"I still think that the state of Texas has an obligation to young women who are forced into marriage and underage sex – to protect them. That's my bottom line on this," Mr. Perry said during a visit to France.

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He also offered to take personal responsibility if the raid had "crossed a line." Texas is out about $7 million, and if you don't think that had anything to do with the rulings of the appeals court and the state supremes, you don't know Texas politics.

And maybe Rick Perry's tired enough of business as usual to defy the conventional wisdom in Texas politics. The rest of what he said is at the link, but this bit bears repeating.

Mr. Perry, speaking in La Baule, France, where he gave the keynote address at a European business conference, was asked if he will fire or discipline any state officials because of the way the case was handled.

"I think that with the knowledge that the CPS had at the time they acted, that they acted with the best interest of those children," he said.