I was touched, when I awoke this morning to read an article about the young Nicholas Shanks. An inspiring young man who recently delivered the valedictory speech at Martin Luther King High School in Philadelphia, a school deemed as one of the more challenging in the city. At 18, Nick is class valedictorian; he graduated with a 3.91 GPA; he has received a 4-year scholarship to Shippensburg University; he's excelled in advanced physics and calculus, as an AP student, and plans to attend the Art Institute of Philadelphia in September. However, Nick is one of the over 6,000 homeless students in the Philadelphia School District.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080724_Youth_went_from_homeless_...

I'M A CARD-carrying Democrat. Moreover, as a former co-chairman of Philadelphia Against Drugs, Guns and Violence, I abhor guns and the carnage they create.
While working with Operation Ceasefire, I helped to promote a program that promises a mandatory five years tacked onto a defendant's sentence when the defendant uses a gun in the commission of a crime.

Rally after rally and march after march, we would talk about the need to put down guns and "stop the violence" - but let me be clear,

The rest of my Daily News Op Ed:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080702_Gun_ruling_shines_spotl...

Back in the day, I was a huge Clinton supporter (by the way, back in the day was like last year), today that has changed. Clearly, Obama has demonstrated that he can do well in the general election. If you examine the coalition of folks that he has brought together, i.e., blacks, whites, young, not so young, Independents, and Republicans (Operation Chaos not withstanding), there is no way that you can reasonably conclude that he is less, not more likely to do well as a candidate in November.

Also, contrary to political spin, the base is uber-important. Given Hillary's early support of the Iraq war, this is an achilles heel for her. White rural Republicans will not vote for a D in November. Period. We will need overwhelming support from our base. Obama has proven that he can not only rally the base, but he can reach beyond it, which is not too shabby for a general.

According to MSNBC, the Democratic party is becoming fractured due to the intense intraparty wrangling, fueled by a hotly contested primary battle. So, now is the time for folks to choose sides. I don't care if it's Hillary or Obama (actually I prefer Obama), but what I do not want to happen is a loss in November. We've lost two in a row-- I'm sick of losing! I'm especially sick of losing when we should be winning...

msnbc.com article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24396887/

Dave Davies has an article in today's Daily News, with reference materials provided, which outlines the compromise reached on the 'diversity issue' facing the trade unions in Philadelphia. The big union bossess and political bossess got together and hacked together this 'great compromise'. The reality is any step in the right direction equals progress. Is it exactly what we need? No. But, it is movement in the right direction.

I thought it interesting to post the data printed in today's Daily News, regarding minority representation in the trades...

* Asbestos Workers: 6 percent minorities and women, 19 percent city residents. Among apprentices, 9 percent minorities and women, 35 percent city residents.

* Bricklayers: 20 percent minorities and women, 26 percent city residents. Among apprentices, 25 percent minorities and women, 59 percent city residents.

The times (and the polls) they are a changin'

The close Democratic race reflected in the polls and the party's complex system of proportionally doling out delegates to national conventions suggests no clear winner will emerge in the race on Tuesday.

A new national poll for the Washington Post (nyse: WPO - news - people ) and ABC had Clinton with a slim four point lead over Obama 47 to 43 pct, within the margin of error, and in line with other recent similar polls.

Clinton had small leads in most other significant states, but Obama, an Illinois senator, appeared to be closing fast.

In the delegate-rich state of California, Obama and Clinton appeared to be locked in a pitched battle: a Field Poll had her up 36 to 34 pct, down from a 12 point lead in mid-January.

Obama lead by 45 to 41 pct in a Zogby poll in California, while the former first lady led her rival 45 to 36 pct in a McClatchy (nyse: MNI - news - people ) survey.

Read more here

Kudos for the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsing PA Board's plan to require exit exams for high school students...

Editorial: State High Schools
Graduating failure

The numbers are staggering.
More than 56,000 Pennsylvania high school seniors graduated with "empty diplomas" in 2006 because they failed state math and reading tests. They were given diplomas, in some cases, for just showing up. They left high school without mastering the basic skills to get a job or enter college.

That has prompted state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak to push for tougher new regulations requiring students to pass at least six tests in English, math, science and social studies. This is a smart step.

Instead of a comprehensive test on everything learned over several years, students would be tested at the end of a course, similar to a final exam. For example, a student could take the Algebra I test as a freshman.

The endorsements of Caroline, Patrick and Ted Kennedy offers Obama a much needed lift within the Democratic party base. These historical endorsements allow Obama to be much more credible and formidable for 'Super Tuesday' and beyond.

Each of the Democratic candidates salivated at the chance to have Ted Kennedy stand next to them at the rally at American University, today in Washington, D.C. However, it's interesting to see how each will now spin their way out of how important it is that they did not receive such an endorsement and Obama did. Also, we cannot discount the influence of Ted Kennedy's endorsement on two key Democratic factions: Latinos and white males. Kennedy's voice rings like an affirmation of everything the party faithful hold near and dear. Being able to ride the mantle of the Kennedy mystique will definitely allow Obama to monopolize on a wave of much needed Democrat good will. Hopefully, this will translate into enough delegates to carry him to Denver.