The Larry Kane Report

Before I go into my campaign rant, does anyone know a Special Prosecutor? If the Justice Department or Congress does not appoint a special prosecutor to examine the robber barons whose orgy of excess got us into this mess, than I would wonder; WHY NOT? Some choices: Ed Rendell, Tom Ridge, Former Governor Tom Kean. We need answers. This can’t happen again.

Now my notes on the campaign.

The campaign began in early 2007, and will be over in three weeks. In total time, it has been the longest political campaign in American history, and frankly, it was too long, too expensive, and insanely bitter. As a confessed political addict, I will still have a tremendous letdown when this is over, but there are a few things I won’t miss.

Anger. I am disgusted with the prickly, and intolerant mood in this campaign. People, maybe you, are too sensitive. And I am too, about a few things. I am tired, sick and tired of the innuendos about Barack Obama by Sarah Palin, and seconded in a more careful way by John McCain. I am waiting for John to “Whip his you know what” in the coming debate, because John McCain has not been a good debater. I am sick of the whining by some people that a vote for McCain must make you a racist. Chances are that some racists will vote for McCain, but to suggest that millions of people are racists because they vote for McCain is absurd. I am fed up with some radio showmen who want to divide the people over this campaign. I would also like to see news organizations stop labeling themselves. Just REPORT THE NEWS!

I am frankly disturbed over the complaints about voter fraud before they are even proven. Let’s face it: there isn’t much difference between the ACORN efforts and GOP attempts to purge voters from the rolls.

I think whoever is producing John McCain’s commercials should give out refunds. They are dismal and not uplifting. The only problem I have with Obama’s commercials– they are repeated so often that I can recite each line.

I have enjoyed some of McCain’s Town Hall speeches, but can he find a substitute for “my friends.” How about, “my fellow Americans.” That’s original. Barack Obama is a great orator, but I have to admit Joe Biden has become a superstar on the stump. . His speech in Scranton Sunday was a masterpiece.

I want to know where McCain’s friends are? Charlie Crist of Florida says he doesn’t have time to actively campaign with McCain. Tom Ridge has been fairly quiet. Rudy Guliani has been low key. I’ll tell you where they are. They are hiding and angry at the campaign. They heve Palin-envy.

Imagine where McCain would be now if he had chosen Ridge or Joe Lieberman? And how about those geniuses who said a Obama-Clinton ticket would be unbeatable?

Some other angst. Where is Colin Powell? Shouldn’t he be endorsing someone here? Millions are waiting? My friends tell me he was going to endorse Barack, but is playing it safe. Look for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News to endorse Obama NEXT SUNDAY. Senator Chuck Hagel will endorse him in a few days.

Do endorsement’s matter? They could, in a close race.

On another note: has anybody seen Dick Cheney?

Has anyone noticed that Ed Rendell is really working his back off for Obama, not just going through the motions? And you can ditto that for Michael Nutter.

We have 20 days left. One debate. Two real candidates. And two, Ralph Nader and Bob Barr, who are running with one goal in mind - unabated personal vanity.

Have fun everyone and keep your cool. The country will survive.

Comments(43)

Interesting.

Now that the financial markets have collapsed in a near-death dance, those well known issues that appeal to the raw nerves of voters have gone quietly in the night.

Abortion, choice, guns, gun control, stem cell research, intelligent design, educational challenges, sex education, national service, censorship or freedom, and of course, the one issue that always makes the top of the love-it-or-leave it list - gay relationships.

So the ideology-motivated activists in both parties are faced with the reality that people, facing fear and anxiety in a troubled economic climate, are more interested in solution, than petty attacks, some of them bordering on ethnic sensitivities.

With the Presidential race a little more than three weeks away, the McCain campaign has a challenge. Stuck in reverse, McCain is desperately trying to make Obama the issue. Obama, so far, is counter attacking, but mostly with positive spots and themes. Although Obama is not beyond digging up McCain’s past, including the Keating Five Bank Scandal.

This reporter has learned a few things in my observation of politics. Pressing fear as a strategy only works if there is really something to worry about. In the long run, people want to hear about solutions, not personal attacks. Negative campaigning works, but usually when it is issue-related.

John McCain is too smart to allow the fear mongers to take over his campaign. And Barack Obama is too smart to allow those tactics to get him to lose his cool.

How would you run both campaigns at this point?

Comments(31)

We need diversions. A good book would be helpful (See banner above!). Certainly the best diversion in this town is the Philadelphia Phillies. Let’s start with Shane Victorino. The little guy (he’s short for big time sports) slams one out to beat the Brewers. The Phillies are just what we need in the time of bailouts and the biggest question of our current time - DO WE… DO WE HAVE ANY LEADERSHIP IN THE CAPITOL?

One last look at the debate.

Despite the suggestions otherwise, we don’t take sides here. So it is with the Palin-Biden debate. First of all, Barack and John should look at the replay. It was a much more emotional and direct debate than the Presidential. I suggest that Obama and McCain watch the tapes carefully for some tips on how to proceed on Tuesday night. First off,  a little body language from McCain would be good. Looking at your opponent can be effective. Obama could loosen up a bit, but he should stick with the smile. Smiling at the appropriate time is good. But John, don’t smile as much as Sarah. She smiled at everything. As a communicator, I would have a field day training these candidates, but as you know, I’m “on” politics, not in, and besides, no one has asked me for my input.

I was fascinated by the family deal at the end, when the Biden and Palin clans socialized for awhile on the stage. I liked it. It was much warmer than the quick goodbye’s offered by Barack and John and Cindy and Michelle the week before. It offered a personal face to the political facade. Biden has always been so cool under fire, and irritates me the way the national media tries to make him into a the king of the gaffes. In a way, he and Palin both have a down home style, which is attractive to many Americans. Of course, Biden has years of experience, and Palin was smart not to try and outdo him, which is pretty hard. She stuck to her points of expertise, but she never tried to beat him up verbally. That too, was smart.

There is something fascinating about campaign 08. It began with Obama. Conversational styles are making a comeback. The old time campaign bluster looks old and tired. People liked to be talked-to, not talked at.

Final note: To all the writers on the blog. Thanks for taking the time and for being so frank , and at rare times, creative. You are all semi-great Americans! Keep on writing, if that’s what you call it!

Comments(75)

No sooner had the bailout bill collapsed in the House than the partisans let loose. Democrats blaming Republicans, the Republicans blaming the Democrats. The President, appearing helpless, calls his advisers back together. What’s next? Will half of Congress get voted out of office? John McCain blames the Democrats, but many of his own flock voted “no.” Barack Obama urged everyone to “stay calm.” The way the Treasury Secretary had been talking, doomsday was just around the corner. This from a man who helped design the system that has apparently cracked. Nancy Pelosi and her Republican leadership counterparts were rejected by their own members.

What’s missing today is not just healthy credit markets. What is missing is a feeling on the part of most of us that no one with any talent or ability is running the show. Business leaders complain about “the inmates running the asylum” when they reject powerul input from the rank and file. This is a case of the leaders imprisoned in asylum of self-doubt, ineptitude and blame assessment.

Will we nosedive? Maybe. But the American people, as a group, are a lot tougher than the people we elect, for the most part.

What we need now is a real leader, or leaders, who will use the power of their personality and brilliance to lead us out of the mess, find a new plan, and yes, proecute the fraud-masters who lied to us.

We need change. We need it fast. Not just words.

Maybe. Maybe, in his final days in office, President Bush will muster up the courage to call an emergency session of Congress and make the members work till they drop or until they find a workable plan.

Under the law, Congress has to be in recess for the President to call it back. My advice: send them home, then call them back into special session!

Comments(137)

Or something like that.

First, a debate oddity. The host-reporter never followed up a question. He kept trying to prompt McCain to look at Obama. Obama looked at McCain. McCain never looked back. Obama called him John. McCain called him “Senator Obama.” McCain looked a bit edgy at first, then settled down. Obama smiled instead of seeming irritated by McCain’s answers.

McCain started slow - finished strong especially after his name-drop on foreign leaders. Obama had piercing eye contact. McCain was very folksy and tried to be poignant, especially about the war.

Both men made big deposits in their “trust” account. Obama was very specific on his tax program, and McCain defended his, but on the bailout, they could have been running mates. They sounded so similar on the bailout program. No specifics. Just “let’s get one fast.”

Sharpest exchange -Iraq. And you thought that was an old story? Obama effectively stressed the need to reinforce Kabul, rather than Bahgdad. McCain looks for victory in Iraq. McCain used the words, “Senator Obama doesn’t understand” about ten times. Obama said, politely, “John is incorrect”, almost as many times.

Both men achieved their goals. Obama displayed vast knowledge of foreign policy. McCain looked like he’s been around the block.

Was it great? Almost. The only thing missing was a little anger. I mean, these guys look presidential, but so polite.

If they read they letters to this blog, they would be fired up immediately.

Keep on writing.

Comments(83)