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.

Obama, Democrats To Push Immigration Reform Next?

Immigration reform may be the next big battle on Capitol Hill, but it’s going to be far different from the one that just concluded.

The Coming GOP Civil War

The shutdown debacle seems destined to lead to a battle between the Tea Party and the more business oriented elements of the GOP

Ted Cruz Refuses To Rule Out Making The Same Dumb Mistake Again

Ted Cruz isn’t ruling out a reprise of his foolish, quixotic, crusade.

Virginia Governor’s Race Now Looks Like A Democratic Win

Absent an unlikely major change, it looks like the Democrats will win the Governor’s race in Virginia

No, Boehner Isn’t Going To Lose His Job As Speaker

John Boehner’s position as Speaker of the House seems quite secure.

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Cory Booker Wins New Jersey Senate Race

Mayor Booker is now Senator-Elect Booker.

The GOP’s Seinfeld Shutdown

The GOP’s shutdown was about as pointless as a show about waiting for a table in a Chinese restaurant.

Supreme Court Hears Argument On Referendum Banning Affirmative Action

Should states have the right to ban affirmative action? The Supreme Court will decide that this term.

Debt, Default, And International Faith In The American Government

Would you trust the men and women in this building?

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What Lies Past October 17th? A Big Unknown, And That’s The Problem

If Congress isn’t able to reach a deal, the big problem going forward would be uncertainty.

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House Republicans Waste A Day, Leaving Final Deal Up To The Senate

The House wasted a day yesterday, now it’s crunch time.

Time For A GOP/Tea Party Divorce? No, Time To Re-Open The ‘Big Tent’

Much like the Tea Party, David Frum wants to make the GOP tent smaller.

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House Shutdown/Debt Ceiling Plan Already Falling Apart?

Well, so much for that plan.

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House To Pursue Its Own Shutdown/Debt Ceiling Bill, But That May Not Be Bad News [Update: Or, Maybe Not]

It looks like the House will be making its move before the Senate acts, but that may actually help resolve this faster.

Senate Nears Deal That Kicks The Can Down The Road, Accomplishes Little Else

The deal emerging out of the talks between Senator Reid and Senator McConnell is about what you’d expect, but it’s probably the best we can expect right now.

Veterans Didn’t Like Being Used As Republican Political Props Yesterday

The presence of politicians like Sarah Palin at yesterday’s “Million Veteran March” was not appreciated by the people who organized the protest.

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Our Fate Apparently Lies In The Hands Of McConnell, Reid, Boehner, and Biden

Are these four men our last, best hope for a deal that will end the shutdown and avoid breaching the debt ceiling?

New Jersey Senate Race Tightens Ahead Of Election Day, But Booker Will Still Win

Cory Booker has not been quite as dominant in the New Jersey Special Election as many expected, but he’s still a virtual lock to win on Wednesday.

The Roberts Court Hasn’t Been As “Activist” As Its Critics Contend

The argument that the Roberts Court has been overly “activist” does not hold up to examination.