The Larry Kane Report

Two men, just doing their jobs as armored car guards in Northeast Philadelphia are shot to death in cold blood. Last week, the triggerman, Mustafa Ali, was convicted. Last night, a common pleas court jury sentenced him to life in prison, rejecting the DA’s appeals for a death sentence.

It has always amazed me how juries are reluctant to impose death penalties. I want to know what goes into the mind of a jury,which heard uncontested testimony of the vicious killings of William Widmaier and Joseph Allulo. The killer expressed no emotion during the trial, but for the victim’s families, the pain was all-too-familiar.

Why do juries rarely impose death as the punishment? It is true that death penalties are rarely carried out, but the threat of dying is always there. And the killer never knows when the solitary march to execution, will come.

All juries must decide on the merits. The testimony in this case was so dead-on. Why did the jury let this man live? So many juries follow the same pattern. When you sentence someone to death for a heinous crime, is it a sin? Perhaps some of these soft jury members think more about the killer, than they do about those left behind – the families of the victims.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Certainly, not in this case.

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Could this be the beginning of cooperation in Congress? Hardly. But it came as a shock to the system for Senate Republicans. Scott Brown, the man whose election left health care in the dust, actually voted for a White House jobs bill. Brown’s vote prevented the possibility of a GOP filibuster. Brown obviously has an independent streak, which is what probably got him elected in the first place. That, of course, along with the worst Democratic candidate in Massachusetts history.

This is a hopeful sign, but don’t expect Brown to go from red to blue too often.

MURPHY-FITZPATRICK BRAWL

Sources in both campaigns tell me that fund-raising in the rematch of former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick against current Congressman Patrick Murphy may set a record for a Pennsylvania Congressional district. Murphy was sailing along in Congress, headed for certain victory, when Republican Fitzpatrick decided to take the leap. Both national parties have now placed the mostly Bucks County race on their target lists.

JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS STORY

A medical think tank reports that blood-borne and other infections killed 48 thousand Americans in hospitals in 2006.

Resources for the Future says better infection control in hospitals may have avoided this medical disaster. This is a frightening report, and is further proof that if you are in a hospital, be assertive, ask questions, and most of all, demand a clean and careful environment.

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The GOP, fresh from the CPAC week of Obama-bashing and doomsday scenarios, is on an election year high, but glancing at the events, you have to wonder if the Grand Old Party can find a horse for the course. I mean, show me the money candidate? Mitt Romney? Sarah Palin? Newt? I mean, Rick Santorum might have a better shot. Let’s face it. Issues are important, but in the end Americans choose their Presidents based on their own comfort level. There is a candidate with a real chance. Haley Barbour, Governor of Mississippi, is charming, bright and could sweep the South. There is one problem. He’s probably not right-wing enough for the Tea Party, the Palin-ites, and the people who would like to control the GOP, and care nothing about winning elections.

No wonder Michael Smerconish has changed his registration to Independent. No surprise to me. He’s always been one – an independent that is.

In the meantime, despite his challenges, Barack Obama has a great opportunity to rebound if he decides, at least for a few weeks, to focus on several key issues. The President will start this week by trying to produce a new and acceptable health care bill. That will be a good start.

ROAD IDIOTS -

I’m amazed by the drivers who are clueless to the current conditions. High snow banks mean that cars in the right lane could crash if cars in the left lane squeeze them over. That could also happen to people who pass on the right, forcing drivers on the left into who knows what. Yet, some of the roadway imbeciles in our community are still driving like it was August. Have you noticed that? If you are  one of these thoughtless drivers who may kill someone with your road idiocy, I n: stay home, or take the train. At the very least, you could be an organ donor. Actually, everyone should.

YES. IT’S “LIVE”–

Some of you have written to my web site email, asking me about the show I’m doing at the Franklin Institute 12 times in March. The biggest question: is it live or on tape? It is a “live show” on stage. I will be sharing the “inside” of the great Beatles tours, accompanied by film, videotape, exclusive interviews, and hopefully, lots of memories, and fun. There will be lots of special moments. I hope you can join us. But if you plan on bringing children under 10, I would recommend the 5 P.M. shows on Saturdays. These programs will not include the references to adult situations included in the other shows.

In case you’re wondering about THOSE shows: These will include situations that the Beatles faced and that this reporter saw. But they are not R-rated – just very funny.

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The FBI is investigating. The parents have filed a lawsuit. The nation is watching. And so far Lower Merion school officials are not exactly forthcoming about the alleged monitoring of a student at his home through the camera in his laptop computer.

So far, the schools Superintendent and spokespersons for the district have been very “official” in their responses. No one has directly denied the charges. People are defending the assistant principal who was apparently involved.

Message to Lower Merion school leaders: Let the truth be known quickly. Was the student monitored at home without his knowledge through his laptop computer given to him my the district? What was the inappropriate behavior the district was seeking, if any? Were the students rights violated? If there was illegal spying, was it just a single case, or was there more? Are other cameras now involved? Why is the Superintendent not conducting his own review and quickly? If the charge is not true, why is Lower Merion not completely refuting it?

These are questions whose answers are owed immediately to the students, parents and teachers of Lower Merion.

Lower Merion is a beautiful community. it’s school system is highly regarded. But this case has cast a shadow over the schools.

My advice: Tell the whole story before it gets out of control.

And….

If any teacher, adminstrator or principal ordered the intential web-camera surveillance of any student in their homes, they should be dismissed.

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From the beginning of this story, Tiger Woods has either been badly advised, or has not taken the advice. And so it was on his first public appearance.

The golfer’s 13 minute apology and statement was decent and thorough, but hardly as geniune as it could be. Why? Not because of the words. They were well-written and covered almost every aspect of his many regrets. But they were written. They were written, and he read them. That, in my view, was a mistake.

Tiger Woods should have allowed a free-for-all of questions after his statement was finished. It’s much easier to be more of yourself, more genuine, when you answer a question, than reading from a piece of paper. Besides, why duck the media when you’ve already addressed most of the issues?

Spontaneity allows individuals to be themselves. Reading from a prepared script is okay. But answering questions: that’s the REAL thing to do.

DOES ANY ONE CARE ABOUT THIS STORY?

This story is two-days old. But the silence from world governments is scary.

The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency says Iran may be working secretly to develop a nuclear warhead for a missile.

There is no official response from the free world.

Are we asleep?

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