Posts by 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.
Same-Sex Marriage Suffers A Legal Setback In Tennessee
A trial court judge in Tennessee is the first jurist since the Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Windsor to uphold a ban on same-sex marriage
Scottish Independence Losing In The Polls
If recent polling is to be believed, the bid for Scottish independence is going to go down in flames.
GOP Likely To Take The Senate, Retain The House, Maintain The Status Quo In The States
The GOP has a good chance of taking the Senate in 2014, but it will be by a narrow margin.
NATO: “High Probability” Russia Will Invade Ukraine
The rebels in eastern Ukraine continue to suffer setbacks, and Russia is massing troops on the border again.
Hillary Clinton Attacks Foreign Policy She Helped Create And Implement
Does Hillary Clinton remember that she was Secretary of State for four years?
Doctor’s Office Baby Pictures Barred By HIPAA
A good law has one rather silly unintended consequence.
Watergate Forty Years Later
Even with the passage of time, Watergate remains a singularly important event in American history
Obama’s Iraq Policy Is Open-Ended, Directionless, And Likely To Fail
President Obama doesn’t seem to have any idea what he wants to do in Iraq.
Democratic Incumbents In Trouble In Hawaii Primary
Trouble in paradise for two of Hawaii’s top Democrats?
Ukrainian Forces Reportedly Have Rebels In Donetsk Surrounded
End game? Or the potential spark of a wider war?
Federal Judge Rejects Voting Rights Challenge To North Carolina Ballot Changes
A major voting rights ruling out of North Carolina.
James Brady’s Death Ruled A Homicide
Could John Hinckley, Jr. face murder charges 30 years after his attempted assassination of President Reagan?
Public Trust In Government Hits New Lows
Americans have become deeply cynical about government. To some extent that is a good thing, but it’s reaching unhealthy levels.
If A Monkey Takes A Selfie, Who Owns The Copyright?
Wikipedia is refusing to recognize a photographer’s copyright claim because a monkey took the picture.
Gaza Truce Ends As Hamas Refuses To Extend Humanitarian Ceasefire
Well, it was nice while it lasted.
U.S. Airstrikes Hit ISIS In Northern Iraq
For the second time in just over ten years, the United States is involved in military action in Iraq.
Mississippi Republican Party Refuses To Hear Chris McDaniel’s Election Challenge
A big setback for Mississippi’s erstwhile Tea Party candidate for Senate.
The GOP Establishment Won The Primary Battles, But They Let The Tea Party Win The War
Tea Party backed candidates may have lost most of the GOP primary battles, but they’ve won the war for control of the Republican agenda.
Debbie Dingell, Political Dynasties, And The Problem With Long-Term Incumbency
Debbie Dingell is set to continue an 80 year legacy of Dingells occupying the same seat in the House of Representatives. That’s not a good thing.
Voter ID Laws Are A Solution In Search Of A Non-Existent Problem
There is simply no evidence of the kind of in-person voter impersonation that Voter ID Laws were designed to prevent.
Michigan’s Justin Amash Defeats Establishment Backed Challenger
Despite a high profile effort to oust him, the most prominent libertarian Republican in Congress survived his primary challenge yesterday.
Social Issues Now Benefiting Democrats
Once something that generally benefited Republicans, social issues are now becoming a wedge issue for Democrats.
Republican Congressmen Keep Talking About Impeachment
For a party that says its not interested in impeachment, the GOP sure keeps bringing it up.
House Republicans Are Dooming Their 2016 Nominee With Latino Voters
Republicans in the House seem determined to make life difficult for whomever wins the GOP nomination in 2016
GOP Congressman: DREAMers Cannot Be Trusted To Serve In The Military
Once again, Republicans demonstrate why they have problems with Latino voters.
Tea Party Set To Lose Its Final Two Battles In Kansas And Tennessee
The Tea Party v. “establishment” battle in the GOP has been pretty one-sided this year.
Chris McDaniel Files Incredibly Weak Challenge To Mississippi GOP Primary Results
Six weeks have passed since the primary, and Chris McDaniel has revealed he really doesn’t have much to complain about other than the fact that he lost.
As Gaza War Winds Down, What Happens Next?
The war in Gaza seems to be winding down, but the underlying issues remain.