The State Of The Union Is Pointless
Tonight, the American political system stops to engage in the biggest waste of time ever invented.
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.
Dispute Involving Brain Dead Pregnant Woman Finally Comes To A Proper End
Marlise Munoz is finally at peace, but the law that kept her hooked up to machines for two months remains on the books.
Rand Paul: Bill Clinton’s Lewinsky Affair Relevant To 2016 Election
Rand Paul seems to think a 15 year old scandal is relevant to the 2016 Presidential race.
Virginia Senate Race About To Become Competitive?
Former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie is challenging incumbent Senator Mark Warner for his Senate seat.
Ariel Sharon, Israeli General, Defense Minister, Foreign Minister, Prime Minister, Dead At 85
After eight years in a coma, Ariel Sharon has passed away.
Utah Will Not Recognize Same-Sex Marriages Performed Before Stay Issued
About 1,000 same-sex couples married in Utah before the Supreme Court stay find themselves in an odd legal limbo.
December Jobs Report Comes In Way Off Estimates, 300,000+ Leave Labor Force
A surprisingly disappointing jobs report for December.
Seven Years Ago Today, The iPhone Changed The World
Seven years ago, Steve Jobs showed us that we could literally hold the world in the palm of our hand.
In Marathon Presser, Christie Fires Top Aide, Expresses Embarrassment Over Bridge Scandal
At least initially, Chris Christie did what he needed to do to address a story that threatens to overwhelm his political future.
Texas Law Keeping Brain Dead Woman “Alive” Because She’s Pregnant
A brain dead woman in Texas is being kept alive while a fetus that is still not viable grows inside of her.
Robert Gates: Invading Iraq Diverted Attention From The War On Terror
Former SecDef Robert Gates is among those who believes that the Iraq War unduly diverted attention from fighting the War On Terror.
Chris Christie And The George Washington Bridge: Politics As Usual, Scandal, Or Much Ado About Very Little?
Will a couple closed lanes on the George Washington Bridge end up being a problem for New Jersey’s Chris Christie going forward?
Robert Gates Hits Obama, Biden, Clinton In New Book, But Will Americans Care?
A new book by former SecDef Robert Gates is making political waves in Washington power circles, but will it matter to ordinary Americans?
Self-Identified Independents Hit Record High, Self-Identified Republicans Hit Record Low
There are more self-identified Independents in the country than at any time in the past two decades, according to a new Gallup poll. And it’s mostly at the expense of the GOP.
The Conservative Case For Legalizing Marijuana
Marijuana legalization is an issue that unites people across the political aisle.
Violence In Iraq Is Not Obama’s Fault, And The Future Of Iraq Is Not Our Responsibility
The Iraqis need to learn to govern themselves, and conservatives blaming President Obama for renewed violence need a history lesson.
Supreme Court Grants Stay, Halting Same Sex Marriages In Utah
For the time being at least, same-sex marriage is once again banned in Utah.
Republicans Ready To Deal On Unemployment Benefits Extension?
There are some signs that there may be room to strike a deal on the extension of unemployment benefits, but it’s likely to require some drama on Capitol Hill before it happens.
Child Of Illegal Immigrants Allowed To Become A Lawyer, May Not Be Allowed To Work
An excellent argument for immigration reform can be found in the case of one Californian named Sergio Garcia.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Florida Law Requiring Drug Tests For Welfare Benefits
From Florida, a small victory for Fourth Amendment rights.
Refer Madness Among The Acela Corridor Crowd
The latest news on the marijuana legalization front has led David Brooks and others to go into a completely pathetic panic.
Three NFL Cities May Be Impacted By NFL Blackout Rule This Weekend
One of the dumbest rules in sports may mean that people in three cities can’t see their teams play this weekend.
Federal Court Upholds Most Of New York State Gun Control Law
A Federal Judge in New York upholds, for the most part, that state’s new gun control law.