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.

In Arizona, Kelli Ward Sticks Her Foot In Her Mouth On Eve Of Primary

Just hours before Senator McCain died, one of the candidates running for Jeff Flake’s Senate seat claimed that the McCain family released a statement about the late Senator’s health to hurt her campaign.

Trump Reportedly Nixed White House Plans For Laudatory Statement About McCain

President Trump reportedly vetoed a plan to issue a statement lauding Senator John McCain after he died on Saturday.

Democrats Finalize Superdelegate Reforms

Democrats have pulled the trigger and essentially eliminated the power of superdelegates except in the unlikely event that a nominating convention goes to a second ballot.

What Happens With John McCain’s Senate Seat?

Here’s what will happen regarding the selection of a successor to Senator McCain.

John McCain’s Finest Hour

One moment at a campaign rally in October 2008 defines better than anything else what American politics lost when John McCain passed away.

Award Winning Playwright Neil Simon Dies At 91

Iconic Broadway legend Neil Simon, who was responsible for hits such as “The Odd Couple, has died at the age of 91.

Senator John McCain Dies At 81

Senator John McCain has died at the age of 81,

Duncan Hunter Blames Wife, Deep State, For Embezzling Campaign Funds

Recently indicted Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr. is blaming his apparently estranged wife and the so-called “Deep State” for the fact that he’s charged with embezzling a quarter million dollars from his campaign.

Republican Declared Winner Of Narrow Victory In Ohio Special Election

Republican candidate Troy Balderson was declared the winner of a Special Election in suburban Central Ohio, but the fact the race was even close should worry Republicans nationwide.

Voters Voting Voters Voting

Georgia County Abandons Plan To Close Polling Stations In Rural Areas

A Georgia County is abandoning a dubious plan that would have closed 2/3 of the county’s polling stations.

John McCain Ceasing Medical Treatment

Sad news about a Senate stalwart who has been fighting an aggressive form of cancer for more than a year.

Bob Menendez Facing Tougher Than Expected Re-Election Fight

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continues to lead in the polls, but his lead is far from secure.

Ted Cruz Vulnerable? A New Poll Says It’s Possible.

A new poll shows Ted Cruz in a much tighter than expected race for re-election, but it’s going to take more to consider Texas a state that Democrats could pick up in the fall.

Ohio State Suspends Urban Meyer Three Games Amid Assistant Coach Abuse Scandal

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees has suspended football coach Urban Meyer for three games over his handling of allegations of domestic violence by an Assistant Coach dating back to 2015.

Donald Trump The Unindicted Co-Conspirator

No matter how long Donald Trump remains in office, August 21, 2018 will be the day that everything changed.

Kavanaugh One Step Closer To Confirmation

Judge Brett Kavanaugh reportedly told Senator Susan Collins that he considers Roe v. Wade
“settled law.” This will likely be enough to get her support and that of another holdout Republican Senator.

Congressman Duncan Hunter Jr., Early Trump Backer, Indicted

California Republican Duncan Hunter Jr, who was an early backer of President Trump’s campaign, has been indicted on charges he used massive amounts of campaign funds to pay for personal expenses.

Paul Manafort Found Guilty On Eight Counts

Robert Mueller and his legal team get their first victories in court.

Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty To Multiple Charges

The President’s former lawyer and “fixer” is pleading guilty to a number of charges, including apparent campaign finance law violations related to the Stormy Daniels payment.

Violating Yet Another Norm, Trump Attacks The Federal Reserve

Donald Trump is now attacking his own appointee to head the Federal Reserve Board.

Cohen And Trump May Be In Deep Trouble Over The Stormy Daniels Payment

The latest reports about the circumstances surrounding the payoff to Stormy Daniels could pose big problems for Michael Cohen and his client.

Pope Francis’s Empty Rhetoric On The Abuse Scandal

Pope Francis took the rare step of sending a letter addressed to all of the world’s Catholics on the sexual abuse scandal. Words are fine, but they need action to back them up.

It’s Time For The U.S. To Stop Supporting The War On Yemen

Through our so-called allies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the United States is helping to destroy Yemen. It’s time for our support for that war to come to an end.

Americans Don’t Support Trump’s ‘Space Force’

The American public is not sold on the idea of a ‘Space Force.’

Trump Attacks Manafort Prosecution

Once again, the President has thrown the Rule of Law under the bus.

ESPN Won’t Air Anthem Before Monday Night Football

ESPN won’t air the National Anthem before regular season games this year, but that probably won’t stop the President from ranting about it.

After Fourteen Days, All Eyes Are On The Jury In The Manafort Trial

The Virginia case against Paul Manafort went to the jury on Thursday, and now everyone waits for their verdict.

Gary Johnson Enters Senate Race In New Mexico

Gary Johnson was a successful two-term Governor in New Mexico. Now he’s making a bid to represent the Land of Enchantment in the U.S. Senate.

Kofi Annan, Former U.N. Secretary-General, Dies At 80

Kofi Annan, who served as Secretary-General of the United Nations at the dawn of the “War On Terror,” has died at the age of 80.

North Dakota To Vote On Marijuana Legalization In November

Another step forward in the seemingly unstoppable movement toward nationwide legalization.

Trump’s Military Parade Postponed As Cost Soars

Donald Trump’s vanity-seeking military parade has been postponed amid reports that the estimated cost has increased dramatically.

Venezuelan Military Officers Arrested In Connection With Attack On Maduro

Venezuela has arrested two military officers in connection with the alleged assassination attempt on President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

Midterms Looking Good For Democrats

New Generic Congressional Ballot polls have good news for Democrats.

Aretha Franklin, The Queen Of Soul, Dies At 76

RIP. Queen Of Soul

Trump Revokes John Brennan’s Security Clearance, Threatens More Revocations

In what appears to be a move based purely on vindictiveness, President Trump has revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan.

Do Democrats Have A Pelosi Problem?

Recent reports have indicated that doubts are growing about the wisdom of keeping California Democrat Nancy Pelosi at the top of House Leadership.

Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report Reveals Widespread Abuse In Catholic Church

A Pennsylvania Grand Jury report reveals decades of abuse by some 300 Catholic Priests impacting more than 1,000 children and 26 of the state’s Roman Catholic Diocese.

Christine Hallquist Becomes First Transgender Candidate For Governor In The U.S.

Vermont Democrats nominated a transgender woman for Governor yesterday but she faces long odds in November.

Keith Ellison Wins Minnesota Attorney General Primary Despite Abuse Allegations

Congressman Keith Ellison won his party’s nomination for Minnesota Attorney General notwithstanding last-minute allegations of abuse against a former girlfriend.

Lawsuits Challenge “Winner Take All” Allocation Of Electoral College Votes

A group of lawsuits filed across the country are seeking to challenge the predominant method for allocation of Electoral College votes. These lawsuits appear to have little merit.

Tim Pawlenty Fails In Comeback Effort, Confirming That The GOP Is Trump’s Party

Former Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty failed in his comeback effort last night, confirming yet again that the GOP is now the Trump Party.

Kansas Governor Concedes GOP Nomination To Kris Kobach

After a week, the race for the GOP nomination for Kansas Governor is over. Now it’s on to what could be an interesting General Election.

Florida Man Charged In Parking Lot Shooting Despite ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law

A Florida man who shot and killed an African-American male amid a parking lot confrontation will face manslaughter charges after all.

Most Americans Say Race Relations Have Gotten Worse Under Trump

A new poll shows that most Americans believe that race relations have gotten worse under President Trump.

The Real Goal Of Russian Election Interference

Russia’s real goal in interfering in American elections may not have anything to do with favoring one candidate over another.

Trump’s Border Wall Will Cost Billions More Than Projected

A new government report indicates that President Trump’s border wall will cost billions more than initially projected. And Mexico still isn’t going to pay for it.

Trump World Experiences An Omarosa Earthquake

Omarosa Manigault Newman, who used to be a Trump favorite, is out with a book that makes sensationalistic claims about the Trump Administration. The real story, though, is what she has on tape and how she got it.

Charlottesville Anniversary March A Complete Dud

White supremacists held a rally in Washington on Sunday, and almost no one but their opponents and the police showed up.

A Year After Charlottesville, Trump Shows That He Doesn’t Get It Or Doesn’t Care

One year after Charlottesville, it’s clear that President Trump still doesn’t understand what happened there, or that he just doesn’t care.

Two Months After Singapore, Few Signs Of Progress With North Korea

Two months after the Singapore Summit, there’s no sign that anything substantive has been accomplished on the Korean Peninsula.