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.

Down-Ballot Republicans Campaigning As If Clinton Has Already Won

Republican candidates for the Senate and House are campaigning on the argument that they will be a bulwark against a Clinton Presidency.

It’s Two Weeks Until Election Day, And Things Are Looking Very Good For Hillary Clinton

Two weeks before Election Day, everything seems to be going Hillary Clinton’s way.

Chicago Cubs Break Decades Long Curse With NLCS Win

The last time the Cubs were in the World Series, World War II had just ended. Now, they have a chance to break one of the longest droughts in sports history.

A Night Of Comity Turns Bitter

What was supposed to be a night away from the campaign trail quickly turned partisan.

Final Presidential Debate Draws 71.6 Million Viewers

The final debate of 2016 didn’t draw as many viewers as the first Hillary v. Donald match-up, but it still drew a respectable number.

Third Presidential Debate Marked By Trump’s Refusal To Accept Election Result

For better or worse, the third Presidential debate will largely be remembered for one thing.

Clinton Up Four Points In New Arizona Poll

With the lone exception of Bill Clinton in 1996, Arizona hasn’t gone for a Democrat since 1948. That streak could end this year.

John McCain Says Republicans Will Refuse To Confirm Any Clinton SCOTUS Nominee

John McCain said that Senate Republicans will unite to block any Supreme Court appointment by a President Hillary Clinton.

With Three Weeks To Go, Clinton’s Momentum Appears To Be Surging

With twenty-one days to go until Election Day, things are looking very good for Hillary Clinton.

Republican Efforts To Disavow Trump Now Are Too Little, Too Late

With just over three weeks before Election Day, efforts by top Republicans to disavow their party’s nominee are quite clearly too little, too late.

Trump In Danger In Deeply Red Utah?

Donald Trump is facing potential trouble in a state that has gone for a Democrat only twice since the end of World War II.

Second Presidential Debate Draws 66.5 Million Viewers

Viewership for the second debate fell some twenty percent from the first debate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that voter are losing interest.

Paul Ryan Won’t Campaign For Donald Trump

Paul Ryan is abandoning the Trump campaign.

Second Debate Unlikely To Halt Clinton’s Momentum

Last night’s debate was indeed the low point everyone anticipated it would be, but it seems unlikely to change the status quo.

Clinton Keeps Pulling Ahead Heading Into Second Presidential Debate

As we head into the second Presidential debate, Hillary Clinton looks to be in very good shape.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

Republicans Abandon Trump Over Lewd Remarks

Republicans are abandoning Donald Trump in droves after last night’s revelation of lewd remarks he made in 2005.

September Jobs Report Reveals A Resilient, But Not Strong, Economy

The September Jobs Report continues to show an economy that is growing to some degree, but hardly growing as fast as it should be.

Even If Trump Loses, Trumpism Will Remain A Powerful Force In The GOP

Even if Donald Trump loses next month, the political forces inside the GOP he tapped into are likely to remain very powerful.

Vice-Presidential Debate Draws Lowest Viewership Since 2000

Tuesday night’s running mate debate had lower viewership than any such encounter in sixteen years.

Feel Free To Skip Tonight’s Vice-Presidential Debate, Because It’s Not Going To Matter

Nothing that happens tonight during the Vice-Presidential debate is likely to matter, so feel free to skip it.

With Five Weeks To Go, Clinton Appears To Have Momentum

With five weeks to go, the momentum in the race is moving decidedly in Hillary Clinton’s favor.

Supreme Court Begins New Term Short A Member And Without Any Real Blockbuster Cases

The Supreme Court begins another term faced with the prospect of having to spend much of their time dealing with the fact that they’re short a member.

Trump Pushing Asian American Voters Into Democratic Camp

Donald Trump appears to be pushing voters from America’s fastest growing minority group into the Democratic camp.

Roy Moore Removed From Office Again

It looks like we won’t have Roy Moore to kick around anymore.

Investigators Conclude Flight MH-17 Shot Down By Missile Brought Into Ukraine From Russia

A new report concludes that Malaysia Air Flight 17 was brought down by a missile brought into Ukraine from Russia.

Former Israeli Prime Minister And President Shimon Peres Dies At 93

One of the last survivors of Israel’s founding generation has passed away.

Clinton And Trump Clash In First Presidential Debate

It wasn’t exactly Lincoln-Douglas but, in the end, Hillary Clinton clearly outperformed Donald Trump last night.

Democratic Hopes Of Winning Back The Senate Seem To Be Slipping Away

Democratic hopes of retaking the Senate aren’t going so well at the moment.

Presidential Race Remains Tight Heading Into First Debate

With just hours before the first debate, and six weeks until Election Day, the race for President remains tight.

Golf Legend Arnold Palmer Dies At 87

A golf legend passes away.

Ted Cruz Proves His Political Opportunism Is More Important Than His Conscience

In which Ted Cruz endorses the guy who called his wife ugly and said his father was involved in the Kennedy assassination.

Five Dead In Mall Shooting In Washington State, Gunman Still At Large

A late night attack at a shopping mall, and a suspect still at large have raised tensions in Seattle.

Oklahoma Police Officer Charged In Shooting Death Of African-American Man

An Oklahoma police officer has been charged in the shooting death of an African-American man while North Carolina authorities continue to balk on releasing a video in a shooting case there.

No, Immigrants Aren’t Taking Your Job

A new study debunks an old idea.

Federal Reserve Board Declines To Raise Interest Rates Again

An unsurprising decision from the Federal Reserve.

Protests Erupt In The Wake Of Police Shootings In Oklahoma And North Carolina

After two questionable police shootings, protests erupted overnight in Charlotte, North Carolina.

George H.W. Bush Reportedly Voting For Hillary Clinton

According to one report, the GOP’s longest living former President plans to vote for a Democrat this fall.

Presidential Race Continues To Tighten With Seven Weeks To Go

With just forty-nine days left in the campaign, and less than a week before the first debate, the race for President is tighter than ever.

Suspect In New York City, New Jersey Bombings Captured By Police

Just about two days after setting off bombs in New Jersey and New York City, a suspect is in custody.