Kinky Friedman has acquired many titles in his 62 years — novelist, singer, songwriter, animal-rights activist, entrepreneur and humorist. But Friedman, the cowboy-hat-wearing, cigar-chomping, tell-it-like-it-is, adoptive Texan, rose to national prominence last year when he ran for the governorship of Texas.

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THE RUNDOWN WHAT: 25th Annual Jewish Book and Art Festival's “BBQ and Beer Saturday Night” kickoff event WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 WHERE: Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio, 12500 NW Military Hwy. HOW MUCH: $20 INFO: jccsanantonio.org ON THE WEB: kinkyfriedman.com

And while he hasn't ruled out another Texas gubernatorial run in 2010, Friedman now dedicates his time to his new line of self-titled cigars and public-speaking engagements. That includes serving as a keynote speaker for the “BBQ and Beer Saturday Night” celebration on Oct. 27, which kicks off the 25th Annual Jewish Book and Art Festival, a six-day event taking place at the Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio. Before he entertained yet another crowd with his mix of wit and sarcastic humor, Friedman talked with 210SA.

So what's it like being a celebrity now?
It feels really nice. I was at a TV station, and I signed an autograph for this guy's 16-year-old son. He said I've replaced pictures of rock stars on his wall. I think we planted some seeds ..... and we got a lot of young people started.

You've said it might be time for a woman to run the show. Do you think Hillary Clinton has a real chance of winning the 2008 election?
I certainly do. Hillary has a shot, but of those candidates, the only ones I've met a number of times are Hillary and John McCain. I like both of them, but in general, I think it's a pretty uninspiring crew. The two-party system has failed us again, or it could simply be that we've changed, but I can't find any living politician that inspires people.

Why do you think that is?
Either we've changed or the politicians have just become so blatantly bipolar and bureaucratic. They're just bad people. People coming into politics are people like Karl Rove and Al Sharpton. They're not very decent people. Decent people are nurses and musicians and teachers, cops and firemen.

Have you given any thought to running for governor again?
No. It's a ways off. If there were someone who could inspire people, and I think Lance Armstrong is a good example, if he ran, I wouldn't do it. I would strongly support him. Somehow, we've got to get the wooden horse inside the city.

How did your campaign pick up so much steam in regards to the attention it received?
It started as a lark, and I wasn't doing anything I didn't know. Bill Clinton told me to stay funny, that that's how you connect with people. He also told me that Bono had done more good than any politician. I think he's right. When I claimed that a musician could run it better than a politician, that wasn't a joke. We wouldn't get a lot done in the morning, but we'd work late and be honest.

As someone who has set up the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, what did you think of Michael Vick's dog-fighting trial?
You can't be stiff enough (with the penalty) as far as I'm concerned. I advocated rubbing him down with beef jerky, putting him on the 50-yard-line and letting the dogs loose. Nothing is too bad for this guy. He's stuck on stupid.

How have you managed to befriend both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush?
Well, George is a good man trapped in a Republican's body, and Bill is a guy who leads with his heart. That's his best quality, but it gets him into trouble sometimes. It makes him a spontaneous human being, and that's very appealing in this day and age.

CLINT HALE | 210SA