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.
Contraceptives And Hobby Lobby At The Supreme Court
Hobby Lobby has a strong argument under RFRA but the precedent would be dangerous.
American Skepticism About Interventionism Is A Return To Historical Norms
Americans are skeptical about getting involved in the Ukraine crisis. This isn’t a surprise.
No, Ukraine Should Not Have Been Allowed To Keep Its Nuclear Weapons
Getting nuclear weapons out of Ukraine in 1994 was a good idea, not a mistake.
You Probably Aren’t Going To Read Anything Beyond This Headline
Politics, media, and the attention span of the average American haven’t really changed as much as we think.
Republicans Hold Edge In Battle For Senate Control
Thanks to favorable polling numbers and candidate selection, winning the Senate may very well be in the GOP’s grasp.
Happy Birthday Justice Ginsburg, We Need To Put You Out To Pasture
Another liberal legal scholar is calling on Justice Ginsburg to resign. She’s unlikely to listen to them.
Hamid Karzai Says Afghanistan Doesn’t Need U.S. Troops To Stay After 2014
Afghanistan’s outgoing President says that his nation doesn’t need American troops to stay after the end of the year.
Crimeans Endorse Secession, Union With Russia. What’s Next?
As everyone anticipated, the Crimean referendum came out in favor of secession from Ukraine and union with Russia. What happens next is another question entirely.
Does A GOP Win In FL-13 Mean Anything?
Does one Special Election in Florida tells us anything about nationwide trends? Probably not.
Why Do Dictators Like Kim Jong Un Bother To Hold Fake Elections?
Why do dictators feel the need to pretend that they have the consent of the people over whom they rule?
Supreme Court Declines To Hear About “I ♥ Boobies” Bracelets
The Supreme Court turns down a case dealing with student’s First Amendment rights.