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.
New Jersey The Next Same-Sex Marriage Battleground?
People are looking to New Jersey as the next same-sex marriage battleground, but it’s not going to be an easy fight.
9th Circuit Lifts Stay, Same-Sex Marriages Resume In California
Faster than many expected, same-sex marriage became the law again in California late yesterday.
House Committee Claims Lois Lerner Waived Her Fifth Amendment Rights
Lois Lerner is likely headed back to Congress over the largely phony charge that she waived her Fifth Amendment rights.
Employer Scores Religious Freedom Victory Against Contraceptive Coverage Mandate
An employer has scored a major victory in its fight against Obamacare’s contraceptive coverage mandate.
Prop. 8, DOMA, And Standing In The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court’s handling of standing in the two same-sex marriage cases likely seems contradictory to many outside observers.
Phyllis Schlafly: Latinos Don’t Understand The Bill Of Rights, Not Worth GOP Attention
Some really bad advice for the GOP.
Immigration Reform Bill Passes Senate, Faces Bleak Future In House
The Senate passed an immigration reform bill today, but it’s not going to go anywhere.
GOP Hawks Getting Worried About Rand Paul?
There seem to be some signs that defense hawks in the GOP are concerned about Rand Paul’s growing popularity in the party.
What The Proposition 8 Ruling Means For California And The Country
The Court may have “punted” the Proposition 8 ruling, but it is likely to have a wide-ranging impact both in California and nationwide.
Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA, Dismisses Prop. 8 Appeal For Lack Of Standing
On the whole, a complete victory for advocates of same-sex marriage today at the Supreme Court.
First Quarter GDP Final Revision Puts Growth Below 2.0%
First Quarter economic growth was weaker than originally estimated. What that means for the future is unclear.
An Automobile Showroom Where You Can’t Buy A Car
Thanks to archaic state laws, you can look at cars in a Tesla showroom, but in my states you can’t but anything there.
IRS “Lookout Lists” Also Included Liberal Groups. So, Was It Bipartisan “Targeting?”
A new round of documents from the IRS, that aren’t really new, doesn’t really change the basic narrative on the IRS “targeting” story.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Section 4 Of Voting Rights Act
A major Constitutional ruling from the Supreme Court.
Texas Man Held In Prison For Thirty-Three Years Despite Lack Of A Legal Sentence
The very definition of a miscarriage of justice.
Egyptian Military Ready To Step Back Into Politics?
The Egyptian military appears to be signalling that its patience for political chaos may be running short.
Congressman Proposes Bill To Make Asserting Constitutional Rights A Fireable Offense?
One Congressman apparently thinks that asserting your Constitutional rights should be grounds for losing a government job.
Supreme Court Punts On Affirmative Action, But Its Future Seems Short-Lived
The Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action in education didn’t go as far as many thought it would, but it’s future in the near-term seems fairly clear.
The Right Turns On Marco Rubio Over Immigration Reform
Marco Rubio has suffered a reversal of fortune among Republicans thanks to his role in the immigration reform debate.
Supreme Court Accepts Appeal In Recess Appointments Case
The Supreme Court accepts what will likely be one of the most important cases of its upcoming term.
A New Conspiracy Theory: IRS Tea Party Targeting Helped Win The Election For Obama
A new theory circulating on the right asserts that IRS targeting of Tea Party groups had an impact on the 2012 elections by diminish the Tea Party’s effectiveness. It’s mostly nonsense.