It's over, Clinton

Memo to Hillary Clinton: It's over (Inquirer, May 7)! After being blown out in North Carolina and being in a virtual tie in Indiana, it should be clear that Barack Obama has an insurmountable lead in pledged delegates and the popular vote. Clinton's staying in the race helps only one person: John McCain.

Now is the time for Clinton to pull out in a dignified way that benefits that party's chances of winning the White House in November. No more personal attacks. Now is the time to heal the party.

Steven M. Clayton
Ocean
StevenClayton@Optonline.Net

The way ahead

Barack Obama's message throughout has been "turn the page," "rise above," and "change we can believe in," and he has demonstrated all this remarkably (Inquirer, May 7). After years of wrong policies, he turned the page and rose above small matters of lapel pins, whiskey shots and mistaken ministers. The actual problems and possible solutions we face are far beyond those of personality, race, gender, religious affiliation or partisan bickering. They are about foundational principles and the future direction of our nation and the world.

By not stooping to lesser things, Obama addressed real situations, and again pointed the way upward and ahead. In so doing, he reaffirmed the central concepts and ideals that made our country great.

David W. Long
West Chester

Too many tests

Graduation tests ("Graduation requirements: Waste paper," May 7) are a poor idea for several reasons:

A significant percentage of instructional time is already devoted to testing or preparation for it.

Development, implementation, scoring and reporting of 10 additional tests per school year will contribute to a significant additional cost to state taxpayers.

Because scores vary directly with level of income, tests measure only socioeconomic status.

Federal- or state-mandated tests usurp local control. If voters in a school district are unhappy with student results, they are fully empowered to vote in a new school board.

The state should focus its energy and dollars on schools and classrooms that are safe and not overcrowded, that use updated instructional materials, and that allow staff to teach to students instead of tests.

Mike Mostello
Drexel Hill

Bush v. Gore

You published an obvious falsehood in the editorial "Another reason to stay home" (Inquirer, May 6): "The court that picked a president with Bush v. Gore . . . "

Al Gore originally brought the election results into court, and the Florida Supreme Court repeatedly changed the Florida election laws after the election. The U.S. Supreme Court, by a vote of 7-2, determined that the Florida court's method of recounting the votes was unconstitutional. As the court said on Dec. 12, 2000, "When contending parties invoke the process of the courts . . . it becomes our unsought responsibility to resolve the federal and constitutional issues the judicial system has been forced to confront."

Subsequent to the court's decision, a media consortium had the votes recounted and George W. Bush's margin of victory only grew over the original result. By every measure, your statement that "the court picked a president" is false.

Tony McKinley
Berwyn

Cheer Ryan Howard

On Monday, I suggested on Angelo Cataldi's WIP radio talk show that Philadelphia fans should give Ryan Howard a standing ovation every time he comes to the plate. Those cheers would tell Howard that we understand the struggle, that we are with him, and that he still is the same hero in our eyes who won MVP and Rookie of the Year in successive seasons.

On Tuesday, I read that Pat Burrell attributes his success this year to confidence. From my own experience, I can attest that state of mind or confidence are crucial factors in success.

Obviously, Howard has been a big disappointment this year to the fans and to himself ("Manuel sits Howard against Big Unit, guarding progress," May 7). However, there's a good chance that a standing ovation and cheers could give him a shot in the arm and the confidence to shake out of his slump.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter
Washington