Gov Perry will not seek re-election

[Vigilanteman]

So this clears the way for someone who can (a)actually debate and (b)has more affection for U.S. citizens than illegal aliens?

Who might that be?

[austinaero]

Texas is going to be vulnerable to a big Dem push....my money is on AG Greg Abbott(R) if he decides to run. It’s either him or perennial candidate Kinky Friedman

[humblegunner]

Longest sitting Governor in US history.
Frivolous lawsuits notwithstanding.

[0.E.O]

That’s his big surprise announcement? Watch MSNBC paint the decision as his being afraid of running against whatsername, the abortion filibuster lady.

[MayflowerMadam]

2016 presidential run? (Spare me.)

[Red Badger]

Kinky might actually win this go round............

[clintonh8r]

FNC really blew it....Left the Perry announcement prematurely to have yet another lawyer debate about Zimmerman/Martin.

[Persevero]

Meaning he’ll have time to devote to running for Pres?

[stanne]

Oh nos!

[Carry_Okie]

Already on Wikipedia:

On October 15, 2012, one of Perry's aides indicated that Perry would stand for re-election to his fourth term as governor in 2014.[5]However, unnamed sources said to be close to Perry told the National Review that Perry will not seek re-election, instead focusing on another White House bid for 2016. David Carney, Perry's top adviser during the 2012 campaign, says that Perry will likely wait until after the Texas legislative session has ended to announce whether or not he'll run for governor in 2014.

Please, no.

[ConservativeMan55]

I watched an interview with Perry on Fox yesterday.

Sounds like he and Abbott have coordinated this.

He said “we” will have an announcement.

I think it was a partial slip. Perry will endorse Abbott while he goes on to run for Prez.

[GeorgeTex]

I hope that former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams puts his hat in the ring.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

During the presidential primary campaign, until the debates started, I thought Perry was the only candidate on par with Romney.

Michelle Bachmann was too much of a rookie
Newt and Herman had enough personal baggage to sink the Titanic.
Santorum had lost re-election to his Senate seat then moved to DC to become a lobbyist.
Ron Paul and Gary Johnson were running in the wrong party.
Tim Pawlenty was simply unknown.

Rick Perry was therefore the logical alternative to Romney....then came the debates...Romney won by default. There was really no one there to challenge him.

[af_vet_rr]

Thank God! I like how he brags about limited government, yet he was appointing people for over a decade to powerful positions. That's not limited government, at least for one man - when you control appointees for over a decade, that's a heavy accumulation of power and favors owed.

I am not surprised though, I heard a few months ago that some folks were making it known that he would finally face a tough primary against a conservative opponent who was well-funded and well-supported. They didn't say who it was, but I figured it was Abbot, since Dewhurst is going nowhere fast.

[austinaero]

“I hope that former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams puts his hat in the ring”

They were just talking about this on KLBJ radio this morning and I *think* Williams is in for LT Governor. Dewhurst has a handful of people who want his spot and he better not run for governor!

It will be interesting to see who Ted Cruz gets behind.

[af_vet_rr]

So this clears the way for someone who can (a)actually debate and (b)has more affection for U.S. citizens than illegal aliens?

Perry's affection for illegals is based partly on his donors, and whoever replaces him will have some of the same donors, with the exception of Bob Perry, no relation, and who is deceased.

I'm sure Perry meant some of what he said about a guest worker program, about the tuition breaks for illegals, and I believe him a little bit when he talks about how he liked La Raza its leadership, but when all was said and done, the people backing him favored illegal aliens, and therefore he did.

So don't judge him too harshly, he did what he had to do to keep his donors happy.

[GOPsterinMA]

Perfect analysis!

[McGruff]

He could convince me not to write in Sarah Palin.

[Rusty0604]

Perry was recovering from back surgery and was medicated. Maybe this time he can remember the 3rd agency he would eliminate.