For those of you who don’t know, my fellow mystery writer (also country singer) Kinky Friedman is making a run at the Texas governorship as an independent. And he’s doing a better job than might have been expected so far (looks like he will be certified for the ballot). Am I backing him (not that it matters – I don’t vote in Texas)? It’s too early to say, but I’m inclined to. His politics are eclectic and he sure has good taste in cigars and hats. In other words: he’s my kind of guy. You can watch an interesting video interview of the Kinkster here and an read some analysis here. The photo of Kinky to the left is with Wallace Craig of biggolddog.com – a frequent commenter on this site.
Ha – it’s probably just as well I’m not a Texan – I’d be tempted to vote for him – even if I don’t think he’s really serious.
Well I do live in Texas, and I’m watching.
As I mentioned to Roger, I think that this story and those like it are going to become more common…that is independents making credible runs at state and perhaps national office. Kinky reminded me that he will be the first, ever, independent candidate to qualify to be on the ballot for governor in the history of Texas. And…we have two such candidates, the other being a woman, Carol Strayhorn. What is monumental about this is that to be put on the ballot as an independent one must have petitions signed with 50,000 registered voters signatures. Both Kinky and Strayhorn have over 100,000 signatures each.
Apparently people are really tired of politics as usual. I know I am. Besides Kinky funds and runs one of the largest dog rescue programs in the state. Dog lovin’ Jewish country and western band leaders always get my vote!
I do live in Texas, and I am seriously tempted, just for the sheer wierdness factor.
Of course, I think all we ask of our local politicians is that they not be a *&$#ing national embarrassment in a bad way. Posing for the cover of Texas Monthly a couple of years ago regally dressed in a a formal gown with tiara, jewels, sash, long gloves and choker, as the Kinkster did… well, that is different on a whole new scale.
And Carol Strayhorn is the mother of Scott McClellan,I believe,Dubya’s departing PS.
Roger:
Let’s cut to the chase. Mr. Friedman, at best, will get 10% of the vote. I like him, I don’t buy into all of his idea’s but he is funny. And I admire that he is getting involved in politics. I admire anyone who steps up and puts himself on the line. There have been independent candidates running for state offices for decades. Every once and a while someone with name recognition will win(Minnesota’s pro wrestler experiment).But even there, he won the job, they eventually fade away and since they can’t build a party their influence is mostly minimal.
Like it or not, to bring change in American politics you have to build a party structure to carry out your policies. It’s boring, hard, dull work. It doesn’t allow for purity of thought, it takes compromise and horsetrading. And it is incredibly frustrating. But it is reality.
Roger, you wanted to present an alternative to the domination of the MSM. You organized a group of like minded bloggers and formed PM. You don’t agree with every blogger in your group but you realized that as a single independent blogger you could not do it on your own. You organized, recruited and you are starting out on your mission.
It’s the same with politics. Even if Friedman won, he won’t but lets play the game, he would have about a 3 month honeymoon where he might get a chance to pass a alaw or two. And then reality would hit and he would have to start playing ball with the “political parties.” And if he didn’t organize his own party to counteract the power of the other two parties he would get little to nothing done.
Politics is so frustrating and I get just as disgusted with the two paries as anyone else does. But there is a reason why independent candidates lose 99.9% of the time. Friedman will be fun to watch and he will get to puncture some pompous balloons at the debates but he will lose. Lone Ranger politics don’t work. Even in Texas.
Gotta luv a candidate where you can say you “voted for Kinky”.
But what if he gets elected, then gets impeached for something? What’ll the slogan be then? “Get Kinky”??