A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Entry from July 06, 2008
“How hard could it be?” (2006 Kinky Friedman campaign slogan for governor)

“How hard could it be?” was Texas author/musician/humorist Kinky Friedman’s 2006 campaign slogan in the race for Governor of Texas. He finished fourth.
 
Another popular Kinky Friedman slogan in that 2006 race was “Why the hell not?”
 
   
Wikipedia: Kinky Friedman
Richard S. “Kinky” Friedman (born November 1, 1944) is an American singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. He was one of two independent candidates in the 2006 election for the office of Governor of Texas. Receiving 12.6% of the vote, Friedman placed fourth in the five-person race.
(...)
Politics
In 1986, Friedman ran for Justice of the Peace in Kerrville, Texas, but lost the election.
 
In 2004, Friedman began a serious, though colorful, campaign to become the Governor of Texas in 2006. One of his stated goals is the “dewussification” of Texas Among his campaign slogans are “How Hard Could It Be?”, “Why The Hell Not?”, “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy” and “He ain’t Kinky, he’s my Governor”.
 
Kinky Friedman Official Store
“Kinky Friedman for Governor 2006” “How hard could it be?”
13” Wide by 22” Tall, High Gloss Poster with picture of Kinky.
Price: $10.00
 
Austin (TX) American-Statesman
Elect Kinky. How hard could it be?
Author: John Kelso, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF  
Date: September 23, 2003
Publication: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Kinky Friedman for governor of Texas? Why not? The Capitol is already a joke. “I’m insinuating myself into the race against our common enemy: Rick Perry’s hair,” the writer, humorist and professional curmudgeon said.
 
Even if he doesn’t win, we’ll get some laughs. “I’m not pro choice or pro life. I’m pro football,” said Friedman, who plans to run as an independent.
 
New York (NY) Times
Guess Who Wants to Be Governor
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
Published: November 29, 2003
As a campaign slogan, it leaves something to be desired: ‘‘Why the hell not?’’
 
But Kinky Friedman, the irreverent Texas author, songwriter and salsa maker, and self-described ‘‘Gandhi-like figure’’ at the animal rescue ranch he runs here in the Hill Country west of San Antonio, says the message could propel him into the governor’s mansion in Austin.
 
The election is not until 2006, when Gov. Rick Perry, the Republican incumbent, will presumably run again. But that has not kept Mr. Friedman from dreaming of a grass-roots army to collect the 45,000 signatures that an independent candidate needs to run, or from printing bumper stickers reading, ‘‘He Ain’t Kinky, He’s My Governor.’’
 
Anyway, the job—heavy on ceremony in Texas, where the real power lies in the lieutenant governor’s authority to control the Senate agenda—does not daunt the curly-mopped Mr. Friedman, whose real name is Richard and who gives his age as 59, though adding, ‘‘I read at the 61-year level.’’ Given those who have come before him, he said, ‘‘how hard could it be?’’
 
Texas Monthly (January 2007)
2007 Bum Steer Awards
Oddities & Absurdities! See the violent vice president! Catch the bumbling bank robber! Deplane the mean ministers’s wife!

You know it’s going to be a good year for Bum Steers when 61 percent of the people vote against the governor’s reelection and he wins anyway. When Kinky Friedman asks, “How hard could it be?”—and finds out.

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Texas (Lone Star State Dictionary) • Sunday, July 06, 2008 • Permalink


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