The Larry Kane Report

I’ve been to the airport twice during this holiday period, and much to the surprise of this constant critic, things seemed to be moving nicely. And there was one shocker: while picking up arriving passengers, the luggage ( in this case on  Southwest Airlines) arrived at baggage claim before the passengers. I can add to that another change from recent visits: a clean bathroom, at least one .

Even the Parking Authority cashiers seemed happy, which is a surprise because few will actually look you in the eye.

All I can say is thank goodness we have the Philadelphia Police Department at the airport. For the most part, the officers are firm but courteous, and believe me, keeping things smooth during the holiday rush can be a thankless job.

Do you think this new efficiency at the airport is good luck, a high level of professionalism, or an understanding by airport brass that a new Mayor will soon take office?

Whatever the reason, it is nice to see a sense of order and not chaos at our big airport.

Another travel note: Have you noticed the disparity in gasoline prices from one gas station to another? What’s up with this? I know gasoline is cheaper in New Jersey because of the tax structure, but such a wide gap in Pennsylvania neighborhoods is questionable.

Final travel note: The three state legislatures in our region should ban service stations from charging for air to pump up your tires.  Proper tire pressure is critical during the winter, and service stations should have free air pumps. They are “service stations.” If you’re out of change, you’re out of luck, and that could be dangerous.

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In the midst of our holiday weekend came a little noticed intelligence finding from NATO  headquarters in Europe that is really frightening . The report claims that the Taliban, the fanatical terrorist movement that we drove from power in 2001, has regrouped so efficiently that it may control 40 percent of Afghanistan and is prepared to march on the capitol city, Kabul.  Intelligence reports from several agencies now confirm that only a dramatic increase in U.S. and NATO forces will stop the Taliban.

A little reality check here. It was and is the Taliban that harbored Al Qaeda , supported the attack on America, and continues as a viable threat to Democracy in Afghanistan. This was the war that we fought to seek out and destroy the frightening people who kill and maim in the name of religion, and who continue to threaten further attacks on America . This is the important war that we have taken our eyes off of.

Since the news emerged, there has been no reaction from Washington.

Where will we go next in the conflict that is the true battle against terrorism? Allowing the Taliban to conquer Afghanistan again may very well open the floodgates to more terrorists than we will ever capture in Iraq.

The final notion here is the possibility that we have seriously miscalculated the war strategy. and once again,  look like we are asleep at the wheel.

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With the first primary only six weeks away in New Hampshire ( can you believe that?), Black Friday could be a top indicator of the one giant issue missing in this campaign — IT’S THE ECONOMY!

Front runners and back-of-the-pack peddlers will be watching holiday consumer action carefully. So far, leaders Hillary Clinton and Rudy Guiliani are down-playing the economy. Actually, in terms of speeches and campaign ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, talk about money is barely evident.

That could change if markets keep dropping and the mortage crisis has more ripples. Believe me, this is a political cyclone waiting to unleash its fury. There is no more potent issue than $$$ in a presidential race. If the mortgage meltdown leads to a nasty recession, people will be seeking answers, not another barrage of generalities.

As they say in our town, Money talks and ________walks! The race is tightening on the Dems side in New Hampshire. Three more weeks of bad money news could make voters demand some real answers.

It this reporter’s opinion that the entire election could turn on a weak economy or an economy that is  perceived as weak.

One major factor: Higher gasoline prices = anxiety, spiraling inflation, and a direct impact on almost everything we buy to consume.

And some questions: Will voters blame a shaky economy on a spend-crazy GOP White House? Or will primary voters take it out on vague front runners who are afraid to take risks?

Black Friday and its aftermath could be a real turning point in the battle for the White House,

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What a day. Everything stops for that thing called family. The family can be a mother and father and sisters and brothers. It can also be friends and other loved ones.

The holiday began as a gesture of giving thanks to all we have. It’s also a time to give thanks for the special people in our lives and a “no thanks” to the people who make life a lot harder.

I’ll start with the good news. We need to give thanks to the police and firefighters who give us the freedom to live in peace, and who have the tough and sometimes fatal job of hunting down the people with the guns. Our thanks should be expressed daily to these profiles in raw courage who give us that safety net. And along with them are the thousands of emergency personnel who stand ready at all hours to move and move fast.

We need to give thanks for the people of Philadelphia who have elected a new Mayor who is not afraid of input or criticism.

A big thank you is necessary for the people who give us the diversions we need - the Phillies come to mind, along with hard working chefs and wait staffs that work in our restaurants.

Our thanks go to men and women of the cloth, the religious leaders who guide our lives in a spiritual way, and to the thousands of you who volunteer every week to make desperate lives more fulfilling. Volunteerism is taking over where government fails to go.

Our loves and best wishes go out to our troops, who are doing the tough, grinding work in embattled war zones. This is not about war policy, but rather about the decency and courage of individual Americans.

Now its time for some “no thanks” please.

No thanks to the suburban and outstate legislators who are knocking down plans for gun control in certain urban areas. They are killing the bills, and whether they like it not, their actions will kill more people. Shame on them.

No thanks to drivers who put the metal to the pedal and speed right up to your rear and terrorize you on the highways. They should all lose their licenses, and take Septa, which is a better way to go anyway. You have a right not to be killed by a maniacal driver.

No thanks to the national politicians who hope to divide and conquer by subtle race-based politics. Just read between the lines of speeches and you’ll figure that one out.

No thanks to TV news people who are more interested in being first, rather than being accurate. There’s too much of that going on.

A special “no thanks” to cigarette makers who tried to fool us with fancy programs of public commitment, while continuing to sell a product that clearly kills people.

And finally, no “thank you’s” to politicians who lie through their teeth. The good news is that Americans have a way of finding them and throwing them out of office.

In conclusion, have a Happy Thanksgiving, a peaceful weekend and a joyous celebration of the treat it is be part of this country,

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It’s more than the MVP that endears the Phil’s Jimmy Rollins to this community. It’s the attitude. And that attitude should serve as a lesson to other star athletes. I hope they are reading this.

It doesn’t take a sports guy to figure this one out.

From the time he came here, Rollins displayed grit, determination. spirit, energy, a love for the community, and a total understanding of the fans. He accepted responsibility, accountability, the rigors of fame, dealing with the media, showing acts of simple kindness, and not being so arrogant as to blame others for a shortcoming he might face. Jimmy Rollins does not play the blame game. He is never booed, because the fans know what he is made of. He is respected not just for the size of his salary or the batting average, but because in  every game, at every moment, he is a man daring to win, even if he loses.

He has accepted the fickle writing of a sports corps that relishes taking shots at people who are down, and who are willing to jump on the bandwagon when a team wins. Phil Sheridan of the Inky is a rare exception, who calls like it is, not what the fans are feeling on a certain day. Rollins acts the same way as the manager, Mr. Manuel, who has managed to survive some of the greatest cheap shots in American sports journalism, even handling it with grace and silence, with the exception of a battle with radio man Howard Eskin.

Rollins is a great example to youth, that size doesn’t have to matter in competition, unless you’re a nose tackle. He has grace and a belief in people.

Like the MVP before him, Ryan Howard, he lights up our days and nights with daring feats of baseball excitement, and makes us think of another day when players loved the game.

He says what he feels. And that’s a nice thing. We don’t know him intimately. but we do know that he represents the best in us. Like Gary Maddox, Johnny Callison and Tug McGraw and others, he will no doubt make this place his home. Others, who starred here, left for warmer climates and friendlier crowds, because they knew that we knew they didn’t like us.

Jimmy Rollins has become Philadelphia. In a tough town with demanding sports fans who respect giving your all, that is as big an honor as becoming the Most Valuable Player.

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