The Krile Files

Final Thoughts

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

It’s time to call it quits around here – rapidly approaching midnight.  Just wanted to pass along the late predictions about voting straight ahead on Tuesday.

Clinton will stay in if she wins the popular vote in OH and TX

Ambinder on the bottom line of the Clinton campaign’s spin on the eve of Texas and Ohio: [I]f Clinton wins the popular vote in Ohio and Texas, she’s staying in the race. Even if she loses the delegate race in Texas. No doubt, this will make heads explode in Chicago. So that explains what that sound was outside my [...]

Oh, and I’m (so far) quite impressed with the update to Windows Live Writer, the blog posting tool.  Quite pleasantly surprised, as a matter of fact!

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton

It Will Be News

March 3, 2008 · 1 Comment

Probably, news for the next several months.  And that might not be good news for the Obama campaign.

Obama and Rezko: TPM’s Timeline

The connection has dogged Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) ever since it was first reported in November of 2006. With Tony Rezko’s trial finally beginning this week, and with the trial expected to last for months, it will keep dogging him [....]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: 2008 Election · Obama

A Texas Tuesday

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

If you thought some of the earlier caucus and primary elections were confusing, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! You’ve probably heard that Texas is troubling for some of the candidates, particularly Hillary Clinton.  In fact, she’s talking filing a lawsuit over it.  What’s the problem?  Read on, CQ Politics explains…

The Texas Primary Explained: Why Tuesday’s Dem Winner May Not Be Obvious

Some states choose presidential convention delegates through primary elections. Others use a system of caucuses. Texas is holding both on Tuesday [...]

Technorati Tags:

Categories: 2008 Election

Polling at Deadline

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

I’m not one for putting a lot of weight into polls before the primary elections, but I’m noticing some movement that could be good news for the Clinton Campaign. Are the staffing changes paying off?  Are those “3 a.m.” commercials working? Polling results via Time magazine’s “Real Clear Politics” website.

OH Poll: Clinton +10

TX Poll: Obama Lead Slips to 1 Point

When was the last time you saw “Obama” and “slips” in the same headline?

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton · Obama

High Tech Dirty Tricks

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Kevin Drum is doing some “supposing” on the Political Animal blog.  He’s out on a techno-limb, but what he’s talking about is most interesting. He’s taking a look into the possible future of political campaigning.  Or, is it already here?

“We Mosquitoed Him”

A few days ago I wrote about the Mosquito, a device that emits an annoying high-pitched screech designed to disperse loitering kids and teenagers. It’s harmless to adults, who generally can’t hear it. Shortly after I wrote about [...]

Categories: 2008 Election

Inside The Campaign

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

I was wondering if the Clinton staff changes were paying off.  If this blogger really does have inside sources, the changes seem to be working.

Some Stuff To Read

A little bird in the Clinton campaign tells me that it feels like a whole new campaign without Patti Solis Doyle at the helm; that you used to hear ‘no’ in every direction and now it’s all ‘get it done’. The term breath of fresh air, or some equivalent, came up. A family friend who’d been in charge of youth outreach has also [...]

Technorati Tags:

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton

Canadian Healthcare

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

There’s been much discussion, pro and con, about Canada’s system of universal healthcare. The concept of universal healthcare is a major issue in the current presidential campaign. You’ve likely had folks on both sides of the issue try to sway your thoughts on the issue.  Just to add to your education, consider these thoughts from a physician who is part of the Canadian system…

What Does Universal Healthcare Mean?

…I am near the end of another busy shift in a major Canadian emergency department. The nurse in charge asks me to see two women in the minor care area – a daughter and her elderly mother. Both of them are in tears and pale [...]

I’m glad Crooks and Liars finally posted this video.  This story on last night’s edition of “60 Minutes” demanded rewinding to make sure I hadn’t slipped into some parallel universe.  Honestly, I didn’t think it had gotten THIS bad here in the U.S.  It is enough to make you cry.

60 Minutes: Charity Trying To Make Up For Failing U.S. Health Care System

If you’re looking for a story that shows the abysmal state of health care in America, look no further. 60 Minutes traveled to Knoxville, TN to film a free clinic set up by a charity group called Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps, or RAM. The charity was initially started in [...]

Technorati Tags:

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton · Health Care

Coming At McCain

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Indeed, from all sides, it would seem.  We posted below about his foot-in-mouth economic statements.  Now, let’s turn our attention to science and medicine, shall we?

McCain jumps into autism controversy, rejects science and evidence

I can appreciate that this is an emotional issue for some people, but if we limit ourselves to evidence and science, it looks like we have yet another issue in which John McCain doesn’t know what he’s talking about. At a town hall meeting Friday in Texas, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., declared that “there’s strong evidence” [...]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: 2008 Election · McCain

An Election Do-Over?

March 3, 2008 · 1 Comment

Seems to me this would really be rewriting the rules, but what the heck do I know? I say, “go for it!” We can handle a couple more exciting incidents in this campaign!

Florida Primary Do-over? Intriguing Possibilities…

Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida has gone on record stating that he’s willing to re-do the Democratic Party primary in Florida, if that will allow the Dem delegates from the Sunshine State to be seated at the convention. Will Michigan follow suit? And Howard Dean is open to the possibilities [...]

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton · Democrats · Obama

The Iraq Toll

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

The numbers continue to mount..

3,973 and $3,845 Per Second

…Aside from the unending flow of lives lost, our continued presence in Iraq is costing Americans an untold amount of taxpayer money. When you break down the costs, our Iraq presence is costing Americans an astonishing $3,845 per second. Nearly 4,000 American dead, nearly [...]

Tags:

Categories: Iraq War

The Issue Is NAFTA

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Both the Obama and Clinton campaigns are having troubles over NAFTA. Will it truly come back to bite either candidate in Tuesday’s voting?  From my vantage point, the Obama story has more “legs”…

NAFTA Story Slaps Back

It’s never good when a story that you’ve slapped down as false gets up and slaps you back – as the NAFTA story has just done to the Obama campaign. The AP reports of a memo surfacing that appears [...]

Technorati Tags: , ,

Categories: 2008 Election · Clinton · Obama

Childhood Fun

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Growing up in the north, kids delight in running through snow, catching the falling snowflakes on their tongues.  Sorry.  Time to quash another bit of youthful fun.

Snowflakes May Contain Bacteria

What could be less contaminated than a newly minted snowflake falling gently out of the sky? Well . . . a few things, probably. A study last week in the journal Science found that a fair number of snowflakes appear to form around bacterial cells. And this [...]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: Weather

Read My Lips

March 3, 2008 · 1 Comment

Can you trust him?  Can you REALLY trust him? Just askin’. ‘Cuz he seems to be changing his tune on one big issue:

McCain Backtracks From ‘No New Taxes’ Pledge, Says He Is Not A ‘Read My Lips’ Candidate

Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) took the “Read My Lips” plunge, proclaiming that as president he would not raise taxes for any reason. “No new taxes,” he declared twice in an interview with ABC News. Watch it: The Wall Street Journal reports today that McCain is now distancing himself from the pledge not to [...]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: Economy · Taxes

Monday Money

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

It’s getting tougher and tougher to come up with much good economic news.  I watch Morning Joe while getting ready for work and even the usually optimistic Erin Burnett seems to be more pessimistic these days.  So, it seems, is the New York Times…

Good Luck With That Job Hunt

Apparently, the New York Times business section just woke up to the fact that the job market sucks, and that the economy is basically in pretty rough shape [...]

Then, there’s this, left over from Sunday:

PEEK: Right Wingers Try to Blame the Media for Economic Insecurity

Mary Matalin echoes a popular right wing talking point.

And: Oil Jumps to New Record on Dollar’s Fall

Oil prices surged to a new record high Monday as the dollar weakened to another low against the euro. Light, sweet crude for April delivery rose  [...]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: Economy

Monday. Already.

March 3, 2008 · Leave a Comment

And the weekend went WHERE? Lots of rain through much of today, possibly some snow before it’s all over in the morning. Blue Monday, as they used to say. Considering that it was 75 and sunny on Saturday, it’s an abrupt change.  FYI, I’m trying out another piece of software for posting – Windows Live Writer.  I’ve tried it in the past and not been impressed.  The latest version seems to address some of my issues.  We’ll see.

Let’s kick off Monday evening with some talk of food safety.  You really should care.  And, it appears, be concerned.

Former FDA official: “We are fortunate more hasn’t gone wrong”

The industry self-regulation game has been played and has failed. The trust-but-verify system implemented by the GOP no longer includes trust, nor do they have the budget to verify. Industry and their GOP lapdogs in Congress are completely uninterested in protecting the food source for Americans. Their policy is to [...]

Technorati Tags: ,

Categories: Consumer · Food Safety