Could Kinky Friedman really be our next governor? WICHITA FALLS – Author, musician and independent candidate for Texas governor Kinky Friedman insists he doesn't have a stump speech. And in a way, he's right. It's more like a stand-up routine.
At the Kemp Center for the Arts last week, a couple hundred flannelled ranchers, angry educators, coiffed Republicans and bell-bottomed youngsters came on a weeknight to gather around the self-proclaimed Jewish cowboy as if he were dispensing water to the thirsty. So he began ladling one-liners:
"Texas: 50th in education, first in executions. As Dr. Phil would say, 'How's that working for you?'"
"I intend to take Texas off of eBay and give it back to the people."
"I met a man at the State Fair last month and he told me, 'Kinky, you may not be worth a damn, but you're better than what we've got.' "