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October 13, 2004
ON THE BOOKSHELF 'Whip This Out' gives Friedman a political voiceBy TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
I tell you this because I'm about to officially declare myself a Politics-Free Zone, but first, I wanted to tell you about "'Scuse Me While I Whip This Out" by Kinky Friedman (c.2004, William Morrow) because the Kinkster has a thing or two to say about politics and life in general. First of all, Kinky will tell you that his failed Justice of the Peace bid he had in Texas still ruffles his tail feathers, but he's willing to let bygones be bygones as long as he can get elected governor. He started thinking about it after Bill Clinton read his novels and the Bushes invited him for a couple nights' stay in the White House. George W. might have even asked Kinky to be head of the National Parks Service. Or maybe not, but being governor sure seems like an easy job. And then there's Willie Nelson, a close personal friend. Willie will say yes to anything, as long as it's more than two weeks away, and he speaks in really mystical ways that make you think. The friendship is a good one, though. Sort of a symbiotic kind of thing: Willie likes to golf and Kinky likes to ride the golf cart. Hank Williams was one of Kinky's heroes. 'Course Hank is dead, and so is Jack Ruby who was one of the Original Texas Jewboys. Speaking of Hank, did you ever wonder what his last days might've been like? Read this book. Kinky has a screenplay in here, and he could just be right about it all. But back to politics. Kinky served in the Peace Corps. He has lots of friends in New York, Texas, and Washington. He's traveled to Australia and Borneo. He knows how to raise money for good causes, he has lots of ideas about the way things should be, and he sticks up for dogs and underdogs. Why not The Kinkster for Governor of Texas? It makes me wonder ... could the White House be far behind? Reading Kinky Friedman is like sitting behind the garage, shooting the breeze and downing a couple of cold ones with an old friend. As the time passes and the stories get taller, the line between truth and bull manure blurs until it doesn't matter any more what's fact and what's stretched a little. Kinky muses about cigars and Robert Louis Stevenson; kangaroos in the Outback and "Catch 22"; mental hospitals, dangerous-almost-deadly experiences ... and his father, who is a real World War II hero. Whip out your wallet and pick up a copy of "'Scuse Me While I Whip This Out." Then be sure to vote for The Kinkster, next election. What the heck... it worked for George. Friedman will be in Las Vegas at the Clark County Library Jewel Box Theatre on Flamingo Road at 2 p.m. on Sunday, and at 7 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on Charleston on Tuesday. Both events feature Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller. Schlichenmeyer reviews books for the Pahrump Valley Times from her home in Wisconsin. |
