Texas Gone Kinky Merges with GetKinky.org

Hey folks. This blogging adventure has been swell. I have enjoyed everyone's comments, and sincerely appreciate everyone who has read anything here. You learn alot about yourself when you write, and I intend to find out who I really am. Stick around. Win or lose, KinkyFriedman is resposible for making me and many other Americans realize how important our civic duties are. We have some HUGE plans at GetKinky.org, please stick around. Thanks again to everyone. These archives will stay here as long as they're aloud.

Sincerely,

Robert Hinojosa

aka TheLongHaul
www.GetKinky.org

Become a Part of History and Vote Early

Originally posted at GetKinky.org

Early voting ends on November 3rd, and turnout is still substantially greater than 2002. This war against apathy that Kinky Friedman waged appears to be a winnable battle after all. It seems when people are given a choice, they take it.



So what's going on in border counties that usually vote Democratic? Why aren't they voting like they did in 2002? Could this mean they aren't sold on Chris Bell? Stay tuned to find out.

High Voter Turnout Continues in Texas

As Kinky Friedman continues to build momentum, so does the voter turnout he needs.



Some Democratic and Republican strongholds from the 2002 election are down in early voting, which could lead to speculation of a diminished base vote.

Hey, Get Off That Fence

Here's how my conversations with fence-sitters and undecideds about Kinky Friedman usually go.

Any random person: What's the big deal about him anyway? Where does he stand?

You know the first thing he's gonna do when he gets elected....demand a recount. He says never re-elect anyone, including himself. The second thing is install a listed phone number to his office where you and me can call during certain hours everyday and speak directly with him to talk about the issues that are bothering us. I've even read somewhere he would try to start a Texas Radio talk show with these calls to reconnect with the people of Texas, his only special interest group. Did you know he recently returned a large contribution from some Houston special interest group?

Most of the people who haven't researched the race but plan to vote are already convinced by this point, but many continue:

Any random person: Yeah but an Independent can't win in Texas.

The campaign from the begining has been hinged on voter turnout. Did you know that only 29% of voting age Texans voted in 2002 when Tony Sanchez and Rick Perry spent over $100,000,000 for a job that pays $100,000 only to drive 71% of us away from the polls. We've said from the beginning that if Texas experiences a high voter turnout, it's not because people are coming out of the wood works to vote for Rick Perry or Chris Bell, they're coming out because they've been inspired by Kinky.

Likely voter polls have showed Kinky hovering anywhere from 9% to 23% which goes to show how accurate they can be in a race like this where voter turnout is unpredictable. Besides, Kinky isn't even targeting likely voters, the 29% that voted in 2002 which these polls rely on. He's targeting the 71% that wasn't inspired. Kinky's not even running against Rick Perry or Chris Bell, or Strayhorn. He's running against voter apathy, lack of emotion. And from the looks of early voting numbers, he's actually getting a hugh %50 increase in a few counties. Now that doesn't mean they're all voting for Kinky, but we like to think they are. We'll see at 7:00pm on November 7th when early voting totals are released.

Any random person: What does Kinky say about the border?

Kinky says,"Remember the Alamo." We should remember that we fought that war to establish a border, and we should respect it. He says if we're really serious about stopping the flow of illegal immigrants, "lets get tough." Did you know Rick Perry put 1500 National Troops on the border with guns but no bullets and no ability to detain anyone? From what I've heard, right now when illegals are caught in Texas, they are given a court date and released.

Kinky says lets put 10,000 National Guardsmen down there for now to halt the flood of illegals. But that's not the problem. Look no ones against hard honest working migrant workers coming and helping our economy. We couldn't survive without them. It should be easier for them to come work legally. Kinky says let them purchase a tax payer ID card for 50 or 60 bucks from the DPS. Then if we catch an employer hiring a worker without the card, we sock it to them, $25,000 the first time, $50,000 the second time.

He says let the federal government deal with the path way to citizenship, guest visas, amnesty and other issues. Did you know Rick Perry has only met with the governors of Arizona and New Mexico once, from what I've heard. Kinky says that's one of the first things he'll do to come up with a comprehensive multi-state plan with NM and AZ since the federal government has done nothing.

Kinky's also told a policy stance conveyed to him by his border advisor, Juaquin Jackson, Texas Ranger. The Five Mexican general plan gets down to a huge issue that politicians ignore, getting Mexico involved, although it's more of a humorous way to convey the message. You take the Texas Mexico border and divide it into 5 jurisdictions and appoint a Mexican general in charge of each district. You then give the General 1 or 2 million which we hold for him in a trust fund for him from which we deduct $5000 for every illegal we catch crossing the border. Essentially the money's theirs to keep. This plan is just to show that we should consider Mexico when dealing with the border, not an unreasonable request.

Any random person: What about education? What does he propose?

Kinky says, "money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail." Money will help education, but it won't solve the problems, but we must pay if we want great education. He says legalize casino gambling to first create an 8 to 10 billion dollar revenue and constitutionally declare it for education, not a general fund. He says, "we invented Texas Hold'em and we can't even play it." Now this is through local option. If Nueces and Galveston counties wanted casinos to help fund their schools, they get them, but if Bexar Co. didn't, we could vote them out. He's also proposed "slots for tots," which would allow bars to use video poker terminals to also add to the education fund. If we want the best education, we have to pay for it.

Kinky's also said he would establish The Trust for Texas Heroes as a means to raise salaries of teachers, cops, and firefighters through a 1% surcharge to big oil producers. Kinky's also wants to take sports funding out of education and let local businesses and the private sector sponsor sports programs. This would release 15% of the education budget that currently goes to sports instead of education. Did you know that the Georgia State Lottery pays for every high school student with a "B" or better average to go to college for free? Where's our money going, to pay for billboards that advertise how much the lottery has given to education?

Now that we can pay for the best education, we must consider probably the more important issues. Why has the teaching profession driven away many great teachers? Kinky says we have to get rid of teaching to the test, the TAKS, even if we lose federal funding. He's says now of course have standardized tests like we did when we were younger, but this nonsense high stakes test and kids not knowing where the civil war took place because it wasn't on the test is ridiculous. He says we'll find the best and brightest teachers and bring them to Austin or bring Austin to them. He says he'll appoint people who have seen the inside of the class room. He says he'll start a Texas Peace Corps which would bring retired folks, musicians, celebrities, and volunteers in to public schools to teach art, music, shop, civics, and life experiences on a volunteer basis.

Any random person: Well those sound pretty good what else does Kinky say?

Well his other big issue is renewable energy. Did you know Willie Nelson has been running his tour bus on vegetable oil for many years now. He also has huge connections to Texas farmers through Farm Aid. Well Kinky wants to appoint Willie Nelson, the "Hillbilly Dali Lama" as Kinky calls him, to head up a new energy commission aimed at focusing on renewable energy like biodesiel and ethanol, wind and solar plants. Willie could help spread biodiesel and ethanol through farmers co-ops to make these fuels readily available throughout Texas. We're importing energy for the first time in a long time. Kinky wants to put the state fleet and 35,000 school buses on biodesiel and says if enough people start trying it, you'll see gas prices drop through supply and demand.

He wants to make Texas the leader and in renewable energy for other states to follow and he believes we need characters like himself and Willie to do it. Kinky's appointments have to be appoved by the legislature, so this would take some convincing, and a lot of it. It's great to aim high. He says "wouldn't it be great to lead in things other than executions, toll roads, propery taxes, and high school drop outs," and I agree.

About health care, go to KinkyFriedman.com and click on "The Issues" and then "Kinky's TexasCare" to find detailed information about Kinky's health care plans.

About toll roads, he says he wants them to "go the way of the pay toilet." We don't need them and we don't want them, any of them. As far as the TTC goes, we don't need roads owned by out of state interests, especially ones that were brokered through secret deals and campaign contributions.

About the death penalty, he says, "I'm not anti-death penalty, but I'm damn sure anti-the-wrong-guy-getting-executed." He would use his power to order a 30 day review on controversial death penalty cases on a more lenient basis.

And about gay marriage, he says, "I believe they have the right to be just as miserable as the rest of us."

About prayer in school, he says, "what's wrong with a kid believing in something, even if it's a rock or a tree. He's for optional non-denominational prayer in school. Did you know Katrina evacuees who came with church groups have been progressing more than those that came sponsored by FEMA. Goes to show what a little spiritual uplifting can do. He says, "one aetheist stands up and says no, but you know what it says on an aetheist's tombstone right, all dressed up and no place to go." He also says, in the words of his spiritual advisor, Billy Joe Shaver, "if you don't like Jesus, go to hell."

About guns, he says, "I don't know how many supporters I have, but they all carry guns."

About political reform, Kinky's the only candidate to call for real political reformation through, fair ballot access for third parties, fair and open debates for all qualified candidates hosted by non-partisan entities, initiative and referendum to allow Texans to petition to vote on issues that matter to them, same day voter registration to attrack young and new voters, publically funded campaigns which would provide full public financing for candidates who agree to spending limits and reject private contributions paid for by increased registration fees for lobbyists and 10% surcharges on lobbying expenditures. Kinky talks about joining AZ, ME, MA, NM, NC, and VT who have all adopted Clean Money Campaign Reform laws.

Had enough, if you haven't visit KinkyFriedman.com, GetKinky.org, or TexasGoneKinky for more information and to ask any questions you may have through comments. We'll all be glad to answer them.

This is from the heart to those who are actually taking the time to really learn about what Kinky stands for and are considering letting him earn your vote, but might be a little unsure. We all are in this to fix Texas, and we all don't agree on many issues, but we all want the best. Kinky supporters feel the only way to change Texas, and really America, is to show these people who have been representing us falsely and selfishly that we do care, and we will hold them accountable. Voting Kinky into office not only sends a strong message to Texas politcians that we will no longer put up with half-ass government, but it will send a message to all of Americans, and the whole world that Americans are tired of corrupt and dis-honest politicians. Kinky has some great ideas to fix Texas, but this is actually bigger than Texas, although you will find many that say nothing is bigger than Texas. This is an effort by people who really care, to change the world one statesman at a time.

Like Kinky says, "there is a difference between a politician and a statesman, the difference is a politician is thinking about the next election, and a statesman, is thinking about the next generation."

I'd like to ask anyone who is undecided to let Kinky earn your vote. "If you vote your heart and you vote your conscious, you can't waste a vote." Don't rely on "likely voter" polls to base your decision. Join the thousands who have already voted early for change, and vote for the only independent choice, Richard "Kinky" Friedman.

Feel free to spread this to all your fence-sitting friends and family.

High Voter Turnout In Texas Governor's Race

So what does a 19% increased voter turnout mean?

Recently, the top vote getting counties from the 2002 mid-term elections in Texas, along with countless others, have experienced a substantial increase in early voter turnout as well as mail-ballots. Here are the totals and percent changes for early in-person plus mail-in votes through October 29th. Check my math and let me hear everyone's opinions on increases and decreases. Click for larger image.

A Message from the Kinkster

A personal message from Kinky Friedman about the high voter turnout so far.

Cross The Line With Kinky

Thanks again goes to Team Minnesota for the footage. Vote early anywhere in your county through November 3rd for Kinky Friedman. All you need is your driver's license or voter's card or electric bill. Election day is November 7th. Don't got to the polls alone, and keep the voter turnout high.

Early Voting Tracker - Texas Governor's Race

UPDATED DAILY

Early Voting October 23 - November 3

If numbers continue the way they started, look forward to a record voter turnout in Texas. More than likely, this will mainly benefit Kinky Friedman. I've charted early voting numbers for the top five counties (from the 2002 Texas Election), and will be updating early voting turnout for 2006 as they become available. Bexar and Travis are updated every night, while the others usually update the next morning. This is my fist attempt at anything like this, so I welcome comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism. Bexar, Harris, and Travis Counties started early voting on a Saturday, two days earlier than Dallas and Tarrant Counties in 2002. The numbers are cumulative, so for example, on the 2nd day in 2002, Bexar County had 7605 total votes in so far. (Click graph for bigger picture and click here for data.)



So far there has been a 57% increase of in-person early voters in Harris County.



So far there has been a 43% increase of in-person early voters in Bexar County.



So far there has been an 14% increase of in-person early voters in Dallas County.



So far there has been a 8% increase of in-person early voters in Tarrant County.



So far there has been a 20% increase of in-person early voters in Travis County.

A few other counties' cumulative early in-person voting numbers as of the 9th day of early voting:

Collin County
2002-26803
2006-35560
(33% increase)

Nueces County*
2002-13200
2006-21241
(61% increase)

Denton County
2002-22454
2006-26410
(18% increase)

Williamson County*
2002-15316
2006-23043
(50% increase)

Montgomery County
2002-15027
2006-18691
(24% increase)

Galveston County
2002-12857
2006-16156
(26% increase)

Fort Bend County
2002-12768
2006-19423
(52% increase)

(*Started early voting two days prior to the others on a Saturday in 2002. 9th day cumulatives are respective, so while the some counties started two days earlier than others, each number is that county's 9th day total.)

Sources:
EV 2002
EV 2006

Here are the cumulative EVIP + EV Mail-in:

A Must See Kinky Friedman Interview

Check out this interview and mass email it to all your friends and family along with this picture.

The interview is complete, lengthy, and detailed. Remember to tell your friends and family that they can vote early, along with the thousands and thousands of people who have already voted, at any poll with their voter's card, ID, or electric bill through November 3rd, even on weekends. For more information, visit KinkyFriedman.com/vote

Also be sure to know your voting rights.

Kinky Friedman Will Get High Voter Turnout

Just to let you know what we've been working on at GetKinky.org.

Here are the in-person early voting turnout numbers. (Cumulative-includes previous days.)

Bexar County
last election 1st day-5171
this election 1st day-8195

last election 2nd day-7605
this election 2nd day-17690

last election 3rd day-14430
this election 3rd day-25382

last election 4th day-21724
this election 4th day-34964

last election 5th day-27602
this election 5th day-44943

last election 6th day-32146
this election 6th day-53519

last election 7th day-40434
this election 7th day-56730

last election 8th day-48802
this election 8th day-66996

last election 9th day-52455
this election 9th day-77049

last election 10th day-60899
this election 10th day-88521

last election 11th day-71488
this election 11th day-102096

last election 12th day-
this election 12th day-

So far there has been a 43% increase of in-person early voters in Bexar County.

Travis County
last election 1st day-4626
this election 1st day-5009

last election 2nd day-7746
this election 2nd day-10762

last election 3rd day-12786
this election 3rd day-16264

last election 4th day-18132
this election 4th day-22223

last election 5th day-25390
this election 5th day-29004

last election 6th day-30175
this election 6th day-34866

last election 7th day-36456
this election 7th day-37472

last election 8th day-42617
this election 8th day-45007

last election 9th day-47023
this election 9th day-52880

last election 10th day-53702
this election 10th day-62489

last election 11th day-62110
this election 11th day-74325

last election 12th day-
this election 12th day-

So far there has been a 20% increase of in-person early voters in Travis County.

Harris County
last election 1st day-5322
this election 1st day-8545

last election 2nd day-9306
this election 2nd day-18267

last election 3rd day-14393
this election 3rd day-27579

last election 4th day-20361
this election 4th day-35070

last election 5th day-27573
this election 5th day-46718

last election 6th day-34136
this election 6th day-61314

last election 7th day-42560
this election 7th day-67441

last election 8th day-54893
this election 8th day-82962

last election 9th day-62323
this election 9th day-98950

last election 10th day-72705
this election 10th day-115615

last election 11th day-87299
this election 11th day-136981

last election 12th day-
this election 12th day-

So far there has been an 59% increase of in-person early voters in Harris County.

Dallas County
last election 1st day-8271
this election 1st day-9108

last election 2nd day-17217
this election 2nd day-18969

last election 3rd day-24836
this election 3rd day-27123

last election 4th day-31696
this election 4th day-36709

last election 5th day-40762
this election 5th day-47027

last election 6th day-51608
this election 6th day-59726

last election 7th day-56100
this election 7th day-66262

last election 8th day-66198
this election 8th day-79815

last election 9th day-78857
this election 9th day-92676

last election 10th day-92333
this election 10th day-105595

last election 11th day-107470
this election 11th day-122527

last election 12th day-
this election 12th day-

So far there has been an 14% increase of in-person early voters in Dallas County.

Tarrant County
last election 1st day-6266
this election 1st day-7497

last election 2nd day-13325
this election 2nd day-15769

last election 3rd day-19815
this election 3rd day-22375

last election 4th day-25884
this election 4th day-30624

last election 5th day-34173
this election 5th day-39496

last election 6th day-42890
this election 6th day-47731

last election 7th day-46057
this election 7th day-50486

last election 8th day-54431
this election 8th day-60988

last election 9th day-64298
this election 9th day-70891

last election 10th day-75438
this election 10th day-81284

last election 11th day-
this election 11th day-

last election 12th day-
this election 12th day-

So far there has been a 8% increase of in-person early voters in Tarrant County.

I will try to keep this updated, thanks for your patience.

This is great news for Kinky. Please mention this whenever possible, Kinky has a great chance if these number continue. Kinky's Campaign has been dependent on high voter turnout from the beginning, and I am proud to say, voters will show up. Come join us in early voting Oct23-Nov3, and become a part of history.

Kinky Friedman Helps with 60% Increase in Voter Turnout

Please join the thousands who have already turned out to vote for Kinky Friedman. In Bexar County in the 2002 mid-term elections, the first day of early voting yeilded 5171 voters eager to cast a ballot for their candidate. Well this year, 8591 voters decided to vote on the first day of the general election. That's a 60% voter turnout increase.

The Kinky Friedman Campaign has believed in, and relied on unlikely voters from the beginning. We didn't and don't worry about traditional polls because they neglect the very people Kinky has inspired, Texans who are tired of what the two-party system has done, or rather, hasn't done for Texas. If this trend of dramatic voter turnout increases continues in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and other cities throughout early voting, on the morning of November 8th the rest of the world will realize what Kinky supporters have for a long time, the need for radical changes to politics as usual.

So if you were worried Kinky didn't have a chance, if you were concerned about low voter turnout, if you were on the fence, or just if haven't taken advantage of early voting, become a part of history and help change the world one statesman at a time.

Folks keep the faith, and don't go to the polls alone.

The Governor of Texas? And Why?

If you're from Texas and are registered to vote, who would get your vote if the election was held today and why? Rick Perry, Chris Bell, Kinky Friedman, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, James Werner, or are you undecided? It would be great to know everyone's reasons for their vote, so feel free to comment.



Comment

This poll has been running since Sept. 8, 2006.

From The Kinky Friedman Campaign

We Beg to Differ.

Kinky Friedman and his campaign for governor have received undue criticism in recent weeks for "lack of substance."

Today, we unveiled a health care initiative that is more comprehensive and detailed than those of any of our oppponents. Unlike the rhetoric and empty promises of other candidates, we lay out in clear and simple terms how TexasCare will work; we even tell you how it will be funded.

We have based TexasCare on a model similar to the one used in Minnesota, a state that is leading the nation in coverage and that's been called one of the best health care reform models in the country. Our state demographics are vastly different, but the concepts and funding mechanisms will carry over.

If you've only been hearing the sound bites and reading the headlines, you'll get the idea that this campaign is nothing but a series of one-liners. We beg to differ.

We have:

The most comprehensive plan for financing our public schools.

The most aggressive renewable energy plan of any candidate for governor.

The only candidate with a comprehensive political reform agenda.

The most detailed plan for getting every man, woman and child in Texas the health care they deserve

A tough stance on immigration. Kinky made our border security an issue in this campaign

A tough stance on crime in urban areas

A tough stance on the governor's new business tax

And tough stances on toll roads, stem cell research, the rights of hunters and fishermen, a woman's right to choose, property taxes, state spending caps, prison reform, decriminalization of marijuana, appraisal caps, state park funding and preservation and more.


While our opponents are busy flinging mud at each other, our campaign has been talking about the critical problems facing Texas. The solutions require common sense and common honesty. They don't require that one man have all the answers, only that his love for Texas and his desire to do the right thing for the citizens of this state outweighs all else.

The politicians that have gotten us into this ditch aren't the ones to get us out. Visit our Issues Page for more information, and if you can't find the answer to your question, get in touch with us by emailing answers@kinkyfriedman.com.

From The Kinky Friedman for Governor Campaign

(please feel free to forward and email this anywhere and everywhere)

Kinky Friedman - Tough on Border Security

Kinky Friedman is tough on border security.



Kinky wants to print tax payer ID cards that migrant workers can purchase. Then if we catch an employer hiring illegals, we sock it to them.

During the one and only debate, Kinky's plan was belittled by BELO by associating it with martial law, however according to this, there is already martial law in effect along the border, aka The War on Drugs.

"The Texas National Guard Counterdrug Program has supported law enforcement since 1988 with full-time military personnel...it can provide support to commissioned peace officers for direct drug law enforcement work."

If the National Gaurd can directly assist with drug law enforcement, why can't they also help with illegal immigration law enforcement?

Kinky really cares and sincerely wants to fix border problems and says let's do "whatever it takes."

Voting Early for Kinky Friedman...Oct. 23-Nov.3

Quick post from GetKinky.org to announce that (virtually) every early voting location in the state can be found by visiting:

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/vote

A rugged team of Kinky Friedman staffers tracked this info down, wrestling it from recalcitrant election officials as if the info was a toddler who had wandered into close contact with a crocodile's murderous jaws. Because when you think about it, it is a toddler: the toddler of democracy.

Here's why the campaign's made this effort to present this information much more clearly than it would be otherwise: Kinky wants (and needs) many more people than voted in 2002 to vote this year. We're already on the right track: early reports indicate many more registered voters for this election cycle than the last. An excellent way to get unlikely voters to actually vote this is to promote voting during the relatively less trafficked days of early voting.

Kinky's birthday is November 1st. What better present than the Governor's Mansion? VOTE! Forward the link above to your friends. VOOOOOOOTE!