Willie Nelson to head the Texas Rangers

[Sheryl]

NEW YORK ” Though the election is not until November 2006 and Richard "Kinky" Friedman (search) can't start collecting signatures to run as an independent for the Texas governor's post until March 2006, he has plenty to keep him busy until then.

Friedman, a musician who claims country legend Willie Nelson (search) as one of his best friends, has just finished writing his 18th mystery novel, "Ten Little New Yorkers."

"It was ghost-written by Mary Higgins Clark. She ghost-writes all my work," he deadpanned.

Friedman told FOX News that he is launching a "spiritual" campaign rather than a political campaign for governor, but has not yet gotten flak from groups that would oppose mixing politics with spirituality.

Some of his platform planks are to legalize gambling to pay for education, abolish political correctness in the Texas Legislature, require buses and trucks registered in the state to run on biodiesel fuels, appoint Nelson as head of the Texas Rangers (search), build a fence along the border with Mexico and appoint his Palestinian hairstylist as Texas ambassador to Israel. The stylist, Farouk Shami, already is Friedman's campaign chairman.

"Farouk knows more about the Palestinians and the Israelis ” and he and I have 'Farouk and Friedman's Olive Oil,' which comes from his family's groves," said Friedman, who is Jewish and led the 1970s band "Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys." He added that all the proceeds go to Israeli and Palestinian children affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151949,00.html

So am I to be scared, or roll on floor laughing..........................jury still out

[lady cop]

i liked kinky years ago, he's buddies with don imus, often on his program. but willie as head of the texas rangers? are they going to let him into the evidence lockers?

[Sheryl]

lady cop wrote: i liked kinky years ago, he's buddies with don imus, often on his program. but willie as head of the texas rangers? are they going to let him into the evidence lockers?




I dunno I listened to his interview today on Fox News, the guy is funny; but not sure I want him running my state.

[gmc]

Now if you were talking about UK politicians at this point I would say you used to have a joke running the state and now he's running the country but americans can't seem to take that kind if humour about their leaders and find it offensive. You seem to regard politcal leaders with respect and don't take the **** out of them the way we do out of ours-at least I get that impression.

[Raven]

At least the US politicians arent relegating America to third-world developing country status, like your politicians are, to the UK. Nothing is made in the UK anymore. Do you have any idea what the UK's GNP is? Me either. They import everything, but yet what are their exports? British nurses to the US so they can make a buck, maybe? It seems the british are far more concerned over american politics than their own. Kind of like 'arm chair' quarterbacks, if you ask me. You dont make cars anymore, you dont make motorcycles anymore, all your companies have been sold to foreign investment. You dont grow crops for export, nor do you create any textiles. The reason Britiain had to colonize the world, was because of trade. You have no more colonies. You've lost all your ability for trade. The only thing you may still have, is the north sea oil. But you wont have that much longer, because europe wants it. All you have remaining to you, is tainted beef which noone wants anyway. All the ingredients which made Britain great, are all gone. At least in america, when they get sick of their politicians, they can do something about it. You guys dont seem to be able to do anything here. Not without europes permission, anyway. History is all you have. I suggest you start exploiting it. Then maybe you can say you have tourism. But even the British go elsewhere for their holidays. Not even the British invest in Britain. So what kind of island do you think you'll have in a generation or so? Just another chattel state of europe.

[kensloft]

Gee. I thought that he was going to lead the baseball team and take them out of steroids into pot. Go figure? Oh? Them Texas Rangers!

[Raven]

:wah: theres goes the world series!

[Bothwell]

At least the US politicians arent relegating America to third-world developing country status, like your politicians are, to the UK. Nothing is made in the UK anymore. Do you have any idea what the UK's GNP is? Me either. They import everything, but yet what are their exports? British nurses to the US so they can make a buck, maybe? It seems the british are far more concerned over american politics than their own. Kind of like 'arm chair' quarterbacks, if you ask me. You dont make cars anymore, you dont make motorcycles anymore, all your companies have been sold to foreign investment. You dont grow crops for export, nor do you create any textiles. The reason Britiain had to colonize the world, was because of trade. You have no more colonies. You've lost all your ability for trade. The only thing you may still have, is the north sea oil. But you wont have that much longer, because europe wants it. All you have remaining to you, is tainted beef which noone wants anyway. All the ingredients which made Britain great, are all gone. At least in america, when they get sick of their politicians, they can do something about it. You guys dont seem to be able to do anything here. Not without europes permission, anyway. History is all you have. I suggest you start exploiting it. Then maybe you can say you have tourism. But even the British go elsewhere for their holidays. Not even the British invest in Britain. So what kind of island do you think you'll have in a generation or so? Just another chattel state of europe.


WTF is this all about, as GMC has said the one great thing we do is rip our polticians to bits if they get it wrong. We can and do change them regularly. Let me add that the previous election fiasco in the Gore/Bush electoin would not and could not happen here.

The United Kingdom is changing , no we do not have the heavy industry we used to have but neither does the USA despite the Tariff system. However we are THE world centre for banking and the money markets, we DO still make cars in fact I have seen quite a few Range rovers, Jags etc in the USA, our tourism is highly developed and worth millions a year, now I am sure we would all love to go back to the industrial revolution and work 20 hours in a steel mill but the world has changed. The UK economy is in a very healthy state, in fact I would venture a much healthier state that the economy of the USA.

[Bothwell]

Raven I could not help noticing your reply to Suresh regarding people having a go at America, but it's OK to do it to the country that you now reside in?

None of our countries is perfect but they are ours. I would never hold Great Britain up to be a paragon of anything but I will defend her to the hilt against both the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or just plain ranting!

Generally I have found on this board that people can discuss the differences without just plain disrespect for one anothers countries, maybe I was wrong.

[kensloft]

Bothwell wrote: Raven I could not help noticing your reply to Suresh regarding people having a go at America, but it's OK to do it to the country that you now reside in?

None of our countries is perfect but they are ours. I would never hold Great Britain up to be a paragon of anything but I will defend her to the hilt against both the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or just plain ranting!

Generally I have found on this board that people can discuss the differences without just plain disrespect for one anothers countries, maybe I was wrong.
None of your countries may be perfect and then there is Canada.

[Raven]

Bothwell wrote: Raven I could not help noticing your reply to Suresh regarding people having a go at America, but it's OK to do it to the country that you now reside in?

None of our countries is perfect but they are ours. I would never hold Great Britain up to be a paragon of anything but I will defend her to the hilt against both the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or just plain ranting!

Generally I have found on this board that people can discuss the differences without just plain disrespect for one anothers countries, maybe I was wrong.
Please dont mistake my intent.

I too, would defend my host country to the death. After all, she is my 'mother' country, if you will. I just moved home to 'mama'. I'm just putting a rather dismal and pessimistic view to what I'm seeing going on around me. If it comes out harsh, it's probably due to the fact that I'm not a natural pessimist. I'm viewing events in Britain with American eyes. Some of what I see is very disturbing to me. GMC sometimes goes out of his way to explain things. He helps me to understand what I'm seeing, through a british perspective. You see, I'm still in the process of finding my feet here. He understands this. I'm not just a tourist here. I'm seeing a side of Britain, most non- british dont. I've found the heartbeat of her, but it has problems. As for Suresh, all the posts he seems to partake in, are 'bash america sort'. Apparently, when americans bash back, it's not taken well. Hmmm....could be a good thread in and of itself. 'What happens when america strikes back?' The rest of the world shows an interesting response, I'd say! Even Britain gets uncomfortable when america defends! Why is that, do you think? I mean look......gmc is GREAT at slinging poo at american politicians. But when an american slings poo back, it's called ranting. Why is that Bothwell? Neither post has any real merit to it. I'm just gauging reactions really.

[kensloft]

To me my irony is that my brother is a doctor of metaphysical psychology who just happens to be a Brit. Damn war babies.

[Raven]

:yh_rotfl I love the brits! They have to be some of the best bunch of people I've ever met!

[gmc]

posted by raven

At least the US politicians arent relegating America to third-world developing country status, like your politicians are, to the UK. Nothing is made in the UK anymore. Do you have any idea what the UK's GNP is? Me either. They import everything, but yet what are their exports? British nurses to the US so they can make a buck, maybe? It seems the british are far more concerned over american politics than their own. Kind of like 'arm chair' quarterbacks, if you ask me. You dont make cars anymore, you dont make motorcycles anymore, all your companies have been sold to foreign investment. You dont grow crops for export, nor do you create any textiles. The reason Britiain had to colonize the world, was because of trade. You have no more colonies. You've lost all your ability for trade. The only thing you may still have, is the north sea oil. But you wont have that much longer, because europe wants it. All you have remaining to you, is tainted beef which noone wants anyway. All the ingredients which made Britain great, are all gone. At least in america, when they get sick of their politicians, they can do something about it. You guys dont seem to be able to do anything here. Not without europes permission, anyway. History is all you have. I suggest you start exploiting it. Then maybe you can say you have tourism. But even the British go elsewhere for their holidays. Not even the British invest in Britain. So what kind of island do you think you'll have in a generation or so? Just another chattel state of europe.
_________________

Please dont mistake my intent.

I too, would defend my host country to the death. After all, she is my 'mother' country, if you will. I just moved home to 'mama'. I'm just putting a rather dismal and pessimistic view to what I'm seeing going on around me. If it comes out harsh, it's probably due to the fact that I'm not a natural pessimist. I'm viewing events in Britain with American eyes. Some of what I see is very disturbing to me. GMC sometimes goes out of his way to explain things. He helps me to understand what I'm seeing, through a british perspective. You see, I'm still in the process of finding my feet here. He understands this. I'm not just a tourist here. I'm seeing a side of Britain, most non- british dont. I've found the heartbeat of her, but it has problems. As for Suresh, all the posts he seems to partake in, are 'bash america sort'. Apparently, when americans bash back, it's not taken well. Hmmm....could be a good thread in and of itself. 'What happens when america strikes back?' The rest of the world shows an interesting response, I'd say! Even Britain gets uncomfortable when america defends! Why is that, do you think? I mean look......gmc is GREAT at slinging poo at american politicians. But when an american slings poo back, it's called ranting. Why is that Bothwell? Neither post has any real merit to it. I'm just gauging reactions really._


Actually I am quite circumspect about what I say about american politicians primarily because so many seem to take it personally as an attack on america per se. Respect your institutions, traditions history but when you start believing that these are all embodied in a politician you are in trouble. When you start trusting politicians and believe they have your best interests at heart you are really really in trouble.

Actually I quite like George Bush I think he is a sincere guy, I just disagree with his politics. TB is a lying hypocrite and I increasingly can't stand the sight of the smarmy git. A living example of why public schoolboys should not be allowed positions of authority.

Having politicians involved is a bit like having a crap, the experience can start out quite pleasurably but the aftermath is often very unpleasant especially if you think there is deep meaning to it all.

There are some aspects of american foreign policy that I think are wrong and have helped cause a lot of the problems with terrorism we now have. I also find that many americans seem completely unaware of their own country's foreign policy and take any criticism of it as being an attack on america and therefore not valid end of discussion.

I would levy the same charge at european governments, they are not exactly pure as the driven snow, when it comes to being sneaky self serving B%^^%%$*S either, the US is relatively new at the game.

As to responding with a rant-so what, you are entitled to your opinion some of it I might even agree with. If you want to pile poo on our poiticians please feel free but don't expect your comments to be taken personally as an attack on the british people. (You've been here too long, poo is such an innocuous word)

Taking the **** out of our institutions is a long long tradition with us. You would actually be hard pushed to be more disrespectful or offensive than we are ourselves.

http://www.punch.co.uk/

Bring back spitting image.

It's quite interesting to find out how the UK seems to foreigners just bear in mind London is a strange place even by UK standards what you see is not normal. People in the south east tend to think they are the centre of the universe, the rest of us just want them to stay there.

At least in america, when they get sick of their politicians, they can do something about it. You guys dont seem to be able to do anything here. Not without europes permission,

Interesting perspective, total bollocks of course along with this daft idea that we are oppressed because we don't all carry guns.

As to most of us holidaying abroad? so what better than being parochial in outlook, apart from that it's usually cheaper. I can get a fortnight on a package holiday cheaper than I can get holidaying at home at home, two hours or so and I am in a foreign country with different language, history, culture, better food.

Americans need to get out more and stop contemplating your navel feeling sorry for yourselves.

How did we get on to this?

By the way is Willie Nelson the same one that is a country and Western singer? Want to swop for Sydney Devine?

posted by kensloft

None of your countries may be perfect and then there is Canada.


Yes Canada, you turn left at Canada to reach America if coming from the UK don't you? Geography was never my best subject.

[Sheryl]

Being American I do sometimes take it harshly when America is critized, but doesn't mean I think America is better than anyone else.



As far as politicians go I think it's same in all countries, some worse than others, the power just goes to their heads.