Larry Mantle

Every day, Larry Mantle posts his thoughts on day's broadcast of AirTalk. You can post questions or comments about any of the day's topics. We may quote selected comments on the air.

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Latest Entries
Healthcare Reform and Abortion Rights

Nov. 11, 2009|Larry Mantle|1 comment

Though Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tried hard to avoid a battle over abortion rights, it looks like that's what he's now facing in his house's version of healthcare reform. Given the strong protest from abortion rights advocates over the House's Stupak ammendment, it looks like the Senate is in a tough spot.

We'll be closely watching the debate to see where some compromise might be reached. Right now, it's unclear what that would be.

It was a blast to talk with "Monty Python's" John Cleese this morning. Just as fun was listening to the clips we played from "Monty Python's Flying Circus," "Fawlty Towers," and "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." The humor's as funny today as when they created it.

I appreciate all the listener contributions to our conversation on cyclists and motorists sharing the road. He continued our conversation from last week, given that we had such strong listener interest. Please share your comments here about how cars and bikes can better share the road.

Tonight, "AirTalk" is on the road at the Autry in Griffith Park. At 7:00 p.m. we'll talk about the way forward in Afghanistan. Please join us. More information is here on the website. RSVP to: airtalk@kpcc.org.

Tomorrow, we'll air our Afghanistan conversation during the 11:00 a.m. hour.

Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe and new LAPD Chief Charlie Beck

Nov. 9, 2009|Larry Mantle|0 comments

Plouffe's new campaign memoir, "The Audacity to Win," is a very engrossing look at the challenge Team Obama faced in introducing its candidate to the nation. I'm so focused on what's going on now between Congress and the President that it was fun to take some time to look back on the whirlwind year-and-a-half leading up to the election. I'd forgotten how well Obama's strategists handled the caucuses in Iowa and put the Clinton folks on their heels, despite her still being the front-runner.

Tomorrow, we'll talk with new LAPD Chief-designate, Charlie Beck. He was unanimously endorsed by a City Council committee today, with the full Council vote just a week away. I welcome your questions for the incoming Chief. He's got tough shoes to fill, but what seems like a supportive city behind him. I wonder how much the Council will try to exercise control over Beck. Bratton always made it clear that he considered the Police Commission and the Mayor his bosses, as much as he had any.

The Rise and Fall of Starbucks

Nov. 4, 2009|Larry Mantle|1 comment

I'm fascinated by what Starbucks says about us as Americans -- at least those of us who can afford to go there and choose to do so. How did the company take hold so quickly, and what does it offer above and beyond its beverages? That's one of our topics tomorrow, as we talk with the author of, "Everything but the Coffee: Learning About America from Starbucks." The book's written by Temple University professor Bryant Simon.

This morning we had excellent listener questions for GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Campbell. We're looking forward to having Jerry Brown with us, once he formally declares.

Sharing the Road Brings Out the Passion

Nov. 3, 2009|Larry Mantle|10 comments

Our segment this morning on how to help cars and bikes share the road was one of our more passionate in weeks. Monday's conviction of a motorist who intentionally caused serious injuries to two cyclists was seen by many of our riding listeners as an important step in supporting their rights. There are several other pending court cases involving allegations of road rage carried out against bike riders. Postings continue on the "AirTalk" page, as listeners debate the best ways to work out road conflicts. Fortunately, most of the conflicts don't end in rider injury, but the number of such incidents is growing as more people ride.

Most callers provided a pretty balanced perspective, looking at the sometimes competing interests of cyclists and drivers. Others verbally went after either bike riders or drivers for rude behavior and violating the law. I suspect just about all of us have seen examples with both groups. The ongoing problem will be how to respectfully share streets that aren't designed for the coexistence of both types of vehicles.

Unfortunately, it will be tough to keep some impatient drivers from blowing past cyclists without regard for the rider's vulnerability or legal right to share the road. Maybe as more people ride, or have family members who do, it will sensitize drivers to cyclists.

It will also be difficult to avoid some riders who claim the full lane, regardless of whether there are parked cars, a narrow lane, or a road hazard that makes lane ownership adviseable. It might be legal, but it's sometimes unnecessary and, in my opinion, rude to needlessly hold up car traffic.

Regardless of who's being rude to whom, let's hope these incidents of violent road rage stop. The jury in the Mandelville Canyon case sent a clear message.

Hopefully, we can begin a dialogue that takes us well beyond what's technically legal, to what's a considerate and safe way to share the road.

Gavin Newsom Drops Out

Nov. 1, 2009|Larry Mantle|2 comments

It was about a month ago that "AirTalk" callers and I talked with the San Francisco mayor. He was high energy in pitching the changes he said he'd bring to California, including an emphasis on building a green economy.

However, with AG Jerry Brown taking most of of the campaign contributions available to Democrats, Newsom could never get ahead of the financial curve. Donors must see Brown as the safer choice, given Newsom's personal behavior and what we hear is his lack of statewide name recognition. It's hard for me to believe that Newsom is so unknown outside of the Bay Area, but that's what pollsters claim. I would've thought his efforts on behalf of same-sex marriage and his alcohol and marital problems would've put him on even casual voters' radar screens. He certainly lives, and governs, large.

Monday on "AirTalk," we'll talk with state campaign analysts and open the phone lines for you to comment on what this does to the governor's race. Given Newsom's polling, maybe the effect is minimal. However, barring Diane Feinstein running, it would seem Jerry Brown can just save his money to fight it out with a wealthy, self-financed, Republican nominee.