Source http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/18/gov.kinky.reut/

I've always heard about this guy, but never explored his books or music.
For some reason I imagine his books being kinda like Carl Hiassen on mexcaline and his albums to be like Kris Kristofferson. And his governing style to be like Jesse Ventura-by-way-of Jim Hightower.
Any fans? Any voters?

I've had his shit recommended to me by a handful that know me well enough for me to take their advice, yet I've never explored his work, either. Goddamn it, I need to fix this I guess.

his name is "Kinky"? That's pretty awesome

Richard Kinky "Big Dick" Friedman

I've read ever book he's published. I'm considering a move to Texas, strictly so I can vote for him.

The man blows Hiassen to shit, and I've read pretty much everything Hiassen's done, too.

"Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys." He's fantastic. A friend of mine is good friends with him and last summer, told me that he was going to run for governor.

I'm voting for him. I heard him on the radio today saying the only way he could lose is if Lance Armstrong runs for governor. He's going to be as funny as EWE was in Louisiana, but, not as corrupt.

Maybe us Texans can make up for all of your frustrations with "W" by following him up and putting Kinky in the White House!

Dennis Kucinich should have a son and name him Kinky.

This doesn't tell me if it is in the same vein, just better, or just plain better.

And somehow I knew you would be onto this.

And Babe, seriously find out what his organization is like, and if they need help (I'm sure they need help)

I'm on it. Kinky is sort of like Willie around here. There is only one of each, and as a Texan, you are required to love him.

It's akin to Hiassen in that the books are laugh out loud funny. But where Hiassen achieves his humor in the bizarre plots and deaths of his antagonists, Kinky's humor is in his take on humankind and life as we live it. Kinky's got a way of boiling down observations into wit and sarcasm that rivals Twain.

Case in point: defecation = "taking a Nixon"

Don Imus just creamed himself.

I saw him do a talk in a bookstore once and he seemed like a really funny guy.

Never read anything by him though.

Shit, he made the announcement ON Imus in the Morning.

Senator, might I suggest a change-of-venue for an upcoming campaign? Nothing says LooGAR like travelling in Kinky Friedman's camp....

some quotes from the man yesterday morning:

"We're gypsies on a pirate ship, and we're setting sail for the Governor's Mansion."

"Don't worry about my lack of experience. Trust me. I'm a Jew. I'll hire good people."

"We're going to wake up that great slumbering giant of Texas independence."

I mean, he's one "Careful - this is Bat Country" and a samoan sidekick away from a quite GARish candidate for sheriff in Colorado a few decades ago...

I'd vote for him.

Yeah, right?

The only thing I can't decide: will this make any difference? Will enough fed up Republican voters turn to him, and enough Dems stay in the Dem quarter to put a Democrat in office? or will all the Dems and nutbags vote for him, making it even easier for Republicans to tighten their grip?

And does it really matter?

We're talking about Texas here. The Republicans aren't getting any weaker in the major positions, Dems won't loose state seats over Kinky Friedman's candidacy. If Mr. Friedman wins, it'll help the Dems more than anything - even though he toes the thin red line on a lot of issues, he also has "common sense".

What I meant was, can he syphon enough votes to put a Dem in office? See if/who contribute to him, and you'll get an idea over who's polling says what.

His books are great, though all quite similar to one another -- NY murder mysteries being solved by a fish-out-of-water cowboy. Yeah, I realize that may sound a little too much like McCloud for most people's tastes, but all his books are hilarious and RIGHT up LooGAR's alley!

He writes a column in each issue of Texas Monthly, which are also a hoot. I'll vote for him for Governor...absolutely!