Burnt Orange Report

Though granted, those 150-175 people were there for a UDems meeting, not any of the speakers that come in any given week. And didn't included people bussed in from Houston. But yes, the Kinky rally certainly doesn't seem to be any bigger than the Bell announcement rally.

Touche

Wasn't all this already covered in a post?

The only numbers that matter, Damon, are the numbers at the polls in March and then in November. And the numbers at the polls in March may dictate whether Kinky Friedman is on the ballot in November. Regardless of how popular he is, everything hinges on who votes and who doesn't in March and how many signatures of those who didn't vote are on the petition to put Kinky Friedman on the ballot.

Does anyone ever think about how undemocratic the "two party rule" in Texas really is?

I don't particularly understand this argument. I would assume that alot of us would know the difference between having an on-campus event before school starts and one during the middle of the school week, but maybe I was wrong.

My school may not be the most active campus, but I know that if you choose the right spot, you're guaranteed 20-30 additional spectators/gawkers on top of whoever your organization recruits. I would assume this also happens at UT.

But the mechanics of this argument are what's particularly troubling. If there's one aspect of a campaign that is the least predictive of support for an election 13 plus months away it's one field event. Especially when those staffers who are responsible for crowd building- field- have yet to be hired. It's like those who attend a debate and gauge who 'won' by the response of the crowd, or ripping on somebody for poor fundraising numbers without a fundraising team in place. Oh, wait a minute...

And as far as busing in supporters is concerned, it happens in every multi-county race, much less a statewide one. If memory serves me right, John Courage did it too. Without his campaign bus, how many people would he have had at his Austin campaign stop or at any of the rural stops? Because from what I heard here in SA, when the campaign bus rolled in, there were a total of five people in attendance.

Finally, no one outside of Baby Snooks (suprise, surprise) has even discussed why, Republicans and Democrats are like paper and plastic. Or defend Friedman's stances on school prayer, the ten commandments in schools, or building a wall between Mexico and Texas.

Yes, KT did mention this already, but I thought I would bring a first hand account to the post since I did happen to actually pass by the rally.

BS, if Kinky can get on the ballot, more power to him. I never said that he shouldn't be on the ballot. I said that I don't agree with his politics. And for that manner, I don't agree with the method in which he has to get on the ballot either. Maybe if Kinky had taken an interest in politics in the last 15 years, maybe that law could've changed.

"Maybe if Kinky had taken an interest in politics in the last 15 years, maybe that law could've changed."

It will take a lot more than just one candidate or one politician to change it. It most likely will take a petition for referendum by the people of Texas because I suspect even the most "progressive" members of both parties would oppose it, at which point they would become a little less "progressive."

I don't have a problem with the Ten Commandments. They are in many ways reflective of the spiritual concepts, rather than the religious absolutism some claim, which were the basis of the framing of our Constitution which probably explains why we have the First Amendment. Most came to this country in the beginning to escape religious oppression. Something few realize. Those same concepts can be found in most religions. What I have a problem with is having them in courtrooms in this country and having prosecutors and defense attorneys and judges violate them. Justice apparently is not only blind but quite illiterate.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness" in particular. Something that seems to have been very prevalent in the Harris County courts for some time. Something perhaps Ronnie Earle should have looked into? Or still should?

I think the Supreme Court, however, ruled correctly because of the intent of some who display them in their courthouses and their courtrooms and the intent of those who would have prayer reinstated in public schools. They quickly become "their" Ten Commandments and "their" prayer to "their" God to the exclusion of everyone else and their God.

Maybe we should rotate things. Have passages from the Koran one month, passages from the Bible the next, followed by teachings of Buddha.

Maybe if people in this country saw the similarities between religions they would be less fearful of other religions.

The only religion that should be allowed in public schools is comparative religion. And it should be a required course for colleges and universities. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So is a soul.

BS, the point is that there are some people in this state that don't subscribe to any form of religion. The public square is not a place force moral values on anyone. That place is in the home or church.

Let's face it, Kinky's a pretty rich guy. If he felt so strongly about the Independent candidate law, he could've shell out a few dollars to the right candidates and the right lobbyist.

Kinky has done nothing, in my view, but mock a system in which he couldn't be bothered to participate in and now we are supposed to put our faith in him? Thanks, but no thanks.

"The only religion that should be allowed in public schools is comparative religion. And it should be a required course for colleges and universities. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So is a soul."

Texas schools = teach math, reading, writing, history, and science.

Church = teach religion.

Texas schools have enough material on their hands without having to worry about 'comparative' problems.

I don't pay taxes for my child to learn about religion and I doubt many in Texas would want to either. That's what I have a wife for ;)

Amen Brother...preach it!

Chris Bell bores me to death and so does this talk about the number of people at rallies and so on.

If your candidate wasnt so BORING, then you wouldnt have to defend him so hard and wine about Kinky Friedman all damn day.

I would like to take this time to extend a challange. I am not sure whom I address this challange too but let it be an open one. Longhorns for Kinky is willing to debate (UDEMS, BOR people, or whoever on anything ranging from who is the better candidate - to issue facing the state, or why Kinky is so much more interesting than Bell. Feel free to take me up on this offer and we can set something up. Hell, maybe we can bring college republicans or YCT into this debate and have a three way discussion. any takers?

Grube,

"If your candidate wasnt (sic) so BORING,...

That's really mature Grube. If the best you can come up with is "I'm not voting for someone because they are boring" then feel free. Most Texans have a higher bar to clear than that. Reminds me of high school when the guys and girls would vote for someone in a student counsel election because they are cute.

Chris Bell bores me to death and so does this talk about the number of people at rallies and so on.

About the numbers, it's funny Grube, because earlier you wrote:

"At the peak of the rally there were about 175 which I would like to point out is alot (sic) more than came to Chris Bell's announcment (sic). The walk had 35-60 depending on the time."

"The number was 150-175. We had 2 people do a rough count at the peak..."

Let's see, if we are using the crowd size litmus test on how viable a candidate is, then Chris Bell pulls as big a crowd as Kinky when school isn't in session and pull an even bigger crowd when school is in session. I admit this "litmus test" isn't going to get anyone elected, but you like to use it so here it is.

"wouldnt (sic) have to defend him so hard and wine(sic) about Kinky Friedman."

That's also a laugh, Grube, I'm sure if you count the number of comments I've made about Chris and the number of comments you've made about Kinky you would win...who's the bigger whiner?

As far as a debate goes, feel free to contact the folks at UDems (www.udems.com/officers) and feel free to issue your challenge. I can't speak for the group, but I can say that I would think they would decline until the Spring or next fall when we make our endorsement for the General Election. By then, it may be a moot point 'cause Kinky isn't on the ballot, but who knows.

Stop being such a sour puss. My point way simple, hes not exciting. If you want my full view of Chris Bell running and why I support Kinky, it would take my quite awhile to type out, or even to say. There are so many reasons so I will not even get into it.

When Chris Bell can manage 40,000 volunteers on his volunteer list - then we will chat. Until then, stop viewing Bell as God himself. As for politics, it dosent always have to be mature - by damnit have some fun with it sometimes. You have to be able to poke fun at a candidate sometimes so dont be so damn uptight all the time.

Somebody above mentioned that "Kinky is a pretty rich guy". The Houston Chronicle published the incomes of the three main gubernatorial candidates for last year. Kinky made $37K. I'm not sure of your definition of pretty rich guy.