For those not in Travis County (myself included), who may be wondering why it is important to support the Coordinated Campaign in our capitol city, I’ll tell you.

First and foremost, Travis County is one of the most blue areas in the state, and every extra vote turned out in Travis County helps create a “padding” for statewide candidates like Rick Noriega, Sam Houston, Linda Yanez, and Susan Strawn to offset overly red areas. Every D vote turned out in Travis County is worth a lot to our statewide candidates.

Too, down in Travis County, they’ve got to have a great presence and excellent GOTV program to help candidates like State Rep. Valinda Bolton (D-Austin) keep her seat in the Texas House and Larry Joe Doherty win a seat in Congress. These are two key races that will impact Texans statewide. Bolton, in particular, is a seat we must hold if we have hopes of a majority in the Texas House next year.

So, I hope you’ll join me in supporting the Travis County Coordinated Campaign with a donation via Act Blue. They need to capture all of Rep. Naishtat’s match money. Help them out!

Four Duval County residents were charged Thursday with illegally handling ballot applications and mail-in ballots that belonged to other voters during the 2006 primary election.

The four San Diego residents indicted Thursday by a Brooks County grand jury were: Lydia Molina, 70; Maria “Kena” Soriano, 71; Elva Lazo, 62; and Maria Trigo, 55.

According to a news release from Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office, the four were taken into custody Thursday in Duval County. A shift supervisor for the Duval County jail refused to give The Associated Press any information Thursday on whether they were still in custody, insisting that a request be filed in writing. A Freedom of Information request faxed to the jail on Thursday night was not immediately answered.

The defendants are accused of delivering mail-in ballot applications to Duval County residents who were ineligible to vote by mail, according to the news release. Only those who are disabled, 65 or older, or expect to be out of the county during an election are eligible to vote by mail.

The news release says that once the ballots were sent to the residents and completed, the defendants allegedly retrieved them and mailed them to the registrar to be counted without identifying themselves on the carrier envelope.

Texas law requires that those who provide assistance identify themselves on carrier envelopes used to transmit mail-in ballots.

The charge of possessing and handling the ballot of another person is a Class B misdemeanor, a violation of the Texas Election Code. A Class B misdemeanor violation of the Election Code can result in up to 180 days jail, a maximum $2,000 fine, or both.

Thanks, Greg Abbott for keeping us safe from….elderly people trying to vote by mail? Give me a break.

“The goal is to get the progressive online community more involved in off-line events, where we can hopefully make a bigger impact on elections in Texas,” said blogger Matt Glazer, editor of the Burnt Orange Report and one of the founders of the political action committee. “The reason we’re focusing our attention on the Texas House, quite frankly, is that we think it can be flipped to the Democrats in the ‘08 elections.”

Democratic loyalists say the party is well-positioned to pick up the seven seats it needs to win a majority in the 150-member chamber, which has been under Republican control since the 2002 elections. In 2006, Democrats made a net gain of six House seats, and in 2004, they picked up one. The significance of the one-seat gain in ‘04 was that it was the first time Democrats had increased their number in the House since the early 1970s.

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, who heads the House Democratic Caucus, is one of the hosts for the Sept. 24 fundraiser.

“I think the blogosphere is giving voice to what a lot of ordinary Texans are thinking, and that is that we need a change of leadership in Austin,” said Dunnam, of Waco. “I think they are really helpful in spreading the message that it’s Democrats who are going to be the agents of change in 2008.”

And, of course, you can help Democrats be agents of change in 2008 through TexBlog PAC by making a contribution today. Capitol Annex has set a goal of raising $100 for TexBlog PAC by Sunday night. And, we challenge every other Texas blog and netroots activist out there to do the same thing. Just post or send this link (and you can change that “ref code” on the end of the link to one for your blog) on your blog or in an email to your friends.

If every reader of this blog today were to donate just $1.00 to the PAC, we’d raise about $600! If every reader of this blog would commit to raise $100 dollars from their friends and readers, that’d be about $6,000 we could raise for the PAC.

TexBlog PAC is going to make a serious difference in 2008, and we’d like for you to join us!

Via Stace Medellin over at Dos Centavos, we learn that the Houston Chronicle has unceremoniously dumped la cucaracha from its print editions:

The Houston Chronicle has dropped the ONLY COMIC STRIP IN THE UNITED STATES that regularly supports Latino immigrant rights and explores Chicano / Latino / Mexicano political and social issues- “la cucaracha,” by me, Lalo Alcaraz, and has replaced it with a PENGUIN-themed comic strip by a New Zealand cartoonist!

The Chron is obviously playing a similar game that the Dallas Morning News did some years ago with The Boondocks. Via Seeing Black, you can read that story, which resulted in the reinstatement of that strip in 2001-2002:

This past February, when the Dallas Morning News said they would not publish the strip again because it was too political, local Black radio broadcasters started a call-in campaign to that newspaper. Angry callers demanded an explanation for why the Morning News would cease publication of its only African American written comic strip, and particularly why it would choose to do so during Black History Month. By the end the day, the strip had been reinstated.

We don’t often get involved in issues not related to politics at Capitol Annex, but we’re a big fan of Alcaraz’s strip and not a big fan of censorship. So, we encourage you to call the Chron’s posted number to comment on their comics section: Call 713-362-3222. Tell them to reinstate la cucaracha. Texas papers are way, way, way too notorious in their censorship of the comics section.

What: The Texas Town Hall at the American People’s Poll on Iraq

When: Polling begins 9AM, September 1st.  Rally from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

Why: To send a message to our elected officials that Americans believe that the best way to support our troops is to bring them home from Iraq NOW.

Where: 900 Main Street in downtown Fort Worth, i.e., General Worth Square, across from the  Fort Worth Convention Center.

Who:  A coalition of non-partisan groups, under the umbrella sponsorship of Texans for Peace.  Endorsers are national, state, and regional organizations, including the following: Iraq Veterans Against the War,  Veterans for Peace,  Vietnam Veterans Against the War,  Gold Star Families for Peace,  Military Families Speak Out;  Grassroots America,  Dallas Peace Center,  Peace Action Texas, Crawford Peace House,  Code Pink Women for Peace,  Camp Casey Peace Institute,  After Downing Street.

Speakers include:  Colonel Ann Wright, first high-ranking diplomat to resign in protest of the Iraq Invasion;  Carlos Arredondo, father of Alexander, killed in Iraq;  Iraq veterans Adam Kokesh, Hart Viges,  and Leonard Shelton;  Tina Richards, mother of Iraq combat veteran;  Reverend Lennox Yearwood,  minister,  former White House intern,  CEO of the Hip-Hop Caucus, Air Force Reservist., Diane Wilson, author of “Unreasonable Woman” and Texas shrimper.  Musicians include Carolyn Wonderland, recording artist and nationally known performer.

We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Now, we’re going to actually do something to enact change.

We are ready to do more than complain about the Republican era of corruption and cronyism, we are going to end it! We are prepared to elect a Democratic majority to the Texas House of Representatives, and forever put an end to the Tom Craddick reign of “absolute” power.

We are proud to announce that we have joined forces to create a vehicle for change; the TexBlog PAC. We are ready to take blogging beyond real-time reporting, commentary, and message delivery and transform the energy and resources of the online community into election-day victories. Corrupt Republicans are taking our state in the wrong direction.

With your help, the TexBlog PAC will change the direction of Texas politics during the 2008 election cycle by electing a Democratic majority to the Texas House.

If you are tired of Tom “absolute power” Craddick, and want to help elect a Democratic Speaker in 2008, please make a contribution today. The stakes could not be higher.

During the 2008 election cycle, the TexBlog PAC is committed to changing the direction of Texas politics by taking back the Texas House. The TexBlog PAC will work toward winning 7 additional seats in the Texas House, allowing Democrats to elect a Democratic Speaker. A net gain of 7 house seats will put an end to the Republican claim of “absolute” power and restore democracy and the democratic process to the people’s House

If you are ready to take back your state, and take back the Texas House, we encourage you to donate today.

By contributing to progressive candidates, fostering the energy of the netroots, supporting party infrastructure, registering new voters, funding civic education programs, and assisting like-minded grassroots activists, the TexBlog PAC will help elect progressive candidates in 2008, and beyond. We will pave the path to a brighter tomorrow by putting Democrats back in charge of our state government.

The more you contribute, the more we can help.

Under the era of corrupt, one-party Republican rule, the past half-decade has been an absolute disaster for Texas and Texas families. The bottom line: uninsured kids, public school children, college students, current teachers, retired teachers, seniors, the elderly, workers, homeowners, small business owners, conservationists and veterans simply can’t afford another two years of “absolute” Republican corruption, cronyism, and cuts.

With your help, the TexBlog PAC will create meaningful and long-lasting change in Texas politics. Are you ready to help?

Happy Blogosphere Day!

{As you read the post below, we hope you’ll seriously consider helping the Texas Netroots reach its goal of 800 donors for Rick Noriega. We here at Capitol Annex are trying to get ten donors–at any level–to the Rick Noriega effort.}

What’s that you say? What the heck is “Blogosphere Day”?

The tradition we now know as Blogosphere Day began in 2004 when, in a surprise statement, incumbent Rep. Jim Greenwood (PA-08) announced his retirement. Democratic challenger Ginny Schrader, with $7000 in the bank, came to the attention of the nationwide blogosphere via the front page of DailyKos, and over $30,000 poured into her campaign that day. Just three weeks earlier, a brand new fundraising platform for Democrats — ActBlue — was launched, and quickly adopted by those raising who were raising funds for Ginny Schrader.

We say this time it’s Rick
Noriega’s turn.

A word from the
founder about that storied day:

Virginia “Ginny” Schrader was not getting much “help” at all from the DCCC in July 2004. She was running an uphill battle against Republican Congressman Jim Greenwood, who had won his previous race with 62%. Schrader herself had won a primary with only 60% against a frequent Republican candidate who had switched parties. As of the June 30th filing report, she had $7,000 on hand. Her chances, to put it mildly, were slim to none. Despite Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional district having voted for Gore in 2000, Greenwood’s moderate social views (he was pro-choice, for example) enabled him to win reelection easily, over and over again. This race would be no different.

Except, suddenly the incumbent announced his retirement, and one enterprising blogger thought it ought to be different. VERY different. So, he set out to raise money for a candidate he’d not yet met.

410PM: I used Politics1.com to find Schrader’s website, and quickly noted her main positions on the issues, her biography and the district demographics (it voted for Gore, for example). I then set to work typing up an article on the front page of DailyKos. As I did, I checked PoliticsPA.com to confirm the news, and found out that Schrader had just $7,000 in the bank.

440PM: I finished the article, and published it on the front page. This is what it said:

Breaking News: GOP Congressman Greenwood (PA-08) Leaving Congress This Year

I just read this at PoliticsPA.com and in a breaking news e-mail from RollCall.com. Congressman Jim Greenwood, a moderate Republican in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional district, just announced he will not seek reelection this year, instead removing his name from the ballot. The Democrat, Virginia “Ginny” Schrader, is an attorney who has just $7,000 in the bank as of June 30th. Greenwood’s district voted for Gore in 2000 by a decent amount, and the GOP is now scrambling for a replacement.

Schraeder’s website is [ Note: Link is now inactive]. A good place to contribute to would be at ACTBLUE at [Note: Link is now inactive], as it will track the donations recieved for the campaign.

I would suggest that we get involved ASAP. This seat is a Democratic-leaning one, and is too good to miss. Schrader is a liberal-to-moderate, pro-choice Democrat. In addition, she supports civil unions and is against Bush’s positions on Iraq and the Patriot Act. She is an attorney who ran for State Rep. in 2002 and lost by a respectable margin.

This is completely out of left field, folks, and it gives us another opportunity for a pickup. Ginny Schrader is the luckiest candidate in the nation today, but can her luck hold?

In my rush to post the article, I mispelled Schrader’s name at one point. I also forgot to include her ActBlue account, which I added later on at one poster’s urging. In addition, I as of then had not figured out HTML, so there was no bolding or italics in the post. Reading it today when compared to my “modern” work is like comparing Sumerian clay tablets to a Medieval manuscript in its aesthetic beauty.

*And yet my appeal worked.* I didn’t know Ginny Schrader from Adam; in fact, nearly all of the bloggers who responded that day didn’t know her either. *But people gave, people wrote kind words and let others know the news: that a Congressional seat could be won that had been not been looked at before.*

By the end of July 20th, Ginny Schrader had raised $30,000 from the Internet.

Let’s make July 19th, 2007 in Texas, Rick Noriega Blogosphere Day!

On July 19th, 2005, the Blogosphere catapulted Paul Hackett (D-Blogosphere) into contention in one of the reddest districts of red Ohio, OH-02. An excerpt from the Mother
Jones timeline of the now recurring phenomenon:

July 18 – Dembloggers posts video of a Hackett ad that Republicans claim creates a false impression of support from George W. Bush. On the same day, Baker posts an email he has received from the Democratic Party that helpfully informs him: on “August 2 there will be a special election to fill a vacant seat in Congress representing the 2nd Congressional district in Southern Ohio.”

July 19 – Blog for America, the blog of Democracy for America, announces DFA’s endorsement of Hackett. The timing coincides with National Blogosphere Day, which blogs across the internet celebrate by urging donations to Hackett’s campaign. In eight hours, Paul Hackett’s ActBlue page pulls in $55,000.

July 20 – Grow Ohio reports that the blogs brought in $80,000 in a single day. Swing State Project reports Hackett currently tops Schmidt in Cash on Hand. Hackett’s money comes from a network of individuals from around the country, each averaging around $50 a donation. According to the FEC reports analyzed by the blogs, Schmidt’s money has come from PACs in average donations of $1,785. Grow Ohio, Swing State Project and OH-02 offer daily information on get-out-the-vote campaigns around the district.

While we’re sure the Noriega campaign wouldn’t turn down a one day influx of $80,000, this would be a great day to get more small donors on board the
Noriega Express.

On July 19th, 2006, the Blogosphere catapulted Ned Lamont (D-Blogosphere) into contention in CT-Sen. Howie at http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/07/people-power-will-propel-…>Down\ With Tyranny filed this after-action report:

Ned Lamont was the biggest single recipient and he matched, dollar for dollar, all the money that came in– something he will continue to do through the end of the primary. Nevertheless, a story in today’s NY TIMES by Mike McIntire and Jennifer Medina illustrates what a tough, tough task Ned has taken on himself. Forget for a moment that Joe Lieberman has
become a millionaire many times over since he was elected to public office. (Unlike Ned, he is not a man who built a business, got audited, paid taxes and wages; Lieberman just won elections and, like most corrupt politicians… wound up very, very rich.) The headline of the TIMES story says a lot: “Lieberman’s Donors Include Many Who Favor Republicans.”

Lamont’s prospect of unseating Kissin’ Joe Lieberman in a primary seemed as distant a prospect as Box Turtle John Cornyn wants to pretend replacing him with Lt. Colonel Rick Noriega is. But 800 of my new best friends know different.

Are you ready for a ticket to ride on the Noriega
Express through the cities, small towns, and wild flower fields of Texas?

Won’t it be nice to have one United States Senator from Texas who doesn’t embarrass the state every time he opens his mouth? Get on the Noriega Express, and help make it happen.

Donate here.

Help Texas have a United States Senator who honors the spirit of our beloved Lady Bird instead of standing her friends and family up at her memorial service.

Future United States Senator Rick Noriega. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

Th holiday commemorates the day official word of the Emancipation Proclamation first reached Texas—in June of 1865—well after the war had ended.

We, the undersigned, are some of the many progressive bloggers and online activists in Texas. The Texas netroots community is a large and diverse one - from blogs to Democratic Underground, from Democracy for Texas to MoveOn, and more. No one person or group speaks for it. While we often communicate among ourselves, and often agree on many points, we all have our own perspectives and preferences.

We, the undersigned, are some of the many progressive bloggers and online activists in Texas. The Texas netroots community is a large and diverse one - from blogs to Democratic Underground, from Democracy for Texas to MoveOn, and more. No one person or group speaks for it. While we often communicate among ourselves, and often agree on many points, we all have our own perspectives and preferences.

Though we are speaking as one in this post, we are speaking for ourselves. Though we are a part of the Texas netroots, we do not speak for the Texas netroots, because nobody speaks for the Texas netroots.

We are confident, however, that everybody in the Texas netroots is united behind the goal of replacing our ineffective and out of touch junior Senator, who is up for re-election next year. We fully expect to give our unqualified support to the Democratic nominee for Senate, and we fully expect the wider Democratic community, netroots and otherwise, to do the same.

While we all have our own preferences among the many fine choices to be that nominee next year, we do agree on one other thing, and that is that we intend to be a full-blooded participant in the process to choose him or her. We do not appreciate any effort by one group or another to dictate who that nominee will be, just as we would not expect anyone else to appreciate our dictating of a nominee. Some of us are undertaking an effort to draft a particular candidate to run next year, but those of us who are doing so hope to win that battle on the merits of our candidate. Others of us are not involved in any draft movements but are focusing on helping the eventual Democratic candidate. All of us expect a vigorous debate that will lead to the best choice being made, one we will all then unite behind. We are all committed to taking this seat back for the people of Texas.

We hope this clarifies matters, and we hope that you will join us in helping to elect a progressive, people-powered Senator from the great state of Texas in 2008. Thank you very much.

[Co-Signers Below]

Charles Kuffner
Off the Kuff

Karl-Thomas Musselman
Matt Glazer
Burnt Orange Report

Annatopia
Moiv
Texas Kaos

Vince Leibowitz
Capitol Annex

McBlogger
Mayor McSleaze
McBlogger

WCBlog
DemBones
Eye on Williamson

Muse
Muse Musings

Bradley Bowen
North Texas Liberal

Xanthippas
Three Wise Men

PDiddie
Brains and Eggs

Jaye Ramsey Sutter
Winding Road in Urban Area

Lyn Wall
Feet to Fire

During a trip last week through San Antonio, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels, Marble Falls, Kingsland, and Austin last weekend, she gave an excellent speech in San Antonio. She has kindly agreed to let me reprint it here:

San Antonio is the best place to laud those who step forward. A small group of courageous Texans, given the option to quit, stepped forward, across a line in the sand at the Alamo. The siege of the Alamo delayed Santa Anna and paved the way for victory at San Jacinto.

To delay Santa Anna and General Cos’ soldiers massing in huge numbers and ultimately attacking from the north, The Texans at the Alamo used the cannon left previously at the fort. They turned the enemies own cannon to their advantage.

Texans accepted help from outsiders. Davy Crockett and his Tennessee marksmen, with only sharpened sticks as their barricade, made an impregnable line not pierced until the Alamo was overrun. Contemporaneous accounts said that Crockett survived the battle, only to be killed after capture. He sacrificed all for his Texan friends and is revered in history for his help.

Texas Democrats have the same opportunity today to save our Republic.

1. We will step forward.

2. We will build on our friends’ work - the actions of those who have endured the long sieges and fought the battles behind us, to pave the way to victory.

3. We will expose the opponent’s actions and lay the groundwork for victory. Their cannon have misfired, hurting Texans. In their zeal to protect partisan politician interests, our opponents have hurt Texans. The republican domination of Texas for much longer than a decade has raided our pocketbooks, damaged our economy, robbed us of children’s health care, poisoned our environment, relocated business, and deprived us of a voice in the presidential selection process. Texas veterans are abandoned. We are bottom of the barrel in most domestic indicators, including transportation and rail safety, education and health care, economic performance, the environment, emergency preparedness and ability to respond to disasters.

4. We will accept help from outsiders but retain our own independence and identity. We’ll appreciate those who help us, who share common goals.

Believe U.S, a new federal PAC, will accept donations from across the country. Believe U.S. is committed to providing financial support to great Texas Democratic candidates who support solid democratic issues (ex: providing veterans the benefits they’ve earned, health care reform, national security) and fostering a national recognition of the potential Texas Democratic victories in 2008 and beyond. We can take back Texas if we believe and step forward to act. We believe we can foster national recognition of the importance of Texas for the national political scene. The 2006 election proved the Republican base beatable. Governor Rick Perry was only able to capture 39% of the vote, and Texas was the location of two of the most remarkable Democratic victories in what were once considered Republican only areas - the Congressional districts of Nick Lampson and Ciro Rodriguez.

We have the opportunity to make a huge change in Texas but we need good leaders and a citizenry prepared to help. Texans are ready to step forward. Texans are now ready to vote democratic. We must remember the Alamo.

This speech was given on Friday, March 23 during Barbara Ann’s book tour to introduce her second book, Stepping Forward. The book is a look back at the lessons learned from her 2006 U.S. Senate campaign and how those lessons demonstrate potential for victory for Democratic candidates working to better Texas. If you are interested in ordering the book please visit Lulu.com to purchase a copy.

Tags: Barbara+Radnofsky

In about 15 minutes, Gonzales will be delivering the keynote address the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 30th Anniversary Luncheon.

While I’m sure Gonzales appearence was planned months in advance, it is still interesting that he’s keeping the engagement as the sky falls in on the U.S. Department of Justice over his gross mismanagement there.

Tags: Alberto+Gonzales

The DNC is seeking interns for the Summer and Fall of 2007. If you want to
learn about and work for the Democratic Party, this internship is for you!

Interns are a vital part of the team at the DNC, and interns work in all
departments of the DNC.

The DNC’s Spring and Fall Internship Program accepts applications on a
rolling basis as long as space is available. The deadline for Summer 2007
applicants is March 15, 2007. We begin taking summer applications in January
2007.

Please note that all DNC internships are unpaid.

This is a great way to get first-hand experience and learn the ins and outs
of The Democratic Party. Our interns are teamed up with DNC staffers where
they work hand in hand on all Party related activities. Interns also meet
with and learn from Democratic leaders throughout the program through a
series of roundtable discussions.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUMMER IS MARCH 15th!!!

For more information and an application check out:

http://www.democrats.org/interns

Annatopia at Texas Kaos has all the details here. If you have a little cash left over from holiday shopping, help out. More details from Texas Kaos below the jump:

On January 8, the SDEC will be holding a public meeting in Austin (details are in our calendar).  Originally I was hoping to set up a ride board and get a bunch of activists and reformers to attend these meetings and report on the activities (a la the public DNC hearings when Dean got elected).  Unfortunately, Glenn Smith’s DriveDemocracy is undergoing renovations and is unavailable for the moment.  I still encourage people to get to Austin if they can, and most of the TexasKAOS staff will be there reporting on the activities.  But back to Project Bridge the Gap.

On January 8, members of the TexasKAOS staff are going to hand deliver a copy of Crashing the Gate to every TDP officer and SDEC member.

What do we hope to accomplish by delivering these books?  Well, I think that CTG can be considered a grassroots manifesto for winning.  The book lays out many of the structural problems we have within our institutions and offers suggestions on how we can fix them.  Again, it goes back to understanding each other and building relationships based on trust.  Let’s face it - some of these institutionalists are scared of us.  They don’t understand what we want.  I think that anyone who reads this book will walk away with a better idea of where the reformers are coming from, and I’m hopeful that this gesture will begin a healing process that is long overdue.

Basically, if the institutionalists won’t reach out, we have to.  We have to give this relationship one more shot before we give up and take Smarty’s suggestions.  This is truly a good faith gesture and I hope it will be seen as such.

So here’s where you come in.  A few days ago I emailed Markos &  Jerome and they hooked me up with Natasha at Chelsea Green.  She kindly offered a 50% discount on a bulk purchase of Crashing the Gate.  On Saturday, I ordered 105 copies of the book and put it on my AMEX.  It cost just under $715.  I have been gathering pledges from TPA members, and right now I’m sitting at about $450.  I know it’s Christmahannukwanzaka and money is tight, but I really need to cover at least $615 of that $715 dollars.  If you can help with this project - whether it’s five bucks or fifty - my husband would really appreciate it.  =)  You can paypal the money to annatopia AT gmail DOT com.  As soon as we hit our $615 I will remove the donation address, and if we happen to go over by a few bucks I’ll put up a poll to see where the extra money will go (I’m thinking something Katrina-related).  Please donate if you can.

This is only part one of this project.  I hope to continue to post-SDEC meeting with a series of interviews with members of the SDEC.  We need to get to know them as well, and we hope to accomplish that with Project Bridge the Gap. This the first of many projects that will be launched by TexasKAOS over the coming year.  Please bookmark us and visit us often!

Aside from the election, one of the most important things that happened this year was the renewal of the Voting Rights Act.

So, I looked around and found Lyndon B. Johnson’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from 1964, the year the Civil Rights Act passed, and the same proclamation from 1965, the year of the Voting Rights Act.

Much of both still holds true today, so I’d like to share it with you. First, 1964:

As the harvest season draws to a close and our storehouses bulge with the bounty of the land, it is our desire to observe, in the custom and tradition of our forebears, a special day dedicated to giving thanks to God–a day on which to lay aside our daily tasks and cares and pay joyous homage to Him. We are impelled to raise our voices in His praise and to proclaim our heartfelt gratitude for another year in which we have been blessed with a bountiful harvest, with intellectual, humanitarian, economic, scientific, and technical advances and achievements, and with other gains too numerous to mention.

Although we have been blessed with unsurpassed prosperity, we recognize that poverty and want exist throughout the world–even among us–and we pledge ourselves to the eradication of those evils.

We know, too, that the foundation for a peaceful world is still to be built and that even now armed strife exists in parts of the world. We are saddened that gallant men of our Armed Services have fallen in the eternal quest for peace with freedom, dignity, and justice for all. We share with their bereaved families and friends a sense of tragic loss. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, we resolve “that these honored dead shall not have died in vain,” and vow that their loss will spur us ever onward until man’s great dream of universal peace is realized.

Yet we are filled with an instinctive impulse to give thanks for

–our free society of free men, free institutions, and free elections;

–our freedom of speech, our freedom of the press, and our freedom to worship as our conscience dictates;

–our emphasis upon the dignity, equality, and worth of man;

–our humanitarian instincts;

–our unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;

–our confidence in our ability to meet the challenges of today and of the future.

For these are the things that set us apart as a Nation–that made our Nation great-that will keep our Nation great.

So as our forefathers in Virginia, in New England, and throughout this land have done for more than three and one-half centuries, let us appoint a special day on which all of us, in keeping with the dictates of our own conscience, will give thanks to the Lord for His manifold blessings. And on that day, let us rededicate ourselves to meeting the challenges of the present with the fortitude and faith with which our forefathers met the challenges of the past.

Now, THEREFORE, I, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of the Congress approved December 26, 1941, 55 Stat. 862 (5 U.S.C. 87b), designating the fourth Thursday of November in each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1964, as a day of national thanksgiving.

On that day, let us gather in our homes and in our places of worship and in other suitable places to give thanks to God for His graciousness and His generosity to us-to pledge to Him our everlasting devotion-to beseech His divine guidance and the wisdom and strength to recognize and follow that guidance–and to pray to Him that the forces of evil, violence, indifference, intolerance, and inhumanity may soon vanish from the face of the earth and that peace, reason, understanding, and goodwill may reign supreme throughout the world.

And, 1965, in which Johnson mentioned the VRA:

For all the blessings that have been bestowed upon our nation during the past 12 months, it is a small thing to give thanks to Almighty God.

When the pilgrims first observed Thanksgiving nearly 350 years ago, life was harsh and unrelenting. Cold and sickness had diminished their ranks. Their shelter was crude. Their future was uncertain. Yet when their harvest was abundant, they considered themselves blessed–and their hearts were filled with gratitude.

Today we have much more than an abundant harvest. Our nation is rich and strong and united in the cause of liberty and justice. Our physical comforts are unmatched anywhere in the world. Our medicine has conquered ancient diseases.

In the past year we have added greatly to that national legacy. We have guaranteed the right to vote to all our citizens. We have pledged dignity to our elderly–even in sickness. We have added new dimensions to the education of our youth. We have broadened the horizons of opportunity for our poor. And all the while, we have enjoyed the greatest prosperity in history.

But our real blessings lie not in our bounty. They lie in those steadfast principles that the early pilgrims forged for all generations to come: the belief in the essential dignity of man; the restless search for a better world for all; and the courage–as shown by our sons in Viet-Nam today–to defend the cause of freedom wherever on earth it is threatened.

These are the eternal blessings of America. They are the blessings which make us grateful even when the future is uncertain. They are the blessings which give us the strength to complete the unfinished tasks that remain before us.

For these blessings should we thank God most of all.

Now, THEREFORE, I, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the Joint Resolution of the Congress approved December 26, 1941, 55 Stat. 862 (5 U.S.C. 87b), designating the fourth Thursday of November in each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25, 1965, as a day of national Thanksgiving.

On that day, let us gather in our homes and in our places of worship to thank God for His generosity. Let us make ourselves worthy of that generosity by pledging to Him our everlasting devotion. And let us pray to Him that the forces of violence, indifference and intolerance may soon vanish from the face of the earth so that peace and understanding and love may reign supreme.

Beautiful.