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.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Democratic Debate Stage Set To Shrink Again

Next week’s Democratic debate could have as few as five candidates.

Mike Pompeo Decides Against Running For Senate

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has decided against running for Senator Kansas, decision that could force the GOP to defend an otherwise safe seat.

Bolton Now Says He’d Be Willing To Testify

After months of delays, Trump’s former National Security Adviser John Bolton is now saying he’d be willing to testify if he were subpoeanaed.

Trump’s Threat To Sanction Iraq Is Ridiculous And Stupid

President Trump is making ridiculous threats against the regime in Iraq that are likely to draw it closer to Iran.

Trump And The GOP Raked In The Cash In The Final Quarter Of 2019

The Trump campaign and the Republican Party brought in more than $150 million in the last three months of 2019 alone.

Trump’s Threat To Attack Iranian Cultural Sites Would Probably Be A War Crime

President Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites would most likely constitute a war crime if he actually carried it out.

Iran Announces End Of Restrictions Imposed By Nuclear Deal

In response to the American assassination of a top General, Iran has announced the end of yet more restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

In Attacking Iran, Trump Is Losing Iraq (Again)

The assassination of a top Iranian official on a visit to Baghdad is having the expected negative impact on our relationship with Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

Prosecutors In Two Virginia Counties Will Stop Prosecution Of Some Marijuana Cases

Prosecutors in two Virginia counties have announced that they will decline to prosecute low-level drug possession cases.

Warren And Biden Report Strong Fourth Quarter Fundraising Numbers

Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden both brought in impressive fundraising numbers for the final quarter of 2019.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Andrew Yang Raises $16.5 Million In Fourth Quarter

Andrew Yang had an impressive fourth quarter when it comes to fundraising, but it appears unlikely to help his campaign at all.

U.S. Drone Strike Hits Head Of Iranian Revolutionary Guard

An American drone strike has taken out the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a move likely to significantly increase tensions across the Middle East.

Julian Castro Ends Presidential Bid

Another one bites the dust.

Bernie Sanders Raises Nearly $35 Million In Last Quarter Of 2019

A big fundraising quarter for the Senator from Vermont.

Elizabeth Warren Isn’t Talking As Much About ‘Medicare For All’

“Medicare For All” is the centerpiece of Elizabeth Warren’s campaign for President, but she’s not talking about it as much as she used to.

Pete Buttigieg Raises $24.8 Million In Final Quarter Of 2019

Pete Buttigieg had a very successful fundraising quarter at the same time he is rising in the polls.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off Topic because there IS no topic

Kim Jong-Un Announces End Of Testing Moratorium

With one speech, Kim Jong-Un has demonstrated the Trump Administration’s North Korea policy to have been an utter failure.

Happy New Year And New Decade

It’s been quite a year, and quite a decade.

Iraqi Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy

Amid protests over American airstrikes, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has become a target.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Civil Rights Icon Rep. John Lewis Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Worrisome news for an American icon.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Netanyahu Survives Likud Leadership Challenge

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu easily survived a challenge for leadership of the Likud Party.

Trump And The Judiciary

In just three years in office, Donald Trump has succeeded in taking huge steps in transforming the judiciary for decades to come.

It’s Putin’s World, We’re Just Living In It

Notwithstanding Russia’s weak position vis a vis the west, It’s Putin who seems to be winning.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Netanyahu Faces Challenge For Likud Party Leadership

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a challenge for the leadership of the party he’s headed for more than a decade.

Bloomberg’s Prison Labor “Scandal”

Mike Bloomberg’s campaign was forced to apologize for something that really isn’t a scandal.

North Korea Treated Trump Like A Chump, And He Fell For It

New reports indicate that the North Koreans never took any of the steps to reduce their research programs that President Trump claimed they did.

Merry Christmas!

The Political Impact Of Impeachment

The truth is that many voters are paying attention to issues that have nothing to do with impeachment or simply ignoring politics altogether.

Judiciary Committee Hints It Could Move To Impeach Trump Again On Additional Grounds

In a new court filing, House Democrats hint they might move to impeach the President again if the evidence warrants such action.

Impeachment Impasse Could Last Weeks

It could take weeks to resolve the impasse between the House and Senate over the procedures to be followed in the Senate trial of President Trump.

Top Hawaii Democrat Calls On Tulsi Gabbard To Resign

Tulsi Gabbard is under fire back home for her vote on impeachment and for missing votes on the House floor.

Five Sentenced To Death In Khashoggi Murder, But The Coverup Continues

Five men have been sentenced to die by a Saudi Arabian court for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, but the parties who are really responsible are getting off scot-free.

New Year Likely To Bring A “Gift” From North Korea

The DPRK is promising a “gift” to the United States. The only question seems to be what form it will take.

Lawsuit Seeks To Preempt Efforts To Declare Equal Rights Amendment Ratified

A newly filed lawsuit seeks to blunt expected efforts in 2020 to “ratify” the Equal Rights Amendment even though it effectively died nearly 40 years ago.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

The Problem With Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws

Willie Simmons is 61 years old. He’s spent the last 38 years in prison for stealing $9.00 thanks to what clearly appears to be an unjust and overly hard “habitual offender” statute. His story is far too common.

While Australia Burns, Its Prime Minister Fiddled Away On Vacation

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison gets a lesson in governing the hard way.

Sixth Democratic Debate Draws Lowest Viewer Numbers Yet

Thursday night’s Democratic debate drew the lowest numbers of any of this season’s debates.

Open Forum

Where you can’t be off topic because there IS no topic.

Brexit Takes A Big Step Forward With Win In Parliament For Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson’s Brexit Plan scored a big win in Parliament, which makes a January 31st Brexit essentially inevitable.

Fifth Circuit Strikes Down PPACA Individual Mandate

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the PPACA”s individual mandate unconstitutional but left the fate of the rest of the law unresolved.

New Jersey Congressman Makes Party Switch Official

New Jersey Congressman Jeff van Drew, elected just last year as a Democrat, is now a Republican.