LST: Kinky Friedman for Governor
by David Benzion · 10/31/2006 12:21 amBy a 5-4 vote, LoneStarTimes.com suggests you consider voting for Kinky Friedman for Governor.
By a 9-0 vote, LoneStarTimes.com’s contributing editors are unanimous in expressing their disgust and disappointment in Gov. Rick Perry.
The following sentiment, expressed in the course of our internal, confidential email debate does a good job of capturing the perspective of the Rick Perry supporters:
A caller to Dan yesterday put it well. He said something like “I’m angry and disgusted with Rick Perry. But I’m scared of Chris Bell.” While it pains me to say it, I believe a vote for Kinky is a vote for Bell, so I have to incredibly begrudgingly say Perry.
Man that hurts to type that. Really, really bad.
And although this next comment is neither here nor there, it is simply too funny not to share with the world:
I’m voting for Rick Perry. He has a strong signature on silent auction baseballs and he’s more clean shaven than Granny.
Heh.
————————————–
All jokes aside, our disappointment in Gov. Perry could hardly be greater.
The things he’s gotten “right” are the bare minimum that should be expected of a Republican Governor of Texas.
Pro-life? Didn’t spend as much money as fast as the Democrats would of if they had been in power? Maintained the death-penalty? Appointed conservative judges? Defended traditional marriage? Off-set a massive tax increase in one place with sorta a tax decrease somewhere else? Finally, after too-long ignoring the problem, did something to somewhat help secure the border?
Dude– these aren’t accomplishments– these are bare necessities. You don’t get “points” for this, or gratitude. That’s your damn job.
We didn’t hire you to run out and hike the ball three times before punting, all the while looking good in your uniform. You got hired to move the ball down the field and put some points on the board.
By that metric, your “leadership” has sucked.
And we’ve got zero reason to think it’s going to improve, should you win re-election.
Don’t like what you’re reading? Prove us wrong.
Hopefully, Rick Perry won’t even get the chance. Because a majority of us have decided to take the plunge and actually cast our ballots for Kinky Friedman.
Not all of that support for Kinky can be dismissed as a mere “protest” vote against Perry.
The simple fact is that on a lot of issues Kinky is quite conservative– most notably on controlling the border, appraisal caps, the “Trans-Texas Corridor” (of which we have diverse opinions at LST), prayer in school and–broadly speaking– the “de-Wussification of Texas.”
Is he a bigger supporter of abortion than we are? Yup. Less a fan of the death penalty? True. More comfortable with gambling as a revenue stream? Sure. Blase about “gay” vs. traditional marriage? Absolutely.
Luckily, even if he wins, there will be very little a Gov. Friedman could do, by himself, about nearly all of these or any other topic.
In fact, we are prepared to guarantee you that after four years of a Kinky administration, gays will not be gambling their aborted fetuses on street-corners to bail their murdering life-partners out of jail so they can head to the local casino.
This is TEXAS, for goodness sake. If you can’t see that, you deserve to be manipulated by the direct-mail consultants of the establishment GOP.
HEY! SNAP OUT OF IT!!! Do you worship God, or Government?
Texas is not going to fall apart if Kinky is governor– it might not be “judge of the Chili cook-off” as he’s joked, but neither it is President of the United States. There is still a legislature and still a Lieutenant Governor– who, as we note elsewhere, is certainly a competent individual and would be able to provide “adult supervision” if, God forbid, a dirty-bomb were to go off in Dallas and Gov. Friedman were not able to rise to the occasion. (And we aren’t at all convinced that he wouldn’t be, for what it’s worth.)
As liberty-loving Republicans, we’ve got no problem with “average” voters witnessing the fact that Texas will not slide off its axis and disconnect from the Earth if its government isn’t run by a “professional.”
That might even be a good thing.
Perhaps the most important reason to vote for Kinky Friedman, however, is to provide at least some hope of eventually returning the Texas Republican party to its conservative, limited-government roots.
If Rick Perry wins, the battle is already lost. Anyone who thinks that he or they will have “really gotten scared this time” and are going to “shape up and return to the grassroots base” is deluding themselves.
The only way politicians and political parties learn lessons is through pain. Not persuasion. Not pressure. Pain.
If Rick Perry wins, he and the comfortable-with-government crowd will not have learned a darn thing– other than the fact that they can manipulate you successfully. They will be laughing. At YOU. Laughing.
Rhetoric aside, it will be back to business as usual in under two weeks. And you will stomp your feet and wail and complain, and there won’t be a darn thing you can do about it. Because he’ll be the Governor. Because you returned him to power.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
But what about Chris Bell? Didn’t we learn from the whole Perot/Clinton fiasco? How can we live with ourselves if by not voting for Perry we allow a declared liberal Democrat to slide into the Governor’s mansion through the backdoor?
We are very, very sympathetic to this argument. For what it is worth, our reading of the political landscape allows for a reasonable possibility that Kinky Friedman can actually win this thing, regardless of what the polls are saying.
We’re not saying it’s very likely– we’re just saying it’s feasible. The chances are certainly better than the Mainstream Media would have you believe.
But we’re not going to go into greater detail right now for fear of altering the situation and making that possibility less likely. We’ll see.
But we will say this–even if Bell were to slide in, our premise doesn’t change. Pain teaches lessons. Nothing else will. Wish it weren’t so, but it is. A Bell administration would be terribly painful. But we, and Texas, would survive it.
The comfortable-with-government crowd in the GOP establishment wouldn’t. We can promise you that, for sure.
Ultimately, every one of us, readers included, is going to have to do a gut-check and decide whether you want to vote out of fear of what might become, or hope for what might be.
We encourage you to vote Kinky Friedman for Governor.
“Im tirtzu, ein zo agada.” If you will it, it is not a dream.
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Gee, after reading all that, I don’t have anything to say but, FIRST!
First comment, long time reader.
Great post folks, the campaign needs more people like you guys who aren’t afraid to say what needs to be said. We at GetKinky.org thank you for all your efforts. We don’t have to agree on everything to have discussions. SquawkBox and I had shared a few emails awhile back, and it goes to show people on opposite sides of the political spectrum can come to a compromise. Thanks again to the community at LST.
Nope, I’ll pass at this suggestion, I’ll only vote for serious candidates or skip a race. Not Kinky, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
I want to thank LST for this thoughtful suggestion. The simple fact is that the Republican party has been taken over by democrats who want to win. They did not change their thinking, only their party affiliation. It is CRITICAL for the future of this state and country that we through these RINOs out of office, even if it means losing a battle here and there or even if it means losing control. The Republican leadership at all levels is supporting these nut-case so-called Republicans from Lincoln Chaffee to Arlen Specter to Rick Perry, because they care not about Republican principles, but only about their personal control. If we don’t teach them that these gambles will cost them the very power they thirst for, we can forget any chance of government the way we want it. Throw Perry out. I plan to vote against Dewhurst too — no more holding my nose. Will not do it.
Thanks for the recommendation, but I still wrote in Paul Bettencourt’s name for Governor. Since Perry wouldn’t appoint Paul to the appraisal cap board, I voted for Paul.
Back in the eighties, when our current crop of the political class was coming of age, they had a little a little saying, “Always remember the golden rule. Those with the gold make the rules”.
This was the age of the S&L meltdown. When as little as 100k could get you control of millions in federally insured deposits. “Other people’s money” was their mantra and “Golden Rule” was their motto. It still is. This political class has cut their teeth on it.
It’s become a system of Quid pro quo in which the “smart ones” divide the electorate on reactionary issues and then sell ‘em down the river.
Perry is not the first nor does he exhibit superior skills in this regard. It’s fertile ground in a state where Clinton is regarded as a flaming liberal, yet his administration never met a corporate merger it didn’t like. Clinton in alliance with a complicit republican congress, busted the trust busting legislation of their father’s generation. His signing of the telecommunications Act of 1996 has handed the public airwave over to a “media oligopoly” that threatens the very foundation of democracy. Liberal indeed.
It’s a broken system in which Perry has 25 million to spend reinventing himself. Of course he’s directing most of that cash at the so-called “values voters” of which he has full intention of sodomising as he fast tracks his coal plants through the “regulatory process”.
One issue should define this election. No matter what your past political affiliation might be.
http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/issues/political_reform.html (issue #5 Publicly funded campaigns)
While many those issues are important, unless this single issue is addressed, we can forget about progress on any other. We are doomed to keep living by their “Golden Rule”.
It’s simple… Perry is blatantly FOR SALE. Perry makes new taxes on businesses. Perry doesn’t give a damn about you or me.
Kinky does. Nothing like a kick in the pants to the establishment to send a signal: WE ARE TIRED OF IT!
Kinky, Kinky, he’s are man.
Sorry, make that “our” man. Sorry for the Texas school upbringing.
Perry set up gigantic taxes for lawyers. They can not get around this by regestering in Deleware. That works for me. Drstereo
All Right,…You guys voted unanimously for Kinky! Yes! BTW: who were the nine voters?
Mr. Benzion,
This is the best post I have read on LST in quite some time. I thank you.
This stands out, I’ve said this over and over:
If Rick Perry wins, the battle is already lost. Anyone who thinks that he or they will have “really gotten scared this time” and are going to “shape up and return to the grassroots base” is deluding themselves.
The only way politicians and political parties learn lessons is through pain. Not persuasion. Not pressure. Pain.
I just wish that Dan could figure this out. I voted for Kinky on Tuesday, held my nose and voted twice for Shelly Shelly Sekula Sekula Gibbs Gibbs, Really held my nose and voted for Breck Girl #1, Kay Bailey, proudly voted for Judy Baker, instead of Dewnothing, then pretty much went Republican the rest of the way.
As pi$$ed as I am I don’t want to loose the House. If the House comes down to Delay’s old seat I’ll be highly ticked off.
As far a pain is concerned, if Clinton were not elected in 92, I don’t believe we would have had the 94 Congressional Revolution. Oh wait, I guess all the RINO’s have forgotten that wonderful 10 point platform.
Oops, I forgot, for Treasurer, I voted not so much for Garcia, as I did against Sanchez. And I voted against all the Houston Props, because the lying sack of excrement, Mayor, told me to vote for them all.
The things he’s gotten “right” are the bare minimum that should be expected of a Republican Governor of Texas.
Pro-life? Didn’t spend as much money as fast as the Democrats would of if they had been in power? Maintained the death-penalty? Appointed conservative judges? Defended traditional marriage? Off-set a massive tax increase in one place with sorta a tax decrease somewhere else? Finally, after too-long ignoring the problem, did something to somewhat help secure the border?
Dude– these aren’t accomplishments– these are bare necessities.
If those are the bare necessities, then how in the world can the same people who wrote that endorse Kinky Friedman, whose position on so many of these issues is not conservative? He doesn’t meet the bare minimum, but so what, he entertains us? Gawd, that reads like something from the Editorial LiveJournalists!
The notion that Kinky Friedman, a moral degenerate, can do no harm in the governor’s mansion is mistaken. The governor’s office in Texas isn’t as powerful as it is in some states, but it is plenty powerful. Think of the appointments the man would make if elected.
This is the man who not long ago embraced a twice-convicted triple-murderer — not out of any principled opposition to the death penalty, but because one Richard Friedman made friends with him! That doesn’t give me much confidence that the moral degenerate’s appointments to office would be well considered. They certainly wouldn’t be better than Rick Perry’s mostly conservative, pro-business picks.
The other consideration is purely strategic. Dan Patrick is absolutely correct that a vote by conservatives for Richard Friedman or for Carol Strayhorn is a vote for Chris Bell. It’s Voter Behavior 101. Bell is the only candidate with a realistic chance to beat Perry, because of straight ticket voting and a sizable potential base. If Perry’s base doesn’t turn out for him, he could lose this race. But only to Chris Bell. The other two candidates just don’t have a shot.
So ask yourself — could Governor Chris Bell get his fiscal priorities through the lege (even though the governor’s office is allegedly weak)?
Answer — of course! No, not tax increases as big as he would like. But there would be plenty of RINOs happy to spend like drunken sailors and give Bell most of what he wants. And the folks who follow the property tax issue here can kiss any chance of appraisal caps/reforms goodbye — that’s money Chris Bell, his fellow Dems, and RINOs will need to fund their agenda. You can’t have it. Fiscal conservatives like Dan Patrick would simply be standing in the corner swept aside by Dems and RINOs.
If you think there’s been too much of that in Austin with Rick Perry in charge (honestly, the man had been pretty good at holding the line until this business tax fiasco, which makes me mad too), just wait until Governor Bell’s first budget is passed because too many conservatives got pissy and voted for a moral degenerate, letting Bell take the governor’s office with 36% of the vote.
THAT will surely show Austin!
I just hope a protest vote doesn’t get Chris “I’m the Biggest Liberal” Bell into office. Some of the damage he can do will be irreversible. We don’t want him in a position to help Hillary in 2008. We can fix Rick in the primary better than Chris is a general election.
5-4 for Kinky, eh guys?
Would have loved to be in the room (or see all the email traffic) on that one.
As I said yesterday, in the end I just couldn’t vote for the Kinkster.
3 liberals, 1 Perry and a libertarian were my choices.
The libertarian is the only credible limited– government candidate on the ballot. That’s why he got my vote.
Let’s get a true conservative into the Governor’s mansion next time. Preferably a Republican.
#16 Well said Kevin. As much as I’d like to believe Benzion’s post, I don’t think it is possible for Kinky to win. The GOP will be laughing at us regardless of the outcome of this election until we can get more State Senators and Reps that will stand up for our beliefs and just push back. There needs to be sweeping changes. Having Chris Bell for 4 years won’t be a step in the right direction, and will lead only to more pseudo-Republicans in office next time as the masses would vote for anyone but Bell again.
Well, now I have one less distraction in my life - this is the last time I visit this site. Any site whose editors suggest I throw my vote away, and possibly install a Democrat in office at the same time, shows such utter lack of good judgment and common sense that I’m surprised it didn’t see it earlier.
Dr. Whited, a formely closeted member of the Religious Right? All this talk about moral degeneracy…
And who could have EVER imagined we would read a sentence from Kevin that began “Dan Patrick is absolutely correct…”
btw, we never advocated voting for Kinky Friedman because he’s entertaining. Re-read the post; it just ain’t there. Making an error like THAT reads like something from the Editorial LiveJournalists.
And as we mentioned, we are very sympathetic to the “can’t do it cause I couldn’t stand Chris Bell sliding in” line of thinking. That is the greatest question conservative Kinky supporters must face.
And the greatest question conservative Perry supporters must face is why they think for one second things will ever improve if he is returned to office.
Benzene - but if Kinky can’t screw things up all that badly as governor (as your post suggests), then by the same logic, Perry’s presence in office would be neutral at best.
Would you want pro-choice, anti-death penalty Friedman appointing judges?
All I am saying is that as bad an option is Perry is, Friedman could easily be worse.
A vote for Kinky is a major gamble at best…
About a week or two ago, Dan had a GREAT show where he laid out three very important reasons to vote for Perry.
Dan should’ve also done a companion post on LST.
LST Said:
The only way politicians and political parties learn lessons is through pain. Not persuasion. Not pressure. Pain.
But we will say this–even if Bell were to slide in, our premise doesn’t change. Pain teaches lessons. Nothing else will. Wish it weren’t so, but it is. A Bell administration would be terribly painful. But we, and Texas, would survive it
Tektite Say:
This is not some Mickey Mouse game. This is an election. You want to teach a lesson, and then do it at the grass roots in local SD convention and Primary. To want to cause pain by using your vote to elect a person who is not a good candidate for office is irresponsible and a reckless use of a right and privilege that has been paid for in blood, sweat and tears. Voting is not about teaching lessons; it is about a civic duty to elect those who will govern rightly or better than the other guy. To do otherwise shows a lack of maturity in handling the responsibility of voting.
LST Said:
The things he’s gotten “right” are the bare minimum that should be expected of a Republican Governor of Texas.
Pro-life? Didn’t spend as much money as fast as the Democrats would of if they had been in power? Maintained the death-penalty? Appointed conservative judges? Defended traditional marriage? Off-set a massive tax increase in one place with sorta a tax decrease somewhere else? Finally, after too-long ignoring the problem, did something to somewhat help secure the border?
Dude– these aren’t accomplishments– these are bare necessities. You don’t get “points” for this, or gratitude. That’s your damn job.
We didn’t hire you to run out and hike the ball three times before punting, all the while looking good in your uniform. You got hired to move the ball down the field and put some points on the board.
By that metric, your “leadership” has sucked.
Tektite Say:
Rick Perry may not be perfect but he is definitely head and shoulders above the competition. But he should get credit for the bare minimums’. They fact that you pointed out that the bare necessities were done shows that Perry did do his job. The other yahoo’s in the race will not even keep the necessities. They will role those back.
You want Rick Perry to do more? Why? The whole premise of Texas Government is making it difficult to do anything. That is how the Texas Constitution was set up. I am thankful that our state reps are in session for the 5 months every two years. That way they can do more by doing less.
If you are ticked off that your pet causes were not advanced then look at the real source of the road block. It is in the Lt. Gov office. That is the office in the state that has the real power. He determines what will or will not advance through the legislature. Look at a past Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock controlled both the Senate and the House. He told the House to jump, the House would ask how high. You want property tax cuts then see the LT. Gov. to make sure that not only the Senate passes it but that the Fred Hills’ are kept in check.
I am sick and tired of the so-called republicans and conservatives who are whining that we need to teach them a lesson and cause some pain by voting for the opposite side even though they are diametrical opposite in values. What do you care about most, playing politics by “teaching lessons through pain” by casting protest votes or fulfilling the obligation of voting for good stewardship by voting for the better candidate?
I will be voting for Rick Perry, not because as it has been stated that “ ,,,the greatest question conservative Perry supporters must face is why they think for one second things will ever improve if he is returned to office” it will be because I know that Texas will be better under his leadership that than the others. As I said before, Rick Perry may not be perfect but by holding the line on what is called bare necessities is doing what a Conservative Texas Governor should be doing.
My understanding is that any Kinky judicial appointment would have to have the sign-off of that District’s State Senator. I encourage everyone to vote Republican for State Senator.
With Kinky in office, Republicans in power will have a strong incentive to get their head in the game and RESIST his more liberal tendencies with genuine conservative principle.
With Perry in office, Republicans in power will have a strong incentive to go along to get along in the name of Party Unity.
I will be getting Kinky signs today, if anybody wants one. Gotta be sure to save 1 for jimb/ducks and hauls butt….
#23 Anne– Dan is welcome to submit a post to LST as to why he thinks it is better for folks to vote for Rick Perry. He’ll even have the votes of 4 of the 9 contributing editors who made the decision, plus the sympathy of the 5 editors who decided to vote for Kinky.
Maybe he could submit a post to blogHouston and you guys could publish it too?
Dave - I find it interesting that until today, Kinky supporters were whiners in your book, and now you support them. Reasoning behind that?
Tektite nails it:
#26 - now THAT’s funny. I needed a good laugh.
Heh.
As much as bell makes me want to hurl, Perry is worse. his commercials insult my intelligence. He lies as easily that it becomes pathological.
What did perry actually do to help the schools – not a dang thing
What did perry actually do to lower property taxes – not a dang thing
What did perry actually do to protect our borders – unless you call sending UNARMED men down there something, once again he has done – not a dang thing.
Perry is a slime ball, and so is bell. Kinky becomes the only choice.
i will repeat again until it gets thru, perry has gotten the message. this close race has pulled him back into form with conservative Texans.
kinky and strayhorn do not have the plans, votes they can count on or influence to continue conservative ideology on immigration, spending and social issues.
i’m willing to bet almost anything that the conservative movement in Texas takes a step back with anyone else besides perry as governor.
please consider that thought before you vote.
A Kinky truism is:
“Never re-elect a Republican that raises your taxes.”
This is also my philosophy.
#32 - But is electing a fairly liberal Friedman the proper alternative? Or worse yet, allowing Bell to get into office by default?
Despite all the sentiment of “Texas can survive 4 years of Bell if need be”, I am NOT down with Bell getting into office.
#31 skicougar– Perry has NOT gotten the message. He and his consultants are trying to manipulate you because their grip on power is in jeopardy.
If he is returned to office, we will be right back to the same old crap within two weeks.
You can take THAT to the bank.
Just for the record, if I decide to vote for Perry, it will not be because he “fooled me twice”…
Dave, wanna take a crack at my question in 28?
David, I think I could have predicted the heat you’d get for this. For the record, while I very much understand and sympathize with the impulse to take Perry to the woodshed, I am under no condition EVER going to do ANYTHING that MIGHT let Bell win.
#37 Ror– I think I’ll survive.
I would, however, ask people to actually READ the endorsement and take note of the details. There is a lot of nuance in there, including sympathy with the perspective of folks that disagree with what ended up being the majority opinion.
#38 - I’ve read it. I don’t buy the following:
The fact that LST’s majority thinks that it doesn’t matter that Friedman takes these positions is not enough to convince me to vote for him. The fact is, he supports these positions, and I can’t vote for someone who does. Just because he’ll be ineffective in implementing them changes nothing.
Besides, if Friedman is that weak and ineffective in pushing that part of his agenda, what’s to make me think he’ll be able to push anything I’d agree with?
Further, by that logic, why should I blame Perry for his failures? After all, the governor has little or no real ability to push his agenda anyway, right?
No one will give Kinky a chance…just because he is not your ultra conservative does not make him a bad choice - it is time for Texans to change. Apparently, if you don’t like taking chances, you will be taking a bigger chance with Perry back in office and more non-tasking on his part. Remember, he only brought up the fact that he sent the guard to the Border right before all the campaigning really started. He didn’t do anything about the school issue (all those special sessions he called were a joke). Call a spade a spade, a gamble is a gamble either way you look at it.
In my mind, Friedman is more than “not your ultra conservative” - he’s pretty damn liberal.
Like I’ve said before, I am saddened that the only choice we have is that which “does the least amount of damage”. There is no really good candidate for governor at all, as far as I can tell. I’d go Libertarian, but they tacitly support abortion rights as well…
David, I understand your need to bring the pain. My only question is, is this Sadism or Masochism? Who ends up getting hurt worse?
David, I couldn’t have beat it to death any better than you did!
All I want to know now is … how many times do y’all think RickG (See number 20) has been back to read this string? My bet is plenty!! But I love the “I’m gonna take my toys and go home” crowd!
Vote Kinky.
As for the last point in #16, I’m afraid it is Perry who will with 36% of the vote. Gee what a mandate.
39 Jimb;
Uhh Kinky is Anti The Wrong Guy getting executed. So am I. Houston Crime Lab has really messed up, haven’t you heard?
I am for the death penalty, but anti-the-wrong guy.
#45 - Kinky is pretty anti death penalty. From the Wiki:
Well, the system is never going to be perfect. He’s looking for someting that will never happen, so I am going to have to assume he’ll continually oppose the death penalty.
Unbelievable that you think that protesting means anything, in the post-modern political nightmare we’re all (regardless of party or ideology) having forced on us by the political corruption of both parties. That IS the question. But, perhaps you only want to throw a tantrum — which explains why you don’t give Grandma Strayhorn even the time of day. Fact is, that most of your “pissed off” base, will more likely vote for her because she’s got a serious chance at taking Perry out. What’s more, she’s got more guts than all the boy candidates, having taken on the biggest special interest deal in Texas history, the Trans-Texas Corridor/freeway-to-toll highway heist. But I guess $184 billion isn’t enough corruption for you. It is for rural voters — who will face a 1 million acre land grab if Perry gets re-elected, and too bad for suburbanites who will face a $2,000 or more increase in taxes — the “toll tax” — fools!
“…While it pains me to say it, I believe a vote for Kinky is a vote for Bell…”
No ruttin’ way. A vote for Kinky = one vote for Kinky. You folks who are bailing on Kinky at the 11th hour are gonna be mighty ashamed of yourselves come Nov. 8th. Kinky is not just taking votes from Good Hair Perry. He’s taking votes away from everyone. Period. I you think Chris Bell is going to win this race with 14% of the votes you’ve got rocks in your heads.
Check out these results from http://www.ksevradio.com
Who is your choice for Governor:
Perry 47.06 %
Kinky 47.06 %
Strayhorn 5.43 %
Bell 0.45
Kinky is going to win this thing in a landslide.
Go KINKY! Throw the bums out!!!
Arclight - That’s a bad poll to refer to. The only poll that really matters is the one that closes at 7PM on November 7. However, the one you’re looking at is being answered by almost exclusively KSEV listeners, and you’re not going to find many democrats there.
The male testosterone in this room is as thick and as repugnant as Kinky’s cigar smoke. Can you actually see him at the helm as Governor of Texas? There are two issues that will get my one little vote this year….stopping the Trans-Texas Corridor, and allowing us the God given right of Initiative and Referendum. On those two things alone, my vote goes to Carole Keeton Strayhorn. She is the ONLY one that has worked against the TTC for over two years. She has stated exactly how she will stop it …. with her mighty veto pen. She will give us the right to I & R. In the future, the people we hire/vote to represent us will have to answer to us by the I & R Report Card. If they fail to represent us according to the majority of the voters, out they go! I may be sorry I asked, but why no mention of Strayhorn in this blog? I see you talk about “balls”, and while a tad crude, I can assure you hers “dropped” about two years ago. Let’s hear some constructive comments about the ONLY viable candidate for Governor, please.
ljcurtis,
Grandma and her sons are career politicians. Ever heard of George W’s last spokesperson, Scott McClellan? (sp) That’s her son. (although not one of her numerous last names). Grandma needs to be in charge of our schools..I’d vote for her, fer sure!
Strayhorn is a former President of the Texas Municipal League.
‘Nuff said.
Although I should mention, PatriciaAJones, you get points for the “balls dropping” comment.
LST for Kinky?
While we are at it, why don’t you just use a hammer to kill the mosquito on your toe.
#50 PatriciaAJones
If’n CKS wanted to have a shot at Governor, she should’ve taken on the eventual winner in the primary. Ineverheardawordshesaid, talkstoodamfast.
I & R is a double-edged sword. You have it, so do the wackos and who knows what they might get on the ballot and considering how many folks have fallen down with Kinkyitis, the other edge of that sword scares the hell out of me.
Yes, Gopbob be afraid, be very afraid. Change (at last) is coming to Texas politics. The old schools are done for. Dinosaurs of the irreparably corrupt 2 party system. Consigned to the ash piles of history. Good riddance.
Go Kinky!
The Last, Best Hope for Texas and America.
I’m voting for Kinky Friedman: Child Chess Prodigy, Peace Corp Veteran, Musician, Caretaker for Echo Hill Children’s Camp, accomplished Author, and Benefactor for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch. He’s a smart, honest man, and in the true spirit of our founding fathers is the most qualified of the candidates.
The last thing we need is more career politicans.
People in MN watch this and beg Texans to remember their Governor Ventura fiasco. Vote Perry…at least you know what to expect.
http://initiativefortexas.org/
Do a little research, GOPBob. Not ever issue places on the ballot by I & R will be voted in. I still believe MOST of us have the ability to Think Independently! Our representatives think they can get into office, and then do as they damn well please. I truly believe I & R will give us the changes we all need.
Dr. Whited, a formely closeted member of the Religious Right? All this talk about moral degeneracy…
I’m not religious at all. But Richard Friedman is a moral degenerate. So sorry if that hurts anyone’s feelings. *shrug*
And who could have EVER imagined we would read a sentence from Kevin that began “Dan Patrick is absolutely correct…”
Patrick is right on a lot of issues. I have my disagreements with him on some issues. And I had a different vision than him on a web project he owned, which is why I parted ways and why you now are in charge of the successor web project that he ultimately abandoned. Old news.
btw, we never advocated voting for Kinky Friedman because he’s entertaining.
You told me personally weeks ago that you’d probably “endorse” Friedman on LST just to shake things up, and so you have. Dress up the pig however you want. I’ll give you credit for being a man of your word, though.
And the greatest question conservative Perry supporters must face is why they think for one second things will ever improve if he is returned to office.
You’ve written Perry’s the bare minimum that conservatives should accept. And then you’ve endorsed a guy who is most certainly not conservative on issues or his personal life, not even close to the bare minimum. So sorry if some people don’t like BS called on that.
Anyway, I don’t agree with Rick Perry (or Dan Patrick) on all issues. I don’t know if I’ll ultimately vote for Perry because I do find the business tax and lack of action on appraisal caps distasteful. I’m not presumptuous enough to tell anyone else what they should do via an “endorsement.” But conservatives who might choose not to vote for Perry ought to consider well that every other option is decidedly LESS conservative, and that the only alternative capable of winning if conservatives sit on the sidelines is a liberal who will be able to move significant portions of his agenda. Those are the stakes.
I trust conservative voters will vote their conscience after thinking it over carefully. The voters’ endorsement is really the only one that matters.
#60 - Well said, sir…
Reward a man for doing nothing, he’ll keep doing nothing.
/i will repeat again until it gets thru, perry has gotten the message. this close race has pulled him back into form with conservative Texans./
I disagree, Perry has not gotten the message, he’s simply using typical tactics to get his hardcore voter base to stay the course and not jump ship, because he’s see a threat, re-elect him so that he may continue to stay the course, further advance the TTL, did we get to vote on that? I don’t recall seeing anything about it. something smells fishy!
Consider this, Strayhorn has been a Democrat, a Republican, and now an Independent. She’s a career politician, who can’t see to stick with one party.
Bell, wants a whole lot more taxes, also a career politician. Typical Democrat! Tax and Spend!
Perry is very much a career politician.
I see NO reason to continue to support career politicians anymore.
Kinky has my VOTE!
Ted Poe for President! Yeah, baby! Kicks butt, takes names, and shoots the wounded….My kind of Candidate! (Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove)
I’m sure it makes sense to someone somwhere.
The Kinkster’s a moral degenerate. (Although I’m not sure exactly what sin he’s supposed to have commited)
Perry somehow ‘represents conservative values’ by selling public regulatory positions to industry isiders. (”mostly conservative, pro-business picks” I belive they were called. )
I reckon I got WAY too much Goldwater in my conservatism to stomach this BS.
Rick
what i am noticing is this:
Perry supporters are not justifying why they support Perry, other than he’s Ultra conservative? Perry supporters are making fun of Kinky.
Kinky supporters are simply stating why they are supporting Kinky, and explaining why they will not supporting Perry.
Many Kinky supporters are supporting him simply because he’s not Perry. And there are a lot of folks who aren’t being entirely honest with themselves about it.
You’re right, he’s not Perry. He’s not dogmatic, nor does he owe an allegiance to the DNC or the RNC. He doesn’t come with the baggage of favors owed to special interest of any kind.
He’s proposed reforms that are logical and (more important in my mind) structural.
His proposed political reform agenda is the number one issue as far as I’m concerned. His stance on this is ideologically neutral.
His proposed immigration reform agenda is innovative and addresses the root of the problem. Again, ideologically neutral.
He has proposed using casino gambling as a source of revenue to fund education. Not entirely ideologically neutral as I realize there are some social conservatives who oppose this and some liberals who will not be satisfied without a state income tax.
Issue one gets my vote flat out. It’s the single largest issue facing this state and the entire country as far as I’m concerned.
Issue two is very important and his position shows he understands the problem and will address it straight on.
Issue three just makes sense. There is a casino on every interstate that goes through Texas, but they are all right across the state line. It’s plain silly to let this revenue stream slip.
#33-Jimb
#46-Jimb
First of all, the two-party system is great at keeping us divided. Kinky doesn’t have all the answers, nor does he claim to, but he will do something other than try to divide Texas.
You say, “Or worse yet, allowing Bell to get into office by default?”
For Bell to win, he has to have an energized base who will come to the polls. Our early voting tracker shows counties that went democrat in 2002 are down significantly in 2006 so far. The only place Bell will be sneaking as I say, is away from the camaras on Nov. 8 through eternity.
Vote your heart, and vote your conscious, not because you don’t want to let someone else slip into office, which is extremely unlikely due to high voter turnout so far which I believe is not coming out for Bell, Perry, or Strayhorn.
About the death penalty, Kinky will use the power given to him. A 30-day reprieve.
Republicans, Democrats, Libretarians, whoever..
If everyone understands what the meaning of each word is as well as knowing what they are supposed to stand for and seeing if the labels all fit the candidates, we would have a better understanding and would vote correctly.
Blind Loyalty will sink this nation, starting with Texas.. look at the situation as it stands now.
Dan should not be telling us “who He thinks” we should vote for, he should be worrying what he is going to do if the worst case scenario happens and some bozo like bell wins.
Strategy is decided before and during the battle Dan. We shouldn’t try to stack the deck, it will only make you lazy, and we already have enough of that “go along to get along” stuff.
“Drinking the Kool-Aid”, “on the winning side”, what is that! I call it manipulative sales technique, and not too many people like sales manipulation..
Everyone says they have been screwed so many times by politicians and salesmen, so why don’t they smell it coming?
Hey, I believe in Dan, he is a candidate I can believe in, however, I would prefer he work for the votes and his office as anyone else worth his salt would.
I want to see the action behind the talk, the fire that made him run for office in the first place, not a dying ember being puffed by his followers.
I don’t feel comfortable seeing this much blind faith on the site.
#69 Rob, you have it correct, vote your heart and conscious… Not who someone else tells you to vote for. This is why we are in the mess we arn in today.
One factor nobody has raised is that KINKY HAS NO EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT.
Jesse Ventura in Minnesota — that worked out real well, didn’t it? And Ah-nold is doing a bang-up conservative job in California, isn’t he?
No, and no. Why do people here think Kinky can do any better at the messy compromising and rounding up votes and figuring out what leverage can be applied where and what must be sacrificed to achieve a more important goal and all other tricky negotiating required actually to get something done in government? Kinky has no experience negotiating anything trickier than a book contract.
It’s oh so easy to scoff and say somebody’s job is so easy, anybody could walk in the door and do it. Governor of Texas is not one of those jobs.
I’ll grant that I like one or two of Kinky’s proposals. But what are you thinking, to entertain the advent of gambling in Texas? Do you folks have any idea of the prostitution and drugs that gambling brings, and the homelessness, once fools gamble away their return-home money? On an economic level, every new casino in the country produces one of two results: (1) puny profits because the US already has too many casinos or (2) more gamblers to leave their incomes at the casino. Neither is desirable. Casinos are for states that can’t attract real businesses. Texas is not among them.
But I digress. What evidence is there that a satirist in a 10-gallon hat can actually implement his proposals, good or bad?
Kinky sounds good, yeah. Makes good ads (until you stop to wonder why the ability to quote scripture and one dog that likes him well enough to lick his face qualifies him for governor).
But me, I’ll hold my nose and vote for someone I know will accomplish at least the bare conservative minimum over a greenhorn that doesn’t aim to do that much.
TexMac,
i’d like to comment on what you have written. regarding gambling/casinos , remember how we were sold on the idea that bringing a lottery to Texas would go straight to the schools? Well, guess what, it isn’t. In fact my school taxes go up every year, regardless of how many people contribute to the lottery.
Then there was the “robinhood proposal” where money would be evenly divided amongst counties to evenly pay for education. How far did that go? Was that a push for socialism or what? If socialism is what you want, then go for it! Not me!
Ah-nold inherited a mess in California after the people started a state wide petition campaign to remove Gray Davis from office. He came out and basically told the people, “this is a mess, and it’s gonna cost us, some of it ain’t gonna be pretty”.
What you are infering (based on your comments) is that career politicians have what it takes to get the job done. Because they are seasoned at getting deals cut, they have the “know how” and “wherewithall” to better the state, since they are “experienced politicians!”.
I am asking you, what exactly has the current governor done? Other than the bare bones minimum?
After doing the bare bones minimum as the governor of your state for 6 years would you reward me with another election?
Is that acceptable to you? Just doing the bare bones minimum? Don’t you want more? You think Perry should be rewarded by being voted back in for that? You think Perry will somehow change and do more? Reward a man for doing nothing, and he will continue to do nothing!
I am hearing that the troops on the border have guns, but no ammo. not one bullet! Is that OK with you? It’s not with me! Give those troops bullets!
According to you, a career politician is what we need because he’s seasoned. I ask you…. Rick Perry has had 6 years to get things done as Gov. How many more years do you think we need before you say to yourself “Hey, wait a minute!”.
My contention with Perry, Strayhorn and Bell is that they are all career politicians.
I am beginning to think that if you can’t beat politicians (which all we have…. is a vote to pay them back) then you may as well join them.
Then you can stick it to the people of the state for personal gain.
I am not trying to convince you who to vote for, thats your business, but i am not voting for any more career politicians anymore….enough is enough!
GO Kinky!
#71-What about Reagan?
Good point Rob Hinjosa!
I’d like to remind the viewers that only 29% of registered voters bothered to turn out and vote last election. Kinky is not running against Perry, per se, but rather trying to gather the 71% of those that could not bother to get out and vote. (voter apathy) So even if Rick Perry gathered all (100%) of his supporters, there are 71% out there plus some(who jumped ship from their party) that will vote possibly for Kinky. (I mean who else is there? Perry/Bell/Strayhorn/Kinky/Werner.)
Especially the disgruntled republicans, that would be me! Though I am not alone!
(Thanks for the bumper sticker Mr. Smith, you know who you are!)
This is astounding! While i will abstain from demonizing other party supporters, I sincereley think Kinky has a MAJOR BIG chance at being Governor of Texas!
Go Kinky!
#72 - I’m not sure what your point is about the lottery and “robinhood.” Are you saying that we need casinos to fund education? Why wouldn’t any casino tax revenues end up wherever lottery revenues go? And you never responded to my point about all the undesirable effects of casinos.
As for “career politicians,” when you need a doctor or lawyer or dentist or remodeling contractor or phone service provider or optometrist or, heck, dry cleaner or plumber - do you go with someone who has never done that job before, ever? Or with someone who has made a career of being good at that job? Why do you think effective government service requires no experience whatsoever?
#73 - Reagan had been president of the Screen Actors Guild, a job that requires negotiating and building consensus, one in which (unlike being a CEO) you can’t order people to do this or that but must persuade them. (If you didn’t know, seeing Reds infiltrating the Hollywood unions is what turned Reagan conservative.) That gave him some experience pertinent to government service.
Kinky has zero. An artist is by definition a lone wolf, pursuing his unique form of expression. It is the opposite of persuading, negotiating, and consensus-building.
Other than a handful of band members, whom has Kinky ever had to persuade to his point of view? Kinky may be able to persuade anonymous voters as he does anonymous music and book fans, but trying to pass legislation requires an altogether different sort of persuasion - not with anonymous individuals, but with other elected officials representing voters who expect very specific things of their representatives. It’s hellaciously more complicated than writing a popular book.
No greenhorn for me.
TexMac, about your comment on the undesirable effects of casinos: Your right! no question about it! I was just rambling about the lottery, i don’t play anyway, was upset how we were told it’d solve our money problems for schools, and it hasn’t because my school taxes go up every year anyway despite the fact that lottery sales have increased. And since it was sold to us that it would go straight to the schools, I then thought about the “robinhood proposal” and how unfair that would be. Depending on your demographics.
Then there are the gambling addicts who spend it all, every time they play! But thats another topic.
your second comment regarding Doctors, Lawyers, dentists etc…those are trained individuals, some require more schooling that others. And further more they are specialists in their respective professions. But Civic duty, (other than Judges) are not exactly trained, there is no college course on governorship. This is a civic duty that any civilian with any specialization may perform for a period of years elected, and then expected to return back to their private life.
(unlike CAREER POPLITICIANS!) Seems they find a cash cow or gravy train, ie Govt position and hang onto it! (for the rest of their life!)
Over the past few decades, the money required to even “play the game” if you will, is beyond the scope of most people, not because of their skills and abilities but the money involved, which has led to corruption. Case in Point, Gov. Edwards in Louisiana. The man who forced casinos on the people of the state, without their vote! And if you noticed, all casinos in Louisiana are on water. He’s doing prison time right now if my memory serves me correctly.
Why do I think effective government service requires no experience whatsoever? First off you said effective government. That phrase is an oxymoron. Have you ever noticed that when government shuts down for the day, nothing in life seems to change? I could go for hours about how ineffective government is. Take you pick on state or national events where government was ineffective. FEMA ring a bell?
Kinky is a breath of FRESH AIR in Texas politics, which we desperately need! Career politicians have had umpteen years to get it right, and every year they say the same thing, more money to fight crime, fix roads, fix education, health care, etc…. at what point in your life do you say “enough is enough”. I say “get’r done” and be done with it. Next!
Kinky provides a different way of approaching the problems we all face. You either remain stagnant with the current status quo, or work to correct the problems.
Will Rogers once said:
The problem with politics is it’s full of politicians!
If you’d like to debate more on Kinky, I’d recommend you to go to
http://getkinky.org/?p=133
and post your complaints about the kinkster! I am sure there are plenty of others who would be happy to engage in debate.
TexMac, can you link to some documentation regarding your claims about casino gambling? My impression is that the impact on vice crimes for a particular locality is little different than any successful bid to increase tourism and convention business.
Nonetheless, my overriding concern is the prostitution of the statehouse. I disagree with the premise of the editorial that Perry has accomplished the “bare necessities” for conservatives. The man is an anathema for conservatism. This is a guy who has consistently sold the public interest to looters. The man sold ENRON the top spot on the PUC for crying out loud. This is in the interest of conservatives….. I think not.
The system we have in Texas is rife with conflicts of interest. And the stakes are damn high. So in that regard we need a great communicator, not to build consensus in the back rooms in Austin, but by yellin’ to high hell when the fox is with the hens.
Oh how disappointing your decision is.
Think Jesse Ventura… everyone loved his rhetoric, but he was a disaster as a governor. Kinky is not well informed, has no depth when it comes to the actual consequences that would ensue from some of his views, and frankly, I wouldn’t want him in charge in the evenet of a disaster (think New Orleans).
I’m casting my protest vote for Ms Strayhorn.
You can vote for who ever you want! More power to ya! BUT, if all you want is career politicians to run the state. You go for it! I am fed up with career politicans and I will not support them anymore!
and Minesota has different state laws than Texas when it comes to state politic elections! You just help ole Grandma out best you can. Why did you not pick Perry? Just thought i’d ask.
Besides, it’s a free country, if you don’t like one candidate, there are always more to choose from. What is your reasoning behind supprting Strayhorn? Is it the fact that she was once a Democrat, then changed to Republican? Then decided to run for Gov, that she has no chance running against Perry, so she switches to Independent. She has a son in politics too.Whitehouse Press Secretary!.