Kinky's The Candidate Representing Change

So far, there's still only two candidates who have expressed a serious interest in running for the Democratic nomination for governor of Texas in the 2010 election -- Tom Schieffer and Kinky Friedman. There are some Kinky-hating bloggers who are praying for another candidate, but I think they're probably out of luck this time. There is simply no one with the name-recognition and fundraising capability to take on Schieffer and Friedman.

That leaves the Texas Democratic voters with a choice between a Republican in Democratic clothing and a Cowboy author/comedian/singer. I find it hard to believe any Democrat could bring themselves to vote for Tom Schieffer.

Schieffer is both a friend of and supporter of George W. Bush. He supported him when he ran for Texas governor, and he supported him for president in both 2000 and 2004. How can anyone with a record like that even call himself a Democrat, let alone run for governor in the Democratic primary? Frankly, he smells like the Texas version of Joe Lieberman -- who calls himself a Democrat but won't support Democratic ideals and causes.

If you like the way the Republicans have run Texas, then Schieffer is your candidate. Schieffer would run Texas just like Bush and Perry have -- putting corporate interests ahead of what is good for ordinary citizens. How could anyone who idolizes Bush do otherwise?

Schieffer has said he wants to run on a platform of improving education. But it would not surprise me at all if he didn't plant his knife firmly in the back of public school education by supporting vouchers. After all, that is what Bush and his Republican buddies want to do.

On the other hand, Kinky supports public schools and wants to make them better, so all students in Texas can receive a great education instead of just the chosen few. Kinky is really the only candidate that represents a real change from the way things have been done in Texas since the Republicans took over.

Does Kinky toe the Democratic Party line? No. He hasn't drunk the blue kool-aid (or the red kool-aid either for that matter). Kinky is an independent thinker, and that's why I think he can draw votes from a cross-section of different ideologies. He's not a progressive or a conservative or a libertarian, but he does have some aspects of all three. That's why he could draw votes from all sides in the general election if he gets that far.

Progressives are going to like his stands on better public education, adequate health care for all and abolishing the death penalty. Libertarians will like his stands on individual rights, the constitutional right to own firearms and decriminalization of marijuana. Conservatives will like his stand on keeping taxes low and providing for a healthy business climate in Texas.

Among all the candidates for governor from either party, Kinky is the only candidate who represents a real change from the ruling corporatocracy. It's time to shake up Austin and put someone in the governor's mansion who will put ordinary Texans first. Kinky Friedman is that candidate.

In a couple of days, I will be dropping a second donation in the mail for Kinky's campaign. This is a big state and no candidate can be successful without an adequate campaign fund. I urge you to do the same. It doesn't have to be a large donation -- every $10 or $20 helps. Send what you can to Texans for Kinky, and help shake Texas up!