Perry suggests only death would keep him from running again

With a hailstorm raging outside the TCU Barnes & Noble in southwest Fort Worth, Gov. Rick Perry and his staff sat tight inside.

Since the last of the admirers asking for him to sign a copy of his book had left, Perry whiled the 20 minutes away chatting about the political hailstorm he had sparked earlier that day with his comments. He didn't seem to see the big deal.

"I just got asked," Perry said. "After a while, as people keep asking, I just answered their question."

Perry couldn't give an answer as to why he decided to make the announcement today in Grapevine.

"My wife and I have discussed some weeks ago and made the decision we wanted to keep on doing the job we've been doing for Texas," Perry said. "And it was a good a time as any to make the announcement and I hope Texans agree with us that's what's happening in the state is a reflection of the leadership."

More of Perry's musings:

On any suggestions he's just saying he's going to run and will back out later: "I'm set to go. The good lord may call my number tomorrow and then y'all will have to write that He fouled up Perry's plan."

On his surprise announcement: "I told a lot of folks I was going to run again. I think this was just the first time there was an audience with a camera and reporters." [Editor's note: There was no cameras nearby when Perry told two reporters he was going to run again]

S-T columnist Bud Kennedy asked Perry if he had a sense of how long he wanted to serve: "Numbers really don't matter to me...It's what you did in the number of years."

Kennedy pressed again: "That is a process question...Governors have served 10, 16 years...You look back in Texas history and that's been not the case. We've generally changed after one term...Except for George Bush. He was reelected as was I. I don't know. Maybe we're going into a little different time of a little more stability. I don't think it matters."

On if he thinks he would be better staying governor than anyone else who's talked about running: "I would not even consider offering myself up if I didn't think that, substantially."

On how that HPV vaccine issue may bubble up again: "I still think it was the right thing. I'm for saving lives...I think if the people of the state of Texas believe in saving lives, then they would be supportive."

On term limits: He may have been interested in them years ago but, obviously, no more. "Term limits by and large mean that the bureaucrats run government and not the elected officials because the longevity of elected officials allow the people's voice to be heard..."

On whether John McCain should pick Rudy Giuliani, Perry's original presidential pick, as his running mate: No comment.

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[Brian]

Perry is running for reelection simply to stay in the spotlight and be a mouthpiece and rubber stamp for the real gov of Texas Tom Craddick.

[Concerned Citizen]

Just what we need, another term with this special interests, crooked shmuck. Who is running against him, I want to volunteer for their campaign.

[Red Texan]

Hmmmm. . . 'On how that HPV vaccine issue may bubble up again: "I still think it was the right thing. I'm for saving lives...I think if the people of the state of Texas believe in saving lives, then they would be supportive."'

Soooooooooooooooo. . . during the campaign when Perry repeatedly stated he was against a mandated HPV vaccine and for parents' rights, was he ANTI-life then???? I mean, was he only for saving lives after he got in?

[JD]

I can only wish that this "Perry suggests only death would keep him from running again" The guys is a slime ball snake. Texas as a whole has bought into and eaten up his smooth talking and pretty boy antics. If we reelect him, well bad on us as a state of citizens. If on the other hand the weasel dies...well then we are much the better off state for it. Maybe this one act of "dying" as Perry states will be the one positive act he does during his term in office.
Maybe Chaney and Perry can go out for alittle bird hunting this fall???