March 21, 2010
UTNE READER

A Texan Cultural Icon Makes Official His Ambitions to Lead the Lone Star State

Kinky Friedman throws his cowboy hat in the ring for Texas governor

February 10, 2005
Hannah Lobel Utne.com 
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Bumper stickers hinting at Kinky Friedman's intentions started cropping up a while back. 'Kinky for Governor: Why the Hell Not?'

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The campaign slogan likely appeals to a heap of Texans who are fed up with Gov. Rick Perry (and, as Kinky has pointed out, Perry's hair). And since Texas has a weak governorship (true power lies with the lieutenant governor), the logic resonates. How much could he really screw things up?

Kinky's been talking about getting in the race for some time, but made a big to-do announcement last week, using the quintessential symbol of Texas -- the Alamo -- as his backdrop.

Governor would be an interesting addition to Kinky's already illustrious resume: country singer/leader of The Texas Jewboys, mystery novelist, salsa maker, defender of animals. Since he's made a name for himself as a humorist, though, it's tough for Texans to know whether or not to take this latest escapade seriously. Only time will tell. The election isn't until next year, and Kinky will need 45,540 signatures just to get himself on the ballot.

But the way Kinky's been talking, he might not just be hamming it up for the cameras. He's sketched out a platform, which includes focusing on education funding, re-evaluating the death penalty, and outlawing the declawing of cats. As he recently told KUT radio in Austin, 'This is not a political campaign. This is a spiritual calling.'

Go there >>Kinky Friedman: Why the Hell Not?

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