February 1

1790 - The U.S. Supreme Court convened in New York City for its first session.

This is one of the greatest judicial bodies in the history of the world, and one which will continue to be so as long as it remembers its job is to ensure the constitutionality of items coming from the Executive and Legislative Branches - including at the lower levels in the states.

The problem is when the Supremes determine they need to replace the duties of the President and Congress - acting as 'super legislators'...The other problem is the President and Congress have too often ceded their responsibilities to the Supremes in order to avoid having to make politically difficult decisions.

"Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role." - Chief Justice John Roberts

1327 - Edward III was crowned King of England.

Edward was only a teenage boy at the time - the country was effectively ruled by his mother Isabella and her lover Roger - but he proved more than up to the task of ruling the country when he came of age...Edward was one of England's greatest kings, ruling for over 50 years, and establishing the island nation as one of Europe's great powers.

1669 - French king Louis XIV limited freedom of religion.

Of course he did.  That's what tyrants - and Liberals - do...As if there's a difference between the two.

1918 - Russia adopted the Gregorian Calendar.

It was about time...I wonder what the Ruskie people thought about losing 13 days, because out of nowhere it went from being February 1 to February 14.

1923 - Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist Voluntary Militia.

The 'Paperboy' was picking up steam, and out of this rabble of humanity came a bunch of thugs who made Benito a dictator.

1933 - The German Parliament dissolved.

Shocking, just a few days after Hitler became Chancellor.

1943 - One of America's most highly decorated military units of World War II, the 442d Regimental Combat Team, made up almost entirely of Japanese-Americans, was authorized.

This unit was awesome, and proved to America they weren’t Japanese or hyphenated Americans (Japanese-Americans)...They were Americans first.

We should offer the same kind of unit to fight in the War on Terror. I’m not as certain this would end as well, however.

1951 - The U.N. condemned China as an aggressor in the Korean War.

Lotta good that did.  Especially since the only ones who cower over U.N. declarations are the pansies in the West.

1958 - Egypt and Syria announced plans to merge into the United Arab Republic.

Now that would be a power-player in the Middle East.  But it was destined to failure...Either on its own, or at the hands of the Israelis, who could never have allowed it to work out.

2003 - Space Shuttle Columbia and its seven person crew perished upon re-entry from their 16-day mission.

This was a terrible event, but it's amazing it hasn’t happened more often...Man was not made to leave Earth, and every time we jump off this ball we run the risk of such accidents.

That said, we must continue.