Although Kinky Friedman promised fewer jokes this time around in his campaign for Texas governor, he did not resist the allure of a zinger last week.
The author-musician-humorist sent Gov. Rick Perry (his likely gubernatorial opponent) a special sympathy gift: a pair of training wheels.
The purpose of the gift was two-fold. Gov. Perry broke his collar bone last week as a result of a mountaing biking accident. However, Friedman included a note saying, “Sorry you got hurt. Too bad they don’t make training wheels for a legislative session.”
Friedman was referring to the failure of the current legislature to complete vital tasks such as renew the Texas Department of Transportation and other agencies that could expire under Texas sunset laws. The Governor could be forced to call a special legislative session to deal with the matter.
"Rick Perry is a guy who is great at jumping in front of parades. You know we've never heard a whimper from him about states rights, or about libertarianism or anything... He jumped in front of the tea bag parade. He's better friends with the German government, with the European government, with the Mexican government, than he is with the people of Texas. He likes being governor, and that's the end of the story," he said of the governor in a recent appearance on the Alex Jones Show.
Friedman is preparing to do a “listening tour” across Texas to get more in touch with people around the state, and meet teachers and county chairs in places where Democrats have traditionally been less successful, before officially announcing his candidacy for Texas governor.
Holly LaFon has written and worked for various local publications including D Magazine and Examiner.