October 5, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Election2006 - Friedman: Dallas Morning News: Steve Blow says: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Malaysia: Special Report: Author, Humorist and Malaysia RPCV Kinky Friedman: February 9, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: RPCV Kinky Friedman (Malaysia) : October 5, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Election2006 - Friedman: Dallas Morning News: Steve Blow says: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas

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Steve Blow says: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas

Steve Blow says: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas

"It hit me with a surreal jolt – like that queasy moment you realize parents have sex. In the same eerie way, it hit me: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas. Kind of sends a shiver down your spine, doesn't it? But is that a shiver of fear? Or excitement? I'm not sure. " Author, Musician, and candidate for Governor of Texas, Kinky Friedman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia in the 1960's.

Steve Blow says: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas

Steve Blow: Kinky's unorthodox campaign: Is that a bandwagon I hear?

09:06 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 4, 2005

It hit me with a surreal jolt – like that queasy moment you realize parents have sex.

In the same eerie way, it hit me: Kinky Friedman could be the next governor of Texas.

Kind of sends a shiver down your spine, doesn't it?

But is that a shiver of fear? Or excitement? I'm not sure.

I was certainly aware of Mr. Friedman's independent campaign for governor. But I thought it was strictly a stunt.

For those who don't know him, the cigar-smoking, 60-year-old Mr. Friedman is a comic fixture around the state. For years he led a country band, Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys. Then he wrote a successful series of mystery novels. Until lately, Mr. Friedman had written a humor column for Texas Monthly.

All that led me to take his governor talk as mostly silliness. After all, he announced his campaign for the governor's mansion by explaining, "I need more closet space."

Then the other day I saw Mr. Friedman's first campaign cartoon, and that's when it hit me: He's serious about this.

Then came the second, more shocking realization: He could win!

If Arnold "The Terminator" Schwarzenegger can be elected governor of California, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura can be elected governor of Minnesota, there's nothing to say Kinky "The Kinkster" Friedman can't be elected governor of Texas.

Look at past results. We obviously have a sense of humor.

It may seem odd that a cartoon should spark this realization. But you need to see it. You can, at www.kinkyfriedman.com.

When one of Mr. Friedman's local fans sent me the link to "I Looove Texas," I prepared to watch a political parody in the vein of the JibJab.com cartoons.

And it is funny and irreverent. (A typical Texas politician campaigns atop a bucking oil-well pump, proclaiming "Jesus es grande!" )

But there is a moment in the cartoon – where Mr. Friedman talks about Texas and independence, with the image of Sam Houston on the screen – that you realize this is no joke.

Or at least not totally a joke. The red-white-and-blue-spewing menorah at the end is probably a joke. But Mr. Friedman is clearly trying to say something serious.

"Well, I never like to use the word 'serious,' " he deadpanned in a phone chat the other day. "But yeah, I'm angry. I'm angry at politicians who use Jesus Christ as a marketing tool."

And with that, he was off and running.... "The two political parties have let us down. The Republicans and the Democrats think they have a monopoly on democracy. And as we saw in the special sessions, the only time they get off their butts is to attack each other.

"The minute there is a real alternative on the ballot, believe me, Texans are going to take it."

So, yeah, Mr. Friedman is serious. And he said the 50,000 people who have registered as volunteers on his Web site are serious.

"The public already understands. It's really just the politicians who don't get it," he said.

But an enormous obstacle stands between Mr. Friedman and all that gubernatorial closet space: State law makes an independent candidacy nigh on to impossible.

He must get more than 45,000 registered voters' signatures on a petition in just 62 days after the March primaries. And if there's a runoff, he'll have half that time.

And petition signers must not have voted in either primary. He is urging voters to stay away from the polls with a campaign called "Save Yourself for Kinky."

Getting a bead on Mr. Friedman's politics won't be easy. He supports prayer in school, casino gambling and gay marriage. He voted for Bush and Clinton.

But he said he thinks people are less interested in issues than in knowing that a candidate will speak the plain truth and run a clean, competent government.

"I'm a Jew," he says. "I'll hire good people."

And I think he's serious.

E-mail sblow@dallasnews.com





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Returned Volunteers respond to Hurricane Katrina Date: September 4 2005 No: 725 Returned Volunteers respond to Hurricane Katrina
First and foremost, Give. Carol Bellamy says "In situations such as this one, money is needed the most" and added that Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans is comparable to last year's tsunami. Thailand RPCV Thomas Tighe's Direct Relief International has committed an initial $250,000 in cash to assist hurricane victims. Mayor Tom Murphy (RPCV Paraguay) says Pittsburgh is ready to embrace refugees from devastated areas. Mark Shriver of Save the Children says it will assist rural communities it serves in rebuilding. Brazil RPCV Robert Backus is among the first Vermont doctors to volunteer to travel to Louisiana to treat victims. Ohio Governor Bob Taft (RPCV Tanzania) says students displaced by "Katrina" can enroll in Ohio Colleges and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (RPCV Tunisia) is sending soldiers to help residents of Louisiana. Do you know what it means to lose New Orleans? Contact your local Red Cross to Volunteer.

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The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Latest: Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. RPCVs: Read our poll results.

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Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

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Story Source: Dallas Morning News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Malaysia; Writing - Malaysia; Humor; Election2006 - Friedman

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By (85-64-56-201.barak-online.net - 85.64.56.201) on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:12 pm: Edit Post

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By Anonymous (240.80.49.60.trm01-home.tm.net.my - 60.49.80.240) on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 4:44 am: Edit Post

Can Mr. Laurence Choate McGonigal 2304, Pena CV Roundrock of Texas contact me at E-Mail: najib5227@yahoo.com. We were togther in Kuantan and Jerantut Town in State of Pahang, Malaysia.The only thing left is his weeding card with Mrs Alma Elizabeth from Hawaii dated 21 Nov 1973,I got his phone number from Internet 5123881422 Can someone from peacecorp help me


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