Weblogsky: Kinky: Why the Hell Not?

Kinky: Why the Hell Not?

Kinky Friedman is unhappy that some folks don't take his Texas gubernatorial campaign seriously, thinking it's an excuse to sell books, records, and Kinky paraphernalia. Well, I haven't doubted that he's serious, or that he could win, at least not lately. Texas voters are clearly frustrated, and even if Kinky wasn't serious when he started, he's heard enough by now to feel a sense of responsibility to those who're hoping he can make a difference. The New Yorker profiles Kinky and his campaign, and after reading the piece you'll either be horrified or (like me) hopeful that we'll have a governor that feels real.

The next leg of the campaign was a tour through the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Between fund-raisers, Kinky was dragged from his hotel across the street to the Bullring, a cavernous, mostly empty beer joint. Its owner, Ace Cook, a squat man with a yellowing walrus mustache, wanted to inform Kinky of his political philosophy.

"I'm for you," Cook said, sitting down to write the campaign a check. "I'm sick of these assholes who don't represent me, or represent people." By now, this sentiment had become a common refrain. "They represent A.T. & T. and Enron. How you gonna come and beg for my vote and then have nothing to do with me? Did Enron elect you or did I? I'm paying your salary, hoss. How'd it be if someone went up to the capitol and did what they said they would?"

"It'd be a first," the candidate said.

"I believe it, hoss," Cook said. "That's why you're gonna win."

jon posted this at 12:12 AM
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