City of Tacoma should just mind its own business

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland cast the decisive vote on a resolution opposing Arizona’s egregious and “racially-insensitive” Immigration Law, but exactly what does all of this mean? Every State is an independent, autonomous legislative and governmental entity with the rights guaranteed under the Constitution to enact Laws that each one deems appropriate according to their respective State Charter and with the consent of their citizens as represented through their elected officials. What’s next? Will this action of Washington and dozens of other States who oppose this policy result in some type of economic retaliation and intrastate protectionism? Will a given State oppose another one by refusing to do business with it just because it disagrees with the way some of its laws are written? If one State executes more Death Row inmates than anyone else or if another one doesn’t legalize Gay Marriage, should those offending States not receive Washington-grown produce, salmon, wines and beer, lumber, Boeing aircraft, Biotechnology, other goods and services, or resource management and emergency assistance in a national disaster? While any American citizen has the right to voice their disagreement with any policy matter that they believe is offensive, unfair, or in violation of the Constitution of the United States, one would think that the City of Tacoma or the Pierce County Council, as well as the Washington State Legislature have more important things to be concerned about than what Arizona lawmakers do.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 26, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com

Sister of Cop Killers face biased jury at Trial

It was on November 29, 2009 that Maurice Clemmons walked into the FORZA Coffee Shop in Parkland, WA and gunned down four Lakewood Police Officers, marking the worst incident in the State’s history involving the deaths of Law Enforcement officials. The suspect was later killed in a shootout with a Seattle Police Officer. Because of the impact of this heinous crime on the local community it will certainly be difficult to find an impartial juror. Although LaTanya Clemmons has admitted to giving money to Dorcus Allen, who drove the getaway car, to rent a motel room and for bus fare, she contents that her actions were in no way related to the horrific murders that had taken place some days earlier. The Prosecution wants to charge LaTanya with four counts of first-degree rending criminal assistance for allegedly helping evade police capture, but that might prove to be quite a challenge without credible evidence.

It seems that the tactic used by the Prosecution is that it wants to prey on the sympathy of the jury by continuing to replay the circumstances of the murder done by her brother Maurice through calling witnesses to the slaying and playing 911 recordings, instead of focusing on the more narrow scope of her alleged criminality. The Prosecution has the burden to prove “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” that LaTanya had knowledge of the police officers’ murder had happened, or was going to occur, and that her actions were deliberate, premeditated, and solely intended for the purpose of rendering criminal assistance to evade capture. While it is true that LaTanya Clemmons actions did seem to betray a lousy sense of timing and is incriminating, still, this does not prove her guilt or complicity. Since Maurice Clemmons is dead and beyond the reach of Justice, the next best thing to prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the Law is to take it out on the nearest living relative, namely, his sister LaTanya.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 25, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com

Taxing Candy not such a Sweet idea

Effective June 1, a 6.5 percent State sales tax in addition to local add-on taxes will accompany a favorite candy confectionary, bringing a sour taste to someone’s mouth to go along with that sweet tooth. The economic downturn and high unemployment rate in Washington has resulted in a statewide budget shortfall and a shrinking tax base threaten to jeopardize important agricultural, educational, environmental, transportation, social service and other programs. The Washington State Department of Revenue defines what constitutes a ‘candy’ and what does not, as far as ingredients are concerned. It seems that not all candy is created equal, whereas, one could be a candy confectionary and the other a sweet treat. It is interesting that the new Law exempts from taxation candy that is purchased under the Food Stamp Program. Be that as it may, manufacturers of products that are almost entirely classified as a “candy” according to State Law might show a decrease in their bottom line and shrinking market share if consumers protesting this newest ‘taxation’ decide to satisfy their palette with other sweet, non-candy confectionaries.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 12, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com

Don’t use Ken Griffey jr. as Scapegoat

The brouhaha over whether Ken Griffey jr. was asleep in the clubhouse last Saturday is deflecting attention away from the critical question, which is: why are the Mariners bats asleep in Seattle and elsewhere? When the Mariners GM and owner lured Griffey back to Seattle with a reasonably generous one-year renewable contract, it wasn’t to perform miracles. The once stellar and youthful All-Star outfielder and slugger is a forty year-old injury-ridden DH; a shell of his former self. Griffey’s presence on the team is more of inspiration, not perspiration, and he is more of a legendary and living team mascot than the Mariner Moose could ever be.

It is more serious than playing jokes on Ichiro or be featured in a few commercials, but in a more practical sense, it is about increasing ticket sells and good PR with the “GRIFFEY” name brand and hometown recognition. So don’t point the finger at Ken Griffey jr. for the failure of the Mariners to win more games, despite having one of the best pitching rosters in Major League Baseball. Of course, when things are not going as expected, someone has to get the blame, and it appears that at this point, Ken Griffey jr. is the one. As far as his future with the team, Griffey is in the batter’s box with a full count, waiting for the next pitch. Griffey will walk before the season’s end or retire thereafter. Either way, “Thanks for the memories and we still love you Junior.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 12, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com

Kagan might not be the best choice for Supreme Court Justice

President Barack Obama seems poised to announce his choice of Elena Kagan to replace ailing 81 year-old Justice John Paul Stevens, who announced his plan to retire later this year. All the present Supreme Court Justices have served as a Federal Judge before being nominated to the nation’s highest court, but Kagan has not served in that capacity nor has she been a judge at all. It seems that President Obama is more interested in placing someone on the Bench who thinks like he does as opposed to selecting someone who is willing to apply the rule of law when making judicial decisions which will affect the lives of millions of American citizens for generations. While Kagan might have an impressive resume and doubtless has an astute legal mind as the President of harvard Law School, still, it is not known what her judicial philosophy is, or how impartial she can be; considering the fact that she is the government’s former Solicitor General before the very Supreme Court that she wants to become a member of, and, of which would seem to be a conflict-of-interest (cronyism at the very least). No doubt the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee will subject her to some intensive questions and scrutiny, but at the end of the day, who wants to stand in the way of history as Kagan will be the third female Supreme Court Justice in this country’s history. As for experience: “FORGET-ABOUT-IT,” because a Community Organizer became President of the United States, after-all; so why not her?


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 10, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com