Kinky's Energy Czar busted with dope and 'shrooms

crossposted @ TexasKaos
from wfaa

Willie Nelson cited for drug possession

I am shocked.

Singer Willie Nelson and several members of his band were issued misdemeanor citations for drug possession early Monday during a Louisiana traffic stop.

If the Texas legend was given a misdemeanor citation, in Louisiana of all places, then it must not have been a lot of dope.

Trooper Willie Williams of the Louisiana Highway Patrol said a search of the bus turned up about 1.5 pounds of marijuana and about two-tenths of a pound of mushrooms.

 

A pound and a half of dope and some mushrooms gets you a citation in Louisiana? I would bet that there are some folks in Angola right now serving a five year sentence for a joint.

This diary is not about Willie Nelson, I will not dare pass judgement on that Texas icon.

This diary is about the guy who thinks this:

Friedman: Nelson Should Lead Energy

Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman says Willie Nelson should lead energy efforts

Kinky, Jesse Ventura, Willie Nelson

"My plan is to appoint the best people I can find, get out of the way and let them work ... people whose only agenda is to do the right thing for the people of Texas,"

Mr. Friedman are you serious? 

The joke is over Kinky, Texas deserves better.

•  It's my personal opinion that...

  if Willie wants to smoke or ingest something that mother Earth provided him then it is really none of my fucking business.

  by kharma on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:18:45 PM PDT

  •  me either

    but by setting up Willie as an appointee, he should make sure he isn't going to land in jail.

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:21:28 PM PDT

    •  Yes, but if Kinky gets elected

      think about how many MORE awesome diary titles we can look forward to!

      by MasonLee on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:59:26 PM PDT

    •  Too bad

      the Texas governor can't pardon people in Louisiana prison.

      by Danjuma on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 04:01:30 PM PDT

    •  Appointee or not

      Willie would still get hassled by various levels of "law enforcement."  

      If not by La cops, by the FEDS.  Recently he took in Cindy Sheehan while she was recouping from her hospitalization. Bush's entourage really resents Code Pink and the Peace Center at Crawford. Wille doesn't care.

      by Faith Chatham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:32:06 PM PDT

  •  Makes me want to vote...

    for Willie...early and often.

    Go, Willie!!  You are a national treasure!!!!

    by mayan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:29:13 PM PDT

  •  And if he wants to be energy czar, more power

    (tehee) to him.  No one could do worse than Cheney and his oil allies.  Hell, maybe Willie will bring us home to hemp.  Yeah Willie!

    by dkmich on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:47:41 PM PDT

    •  Would hemp make decent bio-diesel?

      I know all the tons of useful things that can be made from it, but what about energy?  Maybe that's what Willie was up to?  What was his line in "Half Baked"?  "I remember when a dime bag cost a dime?" Or something like that?

      by Dickie on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:59:50 PM PDT

      •  You can make anything in the world

        if you got some good hemp, man.

        by semiot on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:27:01 PM PDT

    •  It it were a vote between Bush & Cheney and Kinky

      I'd go with Kinky. Between Perry and Kinky, I'd probably go with Kinky. Between Bell and Kinky I'm definitely going with BELL.

      Many folks are disgusted with folks who have sold out the people and a Democratic party which rolled over and played Republican Lite. Bell is a good candidate. He's not an entertainer. He's serious but has a dry witty sense of humor. He will make a good governor for Texas. He is staying on message and consistently hitting Perry on issues near and dear to Chris Bell's heart -- health care, the environment, the budget, toll roads and failure spend taxpayers money for quality education and to maintain the parks.

      Many folks think it will do no harm to vote for Kinky. A vote for Kinky is a vote against Bell. It will be awful if Perry is re-elected. If Bell comes in first and someone other than Chris Bell comes in second, the Democratic party loses its position on the ballot as one of the top two parties in Texas.  If anybody thinks the road we're on this year is hard, ponder what it would be if our candidates were in the same position as the independents, Greens and Libertarians?

      There are some very serious consequences for every Democrat on the ballot in 2010 if Kinky comes in ahead of Chris Bell.  Delegates are determined based on the number of votes cast during the last governor's race. It will be harder for US Congressional, Senatorial and TX House and Senate Candidates if the Democratic Party loses its place as one of the two primary parties of Texas.

      by Faith Chatham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:23:52 PM PDT

  •  Indeed...but

    if he is a public official charged with making clearthinking decisions about energy policy, then yes, it certainly is your business whether he takes hallucinogenic drugs.

    Put in other words...I do not give a crap if Willie Nelson ingests illegal drugs. I give a crap if the Texas Governor's energy czar does, yes sir, I do.

    by brownsox on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:28:42 PM PDT

    •  bingo!

      by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:30:42 PM PDT

    •  right..

      But if he's a boozer.. who cares!

      by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:43:30 PM PDT

      •  If he was drinking on the job

        I would.

        by brownsox on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 04:37:43 PM PDT

        •  but

          Illegal drugs do not get the same treatment?

          by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 04:52:37 PM PDT

          •  Theoretically

            but not as long as they're illegal.

            by brownsox on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:05:52 PM PDT

    •  I wish the current ones could

      blame their actions/decisions on hallucinogenic drugs!

      by Faith Chatham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:28:50 PM PDT

•  For the first time

  I actually to hear what Kinky has to say.

  by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:19:08 PM PDT

•  Willie will teach each and every one of us...

  ... how to fly without the aid of an aircraft.

  That's what the 'shrooms were for.

  by Bob Johnson on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:21:24 PM PDT

  •  I hear

    They never have to put new tires on that bus.  The wheels aren't actually on the road.

    by baba durag on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:24:44 PM PDT

    •  And the engine makes an odd sound...

      BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

      by Bob Johnson on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:35:38 PM PDT

      •  That was the engine?

        Damn, I forgot to exhale...

        by baba durag on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:37:07 PM PDT

      •  I thought it went *puff puff puff* <n/t>

        by ripzaw on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:18:53 PM PDT

        •  And THEN

          BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

          by Bob Johnson on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:21:00 PM PDT

          •  Hey man - yer either on the bus

            or off the bus.

            by semiot on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:29:00 PM PDT

        •  There's a tail pipe worth suckin' on I'll bet

          by baba durag on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 07:27:00 PM PDT

•  It's not a bust

  It's not a bust, it's a missed taxation opportunity.

  Legalize, regulate, and tax.  If we do that, we can empty the prisons of all the non-violent drug offenders, and with the tax revenue we can pay to pave the streets and fund the schools.  This war on a person's right to self-medicate and self-intoxicate has got to stop!

  by horsewithnoname on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:23:10 PM PDT

  •  we would save money

    on the "war on drugs" if the government just bought all of them.

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:25:20 PM PDT

  •  it still bogles my mind

    how the "Free Market" Conservatives are not pro-legalization.  its an amazing tax opertunity that a perfect place to cut government pork while rising revenues ......

    by haagmm on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:30:16 PM PDT

    •  Big Pharma can't patent naturally grown weed.

      They want to bogart all the legal drug money. End of story.

      by highfive on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:35:27 PM PDT

      •  Archer Daniels Midland

        Archer Daniels Midland has figured out how to patent plain old plants.  Big Pharma could take a lesson from them, and use their methods to create and patent particular strains of weed and shrooms.

        No, patent issues aren't the problem.  The issues are social issues and class issues left over from the Civil War.  The war which is marketed as the War on Drugs is actually executed as the War On Some Drug Dealers, primarily the poor black ones, but increasingly the poor Hispanic ones.

        Ask around your local gated community sometime.  It's never hard to find cocaine or valium, and the bored rich kids who live there don't have a problem paying for either.  But it's the crack dealers and the weed dealers who go to prison.

        by horsewithnoname on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:50:45 PM PDT

        •  right

          If Willie Nelson was not famous and black, he would be facing intent to distribute charges right now. In LA, thats 5-30 years.

          by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:09:08 PM PDT

          •  They've never let Willie off for being Willie

            He does his think, he gets caught, he pays for it one way or another. Willie is near and dear to folks down here but he doesn't get special exemption from prosecution- er persecution -- just for being famous. In fact, he probably gets away with less!

            by Faith Chatham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:35:04 PM PDT

        •  particular strains

          Heck, if they could just put the effort into 'better' marijuana and hemp (cross it with kudzu, dude!), they could still make money ...

          The 'regular stuff' would be cheap and plentiful, the 'good stuff' would be premium.

          Yes, missed tax opportunity.

          by thiroy on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:23:42 PM PDT

      •  Exactly! Have a 4!

        by YucatanMan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:59:25 PM PDT

    •  Actually

      William F Buckley devoted an entire issue of National Review some ten years ago to repealing the Drug War.  

      http://www.nationalreview.com/...

      Milton Friedman is all for legalization.

      http://www.forbes.com/...

      Peter L. King, a conservative judge, says the War On Drugs is a waste of police and prosecutorial efforts.

      http://www.druglibrary.org/...

      There are quite a few other true conservatives who value the constitution over some mythical War On Some Drugs.

      by SCFrog on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:11:47 PM PDT

      •  well

        Thing is, there's a lot of people like Buckley who will admit in certain company that the Drug War is a complete failure. However, notice that Buckley decided to do his piece in the middle of the Clinton administration. Where was he Nixon started this shit or when Reagan was expanding the Drug War?

        These people will put forth all of their effort to repeal a cent of taxation, but when it comes to issues like this, they're completely content with writing some essays and then turning a blind eye. If they put a tenth of the effort they put into abortion, taxes, or neo-con foreign policy, we would have ended this shit years ago.

        by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:20:42 PM PDT

        •  As they say in "conservative" circles

          "I've got mine!" Buckley famously let on that he had actually imbibed some marijuana, just to see what it was like - of course he was on his yacht "beyond the international limit" when he did so, so it wasn't "strictly illegal." Hey listen up - laws are made to protect people like my pal William Fuckhead Buckley doing whatever the fuck they want to.

          In other news - I guess Willie and the gang had already eaten most of the 'shrooms already.

          by semiot on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:37:03 PM PDT

          •  actually

            Depending on when he did it, it was illegal.

            I can't find a reference at this moment, but I believe Congress made certain things illegal even if you're outside the US. The goal was to stop sex and drug tourism.

            by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:40:33 PM PDT

            •  It was a while ago - 1970s, I think

              by semiot on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 06:21:22 AM PDT

  •  Well...

    As the government is likely the ultimate supplier, it is kinda a circular tax...

    by TexasDemocrat on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:57:41 PM PDT

    •  the taxes would probably be outrageous as well

      by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:50:34 PM PDT

•  At least Willie seems to be astute enough ...

  ... to buy wholesale quantities at wholesale prices. Call it Economic Mind Expansion.

  by highfive on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:23:26 PM PDT

  •  I bet he didn't give the trooper his real stash

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:32:55 PM PDT

    •  The sniffer dog

      had to be put out of his misery.

      by skwimmer on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:48:43 PM PDT

      •  misery?

        Punchline:

        "It took the [doggie] coroner a week to get the smile off his face."

        by thiroy on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:24:48 PM PDT

•  Energy? No.

  FDA?  Maybe.

  by LarryInNYC on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:27:19 PM PDT

  •  Shit yeah...

    Make him drug czar...a man with an awful lot of experience.  

    by mayan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:30:27 PM PDT

  •  I take Willie seriously

    he's actually doing something about bringing friendlier fuels to market, instead of just talking about it during the Iowa caucuses every 4 years.

    (Also, I'm not sure that the state of Texas runs the FDA... I think that might be, you know, Federal.)

    by emptypockets on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:34:25 PM PDT

    •  Kinky Friedman

      has as much chance of naming the next head of the FDA as he does of naming the next Texas energy czar.

      by LarryInNYC on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:40:17 PM PDT

      •  tied with the Dem

        current polling:

        Perry (R) 34

        Bell (D) 21
        Friedman (I) 20
        Strayhorn (I) 14

        Not bad for a "joke"

        by emptypockets on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:44:24 PM PDT

        •  in other words

          Kinky + Bell defeats Perry...As much as I like that Kinky is on the ballot, no doubt where my vote goes...

          by TexasDemocrat on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:59:52 PM PDT

          •  But

            You assume that Kinky's votes would go to Bell.  Although some progressives are dumb enough to support him, since Kinky is actually a right-wing Nazi asshole, I would expect that some of that support is from the right.

            by Mia Dolan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:23:16 PM PDT

            •  No assumption...

              I don't assume that...but I do believe that anyone that is not in the Perry or Strayhorn camp in Texas is very likely (although not guaranteed) to be a Dem voter...I think Bell could get 38% if it were a three way race...

              by TexasDemocrat on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:36:27 PM PDT

          •  Won't work that way

            Perry is still leading. Votes for Kinky come out of Bell's potential voters more frequently than from Bells. Even though Kinky is not a Democrat, he's attracting folks who would not vote for Perry. This is a four-way race. Strayhorn has a big war chest. She'll be running lots of media. Kinky has rich friends. Bell has some money but not nearly enough to match their media buys. Bell is the underdog money wise. Too much Democratic cash has gone to out of state candidates. Most of the in-state Democratic money has gone to PACS without that much of it coming back out to candidates or has gone to the State Democratic Party without going out to help candidates.

            When newscasters choose between serious candidates who make sense and candidates who are outrageous or make folks laugh, they go with the more entertaining newsbite. The media has built what started out as a joke by Kinky into a campaign which may topple the Democratic party of its position as a major party in Texas.

            I don't know what Kinky would be like as Governor. He probably couldn't show up LESS often to conduct State Business than Bush did while occupying the Governor's mansion to use it for photo ops for his run for President. We've had a really long dry awful spell here in Texas. We deserve someone in the Governor's office who will seriously try to solve the problems of this state.  Kinky might try but I doubt that he'll have the skill to get Texas out of the hole it's fallen into. We've moved from ranking as one of the fastest growing economies with ample good jobs and high ranks in education to competing with the most depressed states with broken economies. On health care and education we rank down at the bottom! This will take heroic effort by a really skilled leader who can bring a diverse group of problem solvers together to face critical issues and implement drastic changes in broken systems. It will be hard enough for someone with Chris Bell's experience, education and serious dedication for public service. it will be harder for Kinky. The very things which may get him elected will prove his downfalling if he is elected!

            by Faith Chatham on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 11:56:21 PM PDT

•  with his BioWillie fuels and FarmAid

  Willie Nelson has done a hell of a lot for Texas, and his country.

  What have you done lately?  Besides bitch about mushrooms.

  by emptypockets on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:32:50 PM PDT

  •  This ain't about Willie

    it is about the joke running for governor that thinks it would be cute to put him in charge of Texas energy. And I am not bitching about mushrooms, got any?

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:34:51 PM PDT

    •  yeah, and I'm saying Willie's a good pick

      and has some real energy credibility, with his BioWillie project.

      What are you saying?

      by emptypockets on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:39:59 PM PDT

      •  I guess I am saying

        he can't do a good job if he is in jail.

        by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:42:55 PM PDT

        •  it's been done before

          ever been to Rhode Island?

          (iirc)

          by emptypockets on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:45:14 PM PDT

  •  Biodiesel is what this is all about

    While I don't like Kinky Friedman and hope he withdraws from the race, I do think that Willie Nelson has done a lot to promote clean energy and clean fuel.  I'm all for ridiculing Kinky Friedman's idiotic attempt at running for governor and his bigoted views, but I don't think that the Willie Nelson thing is a bad idea.  Maybe Chris Bell should offer Willie the same deal?  It couldn't hurt.

    by theboz on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:05:35 PM PDT

    •  One thing that Kinky's race has cost the

      Democratic ticket is the spice that Willie frequently added to political gatherings. He's been a loyal supporter of many populist challengers for years, helping where he could. This year the Kinky factor puts a wall between Willie and many folks who appreciate him.

      by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:05:14 AM PDT

•  Only Willie

  could have a lb and half and get off on a misdemeanor. Anyone else would get minimum mandatories in the federal pen, meaning Willie most likely wouldn't be seeing daylight again in this life.

  And 'shrooms? Let's not even go into the penalties for that stuff. It's the only way I know to make cow shit worth something.

  by FLDemJax on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:34:47 PM PDT

  •  Because any fool knows

    That while a pound and a half for anyone else would be proof of trafficking, for Willie it's only a good weekend with some buds.

    by SCFrog on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:13:47 PM PDT

•  I Can Just See The Cop

  saying to the DA "But, this is Willie we're talking about. I believe him when he says its all for personal use."

  by FLDemJax on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:36:56 PM PDT

  •  buhahahaha

    and it is.  you know how fast a pound of weed goes among friends?

    by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:53:35 PM PDT

•  cue...

  "On the Road Again" parody song, featuring busted on the bus with weed and fungus lyrics, in 3-2-1.

  Leave Willie and his peeps alone and let them smoke and ingest their plants.

  by sleestax on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:42:10 PM PDT

•  Kinky on Katrina Victims

  "The musicians and artists have mostly moved back to New Orleans now," Friedman said. "The crackheads and the thugs have decided to stay here. They want to stay here. I think they got their hustle on, and we need to get ours."

  from todays LATimes

  by OneCrankyDom on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:42:20 PM PDT

  •  Kinky's positions

    on immigration are pretty atrocious too. I don't see how this guy ever caught on as a fad among progressives.

    Although I'm not exactly enthused about Chris Bell. I may simply not vote in that race this November, and focus on the down-ballot races.

    by orchid314 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:21:31 PM PDT

    •  Kinky is a joke

      but I'd vote for Willie if he ran for guv!

      Vote for Chris Bell in the meantime.

      by RoxieInTexas on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 04:16:25 PM PDT

•  I thought it was 11 1/2 pounds

  When I first read the story I thought it said he was busted with 11 1/2 pounds of pot.  When I re-read it and saw only 1 1/2 pounds, I was kinda like-is that all?  He had to share ya know.  

  by edalex on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:51:51 PM PDT

  •  Only...

    Assuming Willie's getting the good stuff, that's still street retail close to $10,000

    Starve the corporate beast, buy local!

    by EthrDemon on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:03:57 PM PDT

    •  WOW

      I dont smoke the stuff. So 1.5 pounds is worth $10,000.   Whats the markup on that?

      by edalex on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:20:22 PM PDT

      •  lots.

        They call it weed for a reason.. just need some water and light/heat, off it goes..

        by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:22:16 PM PDT

      •  depends

        on who you're getting it from.  If you wanted 1.5 lbs, you could probably get it for half that.

        Starve the corporate beast, buy local!

        by EthrDemon on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 08:40:21 PM PDT

    •  I don't know what it cost but I bet Willie

      didn't pay any $10,000 for it. Probably home grown!

      by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:40:59 AM PDT

  •  That was probably just an afternoon's supply

    Fruits of Texas agriculture.

    by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:06:55 AM PDT

•  Can't wait

  I can't wait to vote for Kinky.  There is no legitimate reason for marijuana to be illegal and Kinky is right, how hard could being Governor of Texas be?  Why not Kinky?  Better than good hair perry.

  by nisleib on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 01:58:13 PM PDT

  •  Seriously, I love Willie and all he has done

    but there is NO way I am going to vote for anyone other than a Democrat for governor of Texas.  Kinky is helping Parry/Perry split the progressive vote in Texas and that will lead to a Republican win. God, how we do NOT need that again.

    VOTE DEMOCRATIC!  Please do not follow the Naderish BS about Kinky and "there's no difference".  There is a HUGE difference between a Demo and Repthuglican win. And Democrats cannot win without Democratic votes.

    Please, I'm begging you (ALL) now on both knees...: Do NOT vote for Kinky, no matter how funny he is!

    by YucatanMan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:03:55 PM PDT

    •  me too

      we already have a joke as a governor.

      by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:05:45 PM PDT

      •  Only nothing is funny about that one. n/t

        by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:10:58 AM PDT

    •  You are absolutely right!

      Laugh at his jokes. Enjoy the parts of his interviews which are repulsive (like the Katrina comments and his pandering to the right by favoring militarizing the borders) but DON'T VOTE FOR HIM.

      Realize that a vote for Kinky will mean keeping Perry for another 4 years.

      by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:10:26 AM PDT

  •  He's a stealth Republican

    and a novelty vote is a missed opportunity to have a real Democrat in office again. Answer the Bell, and kick the three Republicans in the race to the curb.

    by khereva on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:04:50 PM PDT

  •  Same as good hair Perry

    Kinky is a Bush-loving right wing racist asshole.  That's why not.  

    by Mia Dolan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:19:26 PM PDT

  •  you should check out his platform

    Kinky wants to put 15,000 national guard troops on the border to protect it.

    http://stopkinky.blogspot.com/

    and then check Chris Bell's platform.

    by RoxieInTexas on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 04:18:57 PM PDT

    •  Bush in the White House and Kinky in the

      Governor's mansion and a Senate and House filled with Republicans. How much more will we have to pay for our sins!

      by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:13:19 AM PDT

  •  you fell for it?

    Kinky would have no more power to de-criminalize pot than I.

    Vote for Chris Bell.  Vote Democrat.

    A New Direction for America

    http://www.democrats.org

    by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:44:24 PM PDT

  •  Voting for Kinky won't legalize marijuana!

    Maybe you've been smoking a bit too much of it to read a government text!

    by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:08:22 AM PDT

  •  it's been proven that a dim light bulb can be

    governor. However, this week at Ann Richard's funeral we were reminded what an incredible difference a bright, compassionate, energetic, intelligent, dedicated governor makes in Texas. We deserve better than we've had since Ann and we desperately need better than Kinky can offer right now.

    by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:43:34 AM PDT

•  if i lived in texas

  I would vote for kinky friedman

  but I dont live in texas

  thank goodness for that

  by KnotIookin on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:01:54 PM PDT

  •  I'm thankful that you don't too! n/t

    by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:13:58 AM PDT

•  The irony

  Busted in Louisiana on the same day Gov. Blanco is tooling around the state in her own bus promoting hurricane evacuations. Her bus has "On the Road Again" splashed all over it.

  The Willie Nelson folks were quite astute to have them all admit the pot was theirs.  It kept it from being an actual bust.

  by tvb on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:21:37 PM PDT

  •  Willie has been through this before

    he knows what to say to the man.

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:38:16 PM PDT

    •  exactly

      I'm sure it goes something like this... "Hi, I'm Willie Nelson."

      by Politburo on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:44:19 PM PDT

•  I live in Texas

  and I hope these redneck, bible thumpers end up with Kinky.  The only other choice is "more of the same".

  by SimplyLeft on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:24:30 PM PDT

  •  Bell is progressive

    while he may not be up to changing Willie's bong water, he has some good ideas.

    by citizenx on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:27:25 PM PDT

    •  In Texas it doesn't take a hell of a lot to look

      really progressive! In fact you can be a true conservative and still be progressive here!

      Basic things like adhering to the open meetings rules is progressive now.

      Or judges who take more than $1000.oo in campaign funds excusing themselves from hearing cases involving such donors.

      It's become progressive to report HOW BIG THE CHECK IS which is reported as income on campaign reports.

      Just voting to appropriate the funds to the parks which were raised by surcharges on vanity license plates dedicated to maintaining the parks would be progressive!

      It doesn't take someone who leans to the left to be progressive when the status quo is further right than the scale can accurately measure!  Simple honesty would register as progressive right now with many people!

      by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:22:31 AM PDT

  •  Kinky is more of the same

    He's a right wing asshole.  

    by Mia Dolan on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:36:44 PM PDT

•  I don't like Friedman but lay off Willie!

  As far as I'm concerned, dope and mushrooms, and anything esle that is natural, should not be illegal. Maybe controlled but not illegal (how about outlawing dandelions? They are an herb after all - you can make wine out of them too). And I'd rather smoke a joint than drink any day, yet drinking is legal.
  The war on drugs is a failure. Let's use the money for better things.
  That Friedman chose Willie only makes me like Kinky - who I think is a little "off" otherwise, and don't think he should be governor.
  As far as Willie being Kinky's energy guy, well Willie happens to know a lot about alternative fuels - did you know his tour bus runs on bio-diesel?

  by MA Liberal on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:40:42 PM PDT

•  People are voting

  for Kinky Freidman simply because they find him funny and entertaining, a refreshing difference from most popliticians.

  by ArkDem14 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 02:48:46 PM PDT

  •  i hope not

    he is not refreshing in my eyes.  he is more of the same.  i want to be represented.  this is my home and i am a Democrat.

    Vote for Chris Bell.

    by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:46:59 PM PDT

    •  he is very entertaining though

      even though his plans are completely crazy.

      by ArkDem14 on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 01:04:59 PM PDT

•  One issue voter

  I hate to say this but if I had a candidate in my state saying he'd try to legalize the weed I'd vote for him no matter what his other politics. That law has caused more suffering than almost any other one.

  by Hollowdweller on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 03:53:58 PM PDT

  •  false promises

    we should be used to politicians telling us whatever we want to hear to get elected.

    i will not vote for Kinky.  i am tired of the wannabe cowboys and i am a Democrat.

    by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:48:42 PM PDT

    •  Kinky's campaigns

      I lived on the Minnesota border when Ventura was elected.  Kinky's candidacy is a lot like this.  For the type of voter he can reasonable expect to attract, his advertisements are very good.  His first one, the action figure one, is a direct steal from the Ventura campaign.  Sadly, he is the type of candidate in a 4 way race that could come up and surprise people on election day.

      by Titans on Tue Sep 19, 2006 at 08:19:03 PM PDT

      •  He hired Ventura's consultant.

        It started as a joke but he decided to bring in the heavier guns to get traction. Now we're in a real fight here. I laugh at some of his jokes but keeping him out of office and not having to face more of Perry & Company is not a laughing matter. Watching the polls, Bell is rising, but the numbers do not look favorable enough. The consequences of Chris Bell not winning this election have implications that will reach much farther than Texas. Kinky with a predominately Republican House and Senate will not be able to stop the Trans Texas Corridor and that project will not stop at the Texas border. When they finish with us they'll come after you!

        by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:39:06 AM PDT

  •  Mercy forbid. The latent discontent of the 60ies

    rises from the ashes of time. May it not smite me! I've had to stomach Dick Armey in Jim Wright's chair!  PLEASE HELP CHRIS BELL WIN. I've suffered through Bush getting my tax money to build his ball team a new stadium and watched him make off like the bandit he is with the cash while we held the bag. I've seen the idiot who fired Bobby Valentine as manager of the Rangers get nominated for Governor. I've been astounded that anyone voted for him and seen him get away with stealing the White House.  His college frat buddy/roommate moved in to enable the robber barons to bribe the the house and senate to revolke and rewrite much of the Transportation Code of Texas to legalize stealing hundreds of thousands of Texas farm and ranch land and converting existing highways paid for by taxpayer dollars to toll roads. You think outlawing weed has caused suffering. Please! Look me in the eye and tell me that a few folks getting busted for grass creates more suffering that all this!
    And that is not even factoring in the thousands of children who were dropped from the CHIP program so that there would be money they could transfer to Republican pork projects or the old people who lost their heating/cooling subsidies (even though homeowners contributed the money to the poor through debits on their utility bills!)  Or the senior citizens who have reached the doughnut in medicare and can't get health care or the retirees who have paid MORE for PRESCRIPTIONS this year than before the drug plan was passed. Measure those things and tell me that a few drug busts or having to hide when you smoke your weed causes more suffering that than almost any other one!
    I think my having to suffer both Dick Army and Bush in office at the same time tops your weed discomfort without any of the others!

    by Faith Chatham on Wed Sep 20, 2006 at 12:34:23 AM PDT

•  Vote for Chris Bell

  by hypersphere01 on Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 05:41:43 PM PDT