Is This The Man People Want To Be Governor?

By Vince Leibowitz on Apr 9, 2006 in 2006 Texas Elections, Kink-Er-Iffic!

To raucous cheers and sprays of beer, gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman made his pitch at the San Angelo Picnic with a campaign speech that was both a sermon of populism and a stand-up comedy routine.As volunteers with petitions circled through the several thousand who attended the eighth annual outdoor concert along the Concho River, Friedman stood on stage - can of beer in one hand, cigar in the other - and delivered his well-worn diatribe against the powers in Austin.

Everyone loves a cold beer and a picnic, no doubt (even, perhaps, a cigar), but what about a little dignity?

I’ll have to say this: Even Carole Four Names has shown more dignity in seeking the office of Governor as an independent than Kinky Friedman. The man is a total emabarassment to politics and the state of Texas. It’s one thing to be out “among the people,” or behave as an “average person,” but it’s quite another to take the stage, beer-in-hand and proclaim that you want to be the next governor of Texas.

And, the lack of dignity by the candidate is just as bad as the motivation of some signing Kinky’s petition:

”It’s not so much that we’re Republican, Democrat or independent,” Martin said. ”I’ll support anyone that tries hard to get on the ballots.”

Once again, just that someone “tries hard” to get on the ballot does not make them a credible candidate.

Why are some voters in Texas so stupid? Is it that they’ve been drinking at the Trough of Stupidity set out by the Republican Party of Texas for so long that they’ve forgotten that there are other choices?

You don’t sign a petition because someone “tries hard.”Â You sign a petition because you support that candidate and want to see him or her appear on the ballot so you can vote for them and what they stand for?

As far as I can tell, Kinky Friedman has contradicted himself on every major position a politican can. What does he stand for? Self-promotion. He knows he’s not going to win this (perhaps not even get on the ballot). So, the fact that he’s run will just make his next book sell that much more.

As loathe as I am to ever, ever, ever defend Carole Keeton Strayhorn, I will say she is at least one step above the ladder than Kinky Friedman when it comes to having a little class and dignity. Still, however, she can’t match Chris Bell in that department, as she too is out for nothing but self-promotion and her own ego, which probably needs its own zip code (Kinky’s ego doesn’t just need its own zip codeâ€”it’s as big as Brewster County).

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