Kinky meets his base

As an out-of-stater, I'd thought Kinky Friedman's campaign for Texas governor was more than half satirical. But his appearance at Old Settler's was a serious campaign stop for an anti-politician on the stump for signatures to meet a May 11 deadline to qualify for the ballot.

"I'm 61 years old, too young for Medicare and too old for women to care," he started out. "But I care. I care about Texas."

Mixing his droll humor with policy positions and attacks on the incumbent, he laid out a series of positions in favor of biodiesel fuel, education funding, casino gambling, and guest workers and opposed to highway tolls, capital punishment, and banning gay marriage. He is also pro-cigar and pro-Guinness, displaying both props proudly throughout the appearance.

The latter had recently caused him some trouble when he was seen imbibing while riding in the grand marshall's car during a St. Patrick's Day parade. "I admit I did drink the Guinness," he said, "but I did not swallow."

Playing his outsider role to the hilt, he hit out at politics as "the only field where the more experience you have, the worse you get." He said that musicians would do a better job than politicians. "We won't get a hell of a lot done in the morning, sure, but we'll work late and be honest." He said his career had proved that he is not afraid to offend people, unlike professional politicians.

When he finished, he stepped down from the platform to greet the festival audience, many waving items to autograph. "I'll sign anything but bad legislation," he said.