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.

Kirsten Gillibrand Drops Out Of Presidential Race

Kirsten Gillibrand has dropped out of a Presidential race few people realized she was in.

Democratic Debate Field Cut In Half

The stage for the third Democratic debate, scheduled for mid-September, is set and its half the size of its predecessors.

Open Forum

Boris Johnson Suspends Parliament To Force Hard Brexit

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken a step that virtually guarantees that the United Kingdom will go ahead with a hard Brexit at the end of October.

New Polls Show Biden Still Comfortably Leading In Democratic Race

Two new polls released today indicate that earlier suggestions that the race for the Democratic nomination had shifted were incorrect.

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson To Retire, Setting Up 2020 Battleground

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson will retire at the end of 2019, setting up a contest in 2020 to fill the remainder of his term.

Most Americans Want Trump Gone, But Not By Impeachment

A new poll shows that most Americans want President Trump out of office, but don’t want to see the House impeach him.

Oklahoma Judge Issues Massive Verdict Against Johnson & Johnson In Opioid Trial

An Oklahoma state court Judge has handed down what many are hailing as a landmark ruling related to the opioid crisis, but there’s reason to be skeptical about his conclusions.

Florida Jury Rejects “Stand Your Ground” Defense In Parking Lot Argument Case

A Florida jury has convicted a man involved in an argument over a parking space of manslaughter, rejecting his attempt to invoke the state’s ‘stand your ground’ law

Steve King Is Low On Money And Out Of Friends

Iowa Congressman Steve King finds himself low on campaign cash and with virtually no support from his party.

Joe Arpaio Running For Sheriff Again

Controversial former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was voted out of office in 2016 after serving six terms in office, is running to get his old job back.

Open Forum

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

New Poll Shows Biden, Sanders, and Warren Tied At The Top Of Democratic Field

A new poll shows Joe Biden dropping significantly among national Democrats to the point where he is effectively tied with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

Law & Order: Exterrestrial Unit

We may have the first known case of a crime committed in space.

Budget Deficit Growing Faster Than Expected, CBO Reports

Thanks for nothing, Republicans.

Trump Has Repeatedly Asked Advisers Why We Can’t Just Nuke Hurricanes

President Trump continues to have an odd obsession with nuclear weapons.

Former Congressman Joe Walsh Launches Primary Challenge Against Trump

Joe Walsh, a former Tea Party stalwart who served in Congress nine years ago, has thrown his hat in the ring against President Trump for the 2020 GOP Presidential Nomination.

Elizabeth Warren Could Be Trump’s Easiest Opponent

Elizabeth Warren is rising tn the polls of the Democratic primary race, but one analyst argues she may be the perfect candidate….to help re-elect Donald Trump.

Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck Retires At 29

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck surprised the sports world last night by announcing an early retirement.

Tom Brady Is No Tom Terrific Says The Patent And Trademark Office

Tom Brady tried to trademark the nickname “Tom Terrific.” It didn’t go so well.

Open Forum

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

Trump Goes Full Dictator

Donald Trump isn’t just admiring dictators now, he’s acting like one.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Has Cancer Treatment For Second Time In A Year

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg underwent three weeks of cancer treatment earlier this summer. The second such treatment in a year, and the fourth in the last twenty years.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders To Continue Career Of Lying For Donald Trump

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed on with Fox News Channel to continue her career of lying on behalf of the President.

Fed Chairman Labels Trade War As Source Of Concern, Trump Labels Him An Enemy

President Trump’s hand-picked Federal Reserve Chairman is stating the blindingly obvious about the ongoing trade war, so of course the President labeled him an enemy.

Congressman Seth Moulton Ends Presidential Bid

Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton is ending a Presidential bid that few people were paying attention to.

David Koch, Businessman, Political Activist, and Philanthropist, Dead At 79

David Koch, one-half of the Koch Brothers and the head of a wide-ranging business empire who also went on to have a huge impact on politics and cultural philanthropy, has died at the age of 79.

Trump Thinks Russia Should Be Readmitted To The G-7

Once again, President Trump is doing Vladimir Putin’s bidding.

Republicans Lining Up To Take On AOC For Some Reason

Republican candidates are lining up to take on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez even though the odds of a Republican winning in her district are essentially zero.

Pressure Continues On Mike Pompeo To Run For Senate In Kansas

Republicans from around the country want Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to run for Senate in Kansas. Because they’re afraid they can’t win without him.

Open Forum

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

Trump: I Am “The Chosen One”

Donald Trump’s delusions of grandeur are getting more and more bizarre.

Mark Kelly Leads Martha McSally In Latest Arizona Senate Poll

Mark Kelly, and the Democratic Party, got some good news in the latest Senate poll out of Arizona.

Trump vs. Fox News Channel

Even when it comes from his favorite propaganda network, Donald Trump doesn’t like bad news.

John Hickenlooper Enters Colorado Senate Race

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who dropped out of the race for President just last week, is running for Senate in his home state.

Let The Winnowing Begin

As many as twelve candidates for the Democratic nomination may not qualify for the next debate. They should use that as an opportunity to get out of a race they clearly aren’t going to win.

Jay Inslee Drops Out Of Presidential Race Few People Realized He Was In

Washington Governor Jay Inslee is the latest candidate to drop ou of the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. He won’t be the last.

Trump Doubles Down: Jewish American Democrats Disloyal To Israel

President Trump doubled down on his tirade against Jewish American Democrats from yesterday with some even more offensive comments.

Fox News Poll Shows Trump Losing To Top Democrats

A new poll shows Donald Trump losing to top Democrats in head-to-head races.

Sean Spicer Hits Rock Bottom

Sean Spicer will appear on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars

Biden Drops First Ad In Iowa, Emphasizing Electability

Former Vice-President Biden has dropped his first television ad in Iowa, and it touches on his strongest selling point.

Trump Cancels Visit To Denmark Because Danes Won’t Sell Greenland

Another day, another Trump temper tantrum.

Open Forum

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

Trump: Jewish Americans Who Vote For Democrats Are Either Ignorant Or Disloyal

President Trump just tossed a hand grenade into the firestorm that American politics.

Federal Government Won’t Provide Flu Vaccine To Migrants Held In Border Facilities

The Trump Administration has apparently decided that it will not be providing the flu vaccine to migrants being held in facilities at the southern border.

Trump Backs Away From Gun Control Yet Again

As he has in the past, President Trump has backed away from support for any gun control measures in the wake of the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

#metoo artistic graffiti girl shocked #metoo artistic graffiti girl shocked

Mark Halperin Attempts A Comeback After #MeToo Allegations

Mark Halperin, the former MSNBC political analyst who was accused of misconduct during the height of the #MeToo Movement, is trying to make a comeback with a new book.

Poll Shows Solid Support For Free Trade, Opposition To Trump’s Tariffs

A new poll shows solid support for free trade and opposition to the President’s tariffs, suggesting strongly that Trump is losing the public relations battle on this issue.

NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo Finally Fired In Choking Death Of Eric Garner

More than five years after the fact, the NYPD officer who applied an illegal chokehold that resulted in the death of Eric Garner has finally been fired.