DAVID SARASOHN

Political articles from The Oregonian's columnist from just left of funny

As muscular as they sound, there are some problems with turning terror suspects over to military commissions. Since we have a few moments before Congress wraps up health care, we can note them.  Full story »

In tough times, people really do rely on and get together in community institutions. Especially in Portland, the library is a central — plus branches — example of that.  Full story »

Even with the suit’s dismissal from the place that’s called “the nation’s attic,” O.J. Simpson’s suit will be available for anyone who wants to see it — except, of course, for Simpson, at least not for the next five to seven years.  Full story »

Jeff Merkley says that he didn't hear the comment. But he, like the rest of the Senate --and the country --pretty clearly got the message. Thursday, a move for a short-term extension of unemployment benefits and some other federal spending, agreed to by the leadership of both parties, was blocked by a single objection by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky. (The... Full story »

It was a good thing that the legislative session that ended last week did not try to reform the kicker. You don’t want to start another fight before you’ve cleaned up the blood from the last one.  Full story »

Joe Stack actually killed more Americans — one — than the Christmas bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, and people who frequently declare that they’re on constant guard against terrorism might take more note of that.  Full story »

Republicans are right that the president’s new proposal is hardly a major concession toward their position. But it stresses the vital priorities of health care reform, while leaving the White House in position to move in either direction after Thursday. Full story »

Just about everything about how Vancouver has handled the Games pretty much resembles the way we in Portland would do a Winter Olympics, if we were somehow accidentally awarded one. Full story »

Once again we're reminded why a lot of people on the street are nervous about dealings with Portland police officers --and they're not the only ones.  Full story »

Last year, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation estimated that without congressional action on health care, Oregon’s insurance costs could go up 70 percent in 10 years. Full story »

Earlier this month, Feeding America, a national alliance of food banks, released “Hunger in America 2010,” finding that 37 million Americans a year now get emergency food help, a number that’s up 46 percent from its last survey in 2006. Full story »

“Washington’s always the last place in America that figures out what’s going on,” says Howard Dean. “The Senate is the very last place that will figure out what’s going on.”  Full story »

“To get them to college is one thing, but that’s not the prize,” says Jim Bosco, who oversees the Kalamazoo program at Western Michigan University. “The prize is if they’re successful in college.” Full story »

I’ll be watching today. But I would like to think — or at least be able to tell myself — that I wasn’t watching extremely talented people destroying their brain function for my entertainment. Full story »

“My time in Iraq,” said Rep. Murphy, “taught me that our military needs and deserves the best and the brightest who are willing to serve — and that means all Americans, regardless of their orientation.” Full story »