The Larry Kane Report

We have learned that Chaka Fattah,The Congressman from Philadelphia, has been paying some well timed visits to Democrat and Republican fund raisers and power brokers to let them know that he will probably announce a bid for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Philadelphia. Fattah has told the movers and shakers that he will likely announce in November.

Why not now?

Fattah is feeling intense pressure from ward leaders and supporters of Congressman Bob Brady, the city’s Democratic chief. Brady is nearing a decision on whether to run. Fattah is making his rounds to let the power players know not to count him out. But some of them are not convinced and here is why:

If the Democrats retain control of Congress in November, the Congressman will be up for selective committee assignments, maybe some key chairmanships. If that happens would he stay in Washington? And if he should make a commitment to running for Mayor, would the Democratic leadership reward him in Congress if he has plans to run for Mayor?

Fattah is an attractive candidate. But so is Brady who is famous as a bridge builder and political healer. The good news for both is that they can run for Mayor without giving up their seats in Congress.

At this point Brady and Fattah are treating each other with great respect, along with classy former Councilman Michael Nutter . But behind the scenes it is a different story with party loyalists understanding that in politics early support is the most cherished.

That’s why Chaka Fattah has been meeting and greeting with the people who have the power to raise money and influence many elements of the electorate.

With the Philadelphia Republicans wanting for a candidate, the Democratic Primary in May of 2007 will be for all the marbles. That’s why August 2006 is almost prime time for the men who want to be Mayor.

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You wonder why companies are cracking down on employees who are trouble makers and cause problems in the workplace and all you have to do is look at superstar Tom Cruise who has done the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Cruise, who this reporter views as one of the most talented actors of his generation, has managed to screw up his relationship with moviegoers by acting abrupt, insulting others, trying to impose his religion on others and last but not least, acting like an idiot on the Oprah show.

Yesterday Paramount Pictures, citing his improper conduct, announced it was severing its longstanding relationship with Hollywood’s biggest star. This association goes back 14 years and billions of dollars exchanging hands during that time.
Unfortunately stars dim in the modern era when their thoughtlessness dominates the headlines. Just ask Mel Gibson or Robert Downey Jr.

Don’t cry for Tom Cruise America! He is still a super star and will command millions for his pictures. We will still enjoy his acting. But acting is where he should confine himself. The truth is that Tom Cruise unplugged and verbally punitive on TV is simply not as good as Tom Cruise the actor.

There’s a good lesson here for all of us. Never abuse our influence. Don’t try to be a wiseguy when it comes to knowing it all. Respect the people you work with. And by all means, never insult the customer’s sense of what is right.

Recent opinion polls show that the public’s view of Cruise has slipped measurably since Cruise created this “I’m a lot smarter than you attitude.”

Finally, to egotists of all careers, including TV anchors, corporate giants and political powerbrokers: be humble and be nice.

And never, ever, insult Matt Lauer on live TV.

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As Presidential news conferences go, yesterday morning’s was revealing in the way the President’s comments telegraphed the White House strategy in the coming election campaign.

For the first time, the President admitted that the nation is sorely divided over the war in Iraq, saying, “the nations psyche “ is being tested by the war. Interpretation: my party may be in big trouble. His message was clear though – that he will not compromise by promising to withdraw troops just to make it easier for Republicans to be elected. Whether you approve of his job performance or not, that does make him consistent on the subject of the war. And that was a difficult pronouncement for Republican congressional candidates to listen to.

What makes this especially complicated is the new polling showing over 60 percent of Americans staunchly opposed to the war in Iraq. That means,  quite simply, that many Republicans will have to run far from the President’s agenda to survive, and probably accounts for his low approval rating.

In reality, Bush is between a rock and a hard place. With Iran offering a new form of blatant state terrorism by defying the U.N., and with Syria flaunting its terror ties, the White House has few options but to stay put in Iraq, at least for now. Any sign of weakness could be traumatic. It is a very unpopular decision because as the people of Iraq slide into civil war, the plausibility of America’s presence there becomes even more troubling.

But perhaps, this is really an eventual way out. If a full scale civil war breaks out, the President may then have the option to redeploy American troops to the Iranian border, where such a force would send a message to Islamic-Fascists that there is only so much nuclear saber rattling that we will take.

Wouldn’t it be a real irony if the United States used the pretext of civil war as an actual reason to begin a pullout.

Of course, with the way things happen in the Middle East, all of this could be nullified by breaking developments. It is a region where anything can happen and probably will.

That’s my take. What’s yours?

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Some thoughts for a Monday morning.

Senator Joe Lieberman, abandoned for extinction by his own Democratic Party, is showing prmary winner Ned Lamont what a political pro is all about. Lieberman yesterday called for Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation, but also suggested that we not abandon Iraq. Lieberman, one of the nation’s true political independents, has surged to a 12 point lead over the novice Ned Lamont, whose only claim to fame is a lot of money and opposing the war in Iraq, something that over 60 percent of American voters seem agree with.

Lieberman will probably win this thing on the strength of Republican and Independent voter support in Connecticut.

As far as Rumsfeld: You tell me – has there been any cabinet member who has survived as well as Rummy after such strategic errors, lack of judgment and bad relations with Congress?

Moving on to local issues:

The battle over the Green Party candidate, whose Pennsylvania Senate candidacy is being challenged by the Casey Democrats, morphed into violence at the Harrisburg examination of his petitions. And I thought the Greens were supposed to be about peace and good vibes from nature.

Got a few nasty emails after my suggestion on my Comcast Voice of Reason show last night that many lawmakers who oppose abortion are hypocrites because they don’t support increased funding for adoption, which we all know is a viable alternative to abortion. Isn’t it amazing that Congress cuts adoption resource funding when so many kids need parents?

Braodcast prediction of the week: Katie Couric will do very well at CBS News, but it will take time. Early ratings (the first weeks) will be excellent but it will take months and months to really endure. The biggest beneficiary in the first few months will be NBC’s Brian Williams who is solid and credible on the Nightly News. Another big winner will be Meredith Viera who this reporter thinks will beome a big star on the Today Show. The most tumultous place in the next year will be ABC News where Charles Gibson’s anchor ascension may be questioned . Gibson is quite good, but is he contemporary enough for the new generation of viewers that the networks are courting?

I’ll have more to say about the network news wars as the Couric debut approaches.

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This has been a wild season for the Philadelphia Phillies, highlighted ny downs and ups and a lot of memories. The ugly: Brett Myers arrest in Boston and the team’s lame and ill-advised reaction. The bad: sloppy fielding and questionable managing. The good: lots of good news including some super stars in the makng. Despite that, many talk radio sports talkers are jumping out of their seats and hoping to propel some baseball management out of their jobs.

And then there is the forgotten. The only people who haven’t forgotten the highlights are the people who still fill the stadium almost every night and those of us who love to follow baseball.

First of all, the Phillies may be the most dramatic team in baseball. They can let you down but they really can send the blood rushing! Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and others are giving us a rush that we have not felt in baseball in this town for a lot of years. It seems the Phillies are on the cusp of something or other.

It is fashionable in this community to complain. As I’ve said in my books and commentary over the years: you are only as good as your last performance. That is why this is such a demanding town. But the fans deserve to be demanding. They have payed the way for our teams to flourish and grow. So can you expect anything else but a drive for excellence, especially for teams like the Phillies and Eagles whose new and lucrative homes were paid for partially by your tax dollars?

But negativism can go too far. Out of the ashes of the Myers episode, the Phillies have had a pretty good second half, filled with excitement and anticipation. That’s alot more than you can say for many other major league teams.

So for the final run, we might want to give the Phillies a chance.

After all, being negative can be a self-fullfilling prophecy.

Now if they fold completely in the last 90 days I reserve the right to revert to my years of experience as a Phillies Fan. I reserve the right to change my mind and say, “thow the bums out.”

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