Governor Rick Perry exited the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination today looking a lot different than he did when he launched his campaign in August. When he announced his run the same day of the Ames Iowa straw poll he diverted a lot of coverage, and pundits said he was a formidable candidate for the nomination because his strong jobs record and his career-long winning streak. Some liberals were even quivering in their boots imagining an America turning into a Texas-sized Texas run by Josh Brolin's George W. Bush. But look at how the brutal primary process whittled down a gun-toting man who was briefly considered a legitimate threat to take over the White House.
After enduring many gaffes and intense scrutiny, Perry goes back to Austin only with enough legitimacy to make appearances on late night comedy shows. Here is a look back at some of the pivotal points in Perry's presidential run.
- Perry accuses Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke of committing treason
- At debate, Perry asks GOP to find their heart when it comes to immigration
- That weird slurring speech Perry gave
- The anti-gay campaign ad that was lampooned all over the Internet
- GOP debate audience cheers Perry's historic record of executions in Texas
- Lawrence reminds us Jesus Christ was executed by government too
- Rick Perry's Revolutionary war history fail
- N**gerhead ranch
- Perry cites fake quote while criticizing Occupy Wall Street protests
- Christopher Hitchens wondered about Perry's true religious beliefs
- His big energy plan (drill baby drill redux)
- The great Jim Hightower talking about Perry on our show
- Forgetting Justice Sotomayor's name and the number of justices on Supreme Court
- Oh yeah, and the "oops!" heard around the world