September 8

1380 – The Battle of Kulikovo.

Also called the Battle of the Snipes Field.

According to Russian legend, the Russians defeat the Tatars in this battle, even though they were outnumbered 150,000 to 300,000 troops...The real numbers are probably closer to 80,000 to 125,000, but there is no doubt the Russians were greatly outnumbered.

The importance of the battle is it marks the beginning of the end of Mongol (Tatar) control of Russia.

1664 - The settlement of New Amsterdam was seized from Dutch governor Peter Stuyvesant by the English.

This area shortly change its name to one we all know: New York - after falling from Dutch to English control.

But make no mistake, New York has kept many of the characteristics of a Dutch town. Some good, some bad.

1847 – The Battle of Molino del Rey: Mexican-American War.

General Winfield Scott defeated the Mexican army in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

1892 - The original 'Pledge of Allegiance' was written on this date.

The history of 'The Pledge' is an interesting one...Go here to read a Short History of The Pledge .

1926 - The League of Nations assembly voted unanimously to admit Germany as a member.

How nice...Hitler ripped Germany out of The League soon enough, though.

1935 - Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long was shot by Dr. Carl Austin Weiss Jr., while attending a session of the state House of Representatives in Baton Rouge; he died two days later.

The 'Kingfish' was an incredibly powerful Democrat senator, and a legitimate threat to FDR...Hmmmmm. Take that how you will.

1939 - President Franklin Roosevelt declared a "limited national emergency" due to war in Europe:  WWII.

94% of Americans wanted to stay out of the war - something to keep in mind in all of our current foreign policy problems.

Sadly, FDR was a politician, not a statesman. He knew the U.S. had to get in the war (and would eventually be dragged in), but didn’t have the testicular fortitude to do what had to be done at the expense of pissing off the electorate.

So, while the Nazi’s ran amok in Europe for two years, America watched from the sidelines as millions died...Oh, and at the same time the Japanese trashed China and grew stronger.

1941 - The entire Jewish community of Meretsch, Lithuania, was exterminated:  WWII.

WooHoo! Another big day for the ‘master race’...Psychos.

1943 - General Eisenhower announced the unconditional surrender of Italy:  WWII.

Italy the nation surrendered, but Italy the territory still had to be fought for...The Germans had no intention of giving it up without a fight.

1944 - Russian troops reached Bulgaria, and Bulgaria promptly declared war on Germany:  WWII.

Bulgaria’s nothing more than the eastern version of the Italians...Which is barely better than being French.

1945 - Hideki Tojo, Japanese Prime Minister during most of World War II, attempted suicide rather than face a war crimes tribunal.

He failed...And justice was served when the hangman got him on December 23, 1948.

1968 - Saundra Williams won the first Miss Black America pageant.

Imagine if there was a Miss 'White' America pageant...All Hell would break loose in Race-Baiterville, USA.

1974 - President Ford granted Richard Nixon an unconditional pardon for all federal crimes he may have committed while in office.

Stinking Nixon!!! He had the opportunity, ability and public support to be one of our better presidents...Instead he was paranoid, sent the nation into a period of confusion, and crushed the Republican Party.

If nothing else, we should never forgive him for bringing Jimmy Carter to the presidency.

1998 - Mark McGwire's 62nd home run broke Roger Maris' record of 61 homers set in 1961.

'Big Mac' (also known as 'Roids Mac') is a disgrace, and should come out and admit he ‘juiced.’

He should also request that Maris’s record be reinstated...Ooops. Another ‘roid monster’ (Bonds) topped 'Big Roids' record.

Here’s hoping none of them get in the Hall of Fame.