Willem Bever | 11 Maart '05 - 12:02 | + 37 - 39 Kinky Friedman for governor. Why the hell not?

Jarenlang deed Kinky Friedman, de legendarische country-singer-turned-amateur-detective, dierenvriend en voorman van de Texas Jewboys (bekend van hits als 'They ain't makin' jews like Jesus anymore') het met een weinig imposante website. Hoewel de Kinkster erop figureerde met Bush, Clinton en Will Smith, was het toch een geheide kandidaat voor de Webdesing Woensdag. Maar zie, Kinky is professioneel gegaan, en wel hierom: he's running for governor 2006!

Op zijn site lezen we 'waarom': One of the great political stories in generations is about to unfold, as Richard 'Kinky' Friedman, humorist, performer, mystery writer and Texas Monthly columnist, has announced his run for the governorship of the state of Texas in 2006. Friedman certainly will bring a whole new ballgame into Austin 's capitol building, and he will do so as an Independent candidate and political amateur.

"The professionals gave us the Titanic, amateurs gave us the Ark. Career politicians are ribbon cutters. They see the governor's office as a job; I see it as an opportunity to make that Lone Star shine again.”

“I'm an Independent, which is the party of George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett.”

As Governor, Kinky, or “the Kinkster”, would:

• Legalize casino gambling to fund education
• Abolish political correctness “We didn't get to be the Lone Star state by being politically correct”
• Take a good look at death row. “We need to make sure that we're not putting innocent people to death, which I believe we are”
• Outlaw the de-clawing of cats
• Bring young people into his administration. “Young people are less corrupt. They are the future of Texas ; it's theirs to win or lose.”

I'm a Jew, I'll hire good people.
“If elected, I would ask Willie Nelson to be the head of the Texas Rangers and Energy Czar and Laura Bush to take charge of the Texas Peace Corps to improve education in the state. I'd ask my Palestinian hairdresser, Farouk Shami, to be Texas ' ambassador to Israel . We've worked together to create Farouk & Friedman olive oil. The oil comes from the Holy land and all of the profits go to benefit Israeli and Palestinian children.”

One thing is for sure: this is not going to be politics as usual and Kinky's campaign, or anti-campaign, is not expecting to have a massive war chest from which to buy the Governor's office. Rather, “the coin of the spirit” will sweep Kinky into the Governor's office.

Meer over zijn campagne hier, ofhier - of zelfs hier