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.

Ted Cruz Admits His Plan To Defund Obamacare Won’t Succeed

Ted Cruz becomes a little more honest about his plan to “defund” Obamacare.

House To Vote On Budget That Makes A Government Shutdown More Likely

The House is going to make it more likely that we see a government shutdown at the end of the month.

Starbucks CEO: No Guns In Our Stores, Please

Starbucks is kindly asking customers not to bring guns to their stores.

Apple’s Fingerprint ID May Make It Easier For Cops To Search Your Phone

Apple’s new fingerprint sensor. A cop’s best friend?

Multiple Casualties In Shooting At Washington Navy Yard

A shooting interrupts Washington D.C.’s Monday morning.

NFL Commissioner Endorsing Heckler’s Veto Over Redskins Name?

Should one person being “offended” by more important than a vast majority who are not?

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Proposed Media Shield Law Leads To Debate Over Who Is A “Journalist”

Who should qualify as a “journalist” for purposes of a “Shield Law?”

Poll: Public Would Blame GOP For Government Shutdown

The GOP’s plan to defund reality becomes even more disconnected from reality.

9/11 And The Never-Ending War

The world changed significantly twelve years ago today. Will it ever change back even a little bit?

Obama Didn’t Try To Scare Americans Over Syria, Except When He Did

:Like his predecessors, President Obama’s speech last night exaggerated the threat that Syria poses in order to sell his plan to American voters.

Obama’s Syria Plan As Confused As Ever

President Obama’s plans in Syria are as unclear as they were before he spoke last night.

Pro-Gun Control Legislators Voted Out In Colorado Recall Elections

A gun rights victory at the ballot box in Colorado.

House Republicans Try To Placate The “Defund Obamacare” Crowd

The House GOP Leadership didn’t endear itself to the Tea Party today.

Google Being Sued To Remove Search Results

An odd lawsuit out of France.

The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

September 10, 2001

Public Remains Deeply Opposed To Military Action In Syria

Even before the Russian curve ball, the public opposition to military strikes on Syria was mounting.

Syria And The “Isolationist” Smear

Opposing interventionism and unnecessary and unwise military engagements is not isolationism.

Are The Russians About To Outsmart Obama And Kerry On Syria?

A throwaway comment by John Kerry in London has led to some interesting diplomatic developments.

Obama Facing Uphill Battle Over Syria Resolution

Heading into an intense week of Congressional lobbying, the odds still seem against the Administration on Syria.

Obama As Polarizing As Bush

The political polarization we saw during the Bush Presidency has continued throughout the Obama Presidency.

The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required. The free high-resolution photo of street, bicycle, asphalt, vehicle, hat, park bench, homeless, stockholm, packing, baby carriage, drifter, norrm larstrand , taken with an DMC-FS10 01/29 2017 The picture taken with 10.0mm, f/3.8s, 1/640s, ISO 80 The image is released free of copyrights under Creative Commons CC0. You may download, modify, distribute, and use them royalty free for anything you like, even in commercial applications. Attribution is not required.

Photo Of The Day

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Vote Counts In Congress Not Looking Good For President Obama

With Congress coming back Monday, the prospective vote counts are decidedly against authorizing military force against Syria.

What Would Obama Do If Congress Says No On Syria?

Given that the vote count seems to be heading that way, this is a question worth examination.