Perry wants to be president. He's been using a lot of TX resources for his 2016 prez run.
Using the national guard, for $3 mil a week, as a "visual" deterrent with no real duties.
This moral stand on drunk drivers is great, but it's a felony to do this, even if it feels awesome to punish piece of shite drink drivers. I'd like to punch that drunk idiot driver in the face, but he knew it'd be a felony, and he did it to beef up his conservative credentials for 2016 debate. "I PERSONALLY vetoed to stop drunk drivers and restore integrity to the office in my state!" I think it's awesome he did that... I'd LOVE to see drink drivers removed from ALL public office... they endanger so many people... a friend lost her sister to a drunk driver when we were in elementary school, right near our school. It was horrible and I greatly dislike drunk drivers.
But Perry did break the law in this case. Even if he had heart and political aspirations in right place, he can't do what he did, and he knew that. Worth the risk. "I even faced arrest for doing what was right... but I did it anyway, and I'd do it again!" It's admirable, it's bold, it shows he has balls, to be sure. This could actually WIN him 2016.