, I think I'll vote one more time so I can try and get Kinky in the governor’s mansion.

Kinky’s winning would go a long way toward wiping the stain of having Bush as governor away from the state. The Dixie Chicks might even be proud.

Karen | October 15, 2006, 5:11pm | #

Kinky's sister Marcie, who is a diplomat stationed in Liberia, is a good friend of mine. If he wins, she'll be his official hostess. Consequently, I'm voting for Kinky so that I can have lunch at the Governor's Mansion with Marcie.

Other than that completely silly reason, he has some good ideas, especially the biodiesel stuff and reducing the state drug war. Also, he has a lot of experience with kids and the school system, since his father ran Echo Hill Summer Camp. (Story on how it started: Dad was a psychiatrist practicing in Houston in the 50's. Kinky and his brother reached the age at which kids go to summer camp, but none of the camps here in Texas accepted Jews. So, Dad bought Echo Hill, made it non-denominational officially, but unofficially it became THE place for Southern Jewish families to send their kids in the summer.) I have to think that someone who, unlike 95% of the educational establishment, has had actual contact with actual children will be better on school issues than most any recent governor.

kevrob | October 15, 2006, 5:20pm | #

I have to think that someone who...has had actual contact with actual children will be better on school issues than most any recent governor. - Karen

So long as it isn't that kind of contact Studds and Foley specialized in. :)

I've always enjoyed the Kinkster's music and writing. I would probably vote LP, but he'd probably suck less than the D's and R's.

Kevin

Ruthless | October 15, 2006, 5:55pm | #

He's is a big improvement over Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura precisely because he is in on "pretty much" ALL the jokes.

Lost_In_Translation | October 16, 2006, 12:14am | #

That article really captured what Kinky is there for. He might not have the best credentials, but he's honest about what he wants to do and I like alot of what he wants to do. He's not in it for job security, he's in it for Texas and no matter what the naysayers say about him, they can't deny that he'll die trying to help Texas.

KyleG | October 16, 2006, 2:09am | #

I support Kinky. If I still lived in Texas, I'd vote for him. I also caught the Texas gubernatorial debate on CSPAN and he was definitely the only candidate on stage that I could trust. Give 'em hell, Kinky.

hale | October 16, 2006, 6:15am | #

"Grandma" creeped me the hell out. She was like a living animatronics exhibit, inserting snippets of the question into her otherwise-unchanged battery of slogans and repeating over and over again until she ran out of time. Thank God she seems to be trailing in the polls. I think anybody who'd vote for her after watching the debates must be either half baboon or choosing a candidate at random.

Jammer | October 16, 2006, 9:05am | #

I fully intend to vote for whoever looks most likely to beat Rick Perry on election day. If its the Kinkster, so much the better.

Joseph Majsterski | October 16, 2006, 10:27am | #

hale:

My mother is going to vote for her, but she didn't watch the debates, thank god. Neither did I, but after that disturbing little picture you've painted, I might have to give her a stern talking to.

Dan T. | October 16, 2006, 11:01am | #

I don't think much of Texas, but at least they will not vote an obvious clown like Friedman into office the way California and Minnesota have recently done.

Nosferatu | October 16, 2006, 11:36am | #

Dan, Texas doesn't think much of you. Really, we all could care less.

whit | October 16, 2006, 11:46am | #

an obvious clown? schwarzenneger?

absurd, imo. schwarzenneger is a very smart (politically, and especially in regards to business) and motivated example of the american dream done good.

and INFINITELY better than gray davis

Ruthless | October 16, 2006, 11:55am | #

Karen,
We hope you'll keep us posted if Kinky makes it and you then get the invite to hobnob, etc.
You won't forget us little kinkies?

Dan T. | October 16, 2006, 12:00pm | #

an obvious clown? schwarzenneger?

absurd, imo. schwarzenneger is a very smart (politically, and especially in regards to business) and motivated example of the american dream done good.

and INFINITELY better than gray davis

I'll grant you that Arnold's administration has turned out better than expected but that doesn't negate the fact that the CA voters elected some guy because he was the Terminator.

Isaac Bartram | October 16, 2006, 5:05pm | #

...CA voters elected some guy because he was the Terminator.

And this is worse than the usual voting for some guy because he promises you a boatload of free shit, how?

Lost_In_Translation | October 16, 2006, 5:39pm | #

Dan's really got something against Kinky. And something against Texas. I think he just hates freedom.