The Krile Files

Our good buddies at the Pentagon appear to be twisting and turning the numbers from the Iraq War. In the Administration’s favor, of course.  And to the detriment of those who fought the war.

True Cost of War — Staggering Number of Wounded Vets: “The Pentagon keeps two sets of books.”

The number of wounded soldiers has become a hallmark of the nearly 5-year-old Iraq war, pointing to both the use of roadside bombs as the extremists’ weapon of choice and advances in battlefield medicine to save lives. About [...]

It’s going to be an issue by the time the real campaigning begins.  Heck, it’s become an issue already.

McCain nearly loses it with reporter

John McCain’s famed temper, the one that makes several of his GOP Senate colleagues question his readiness to be president (apparently they disagree with Hillary), was on full display today: [...]

One of those stories that’s good to revisit, from time to time. Particularly when there’s fresh information.

The USAtty Firings Rearing Up Again?

What have we here? A smoking Bush crony in the USAtty scandal? Do tell (via McClatchy):A longtime protege of President Bush told former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias that he was fired for political reasons and that he shouldn’t fight his ouster, Iglesias says in [...]

It’s not like calling Clinton a “monster“, but there are some pretty strong words being used against John McCain.

Wilkerson: McCain is ‘arrogant,’ his advisers ’scare me.’

In an article titled “Hothead McCain,” for the upcoming issue of The Nation, Robert Dreyfuss quotes Col. Larry Wilkerson (Ret.) — former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell — saying that with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “[n]o dissent, no opinion to the contrary, however reasonable, will be entertained.” Wilkerson added that McCain [...]

Just one more reason. Or maybe a bunch of reasons.

Texas Dirty Tricks Update

Ann Althouse has new information about the dirty tricks I first reported about campaign shenanigans in Tuesday’s Texas caucuses. Ann says it’s a likely explanation for why Obama is winning in caucus delegates but not in primary votes. Just another reason to avoid  [...]

This is what it’s come down to:

Charming

Obama’s key foreign policy advisor, Samantha Power, calls Hillary Clinton “a monster.” “She is a monster, too – that is off the record – she is stooping to anything. …You just look at her and think: [...]

A Firing Offense?

In a conference call just now, the Clinton campaign called on Barack Obama to fire Samantha Power for calling Hillary a “monster.” There are advisers and then there are advisers. Power is Barack Obama’s Condi Rice. A Harvard Law grad, [...]

UPDATE: BREAKING: OBAMA ADVISER RESIGNS AFTER COMMENT

UPDATE 2: Some analysis - Thank You, May I Have Another?

Let me stipulate to one thing: if this were two Republicans squabbling, I’d be laughing my head off at the moment. And I can assure you a lot of them are. The Clinton campaign has gotten so deep inside the [...]

America is, sincerely, turning upside down.  Every bit of spare change is falling out of our pockets. And it’s tough to see the upside of the immediate future.

Employers Slash Jobs by Most in 5 Years

Economic worry continues as Labor Department report says 63,000 jobs were cut in February. Obama statement: “They can’t afford John McCain’s promise of four more years of the very same failed Bush economic policies…they can’t afford another politician who promises solutions but won’t change the divisive, lobbyist-driven politics in Washington.” Full statement here. Clinton statement: “These are [...]

Break Out the Parachutes

This is what the front page of the Wall Street Journal looked like Thursday night. If the Journal had had a web page 80 years ago, I have a feeling this is what it would have looked [...]

And they’re digging for dirt.  Read the comments, as they debate whether this is Whitewater or Watergate.

Good morning, Barack! (Rezko got jobs for your staffers? Do tell.)

Good morning, Mr. Show Me The Money. It’s March 7, a new day in Chicago politics (actually, they’re all the same there — dark and dirty) and there’s more Rezkorama entertainment: Chicago Sun-Times reporter Dave McKinney writes in his “Watchdog” column: Did Rezko find jobs for Obama staffers? Did Barack Obama use indicted campaign fund-raiser Tony Rezko [...]

Not hardly.  And, just like with the tax returns, keeping these records hidden away gives, at least, the APPEARANCE of improprieties.

Archivists Block Release Of Clinton Pardon Records

Federal archivists at the Clinton Presidential Library are blocking the release of hundreds of pages of White House papers on pardons that the former president approved, including clemency for fugitive commodities trader Marc Rich. That archivists’ decision, based on guidance provided by Bill Clinton that restricts [...]

The big debate throughout this weekend (and, probably, beyond) will be how to handle those once-ignored Democratic primaries in Michigan and Florida.  It is a huge mess and likely to become messier. Even those at the top can’t seem to agree on how to handle things.

Looking for a way out of the Florida/Michigan impasse

The reality is, the punishment was never really supposed to matter. Florida and Michigan were breaking the party’s rules by moving their primaries up, and they were willing to accept the DNC’s punishment as a consequence, but everyone acted with a wink and a nod — once a candidate emerged in the primaries as the [...]

Batten down the hatches, folks.  We’re under assault from all sides.  It is, to borrow a phrase from Jack Cafferty, getting ugly out there. Heads up:  some strong words from an angry author, straight ahead.

“Let the Buyer Beware”

Predatory lenders have caused a record number of home mortgage foreclosures . Credit card firms are extorting millions of dollars in “penalties ” from customers who have never made a late payment or gone over their credit limit. Insurance companies are weaseling out of billions of dollars’ worth of claims, using the zaniest excuses imaginable. [...]

This is absolutely absurd.  Unthinkable. Unbelievable. The government was prosecuting her for an attempted suicide. PROSECUTING a Lieutenant in the Army.

Quote of the Day (and a must read)

Elizabeth’s court martial case has subsequently been dropped by the Army. That it was ever brought however is still a travesty of justice. This one was spoken by Col. George Brandt, a psychiatrist at Walter Reed hospital, and it requires a little background. Dr. Brandt’s quote, which you will read shortly, is from testimony he gave at the preliminary hearing of First Lt. Elisabeth Whiteside, who was charged with the following crime by an Army prosecutor: attempted suicide and endangering the life of another [...]

Nope. Not gonna do it.  Not gonna talk about the snow (or lack thereof). Not now.  Let’s get on to politics and a reminder that I’ve always maintained that Keith Olbermann would be just as tough on a democrat as he has been on George Bush.  I was pounded on over at Olbermann Watch for defending him.  I guess I need to get back into posting over there.  It’s been awhile and my bruises have healed.  Here’s the proof that I was correct.

Keith Olbermann eviscerates Hillary: “Look I can be president, I was married to one!”

Tonight on his show, Keith Olbermann eviscerated Hillary Clinton for a good ten minutes for promoting John McCain’s presidency over her fellow Democrats. He compared her to Joe Lieberman. He asked [...]

Bumped back to the top, because of positive movement! 

From our little corner of the world, comes a story that has a lot of people talking. I’m wondering if it’s happening in your area, too - wherever you are.

Catholic Diocese nixes Race for the Cure

Through the office of Msgr. Gaston Hebert, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Arkansas until a new bishop is named, the diocese has told Catholics not to participate in the Race for the Cure, which raises money to fight breast cancer. Reason: [...]

UPDATE:  Both sides got together and worked this out.

Komen back in running with Catholics

Tags: Abortion, Catholic Church, Koman, Race for the Cure

Snow?  See below. Didn’t happen. Yet. It’s 6:15 am and nothing.  TV weather guys are tap-dancing around the situation, saying we “might” get a bunch later.

UPDATE: 7:00 am - just let the dogs back in.  Wet snow on their backs. Nothing on the ground, though. But, they canceled school.

We’ll see.

UPDATE: We ended up getting 2 or 3 inches and streets got a bit slippery.  Maybe more troubles when things freeze later tonight.  For now, I navigated the journey home just fine.

Now we’re upset with China and talking about a military confrontation? I’m wondering (out loud) where the manpower and money is gonna come from. Especially when you consider the money note below:

Bad Credit?

James Fallows says that the same geniuses who were gung-ho to invade Iraq, and who favor military aggression against Iran, are also thinking about a military confrontation with China. Considering that China has been lending us the money to pay for our current military escapades, what do you think the chances are the Chinese would lend [...]

Now I’m really not gonna be able to sleep tonight!