Posts by Doug Mataconis

Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

August Jobs Report Disappoints

After several months of good news, the August Jobs Report was quite a disappointment.

The Kansas Senate Race Is Just Getting Weirder

The Kansas Senate race is becoming unexpectedly interesting.

Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Convicted On Corruption Charges

A once rising GOP star hits bottom.

Joan Rivers Dies At 81

DNA Evidence Clears Two Men After 31 Years, Including One Who Was Sentenced To Die

Two men in North Carolina are free after spending 31 years in prison for a crime they didn’t commit.

Democrat Drops Out Of Kansas Senate Race, Which May Help Democrats

A political earthquake in the Sunflower State that could have a big impact on the battle for control of the Senate.

Hollywood Has Worst Summer In 17 Years

The summer of 2014 was the worst Hollywood has seen since Bill Clinton was President. It’s pretty easy to figure out why.

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White House May Hold Off On Immigration Action Until After Election

Cowardice, or politically prudent?

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McConnell Campaign Manager Resigns Amid Investigation Into 2012 Iowa Bribery Scandal

Mitch McConnell’s campaign was forced to do a shakeup thanks to a scandal that could envelop Ron Paul’s 2012 Presidential campaign.

Judge Tosses Chris McDaniel’s Challenge To GOP Senate Runoff Result

Chris McDaniel’s meritless, quixotic challenge to the Mississippi GOP Senate Primary is reaching it’s expected conclusion.

A Contrarian Analysis Of The 2014 Midterms

One analyst thinks that the predictions of a Republican Senate in 2014 are wildly optimistic.

Republicans Still Have A Problem With Female Voters

Two prominent Republican groups point out the blindingly obvious.

Russia Has Invaded Ukraine

A major escalation.

Congress Must Vote Before We Expand The Attacks On ISIS

As talk begins of expanding the war against ISIS into Syria, it is becoming long past time for Congress to exercise its Constitutional function.

What Republican Wave?

So far at least, there is no evidence that 2014 will be a “wave election.”

Burger King Should Not Be Condemned If It Moves To Canada For Tax Purposes

The announcement of a potential merger between Burger King and Tim Horton’s has led to much moral preening from the usual suspects.

What “Third Term Curse?”

Some have argued that there is an historical bias against political parties holding on to the White House for more than two terms. As with most commonly held ideas, that simply isn’t true.

Copyright Office: Monkey Selfies Not Entitled To Copyright Protection

The Copyright Office says that works not “created” by humans are not entitled to copyright protection.

GAO: Obama Broke The Law In Bergdahl Release Deal

The General Accounting Office confirmed what seems clear to anyone who can read a statute.

What If “Justice” In The Mike Brown Case Doesn’t End In A Conviction?

There is a good possibility that Darren Wilson could be acquitted in the shooting of Michael Brown.. Are the protesters ready to accept that reality?

Mitch McConnell Promising More Showdowns And Shutdowns If The GOP Wins The Senate

If Republicans win the Senate, what we’ve seen for the past three years could end up seeming tame by comparison.

Public Opinion On Ferguson Shows Deep Racial Divisions

What you think about the events in Ferguson depends quite a lot on whether you’re black or white.

Gaza Cease Fire Extended, But Prospects For Bigger Peace Deal Seem Dim

The two sides in Gaza keep extending the humanitarian cease fire, but remain miles apart on the major issues dividing them.

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Hillary Clinton Hurting 2014 Democratic Candidates?

Some on the left are saying that Hillary Clinton isn’t doing enough to help Democrats in 2014.

Another Night Of Unrest In Ferguson, And An Assault On Journalism

The situation in Ferguson, Missouri isn’t calming down.

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Could The House Lawsuit Against Obama Cost The GOP The Senate?

In what would be a classic bit of political irony, polling indicates that the House lawsuit against the President could make Democrats more likely to vote in November.

It’s August, So It Must Be Time To Complain About Presidential Vacations Again

The chattering class is chattering about the President’s vacation again. It really is quite tiresome.

The Michael Brown Shooting And The Militarization Of American Police

The shooting of Michael Brown is just another example of an ongoing problem.