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.
Romney, And The GOP, Still Haunted By The Legacy Of George W. Bush
The GOP still hasn’t dealt with the legacy of George W. Bush.
One Year Later, Study Finds No Harm To Military From DADT Repeal
Not surprisingly, a new study finds that repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has not caused any harm to the military.
Paul Ryan Panders To Religious Right On School Prayer
For some reason, Paul Ryan decided to talk about school prayer this weekend.
An Attack On Iran Would Be A Major, Mistaken, War
An attack on Iran’s nuclear program would be far more complicated than a one-off attack.
Chicago’s Very Well Paid Teachers Go On Strike, Abandoning 400,000 Students
Largely because they are resisting efforts to hold them accountable for their performance, Chicago’s teachers are leaving 400,000 students locked out of school.
Mitt Romney’s Ridiculous “God” Attack On Obama And The Democrats
Over the weekend, Mitt Romney was sounding more like Rick Santorum than himself.
Romney And Ryan Not Providing Details About Their Tax Plan
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are refusing to provide significant details about their tax plan. That’s a mistake.
The Democratic Party Joins The GOP In Abandoning Civil Liberties
Based on its recently passed platform, the Democratic Party has given up any pretense of putting civil liberties ahead of “national security.”
Obama’s Convention Bounce Becoming More Apparent
If the first round of post-convention polling is correct, President Obama may be pulling away from Mitt Romney.
Political Conventions Prove Their Own Uselessness
The recent;y concluded party conventions are further evidence that the events have largely outlived their usefulness.
When It Comes To President Obama, Many Conservatives Are Living Inside A Bubble
The 2012 campaign is revealing once again that many conservatives have a view of President Obama not shared by the public at large.
George Takei Wonders What Happened To The Republicans Who Are Against Big Government
Hey GOP, Lt. Sulu has some questions for you.
Ann Romney’s Opinions About Birth Control Are Irrelevant To This Election
Ann Romney dodged questions from a reporter seeking her personal opinions on hot-button social issues. Good for her.
Mitt Romney’s Path To Victory: Incredibly Narrow, And Perhaps Impossible To Navigate
As the final stretch of the campaign begins in earnest, Mitt Romney faces a very difficult task.
Mitt Romney Vows To Continue The Same Failed War On Drugs Obama Is Fighting
When it comes to issues like medical marijuana, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are reading from the same playbook.
August Jobs Report Shows Continued Weakening Of Labor Market
Another bad jobs report threatens to undermine whatever good will the President had coming off the Democratic National Convention.
In Closing Speech, Obama Does What He Needed To Do
President Obama didn’t blow the doors off the Time Warner Cable Arena last night, but he didn’t need to.
Would Obama’s Re-Election End Polarization And Gridlock In Washington?
The President and his supporters say that Congressional Republicans will temper their rhetoric in a second Obama term. Don’t count on it.
Wait A Minute, The Republican Platform Doesn’t Recognize Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital?
Another platform controversy?
Bill Clinton Makes The Case For Barack Obama
Last night, Bill Clinton hit one out of the park for the President Of The United States.
Democratic Platform Amended On God And Jerusalem Amid Boos From Delegates
What should have been a simple parliamentary procedure, conducted under President Obama’s orders no less, turned into something of an embarrassment.
A Bipolar Night At The Democratic Convention
Depending on what time you watched any of last night’s proceedings in Charlotte, you got a very different experience.