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Kinky Friedman: Campaigning at a Murder Trial

Our wanna-be Governor, Kinky Friedman, (a local musician and author), testified at the retrial of Max Alexander Soffar, claiming that “they got the wrong guy“:

Dressed in black but missing his signature cigar, gubernatorial candidate Richard “Kinky” Friedman waved to jurors Tuesday as he walked to the witness stand to testify on behalf of twice-convicted capital murderer Max Alexander Soffar.

He waved at the jury?

Though he told an Internet interviewer last year that he did not oppose the death penalty, Friedman said Tuesday that he has changed his position and will campaign against capital punishment.

Well, that leaves little doubt that the Kinkster was using the trial of a murderer as a campaign pulpit.

***
The man that Kinky was testifying in favor of, Max Alexander Soffar, was re-convicted (despite Kinky’s politicking) for the 1980 murder of Arden Alane Felsher, 17, Stephen Allen Sims, 25, and Tommy Lee Temple, 17.

A fourth victim, Gregory George Garner (18 at the time of the crime), also was shot in the head and lost an eye but survived and testified in this trial.

But Kinky, who wasn’t at the scene of the crime and wasn’t shot in the head by Soffar, thinks Sofar is innocent (and thus, thinks that Garner is lying about who shot him in the head). On what grounds does Kinky think Soffar is innocent?

“I didn’t know what to expect, meeting someone in prison,” he said. “What I found was really a strange thing. I found an innocent man.”

He said Soffar has a “high form” of innocence — “a kindness” similar to what soldiers experience after combat.

Kinky, I’ve experienced combat as a Soldier in the U.S. Army — and I have no idea what feeling of “kindness” you are talking about. You must be comparing Soffar’s feelings about killing three people to the “high form ” of “innocence” and “kindness” experienced by Islamofascist soldiers freedom fighters terrorists after they behead an infidel.

I think Kinky is confusing the feelings of “kindness” he felt as a “soldier” in the Peace Corps with the feelings of real Soldiers coming home from combat.

Kinky would have loved Tookie Williams.

Discussion

25 comments for “Kinky Friedman: Campaigning at a Murder Trial”

  1. via Grits for Breakfast at 01:44 PM » Pomp and Circumcision–At one point, the mohel had what appeared to be a pair of scissors in his hand, and that’s when… via Casual Soapbox at 09:22 AM» Kinky Friedman: Campaigning at a Murder Trial–Kinky, I’ve experienced combat as a Soldier — and I have no idea what feeling of “kindness” you are talking… via UrbanGrounds at 09:02 AM » Happy Conception Day, EFF!–16 years ago today, in Austin, Steve Jackson Games was raided in

    Posted by Austin Bloggers Metablog | March 4, 2006, 10:04 pm
  2. I don’t get it. Guy drops out at 7th grade, has no skills – social or work-wise, yet can get himself a girlfriend then a wife on death row.

    Posted by 2 | March 1, 2006, 10:59 am
  3. [...] We wrote about the re-trial of convicted three-time murderering Max Soffar yesterday. [...]

    Posted by UrbanGrounds » Blog Archive » Max Soffar: Back to Death Row | March 2, 2006, 1:16 pm
  4. 2…i guess the women scumpals are even dumber! the only thing the guy has to have going for him is that he is on death row! how sick is that ?!?

    Posted by grandma | April 4, 2006, 12:28 pm
  5. This guy is a total moron. He voted for Bush twice. I can go down the list, but I think I’ll just stop there.

    Posted by k | May 8, 2006, 9:20 am
  6. Damn, and I was gonna vote for Kinky. :(

    Posted by Too Bad | October 23, 2006, 4:13 pm
  7. [...] Governor — Rick Perry (R) — I wanted to vote for Kinky…but I have strong misgivings about Kinky’s stance on the death penalty. I believe a Friedman governorship would mean fewer executions in the State of Texas. Rick Perry has proven that he’s not afraid to carry out the law and the will of the people of Texas in this regard. I most liked Kinky for his strong stance on illegal immigration. But Gov. Perry has started to show more of a backbone in this area, and is more likely to have success implementing his plans than would an inexperienced Freidman. [...]

    Posted by UrbanGrounds » Blog Archive » 2006 Mid-term Elections: Early Voting | October 24, 2006, 6:00 pm
  8. Just more propaganda, for the Perry camp. Vote for Kinky, Vote for Change!! Don’t you think it is time to say “Adios, MOFO”? I do!!

    Posted by Joy | November 2, 2006, 7:04 pm
  9. I did vote for Kinky, and we don’t have to worry about the skeletons in his closet, he is out-front, Perry is a snake in the grass, very slick. vote for Kinky Friedman…why the hell not?

    Posted by Joy | November 2, 2006, 7:06 pm
  10. No, most people think it’s time to say “Adios, MOFO” to your husband (didn’t he dump you?), Julius Murphy. Pretty bad when you get cheated on by a guy on deathrow. Of course, you and he are claiming he is retarded, yet, he was smart enough to two time you. Hilarious.

    Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2006, 2:27 pm
  11. Well, too bad Texas did not get Kinky for governor. That would have brought a nice change.
    For one he has gone and seen something to change his attitude of life. And that is an innocent man on death row. To have places like a death row in our times is one thing but to have even innocent people spend more than half of their lifes there is a scandal. This man is obviously innocent. Every child can see that when you take your time to look at the facts. Only because the jury was prevented from knowing some of this facts did he get sentenced again. This should not have happened. And Kinky Friedman has seen that because he has taken the time to talk to this person Max Soffar. He has gotten to know him and found that he does not even have hate for some of the people that seem to hate him for no reason. I have also taken the time to talk to him and I know he is innocent. Would anyone really want an innocent person to be killed for something another person has done? Imagine you were in his place and then you know the answer. I pray that he may find justice before it is too late.

    Posted by macarena | March 25, 2008, 6:30 pm
  12. @ 2 and GRANDMA:
    Read this comment just now and some of the others. It is really unbelievable what an attitude you have.
    The people who are sometimes writing to prisoners on death row are the ones that bring a lot of money to your country. They come over to visit them because they are treated like outcasts and dirt in your country. They show them humanity and compassion because they are HUMANS and the dignity of all humans are their fundamental rights. But they are violated in your country. The way this people are treated on death row is disgraceful to a country like the United States. Those people buy them some decent food because they are fed the last crap that you would not give your dog. And they treat them with respect whereas there they are being treated respectlessly . We are all humans and sure enough there are people there who have committed severe crimes and have to be punished. The death penalty is a relict from Middle Age and not fit for this times. There are other means of punishment in this times. It has been practised in other civilised countries and that is probably why their crime rate is not as high. If you keep that up half of the population will be in prison one day. People on death row are also humans and they have feelings. They committed serious crimes and it would be enough to let them do their time for it and help them to start a new life as it is done in other civilised countries. And what about those like Max Soffar? Kinky Friedman has come to meet him and he talked with him and found to his surprise a person who is without hate against his haters. All he wants is for the world to see that he is innocent. He IS innocent and he is not the only one who is rotting at a place like death row even though he is innocent. So there is no need to title any human being the way you did here. Show a bit of respect and ask yourself, why is it that you take some pleasure out of people being executed and why you can hardly wait for such events. IMHO it seems that some people get a real kick out of that and ask yourself how healthy that is. How can a government try to legally do what they are accusing that person to have done. This is weird and way out of time. So you should think twice why there are so many people from other countries visiting death row inmates. And yes, some of them also love death row inmates. Surely they cannot be so awful then. You would be surprised if you would talk to some people over there what you would learn. They could teach you a lesson. So count your blessings if you have some to count. And do you think outside the prison walls there are no people dropping out at grade 7 and would they not find some girl because of that? So what is that nonsense all about. There are good people and bad people all over, but not all on death row are all bad and not all here are all good either. And some of them are even innocent. Who is made responsible for that? The ones that like to enjoy executions? I think it never looks good to be a hypocrate and think one is better than some others. I am sure it is not what the Bible was teaching us, since we are supposed to be Christians.

    ———————————————————————–
    I don’t get it. Guy drops out at 7th grade, has no skills – social or work-wise, yet can get himself a girlfriend then a wife on death row.

    ———————————————————————————
    2…i guess the women scumpals are even dumber! the only thing the
    guy has to have going for him is that he is on death row! how sick is that ?!?

    Left by grandma on April 4th, 2006 at 12:28 pm

    Posted by Macarena | October 8, 2008, 6:20 pm
  13. Macaroni,
    Your cheese is bubbling.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 8, 2008, 6:40 pm
  14. Macaroni,
    Your cheese is bubbling.

    Left by No2Liberals on October 8th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    Proves just what I have said. When you are out of arguments you try to be “funny”. But your words speak for themselves.

    Posted by Macarena | October 19, 2008, 7:37 pm
  15. You’ve proved one thing, you are an idiot. That is my point.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 19, 2008, 9:08 pm
  16. Again, people disagree with you and you make it a point in trying to be insulting and ignorant. This does not make your points any better.

    You’ve proved one thing, you are an idiot. That is my point.

    Posted by Macarena | October 20, 2008, 6:38 pm
  17. I’m pleased you understand that I disagree with you, Macaroni.
    But it’s more than that, I don’t like people like you, and have no interest in engaging in some lengthy dialogue that accomplishes nothing. I certainly don’t have the time, and even if I did, I have no desire to.
    In case you didn’t get the memo, everyone in prison is innocent, just ask them.
    Oh! Wait…you already have.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 20, 2008, 7:00 pm
  18. It does not really matter, that you disagree with me. And I bet you don’t like people like me. The same goes for me as far as you are concerned. Because it’s people like you that want to stick to Middle Age in our times. And people like you who think they have the right to decide about life or death. And people like you who think they are better than some others.
    Well, this is another prejudice about all people in prison claiming to be innocent. But what else could I expect. This does not prevent me from saying that the death penalty is wrong, guilty or not. And to kill even innocent people just without bothering about the truth this is sick. Nothing to be proud of at all.

    I’m pleased you understand that I disagree with you, Macaroni.
    But it’s more than that, I don’t like people like you, and have no interest in engaging in some lengthy dialogue that accomplishes nothing. I certainly don’t have the time, and even if I did, I have no desire to.
    In case you didn’t get the memo, everyone in prison is innocent, just ask them.
    Oh! Wait…you already have.

    Posted by Macarena | October 20, 2008, 7:27 pm
  19. And people like you who think they are better than some others.

    Nice projection.

    This does not prevent me from saying that the death penalty is wrong, guilty or not.

    Say it all you wish. It doesn’t make it true. It’s the law here, and supported by a very large portion of our citizens. Therefore, it is right, and the right thing to do to murdering bastards like Soffar. Once he gets his just reward, he will never murder again.
    Murderers and their bleeding heart scum-pals lose, and decent society wins.

    And to kill even innocent people just without bothering about the truth this is sick.

    It hasn’t happened yet, and based on the court records, reviews, and appeals, it won’t happen with this murderer, either. Guilty as Hell, and soon a resident there.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 20, 2008, 10:01 pm
  20. You feel the law supports you. Maybe that is what it still does. I heard that Texas is ranging on one of the last places statewise as far as educational level is concerned. But I hope that this may change one of this days and then there will be different outlooks. I know some people cling to their old traditions. At least you admitted to the term of murdering people. And if you insult Mr. Soffar or not. You do not even know him. If you would know him you would not talk like that but you would know what Mr. Friedman was talking about when he went to visit with him. You are talking about people on death row as if they were garbage and all the same. They are individuals and all different just like any one of us. Most of all they are humans and some of them made a mistake that they regret. But of course there are others that are sick and will always kill again. So they cannot possibly be all the same. As far as Mr. Soffar is concerned, I said it before, he is innocent. And that means, you and the like of you are condemning a person that did not do anything but just made up different stories. At that time he did not care one way or another and he was left without a lawyer, which was illegal already. But they just wanted someone to blame for the crime and what is easier to just take the next best that they can get a hold of. He never has murdered and that is why he will also not murder in future. He is not the type of person to do such a thing. But then, it is always easy to judge someone just because it fits so well. What Max Soffar deserves, that is that he will be exonerated and compensated for what he was robbed of by people like you. But one thing is for sure. He will not go to hell. He believes in God and that is what counts. Rather ask yourself where you will be going. If I were you, I would be worried. And as far as pen pals of any people in prison are concerned. You can call them whatever you care to do, just as you can call me maccaroni. It only shows what kind of a person you are.

    Say it all you wish. It doesn’t make it true. It’s the law here, and supported by a very large portion of our citizens. Therefore, it is right, and the right thing to do to murdering bastards like Soffar. Once he gets his just reward, he will never murder again.
    Murderers and their bleeding heart scum-pals lose, and decent society wins.

    Posted by Macarena | October 21, 2008, 5:16 pm
  21. You feel the law supports you.

    You aren’t only an idiot, you are a mega-idiot. Feelings? That’s what you operate on. I know the law supports me and my fellow citizens.

    As far as Mr. Soffar is concerned, I said it before, he is innocent.

    Not true. His guilt has been proven, and upheld, many times.

    He will not go to hell. He believes in God and that is what counts.

    I see you aren’t a practicing Christian. While Christ shed his blood for our sins, being the Son of God, he doesn’t have the standing to change God’s Law, and never tried to abrogate it.

    Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed. Genesis 9:6

    And I will call people like you and the scumpals what I wish, as it expresses what I believe about people like you, who wish to destroy civilization.
    Soffar is a murdering POS and deserves the fate that awaits him, despite his attempts to weasel out of his responsibility, with the brainless assistance of bleeding hearts like you, Macaroni.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 21, 2008, 5:51 pm
  22. Actually you only know how to be insulting which shows what kind of a character you have. You even consider yourself a Christian. I rather doubt it. You really don’t know much about the New Testament. And you can operate only on words like “idiot”, “scumpal” and such dirty things. That proves most of all that you are a fake, nothing else. Just because Max Soffar was convicted of this crime does not mean that he has actually committed it. We know who has committed it and this person has even confessed to it. But then, wait and see. This case is not over, like it or not.
    Apart from that I am much too polite to tell you what kind of a person I think you must be. I can only feel sorry for you but only because I am such a bleeding heart as you say. I have feelings left which you probably have lost somewhere. But that is your problem and not mine. I am glad that I have the ability to not blindly believe in your laws and your kind of justice. And about 130 exonerated people speak a clear language. That is a disgrace and even Texas has noticed that there must be something wrong with the judical system. So it is not only this person you are discussing here. There are many more and society ows those people a lot.

    Posted by Macarena | October 21, 2008, 8:59 pm
  23. You weep for the murderers and other convicts.
    I weep for their victims and the innocent that need society to protect them from animals like Soffar.
    Any pity you feel for me is only transference from you, so keep it to yourself.
    I have responded to you in kind, as you have been insulting since your nic first appeared. If you aren’t from Texas, you really have no business commenting on our justice system, but you do because you are a busy body, that some how thinks your limited intellectual capacity, and your excess of emotion, can really make a difference.
    I’ll bet you are one of those idiots that believes peace is a cause. I can assure you it is not a cause, but an effect.

    Posted by No2Liberals | October 21, 2008, 10:32 pm
  24. @No2Liberals:
    You have a funny way of twisting things around to your liking. It has rather been you who has been insulting when addressing me because you did not like what I had to say. And I could not care less about what you think about my intellectual capacity or about my ability of feeling emotions of any kind. And I do feel with the victims’s families for sure, all of them also in this particular case. Only it will not help them when the wrong person is paying for a crime that was committed by another person. That will only add to their pain.
    And you think nobody has a business on commenting on the justice system here that has a different opinion from yours. You can call me all you like and you can also call Mr. Soffar or anyone else what you like because it shows what you are. I still don’t agree with the justice system in Texas because it has flaws and that is the reason why at least some of the wrongful convincted persons were lucky to be exonerated and you will see a lot more in future because at least in Dallas you have a district attorney who is looking in to some cases. But he probably does not suit you either because he is black? Well anyway, there is no use in bothering with you. I have met some more like you in Texas. The good thing is there are others too that I met. People that see the need of changes and that have my greatest respect. So it is not all hopeless.

    Posted by Macarena | October 22, 2008, 8:33 pm

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