February 17

1801 - The U.S. House of Representatives chose Thomas Jefferson as the third President of the United States. Aaron Burr, who tied with Jefferson in the Electoral College, became Vice President.

Burr was a true American scoundrel, and it was an enormous blessing for the nation that Jefferson was chosen by the House...It's hard to imagine such a great man as Jefferson being passed over for Burr, but due to a glitch in the Electoral College counting system it could have happened.

Also, this event is a reminder the 2000 Election wasn’t the first time the Presidency was in question, and was by no means a 'Constitutional Crisis'...If anything it was an opportunity for the Constitution to prove itself.

1947 - The 'Voice of America' began broadcasting to the Soviet Union.

It would be a good idea to do likewise in the Middle East, instead of leaving the information void to be filled by Islamic propagandists...Nah!

1993 - President Bill Clinton addressed a joint session of Congress, asking Americans to accept one of the biggest tax increases in history as part of a plan to curb massive budget deficits and stimulate the economy.

How on Earth did he come to the conclusion a 'tax increase' would in any way 'stimulate the economy?'...The way to stimulate the economy is to lower tax rates, and significantly lower government spending.

Clinton was lucky he had the Republican Congress and 'Computer Revolution' at his back, and also that he didn't bother to spend money on the military (which came back to bite us after 9/11/01). Unfortunately, the result of this luck was the Democrats didn't properly learn the lesson of 'taxing to stimulate'...We re-learned this lesson under Barack Obama instead.

1995 - A Federal judge allowed a lawsuit claiming U.S. tobacco makers knew nicotine was addictive and manipulated its levels to keep its customers addicted.

I have no doubt this is correct...Yet the same government continues to subsidize tobacco companies.

1998 - President Bill Clinton, preparing Americans for possible air strikes against Iraq, said military force is never the first answer "but sometimes it's the only answer."

It would have been nice for Bubba to acknowledge Bush reached this point...Nah, that wouldn't have fit into the 'Bush is the Devil' theme the Democrats played for eight years.

Also, I thought Liberals always say "war is never the answer.”

2003 - European Union leaders declared their solidarity with the United States, warning Saddam Hussein that Iraq faced one "last chance" to disarm peacefully but calling war a last resort.

Nothing but a bunch of talk, in the hope of covering their own bribes and scandals.