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.

Commission On Presidential Debates Sets Schedule For General Election Debates

The Commission on Presidential Debates has released the schedule and criteria for the General Election debates. As usual, the criteria are heavily biased in favor of the major party candidates.

Tulsi Gabbard Threatening To Boycott Debate. Would Anyone Notice? [UPDATED]

Tulsi Gabbard, who managed to qualify for tomorrow’s fourth Democratic debate after missing out on the third, is threatening to boycott what may be her last chance to make her case to a national audience.

Open Forum

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

On Republican Hypocrisy

The impeachment battle on Capitol Hill is revealing a whole lot of Republican hypocrisy.

Should We Feel Obligated To Always Leave A Tip?

Is tipping a social obligation or an incentive/punishment related to quality of service?

Status Of Brexit Is Clear As Mud As Deadline Nears

With just over two weeks to go until the deadline, the status of Brexit is entirely unclear.

Louisiana Governor’s Race Headed To Runoff

As widely expected, yesterday’s “jungle primary” in the Louisiana Governor’s race ended with nobody winning a majority.

Kenyan Runner Eliud Kipchoge Breaks The Two-Hour Marathon

A new record, but unfortunately it won’t be recognized.

Trump Bows Down To King Corn On Ethanol Subsidies And Mandates

With an eye on the trade war and the 2020 election, President Trump is increasing subsidies and mandates for corn-based ethanol.

Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan Out After Six Months In Office

President Trump loses yet another Cabinet Secretary.

Former Ambassador To Ukraine: Pressure From Trump And Giuliani Forced Me Out

Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, had a lot to say when she testified before Congress yesterday.

Rudy Giuliani Under Criminal Investigation

Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani is under criminal investigation by the same office he once headed as U.S. Attorney.

Open Forum

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

Trump’s Attacks On Biden Turn Crude, Rude, And Unpresidential

The President of the United States behaves like a child.

Trump Loses Another Legal Effort To Block Congressional Document Requests

President Trump loses another lawsuit against his ongoing efforts to stonewall Congress.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Wins Nobel Peace Prize

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize Laureate comes from a part of the world that most people almost never think about.

White House Officials ‘Alarmed’ By Trump Contacts With Ukraine

New reports indicated that the President’s contacts with Ukraine’s President set off alarm bells inside the White House.

Two Giuliani Associates Arrested While Heading Out Of The Country

Two associates of President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani were arrested on their way out of the country, and the question is what connection Giuliani may have to the reasons behind their arrest.

The N.B.A. Continues To Kiss Chinese Ass

The National Basketball Association’s kowtowing to China hits American shores.

South Park Banned In China After Episode Mocking Chinese Censorship

South Park mocked Chinese censorship so, of course, they were censored in China.

Trump Doesn’t Care If ISIS Terrorists Return To Europe

President Trump is basically saying he does not care if ISIS prisoners return to Europe to commit terror attacks.

Donald Trump Shrugging Donald Trump Shrugging

Trump On Syrian Kurds: They Didn’t Help Us At Normandy

Trump makes a particularly dumb comment about our alliance with Syrian Kurds.

Turkish Forces Cross Border Into Northern Syria, Hit Kurdish Areas

Just days after President Trump agreed to remove American forces from the scene, Turkish forces are entering northern Syria and Kurdish forces say they ar ready for war.

Open Forum

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

Shot And Chaser: Barry Goldwater Was Right Edition

Barry Goldwater saw what the so-called “religious right” would become decades ago.

Time For Bernie To Hang Up The Gloves?

After a heart attack that has kept him out of the campaign for a week, it may be time for Bernie Sanders to pack it in.

Justices Divided On Extending Civil Rights Laws To LGBT Employees

Yesterday, the Supreme Court held oral argument in a series of cases asking it to decide if existing civil rights laws cover discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Country First, Or Trump First? Republicans Face A Choice.

Republicans face a choice. Do they put their country first, or do they put their President first?

White House Doubles Down On Stonewalling

The White House is doubling down on its illegitimate stonewalling of valid Congressional document requests.

Federal Budget Deficit Ends Fiscal Year Just Shy Of $1 Trillion

Don’t worry folks, we’ll make it past that mark quite easily over the course of the new Fiscal Year.

Ohio State Marching Band’s Apollo 11 Tribute

Something fun to cleanse the palate.

North Korea Throws Cold Water On Future Negotiations

North Korea appears to be pulling back from any future negotiations over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, leaving the Trump Administration’s Korea policy in shambles.

Poll Shows Majority Support For Impeachment Inquiry

Public opinion on impeachment has shifted rapidly to the point where a majority of Americans support an impeachment inquiry and support for removal is growing as well.

Trump Loses Lawsuit To Block Subpoena For His Tax Returns

A Federal Judge rejected the President’s effort to block a New York City prosecutor from obtaining copies of his tax returns.

Trump’s Syria Moves Face Heavy Criticism

President Trump’s latest Syria move is coming under heavy criticism even from fellow Republicans.

Amy Klobuchar Raises $4.6 Million In Third Quarter

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is behind in the polls but still able to stay alive financially.

Open Forum

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

Boris Johnson Stumbles Toward Brexit As E.U. Rejects Latest Proposal

As the Brexit deadline approaches, Boris Johnson’s options dwindle and a hard Brexit becomes more likely.

Federal Judge Blocks California Law Requiring Disclosure Of Candidate Tax Returns

Late last week, a Federal Judge in California placed on hold a state law requiring candidates to provide copies of their tax returns.

Trump Promised Xi That The U.S. Would Remain Silent About Hong Kong

President Trump has reportedly pledged to Chinese President Xi Jinping that the United States would not speak out against Chinese actions in Hong Kong.

Trump Pulls U.S. Forces From Northern Syria, Leaving Kurds Vulnerable

The United States is withdrawing its small force from Northern Syria, clearing the way for a Turkish invasion that will likely
aim to wipeout the Kurdish forces in the region.

Supreme Court Returns With A Politically Volatile Docket

The Supreme Court returns to work today with a significant number of high-profile cases on its docket.

The Biggest Winner In The Trump-Ukraine Scandal? Putin, Of Course

With the ongoing Ukraine scandal having an impact in Washington and Kyiv, the biggest winner is in Moscow.

Donald Trump, Joseph McCarthy, And Profiles In Republican Cowardice

Much like it did during the McCarthy Era, the Republican Party has to decide what side of history it wishes to be on. The right side, or the wrong side.

Whistleblower’s Complaint Has Been Corroborated

The evidence piles up.

Open Forum

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

More Bad Whistleblower News For Trump

A second potential whistleblower and an apparent criminal referral from the CIA’s top lawyer make a bad week even worse for Donald Trump.

Elizabeth Warren Raises $24.6 Million, Trailing Only Bernie Sanders

A very successful fundraising quarter for Senator Elizabeth Warren caps off a quarter that has seen her surge in the race for the 2020 nomination.

Doctors Confirm That Bernie Sanders Had A Heart Attack

After a week of silence, Bernie Sanders campaign confirm that he had a heart attack earlier this week.

The Post-Trump GOP Will Not Go Back To ‘Normal’

Contrary to the hopes of some, getting rid of Trump isn’t going to purge the GOP of Trumpism.