I agree with Kinky about Perry & other politicians !

Independent Friedman says his aim is to increase turnout

By JOSH BAUGH
Eagle Staff Writer

Amid a slew of one-liners, gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman on Wednesday outlined a platform that includes using gambling to fund education and placing a moratorium on the death penalty.
Friedman spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 in an auditorium at Texas A&M University's Mays Business School.
"I'm not running against Perry," said Friedman, donning his trademark black cowboy hat and holding an unlit cigar. "I'm running against apathy."
He said part of his mission on the campaign trail is to increase voter interest in the November general election in hopes of seeing a 50 percent voter turnout, up from less than 30 percent in the last race for governor in 2002.
Friedman also said his camp takes credit for the low turnout in the March primaries because people opted not to vote so they could sign a petition for an independent candidate. In order to be on the November ballot, he and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, also an independent gubernatorial candidate, must gather 45,540 signatures of registered voters who didn't cast ballots in either of the March primaries.
To make the May 11 petition deadline, Friedman said he's tapping young voters. His campaign tour is taking him to campuses across the state, and his Web site has a section devoted to students.
Calling himself the "Jewish Cowboy," Friedman explained his stance on a bevy of issues, though he often shot off couplets of serious statements followed by tongue-in-cheek comments.
"I support gay marriage," he said. "I think they have the right to be just as miserable as the rest of us."

He said Perry and other politicians spent years fighting for a ban on gay marriage to take the spotlight off more pressing issues.
"It's an easy way to take our eye off the ball," he said. "What they took our eye off of is education. What they took our eye off of is immigration."

Friedman said Texas could generate $5 billion dollars annually by legalizing gambling, which he would use to fund public schools.
"We've got to legalize casino gambling," he said. "We invented Texas Hold 'Em [poker] and we can't even play it here."
Friedman initially said the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test should be eliminated, but later said standardized tests aren't inherently bad. He said public schools must stop "teaching to the test."
During his 20-minute speech, Friedman - standing near an almost life-size caricature of himself - often drew laughter and applause from the crowd of mostly students. He also answered questions from the audience. Friedman said he hasn't developed a stance on nuclear energy, he's against Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor, and he believes that Texas should place a moratorium on the death penalty to study whether it's fairly administered.
Friedman said he plans to appoint Willie Nelson as his energy adviser. Nelson has been a champion of biodiesel, made from used vegetable oil gathered mostly from restaurants and then used to power his tour bus across the country.
If his plan unfolds they way he hopes, Friedman said not to expect too much work to come from the Capitol early in the morning.
"But we'll work late, and we'll be honest," he said.
Chris Bell is the Democratic nomination on the November ballot and James Werner is running as a Libertarian.
• Josh Baugh's e-mail address is josh.baugh@theeagle.com.

source: http://www.theeagle.com/stories/042706/politics_20060427006.php