You Done Me Proud

Yay! Lance Armstong wins 7th Tour de France! As an Austinite, this makes me very proud. Talk of Armstrong entering politics intrigues me. From Time Magazine:

After that? Armstrong has hinted at a future in politics. He’s inspired millions of Americans to wear yellow Livestrong bracelets, so he has a base. “Lance showed everybody that willpower matters,” says Giorgio Andretta, a Charlotte, N.C. bicycle importer who traveled to the Champs-Elysées to catch Armstrong’s last win. And his home state of Texas will elect a governor next year. “Never say never,” Armstrong told TIME about his political ambitions. “I’m a fighter, and I do have certain beliefs. I don’t think I’m truly cut out for it, but if people want it in ten years, who knows?” Ten Tour de Frances, or Senator Armstrong in ten years? If we have to settle for elections, his greatest wins may still be down the road.

What would a Senator Armstrong be like? Well, the only thing I've seen so far is this from Politics1 (emphasis mine):

Congrats to American cyclist Lance Armstrong on scoring his record-setting seventh Tour de France win on Sunday. No other man has ever one more than five of the grueling, three-week bike race circle around France and over steep mountains in the Pyrenees and Alps. On Saturday, US Senator John Kerry was the honored guest riding in the Discovery Channel team car immediately behind Armstrong. Kerry is an amateur cyclist and -- like Armstrong -- a cancer survivor. Kerry has been wearing one of Armstrong's ubiquitous "Livestrong" yellow bracelets for over a year. After the race, Kerry told the AP that Armstrong "would make a terrific politician" if he chooses to pursue that when he returns to Texas. "I think he'd be awesome, he'd be a force. I just hope it's for the right party," said Kerry. During his racing career -- and particularly during the 2004 elections -- Armstrong was very careful to never express support for any candidate or political party, or even define his political views beyond some rather vague comments implying he is moderately liberal on a few social issues. Armstrong has also known President Bush for many years, going back to Armstrong's first Tour wins while Bush was Texas Governor.

So he's friendly with Bush, which is not surprising since Bush and Armstrong were simultaneously famous people living in Austin. And he's moderately liberal on a few social issues. Sounds like perhaps he's a Schwarzenegger-style Republican. Or perhaps not, given that he wouldn't support Bush despite being a Texan and a friend of the President's. Who knows? I can't wait to find out though.