Everyone has a relative who never wants to believe anyone Jewish could be a disgusting, corrupt greedy schmuck. Beliefnet.com‘s Rabbi Joshua Waxman waxes talmudic on a man who not even my bubbe would defend as one of ours.

Props and nachas to New York representative Steve Israel and other Jewish members of the House, who countered Virginia representative Jo Ann Davis’ resolution to “save Christmas” with demands that she include Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan in H. Res. 579, which “strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas and expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions.”

Davis’ symbolic attempt to “save Christmas” passed with a majority vote, but not before some Jewish congressfolks had their say:

When Davis posited that “any sign or even mention of Christmas in public can lead to complaints, litigation, protest and threats” and “America’s favorite holiday is being twisted beyond recognition,” Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) responded with “Did something happen when I was not looking? Did somebody mug Santa Claus? Is somebody engaging in elf tossing?”

It wasn’t just the Jews on Capitol Hill complaining, either: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. politely pointed out that Davis’ concern that Christmas was losing its identity was a load of crapola: “Our country has come simply to be tolerant of the fact that we are from many faiths, and we do not want to insult anybody … I say to you that, far from references to Christmas needing to be supported, they are glorified, and we all know it.” Full story.

Rep. Davis did not amend her resolution to include similar respect for the rest of our holidays — let’s let her know we disapprove by bombing her inbox writing her a short email, shall we?

If success is measured by publicity, Kinky Friedman should already have the votes to be governor of Texas. The world’s most famous musical redneck Jewboy now has his very own reality TV show chronicling his political adventures, currently airing on Country Music Television.

“Go Kinky” is directed by David Steinberg of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which means it’ll be at least as entertaining as cowtipping at midnight.

(Actually, “midnight” is the operative word there, since the two pilot episodes are being aired at the ungodly hour of 1a.m. Better to hide the fact that you’re actually watching Country Music Television.)

Kinky Friedman’s campaign people know how to do political propaganda right, cheap. Forget big party money, says the unlikely-but-very-possible future governor of Texas.

“We don’t have Rick Perry or Carole Strayhorn money to get our message out, so we’re putting our ad online and counting on you to spread the word. Please distribute the ad to friends and family so that it spreads like a bad rumor.”

Bad rumors are my bag, baby! View the very first Kinkytoon!

Dan Halpern of the New Yorker followed Kinky Friedman on the Texas gubernatorial campagin trail and found out some craaaazy things:

-The former Texas Jewboy has only two changes of meet-the-public clothing, and neither of them is a suit.
-He refers to himself in the third-person future tense, as in “The Governor has decided on pancakes!”
-In a state that ain’t exactly known for its Jewish rednecks, the guy actually has a chance at winning.

Wouldn’t that be sumptin’? Although, he’s a little too skanky to make my bubbie proud, even if he is, you know, one of us.

We reported that Texas Jewboy Kinky Friedman announced he wanted to run for governor of the Lone Star State back in June, and now it seems he ain’t lyin’: The author/activist/country fried rocker offically announced his candidacy for George W. Bush’s old job at the Alamo just after the sun rose yesterday, declaring “We’re going to wake up this great slumbering giant of Texas independence.”
The Kinkster may be a jokester, but incumbent Rick Perry, who plans to seek a second term, knows enough to take his competition seriously. “The Kinkster’s independent candidacy is no less of a joke than what Democrats have put up in recent years,” says Luis Saenz, Perry’s campaign manager.
We’re way partial to Jewish cowboys and will be following his campaign as it heats up in 2006. To donate to Kinky’s campaign, click here.

Give a listen to NPR’s interview with Kinky Friedman,Texas gubernatorial candidate and former leader of the socially-conscious country band The Texas Jewboys (“They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore,” among other country-fried classics.) The interviewer calls Kinky’s stake in the 2006 governor’s race “seditious,” (it means ‘inciting public disorder or rebellion’;we looked it up), and says he has no chance, but we think that’s what makes him an attractive candidate. Nothin’ more Jmerican than havin’ a little seditious fun in the big, bland, Bible-thumpin’ heart of Texas.
It gets kinkier: Our rabblerousing Texas Jewboy is also an author. He’s written 18 novels, mostly self-referential mysteries about people who drink with midgets, but we read Kill Two Birds And Get Stoned recently and laughed a lot.