The Larry Kane Report

When John Bolton was nominated to be the UN Ambassador, he was demonized by Democrats and Republicans, because of reports of erratic behavior and a failure, the critics said, to be an impartial observer. At the time, I wondered what he was all about. As you know, he served 16 months on the job, after an unusual recess appointment by the President.

Sometimes what you hear is not what you get. During his time at the U.N. Bolton was distinguished, eloquent and a sharp messenger, especially on the situation in Iran. He. of course, is a “civilian” now, and has written a best seller, called “Surrender Is Not An Option.” Bolton’s views on Iran seem so on target, especially since almost everything he predicted years ago, has come to reality, including the ever-increasing secrecy and agitation by the Iranian regime.

Bolton has some new assertions that are worth looking at. He says the National Intelligence Estimate, claiming no nuclear bomb ambition in Iraq, was stacked with bad information, and that Israeli and British intelligence show Iran is well on its way to producing a bomb.

He believes North Korea will never abide by its agreement to dismantle its nuclear weaponry. He differs greatly with the Bush administration view of a two-state solution in the West Bank and Gaza, saying that another option is for Israel to cede portions the West Bank back to Jordan and Gaza to Egypt.

When Israel pulled out of Gaza a few years ago, he forecast that Hamas would still be sending rockets into Israel.

I don’t agree with everything Bolton says, but the man is as an intelligent and bright diplomat as we have. He is worth watching.

John Bolton is my guest on Voice of Reason this Sunday night at 9:30 on CN 8, The Comcast Network. A podcast of the program is on KYW1060.com.

Comments(10)

I was stunned to find out that 370 thousand Texans and 150,000 Ohioans, had already voted, an indication, of course of the tremendous interest in Campaign 08. The two states, like Florida, has a casual early voting system that allows you to vote for a few weeks prior to the actual election day.

What a plus!

That gives so many more people an opportunity to find time to vote. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, should have it.

Other political notes: As you know, I’ve said many good things here about Michael Bloomberg, but he is not the end-all of American politics. Bloomberg’s comments that his endorsement is available to the right candidate is a bit of an ego trip. I doubt very seriously that Super-Mayor’s nod will make much of a difference. Endorsements of candidates rarely sway voters, One thing is sure – Bloomberg does not want to pick a loser. Endorsing and picking a loser can have impact on one’s political life.

THE PRESIDENT low-balled the chances of a recession. Of course he also said he never heard the news report that gasoline might get close to 4 bucks a gallon. Doesn’t the guy get daily news briefings? Is he out of touch? Should I have even asked the question.

The Internet slime on the Presidential candidates is disgusting. The next time someone sends you this hate-filled refuse, mark it as SPAM. Unfortunately, some people believe everything they read. The only thing you should believe is the US Constitution, and this column, which is never wrong………

Final note for today: All of a sudden , the investigation of the Florida blackout, is out of the news. Don’t you think we need to know more?

Sports note: Brett Myers will start the season for the Phillies. Is this Charlie Manuel’s attempt at a joke? Don’t you usually start your best pitcher?

Comments(5)

It is no surprise that Michael Bloomberg. talented, creative and wealthy, will not run for President. Bloomberg’s strategy to run as a billion dollar independent had to go away when Mayor Rudy and the Romney campaigns went down fast. That, and Barack Obama’s dramatic rise has pre-empted the Big Apple Mayor.
For Bloomberg to have had a chance, he would have needed to appeal to Independents and party regulars. His best hope would have been a race with Rudy and Hillary. There, he could have staked claim to the millions of voters who might have been fed up with two divisive candidates. But Rudy lost, Hillary faltered (so far) and it would be impossible for Bloomberg to compete against Obama.

The Mayor says he will support a candidate who wants to end the partisan environment. My guess is that he will also support the candidate he can help he most. Let’s be real. He may be a billionaire, but wants to be with a winner he can live with, and who may give him the kind of post-Mayoral role that he desires, although it is hard to imagine anything bigger than Mayor of New York.

So, for now the Bloomberg dream, pushed hard by the national press, will have to wait. Next time around he will be 70. But considering John McCain’s late run, 70 is looking very young these days.

BUT WAIT! The story isn’t over. Bloomberg will be considered as  VEEP candidate by McCain, and maybe even Obama. What a move that would be!

Comments(9)

In a heated campaign, loaded with innuendo from some of the hate-mongers on American radio, John McCain’s actions in Cincinnati deserve a round of applause. Many right wing broadcasters constantly call Barak Obama, Barak HUSSEIN Obama. That is his name, but the inflections and the accent on Hussein are rampant among such American greats like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. The ACCENT and emphasis on the HUSSEIN part of the name is often delivered with ridicule.

There is no secret that some of the most respected conservative hosts in America, and Coulter is not one of them, use expressions like “those people”, “immigrant crooks”, and innuendo that is the undercurrent of racial tension they thrive on. Just listen. You’ll get the picture. The picture is a favorite of the haters – fuel the flames of hatred by SUGGESTION. It is racism without fingerprints.

That’s why McCain deserves a salute! A broadcaster at a McCain rally used the HUSSEIN emphasis every time he mentioned Obama’s name, but he did it with disgust and sarcasm. McCain got to the podium, immediately denounced the tactic, and said he would have none of it, not there, not anywhere.

Good move. Courage in action. The right thing to do.

Speaking of hate: The FCC spends more time these days fining media companies for brief flashes of nudity, than it does in fining broadcasters who fan the flames of racial and religious hatred.

I ask you – is hatred a form of indecency?

Comments(28)

As of this writing, there are 11 operatives “on the ground” in Pennsylvania. If Hillary Clinton loses Texas, the six Clinton organizers will leave as fast as they came in because Pa. will not be contested. The five Obama organizers may wait a bit just to shore up plans for November. The Clintonites are being led by Scott Freda, a 16 year Clinton veteran who seems cheerful despite the challenges facing the campaign.

In the forefront are ominous poll results in a nationwide survey. THE CBS NEWS SURVEY, featured on KYW Newsradio, has some startling results. When I broadcast a poll, I look for the background numbers. They are not hopeful to the Clinton national campaign. On the subject of electability: Obama beats Clinton 57 to 28. Head to head: Obama 50, McCain 46. Clinton 46, McCain 46. Obama is viewed by a wide margin as the man who will unite the country. McCain gets top marks for handling a foreign crisis, but Obama is in second place at 47 percent.

These figures in a major national survey show that Obama’s surge has been matched by extraordinary confidence in him.

As I write this, Obama seems to be pulling into the lead in Texas by just four points, within the margin of error of most polls.

Polls have been pointless in many of the contests, but the national surveys, like the CBS survey, have much larger samples and deal with registered voters of both parties.

Comments(39)