The Larry Kane Report

Arlen Specter’s move to the Democrats is only fitting since the Republic right has been trying to send him packing for years. But what a survivor!

Specter was proclaimed politically through in 1973 when he was voted out as DA. Seven years later, he was elected to the Senate. Since that time the hard line Republican “righties” have thrown everything they can at him: personal attacks, well-financed candidates and the portrayal of Specter as a left winger, which he is certainly not.

Specter is a Senator of rare courage who will tell his party what he thinks. He rarely votes party lines, and is considered the last great independent thinker in the U.S. Senate. He has fought back major health crises. The man is tough and sometimes angry, but he’s not afraid to committ.

I’ve covered him since 1966,  and I’ve never ceased to be amazed his resiliency and defiance, in the wake of political threats, from the White House on down.

With Arlen Specter – what you see is what you get: tough, determined and willing to argue the good argument. What you won’t get, whether you like it or not, is politics as usual.

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ANALYSIS PARALYSIS–

Don’t buy all the analysis of the first 100 days of Barack Obama.  It’s the next 100 days that really count. That’s when we find out out if all the dynamics of the new White House result in real change. There is one aspect of President Obama’s leadership that can be judged right now. He acts fast on breaking news. Evidence: reaction to Swine flu, natural disasters. His leadership is fast and furious, and exciting. Sometimes fast can be risky, as evidenced by the flip-flopping on the torture controversy.

As we speak, the pundits are busy doing a shrink job on Obama’s style.  We know the style. One thing is certain -most polls show about 49 percent of the people think America is going in the right direction, compared to 17 percent six months ago. For that we are thankful.

IRAQ ATTACK

With friends like these, who needs enemies. The Maliki regime in Iraq refuses to form a real coalition government. Maliki blasts the U.S. for controversial military activity. That’s okay . But it seems like the Iraqi government is pushing for an earlier exit. Is all this their way of saying thank you?

And if we leave, who will protect Iraq? Iran??

FLYERS

I am, by nature an optimist. If you read some of the analysis of the Flyer’s early exit from the playoffs, you would feed into that sorry old line that Philadelphia teams are doomed. Give me a break! We just won a World Series! Our football team was a win away from Super. Our hockey and basketball teams made the playoffs. The negativators (there is no such word) should start thanking their lucky stars that there is so much excitement going on in this town! Gimme a break! Flyers had a great season. Period. If  you read some of the obits, you would thank that all is lost. Can we appreciate anything in this town?

SORRY ABOUT THE LETTERS

Some have suggested that multi-fatality accidents are not news. Obviously, they have never been in one. When people die on the highways, it is important news. My apologies about some of the responses to this site. There are some great writers. And there are those who don’t have a clue. But we all live and learn.

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Mayor Michael Nutter, despite his recent battles with City Council, has done a magnificent job trying to cut down the crime rate. Sometimes, innovation  and technology can make a difference, but there is simply no substitute for numbers. In sheer numbers, and with the still high level of crime, Philadelphia needs more police on the streets.

Therein lies the problem. The city’s fiscal crisis threatens to tear down the stability of a great city. Council, or some members, want a wage tax increase. The Mayor is looking at property taxes, and his administration has researched other methods, including fees for services, like trash pickup. In the middle of this debate is a serious issue that must be addressed quickly.

That issue is crime, or the perceived threat of it. Take away the safeguards of public safety, and you put the future of the city in jeopardy. Public safety is the visible curtain that protects our institutions of education and business and the ability of people to enjoy a quality of life .

Which is the right way? Property tax increases may drive individuals out of the city. A wage tax increase may send businesses packing. The expected casino operations will not be enough to close the budget gaps, and neither will taking away perks from public officials, although that would be a symbolic boost.

I have no solution, but I do know this: after education, the number one priority in Philadelphia is safety. Any rebound must be accompanied by more police officers on the streets.

PRISONER OR CATALYST?

The conviction of American journalist Roxana Saberi by the renegade government in Iran, may be part of an interesting power play. Saberi has been reporting in Iran for six years. She is hardly a stranger to the thugs who run the Iranian regime. But they tried her in a secret one day proceeding, ending in an eight year prison term for spying. The President made some strong remarks about the jailing. Two hours later, the Iranian President ordered that prosecutors make sure her appeal is handled well. Translation: Her eventual freedom could be another wink and nod to the U.S. that Iranian leaders are interested in serious dialogue. It is too early to say it’s a deal,  but it smells like one.

REMEMBER

This Monday night is the beginning of the annual Holocaust Remembrance observation. This year, it is especially timely because of the ongoing genocide in Darfur. In recent years, the Philadelphia Jewish community has joined with local Darfur activists, in a dual campaign to fight the current murderous regime in the Sudan. This is just a reminder  to keep the Six Million from the Nazi Holocaust, and the current victims, in your prayers.

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When Harry Kalas arrived here at the turn of the decades from the sixties to the seventies, he was a newcomer to a Phillie’s broadcast staff that was fixed in place, and led by By Saam, then a legend in his own right. Harry’s melodic style was different – he represented a more contemporary and conversational play-by-play man. His voice was daunting -a deep and powerful voice that, in a matter of a few years, began to represent  baseball broadcasting at its finest. His was a VOICE FOR THE AGES, and neary two generations of Phillie’s fans, spanning over four decades of Philadelphia life appreciated his enthusiasm, decorum, and respect for the game.

As a broadcaster who has seen anchors come and go so fast that it’s impossible to recall all the names, I have a respect for those who can endure. And there are two factors that make them successful – knowledge and consistency. That’s what makes Vin Scully of the LA Dodgers such a spectacular broadcaster. There have been no more consistent baseball broadcasters in America than Harry Kalas and Vin Scully.

To this reporter, listening to Kalas on radio is like watching it without visuals. His voice brought the imagery to the listener. But most of all, Harry Kalas, was baseball in Philadelphia.

It is only fitting that he was around to give us the play by play of the World Series, his second victory in 29 years.

The void left by his passing will be huge. Frankly, it is hard to imagine the Phillies without Kalas, and Philadelphia without him. Like Gene Hart, with the Flyers, the vacuum will be there until we find the next big play by play star. It will take years for that person to achieve what Harry did in less than a decade , culminating with his classic World Series brodcasts in 1980.

As I said, his was  a voice for the ages.

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RESCUE

The Navy Seals who ended the hostage drama off the coast of Somalia also scored a political victory for America. In this  24 hour news cycle of ours, media “experts’ in Europe were wondering if President Obama would pass his “first test.”  In this country today, you are only as good as your last act. The last act, in this case the take down  of punk pirates by US forces, sent a powerful message to the terrorist world – we will use force as necessary.

BLOG BLUES

I have made a decision to keep the emails “alive” on this site, despite recommendations from many friends  that a bunch of hateful malcontents had hijacked the site with racial and sexist comments, and that the entries should go away. I do this in the name of free speech, but I am really ticked off at the hate mongers who fill this site with invective. Unfortunately, they drown out some really great and thoughtful entries. Final word on this: sarcasm and bitterness and personal attacks on me are ok. Racism and any other form of bigotry are NOT. And comments about “age” are disgusting. By the way, one of the more gifted writers suggested I was a newsman  in 1946.  In 1946, I was just 4. So there!

PETA – NO-IT’S NOT A BREAD–

The PETA folks have taken off on VP Joe Biden because he got his new German Shepherd puppy from a kennel. PETA, as you know, is the organization that fights for animals rights to the point where they perform public acts for shock purposes. You went get any arguments on the case of animal protection here, but no one, not even PETA and their blood-splattering activists have the right to become anarchists. So, the VP did not adopt an animal who needs to be rescued! I’m sure Biden will take good care of the dog. In the meantime, support PETA if you’d like, until its members lose control.

CLAIM OF THE WEEK– Woody Harrelson says he attacked a photographer at La Guardia airport last Wednesday because he thought man was a “Zombie.” Harrelson said he just filmed a movie about being attacked by Zombies. He says he fought off the man because he was still “in character.”

PLUG – You’ll be hearing more about this, but NEXT Sunday, April 19th, The Comcast Network will be broadcasting an edition of my show Voice of Reason at 9:30 P.M. that will be devoted entirely to the Holocaust, Then and Now, with a special look at the genocide in the Sudan. It’s a piece of history that should be recorded and seen by your entire family.

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