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.

No, Judge Curiel Has Not Demonstrated Bias Against Donald Trump In His Rulings

Donald Trump has claimed that the Judge presiding over the Trump University lawsuits is biased against him, but there’s absolutely no evidence to support this argument.

As Republicans Run From Trump, The Seeds Of A GOP Civil War May Be Starting To Grow

With top Republicans recoiling from the realization that the GOP is stuck with Trump in 2016, the ground seems to be being prepared for a conflict that could tear the GOP apart regardless of who wins in November.

Clinton Wins Final ‘Super Tuesday’ Of 2016, Claims Victory In Nomination Fight

Hillary Clinton won the final Super Tuesday of the 2016 primary season, thus officially sending us into what promises to be among the most contentious General Election battles in recent memory.

Time For Republicans To Choose: Can You Really Support The Bigot At The Top Of Your Ticket?

Republicans have a choice to make and, so far, they’ve been making the wrong one.

Should The Media Ignore The Fact That Hillary Clinton Will Clinch The Nomination Tomorrow?

One media critic is arguing that news organizations should ignore the fact that Hillary Clinton will become the Presumptive Democratic Nominee tomorrow. This is utterly ridiculous.

David French Passes On Quixotic Independent Bid For The Presidency

The relatively unknown candidate that Bill Kristol floated as the “Never Trump” alternative has announced he’s not running for President.

Bernie Sanders Is Either Delusional, Or He’s Lying To His Supporters

Bernie Sanders is continuing to let his supporters believe he has a chance to win the Democratic nomination. He is either delusional, or he is lying to his supporters.

Muhammed Ali Dead At 74

The Greatest Of All Time.

An All-Around Bad Jobs Report For May

The May Jobs Report was bad all-around. The question is whether this will come to be seen as an anomaly or the beginning of a worrisome trend.

On Donald Trump’s Contempt For The Rule Of Law And Freedom Of The Press

Donald Trump’s open contempt for the Rule of Law and Freedom of the Press should disqualify him from being considered an acceptable candidate for President.

US Capitol Rotunda US Capitol Rotunda

Paul Ryan Folds Like A Cheap Suit, Endorses Donald Trump

After initially expressing doubts about his candidacy, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has lined up behind Donald Trump.

Republicans Suddenly Finding ‘Scheduling Conflicts’ That Preclude Showing Up In Cleveland

An increasing number of Republican politicians are finding reasons to skip the Republican National Convention.

Federal Court Declines To Rehear Case Ruling In Favor Of Transgender High School Student

The Fourth Circuit has declined to rehear a case in which a three judge panel sided with a transgender student seeking to use the bathroom consistent with their gender identity.

Bill Kristol Reportedly Floating National Review Writer As Independent Candidate For President

Bill Kristol’s plan to stop Donald Trump involves a long shot independent bid for the White House by someone most Americans have never heard of before.

Clinton Grabs Big Endorsement A Week Ahead Of The Battle For California

Hillary Clinton is hoping to avoid an embarrassing loss in California to Bernie Sanders, and she just got some help from an unlikely source.

Gary Johnson Selected As Libertarian Nominee For President

For the second election cycle in a row, and after a contentious floor fight, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is the Libertarian Party’s nominee for President.

Zika Virus Concerns Lead To Calls To Postpone or Move 2016 Olympics

Concerns about the Zika Virus are leading some doctors to call for the 2016 Summer Olympics to be moved or postponed.

Trump Campaign Reportedly Telling GOP Insiders It’s Low On Cash

Donald Trump is apparently having money troubles.

Obama’s Visit To Hiroshima Brings Reflection, But No Apologies

President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima left just the impression it should have.

Hoping For A Breakthrough, Libertarians Meet In Orlando To Pick A Nominee

With Republicans in Trump-induced disarray, Libertarians are meeting to pick their nominee and the hope that 2016 could be the year their party finally gets the attention it has craved for four decades.

Release Of Inspector General’s Report Indicates Hillary’s Email Woes Likely To Continue

The Clinton campaign probably thought the email story was behind them. The new report from the State Department’s Inspector General shows just how wrong they were about that.

Donald Trump Clinches Republican Nomination

Donald Trump now has enough delegates to win the Republican nomination on the first ballot.

Texas, Ten Other States, File Suit Over Federal Transgender Discrimination Guidelines

A group of states led by Texas has filed a suit in response to new guidelines from the Federal Government regarding the rights of transgender students.

Federal Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty Against Dylann Roof For Charleston Shootings

Following in the footsteps of state prosecutors, Federal prosecutors have announced they will seek the death penalty for Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof.

Donald Trump Wins Washington State, Inches Closer To Clinching The Nomination

Donald Trump is now just 28 delegates away from clinching the GOP nomination. New Jersey’s primary on June 7th will put him over the top.

Criminal Charges Against Bill Cosby Can Proceed To Trial, Pennsylvania Judge Rules

A Pennsylvania Judge ruled today that there was sufficient evidence against Bill Cosby to allow the sexual assault charges against him to proceed to trial.

Donald Trump Resurrects The Worst Of Clinton Derangement Syndrome

For Donald Trump at least, the start of the General Election campaign is the perfect time to dredge up decades old conspiracy theories.

Republican Mega-Donors Not Exactly Warming Up To Donald Trump

Some of the GOP’s top donors still aren’t sold on Donald Trump.

Second Freddie Gray Trial Ends In Acquittal Of Baltimore Cop

An acquittal in one of the six Freddie Gray cases, but not an unexpected one.

Tom Brady, N.F.L. Players Association To Seek Review Of Appeals Court Deflategate Decision

Deflategate isn’t over yet and, depending on what happens in the Courts, could still be unresolved at the end of the N.F.L. season that begins in September.

Obama Announces End Of U.S. Arms Embargo Against Vietnam

On his trip to Hanoi, President announced the latest sign that the Vietnam War is finally something both nations have manged to put behind them.

Bernie Sanders Continues To Wage War Against The Party He Claims To Support

Even as it becomes more and more apparent that he cannot win the Democratic nomination for President, Bernie Sanders is not letting up on his rhetoric against the leadership of the party he claims he’ll support in November.

Stop Trying To Make Mitt Romney Happen

It’s not going to happen.

Yes, The Trump/Clinton Polls Are Tightening. No, It Doesn’t Mean Much Of Anything

Several recent polls have shown the race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton tightening, but it likely means far less than the media hype makes it sound like.

Oklahoma Legislature Passes Unconstitutional Bill That Makes Abortion A Felony

Oklahoma’s Republican legislature passed a clearly unconstitutional bill outlawing abortion in the state.

Vast Majority Of Native Americans Not Offended By ‘Redskins’ Name, New Poll Claims

A new poll indicates that the argument that the name “Redskins” is disparaging is not an accurate statement of how Native Americans themselves feel about the issue.

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.

Morley Safer, Legendary 60 Minutes Correspondent, Dies At 84

A journalistic legend has passed away just days after his retirement was officially announced.

Support For Same-Sex Marriage Continues To Rise, Hits A Record 61%

Nearly one year after the Supreme Court’s historic decision, public support for same-sex marriage continues to rise even among groups that were previously strongly opposed to it.

Egyptian Airliner With 66 On Board Crashes In Mediterranean Sea

An EgyptAir jetliner with 66 on board disappeared from radar just before beginning its decent into Cairo.

Sanders And Clinton Split Victories, Clinton Has Nomination In Sight

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders split victories in Kentucky and Oregon last night, and Clinton is now less than 100 delegates away from an historic victory.

Bowe Bergdahl Trial Delayed Until 2017, But Donald Trump Could Wreck The Entire Case

Bowe Bergdahl’s Court Martial has been delayed until 2017, which raises the possibility that comments by Donald Trump could result in Bergdahl getting off scot-free.

Clinton Hoping For Win In Kentucky To Blunt Sanders Momentum

Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee regardless of what happens in Kentucky and Oregon today, but her campaign is hoping for a win in Kentucky that puts an end to the repetitive stories about Bernie Sanders continuing to win primaries.