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.No, We Should Not Arm The Syrian Rebels
The argument that the United States should start assisting the rebellion in Syria has many flaws.
White House Throwing State Department Under The Bus?
A round of finger pointing in the aftermath of the Benghazi attack.
Biden-Ryan Debate Mostly A Draw
Last night’s Vice-Presidential debate was combative, but is unlikely to have a major impact on the race for President.
Still A Steady State Election?
The Presidential race seems to be returning to the state it was in before the political conventions.
Affirmative Action On The Ropes At The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court seems likely to severely limit the use of race-based preferences at public universities
Will Tonight’s Vice-Presidential Debate Matter?
Sizing up the stakes for tonight’s one and only meeting between the two Vice-Presidential candidates.
Rand Paul Criticizes Romney’s Foreign Policy Speech
One of Mitt Romney’s own supporters didn’t like his foreign policy speech very much.
New Battleground Polls Show Slight Romney Surge
Romney’s post-debate surge is being picked up in swing state polls, but will it be enough?
Obama: I Was Too Polite In The Last Debate
President Obama hinted that he might be more aggressive in his next debate with Mitt Romney. That could be a mistake.
Get Ready For The Post-Election Truthers
Will conservatives freak out if Romney loses? That’s pretty much guaranteed.
Three Judge Panel Upholds South Carolina Voter ID Law, Delays Implementation
A victory for advocates of Voter ID laws in a Washington, D.C. Federal Court.
Pollster Prematurely Calls Florida, Virginia, And North Carolina For Romney
One pollster has called three battleground states 27 days early.
As Congressional Hearings Open, The Benghazi Narrative Changes Again
The official narrative on the Benghazi consulate attack has changed again.
Latino Voters Could Cost The GOP The White House And The Senate
Republican problems among Latino voters could have an influence on several close races this year.
Mitt Romney Once Again Misrepresents The Status Of The U.S. Navy
Mitt Romney is once again making completely false claims about the status of the United States Navy.
2008’s Obama Derangement Syndrome Looks Ridiculous In Hindsight
Let’s take a trip back in time to see what some conservatives thought 2012 would look like if Barack Obama were elected President.
Even After Big Speech, Romney’s Foreign Policy Remains Vague
Mitt Romney’s speech at VMI today was billed as a major foreign policy address, but it was incredibly light on substance.
American Politics And The Denial Of Reality
It’s no wonder partisans can’t agree with each other when they can’t even agree what the facts are.
Afghanistan Eleven Years And 2,000 American Deaths Later
The Afghanistan War is officially eleven years old today.
Expectations High For Paul Ryan Ahead Of Debate
Expectations are high for Paul Ryan heading in to Thursday’s Vice-Presidential debate. That’s not necessarily a good thing.
Romney’s Post-Debate Poll Bump
Mitt Romney has gotten a bump in the polls from Wednesday debate, but it’s still too early to say if it means anything.
Legitimate Reasons To Question September’s BLS Household Survey
While the conspiracy theory is nuts, there are legitimate reasons to be skeptical of some elements of September’s Jobs Report.