The Larry Kane Report

Several months and two billion dollars in advertising dollars later, we are on the eve of an election that will prove that when Americans are angry and intolerant of incompetence, they generally vote to take back their government. Issues and ideology are important, but when the powerful act like monarchs instead of leaders, competence always trumps issues.

This backlash of people power has been felt by Republicans and Democrats over the years. But this election is different. It is not just that voters are cranky - they are unsure of government’s ability to manage events. They are less interested in someone who fights for a personal agenda with philosophical dialogue that divides people: rather they are disposed to vote for people who can get things done.

Therefore, with all due respect for Lynn Swann, Ed Rendell will win with perhaps the largest plurality in Pennsylvania history. Missing in all the coverage of the hotly contested races is the fact that Rendell, 30 years into his public life, has gotten even better at running things well. After all, can you imagine Rendell screwing up the Katrina reponse? No way. Can you imagine a politician like Rendell actually expanded a prescription drug program for seniors without giving it away to big drug companies? Why do Republican leaders quietly support Rendell’s campaign? Because they have faith in his ability to lead. Rendell is certainly not perfect. But he has an unusual knack to literally take on himself when he is wrong. Think of how many lives could have been spared overseas if the President could have looked himself in the mirror and reflected why things were so very bad because of mistakes he had made.
Campaign 2006 is all about people seeking people who will stop telling them how to live their lives. It is all about Americans of all parties sending a message that they want competence, not lies. That is why George W. Bush, with the best of intentions, has failed us.  It is also why, sadly, some fine Republicans members of the House will not be going back to Washington.

There is a lot that politicians can learn from this election: the people have the ultimate power;voters admire humility.;courage is more than just sticking by your position - it is the ability to fix things when they are wrong; and there is no disgrace in changing position in an effort to find the truth. And finally, who in this great country really believes that anyone owns the franchise for fighting the war on terror, a fight that we will wage for decades? The only thing to fear is smooth politicians telling us that we have to fear for our safety when we know very well how scary the world is.
That is why Rendell will win big. It is the undeniable truth that from the beginning he has figured out that people want government to give them results, and not philosophical rants designed to foster division and hatred.

This has been an incredible election cycle. My only regret is that only about 55 percent of the people will vote, one of the worst voting percentages in the free world.

Politics is the potent mix that affects every aspect of our lives. I only wish that more people paid attention.

A final note: If you need last minute voting information: check out Comcast’s amazing Candidates On Demand feature, or check in at KYW1060.com or philly.com.

The information is ripe for the taking.