If we could travel back in time 40 years I imagine that President Lyndon Baines Johnson was not having a very happy birthday. Back then he faced a grieving nation. Between 1961 and 1965, there were 1,864 US troops killed in action, 7,337 wounded in action, and 18 missing in action in Vietnam – not much of a celebratory occasion back then.

What will history books say in 40 years about these times? By some counts, in Iraq from March 2003 thru August 27th, 2005, there have been 1,877 US troops killed in action, and 6,770 wounded in action. Not much of a celebratory occasion today either. Perhaps the US would not be in this position today if only some favorite sons had not passed on the chance to have a front row seat in the live history lesson on un-winnable wars during Vietnam.

So it is right to observe and to celebrate the life of LBJ. Although he faced a grieving nation, he was in tune with the needs of the county in his time: he signed into law the Civil Rights Act, started an unconditional war on poverty – just a couple of domestic issues he led on during his time in office.

He was a native Texan that served his country very well in some very trying times and represented the political ideology of the Democratic Party without apology. Because of what Americans like LBJ believe and have been willing to risk, I am able to be one of your candidates for Lt. Governor. Thank you and Happy Birthday LBJ.