Joel B. Pollak

Joel B. Pollak - Page 306

Articles by Joel B. Pollak

5 Things the CDC Can Do to Contain Ebola

News that the first case of Ebola in the U.S. had been identified and isolated in Dallas has caused widespread concern, given the severity of the disease and previous assurances by President Barack Obama himself that it was “unlikely” that

5 Things the CDC Can Do to Contain Ebola

Will Obama Apologize to Bibi at Today's Meeting?

For several weeks this summer, President Barack Obama and his State Department insisted that Israel a) reach a cease-fire with Hamas, after the Palestinian terror group started a war; b) restrict its aerial bombing of Hamas targets, so as to

Will Obama Apologize to Bibi at Today's Meeting?

Front-Page Racism at the New York Times

Would the New York Times be outraged by a black mayor being elected to lead a predominantly white city? In a front-page article Monday, “Mostly Black Cities, Mostly White City Halls,” the Gray Lady presents the persistence of white political leadership

Front-Page Racism at the New York Times

Newsom Still Refuses to Debate Nehring for Lt. Governor

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom continues to refuse any debates with Republican challenger Ron Nehring. Though the state’s rising Democratic star proclaims that he is “Dedicated to equal rights” on his Twitter page, evidently that enthusiasm for equality does not extend

Newsom Still Refuses to Debate Nehring for Lt. Governor

Bibi to UN: A Nuclear Iran Is Like ISIS with The Bomb

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave one of the finest–and most important–addresses of his career Monday at the United Nations General Assembly, laying out a simple case against “militant Islam” that seems self-evident to many, but is anathema in elite

Bibi to UN: A Nuclear Iran Is Like ISIS with The Bomb

How Obama's UN Speech Enabled Iran's Propaganda

Last week, President Barack Obama complained to the United Nations General Assembly about violence in Ferguson, Missouri, implicitly equating the protests to the genocidal violence of ISIS, his primary focus in the address. On Sunday, Iranian leader Ali Khamenei picked

How Obama's UN Speech Enabled Iran's Propaganda

CA-17: Khanna Hits Honda with Ethics Claims

Ro Khanna, the tech-funded Democrat challenger to incumbent Democrat Rep. Mike Honda in California’s 17th congressional district, has launched a blistering attack against Honda over alleged ethics violations. Khanna, citing an investigative report by the San Jose Insider, accused Honda

CA-17: Khanna Hits Honda with Ethics Claims

Brown: Free Lawyers for Illegal Alien Kids; Less Money for UC, CSU Schools

California Gov. Jerry Brown approved $3 million in taxpayer-funded legal aid to illegal alien children fighting deportation hearings–yet vetoed $100 million for state-funded universities, citing low property tax receipts. The funding for lawyers for the illegal alien minors comes amidst

Brown: Free Lawyers for Illegal Alien Kids; Less Money for UC, CSU Schools

Report: ISIS Threat Received at Navy SEALs Training Base

The U.S. Navy received a threat Thursday purporting to be from ISIS at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado–the primary training facility for U.S. Navy SEALs, according to a military official cited by local Fox affiliate KSWB 5. The threat was found

Report: ISIS Threat Received at Navy SEALs Training Base

A Wannabe Radical Slanders Israel in the New York Times

My family and I passed Mairav Zonszein’s awful New York Times op-ed around the Sabbath table yesterday afternoon, alternately outraged and bemused. (One family member suggested boycotting the newspaper in response: another shrugged, noting that an anti-Israel op-ed from the Times is

Blue State Blues: The Mayor of America, A Troubled Town

For a while now, I have been describing President Barack Obama as the “mayor of America.” He is attempting to govern our large, populous, and impossibly complex society as if he were a big city mayor-for-life with untrammeled executive powers–and

Blue State Blues: The Mayor of America, A Troubled Town

Obama Complains About Ferguson Violence in Speech to UN About ISIS

Addressing the opening of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, President Barack Obama spoke about the need to defeat extremism abroad–and cited racial tension in Ferguson, Missouri at home. The president had just told the assembled delegates and heads

Obama Complains About Ferguson Violence in Speech to UN About ISIS

Kashkari Struggles for Poll Breakthrough

Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari continues to lag far behind incumbent Democrat Governor Jerry Brown, struggling to make up a 21-point gap, according to the latest Public Policy Institute of California poll. In an election where few voters are paying

Kashkari Struggles for Poll Breakthrough

California Voters Abandon Both Major Parties; GOP Hardest Hit

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen reports that California voters are abandoning both major political parties in droves–and that they are leaving the Republican Party behind even more than the Democratic Party. The state’s 60-day report of voter registration shows

California Voters Abandon Both Major Parties; GOP Hardest Hit

China Emits More Carbon Per Capita Than U.S. and EU Combined

Just as world leaders–well, world leaders without China, India, and several other important fossil fuel-using countries–gathered at the UN Climate Summit in New York on Tuesday, a curious piece of news crossed the wires. The Financial Times reported that, for the

China Emits More Carbon Per Capita Than U.S. and EU Combined

Yes, I Talked About the Rebbe with Sarah Palin

A perceptive viewer noticed something of interest in my dinner conversation with Gov. Sarah Palin about my new book, Wacko Birds: The Fall (and Rise) of the Tea Party. On the table was a copy of Joseph Teluskin’s recent biography

Yes, I Talked About the Rebbe with Sarah Palin

Misson Creep: 4 Questions About Obama's Syria Strikes

President Barack Obama ordered air strikes against ISIS targets inside Syria overnight. He received the full backing of Republican leaders in Congress. The attacks raise a number of military–and political–questions: 1. When did Congress authorize U.S. attacks in Syria? It

Hillary Clinton, the 'Snapchat' Candidate

If Barack Obama was the candidate of Facebook, and has governed as the President of Selfie, then Hillary Clinton is the “Snapchat” candidate–i.e. one who is eager to erase the past from collective memory. Tony Lee reminded me today that

Train to Vegas? Dormant Idea Revived

Leaders in Las Vegas are showing new interest in re-establishing a rail link between Sin City and Southern California, after more than 20 years without rail service. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) said that she would push for resumption of Amtrak

Train to Vegas? Dormant Idea Revived

California Democrats Divided over Schools Superintendent Race

Though California’s Republican Party is fighting for its survival, California’s Democrats are struggling with deep divisions that have come to the surface in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Though the office is technically nonpartisan, the superintendent’s race is

California Democrats Divided over Schools Superintendent Race

California GOP Convention: A Divided Party Fights for Its Survival

Despite a rousing speech by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who indicated that he would soon open an office in the state in pursuit of his presidential ambitions, California’s Republican Party convention in Los Angeles, “Reclaim California,” sounded a note of

California GOP Convention: A Divided Party Fights for Its Survival

Obama's Kipling-esque Mission in Liberia

Take up the White Man’s burden–The savage wars of peace–Fill full the mouth of FamineAnd bid the sickness cease;And when your goal is nearestThe end for others sought,Watch sloth and heathen FollyBring all your hopes to nought. – Rudyard Kipling,

Obama's Kipling-esque Mission in Liberia

Scott Brown Also Ran on National Security in 2010

Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) is defying the skeptics by making the New Hampshire race against incumbent Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen a real contest.  Though he voted as a centrist in Washington, D.C.–even casting a critical vote for the Dodd-Frank

Scott Brown Also Ran on National Security in 2010

Advice: Keep the Clintons on Offense

Hillary Clinton is back in the spotlight she never left, turning up with her husband Bill in Iowa over the weekend, fueling talk about her inevitable second attempt at the presidency. Yet her presentation seemed tone-deaf at times–even referencing the

Caution: Life in Santa Monica May Be Less than Perfect

SANTA MONICA, California — The Associated Press reports that the city of Santa Monica, California beat 300 other towns in competing for $1 million in funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge to study “just how much people in this picture-postcard

Caution: Life in Santa Monica May Be Less than Perfect

Dershowitz on 'Terror Tunnels': 'My Weapon Is the Truth'

Professor Alan Dershowitz has released a new e-book, Terror Tunnels: The Case for Israel’s Just War Against Hamas, that provides an essential primer on the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Dershowitz argues–clearly and conclusively–that Israel’s war effort was

Dershowitz on 'Terror Tunnels': 'My Weapon Is the Truth'

Assyrian Christians Support Cruz After Walkout

Assyrian Christians are standing with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) after he was booed for his support of Israel by some Middle East Christians gathered in Washington, D.C. Wednesday at an event hosted by an organization called “In Defense Of Christians.” Yet

Assyrian Christians Support Cruz After Walkout

Barack Obama, September 11th, 2001: 'A Failure of Empathy'

State Sen. Barack Obama (D-Hyde Park), Hyde Park Herald, Sep. 19, 2001: We need to step up security at our airports. We must reexamine the effectiveness of our intelligence networks. And we must be resolute in identifying the perpetrators of these

Barack Obama, September 11th, 2001: 'A Failure of Empathy'

Turkey Backs Away from Obama, Will Not Help Fight ISIS

Turkey will not support President Barack Obama’s call for a military response to ISIS, according to an official source quoted by Agence France-Presse on Thursday. It will not allow the U.S. to use air bases in Turkey for missions against

Turkey Backs Away from Obama, Will Not Help Fight ISIS

ISIS: King Blasts Republican Ambivalence on Congressional Power

Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with the Democratic Party, pointed out Wednesday that while the GOP has plenty to criticize in President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, its own foreign policy is muddled. Worse, he noted, the Republican Party seems

ISIS: King Blasts Republican Ambivalence on Congressional Power

Obama Puts the 'I' in 'ISIL'

Looking back on Wednesday night’s presidential address to the nation, some analysts have wondered what, exactly, President Barack Obama intended to say. There was no real news in the speech, after all. The main point was to convey a four-part

'No Boots on the Ground,' Like 'You Can Keep Your Doctor'

In this hyperpartisan age, there is one point of agreement between Republicans and Democrats on foreign policy–that is, in addition to the newfound conviction that Congress need not exercise its constitutional authority over war: namely, that there shall be no

'No Boots on the Ground,' Like 'You Can Keep Your Doctor'

Die Antwoord: Afrikaans Has Never Been This Cool Before (Review)

NEW YORK, New York – The South African hip-hop shock rave duo known as Die Antwoord (“The Answer,” pronounced DEE AHNT-vuhr’d) has kicked off its U.S. tour, and played to a packed, sold-out Terminal 5 on Tuesday evening in Manhattan.

Die Antwoord: Afrikaans Has Never Been This Cool Before (Review)