Thread: Bruce Davidson: Time to get Kinky off the stage

Bruce Davidson: Time to get Kinky off the stage

Web Posted: 10/14/2006 12:00 PM CDT


San Antonio Express-News

Kinky Friedman's gubernatorial candidacy is the mirror image of his musical career. He's a novelty act.

Like novelty songs, the one-liners are funny at first, but the Kinkster doesn't wear well on repeated listenings.

Take the away the edginess and the hipster veneer, and Friedman is just another Ray Stevens. Nobody is particularly interested in hearing Stevens sing "The Streak" again, and Friedman's stock phrases — such as "How hard can it be?" and "Why the hell not?" — have worn out their welcome, too.

Friedman's brand of humor doesn't cut it when the talk turns to the serious issues facing Texas.

In the recent televised debate, Friedman struggled when he attempted to answer a question about his numerous inaccurate statements about state government.

As he searched to find his footing, Friedman quipped, "I don't use the Internet. I think it's the work of Satan."

That might have elicited a laugh from a boozy late-night crowd in a bar, but it was feeble and goofy for a gubernatorial debate.

Some of Friedman's policy statements would be funny if they were supposed to be a joke. But they aren't.

The independent candidate wants to put 10,000 Texas National Guard troops on the border to stop illegal immigration. And he wants to send $100 million to Houston to fight crime caused by Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Other cities where crime has increased would get state funding from a Friedman administration.

While he accurately notes that teachers are underpaid and the state has a problem with uninsured children, Friedman also wants to put a cap on state spending. He has complained that under Gov. Rick Perry, state spending increased 18 percent in 2004-2005.

"We've got a surplus of between $11 billion and $13 billion," Friedman declared in a news release.

But state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn says the surplus is much smaller. Yes, she's one of Friedman's gubernatorial foes, but she also is the woman keeping the books for the state.

And Strayhorn expects major shortfalls in coming years due to the tax shift approved by lawmakers earlier this year, although others are optimistic that the broad-based business tax will produce enough revenue to fund an accompanying increase in state spending on public education.

That debate would be academic if Friedman got his way. Friedman wants to abolish the business tax. (Strayhorn agrees on that one.)

Friedman says he'll hire good people who aren't part of the lobby crowd. That's a good idea, but the devil is in the details.

For example, he wants Willie Nelson to direct energy policy in his administration.

Nelson is a national treasure, and his music is far better than Friedman's.

But the notion of bringing him into state government just can't be taken seriously. That proposal captures the essence of Friedman's problem. His candidacy can't be taken seriously.

Still, Friedman scores in the teens in most polls. One Republican operative recently referred to Friedman's supporters as the "middle-finger vote."

Frustration with government is understandable. The much-despised Austin crowd lets too many problems fester before addressing them. And big money has too much influence on policy decisions.

But voting for Friedman is wasting a chance to help guide the direction of the state. He would be a disaster as governor, although the odds appear slim that he could actually win.

Friedman's candidacy once had amusement value. But the humor paled without some serious thought about policy behind it.

With Election Day fast approaching, Friedman has become a bad joke.

bdavidson@express-news.net

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/sto ... cb87f.html

Nelson is a national treasure, and his music is far better than Friedman's.

That's one of the few parts of the editorial I take issue with.