Kinky For Governor !

The good news came today! Kinky Friedman is not officially in the governor's race yet, but it looks like he will be. He is forming an exploratory committee to raise funds to enter the Democratic primary. Even better, one of my favorite Texas populist politicians is already on board. Former Agriculture Commissioner and radio personality Jim Hightower will be helping out with Kinky's campaign. And rumor has it that some other good progressives in the Democratic party may soon declare their support!

Now if you're happy with the ruling corporatocracy in Texas, you won't be happy with Kinky. You would probably want to support Tom Schieffer (who supported George Bush in 2000 and 2004). But frankly he smells like the same old Republican corporate lackeys that have been running Texas for far too long.

I'm ready for some change in Texas. I'm ready for state government to be shook up. I'm ready for a governor that will think of ordinary citizens first -- not the corporate fatcats. That's why I am supporting Kinky Friedman for governor in next year's Democratic primary. In fact, my first campaign donation was mailed this morning. If you want to shake up Texas politics, I urge you to do the same. Contributions can be sent to:

Texans for Kinky
PO Box 92153
Austin, Texas 78709
or click on http://www.texansforkinky.com/

Here is the message Kinky sent out yesterday:

Dear Fellow Texans:

Here's the way I see it: Democrats + Independents = Victory

I was serious when I ran for governor in 2006 and I'm serious now. I'm a humorist, but I know these are not humorous times for a lot of us. Part of the reason is the pathetic lack of leadership at the state level. The last governor, I believe, who was truly on the side of the people of Texas, was Ann Richards. She was a very funny lady - she was also a great governor. I'll take my cues from Ann Richards.

I also draw inspiration from Ann Richards' mentor, Barbara Jordan. Barbara believed that if one is attacked personally, one should never counterattack personally. During the 2006 campaign, I was attacked personally. However, like Barbara Jordan, I have no desire to attack anyone personally. Instead, like Barbara, I will merely relegate them to my "forgive and remember list."

But I do not wish to fight yesterday's campaign again. Today, I have taken the first step toward running for Governor in 2010 by forming "Texans for Kinky," a committee to help with research and raising the funds neccessary to launch a successful campaign. Now is the time to win. I'm running in the Democratic Primary because my heroes have always been Democrats: Sam Houston, Sam Rayburn, Henry B. Gonzales, Ralph Yarborough, Barbara Jordan, Ann Richards, Liz Carpenter, Jim Hightower and Molly Ivins. Their spirit is part of the reason the Democratic Party is transforming itself into a more progressive, populist mode - like the Democratic Party that dominated the past century. It is a party that, at its best, always stood up for the people against the special interests and big corporations. The men and women I have mentioned as my heroes have done just that. And we can do it, too.

It's time to end corporate handouts, get rid of the death penalty, get rid of the TAKS test, and get rid of the Republican stranglehold on this state. Jim Hightower told me he believes the main reason we've lost every statewide race since Ann Richards is the inability of our candidates to excite the grassroots. Jim is talking about rural folks, working people, independents, libertarians, and even disgruntled Republicans (many of whom used to be Democrats and should be on our side).

I intend to run a serious campaign, one that grows the party. I intend to visit and listen to the voices of neglected communities, small towns, suburbs, and rural areas, often where Democrats have lately feared to tread. This, I feel, is the very definition of being a Democrat. I intend to play by the rules. I will endorse and campaign for whomever wins the Democratic Primary.

Will the independents support me and vote as Democrats? I think they will. I think many Texans appreciate and respect anyone who gets knocked down and gets back up to fight again. Will Democrats take me seriously? I think they will. When Barbara Jordan, who may well be Texas' only modern-day statesman, was a young girl, she was never very serious in school. The teachers reported to her father (Ben Jordan, a very strict part-time preacher) that though she was the smartest kid in the class, she was a perpetual cut-up, a troublemaker and a class clown. When Ben had finally had enough of Barbara's antics, instead of reprimanding her with his customary fire and brimstone iron-hand style, he tried a different approach. "Barbara," he said, "I'll stick with you just as far as you want to go." That turned her around, and the rest is truly history.

So I say to Democrats who may not yet take me seriously, I'll stick with you just as far as you want to go. If we stick together, we'll go very far indeed. All the way to the Governor's Mansion!

God Bless Texas,

Kinky Friedman

PS: Please show me you're serious about Texas' future too by making a campaign contribution to Texans for Kinky.