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Joel B. Pollak

Joel B. Pollak

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Israeli Minister on Iran Proposal: It's a 'Joke'

Israeli Minister on Iran Proposal: It's a 'Joke'

Israel’s Minister of Intelligence, Yuval Steinitz, called a new proposal for a deal on Iran’s nuclear program a “joke,” according to the Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. The terms of the deal, reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday evening, include

Beltway Conservative Journalists Should Have Refused Obama

News leaked via Politico’s Dylan Byers that five D.C.-based conservative journalists met President Barack Obama on Tuesday in an off-the-record session. No, I’m not upset that we weren’t invited–the Groucho Marx rule is relevant here, more so the fact that

Straw Man on the Acela Express

In response to The closing and welding shut of the American liberal mind: I was meant to take a Bolt Bus from Boston to New York today, but because the bus was canceled, I had to take the next train

Obama is Creating a Unified Republican Opposition

A week ago, some Republicans were grousing over the tactics used by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), blaming him for the confrontation that led to the government shutdown over Obamacare. Today, a few are still fanning the flames of GOP infighting–such

Cognitive Dissonance at the Gym

In response to The closing and welding shut of the American liberal mind: This morning, at the gym, I overheard a conversation between a woman and her trainer about Obamacare. (I couldn’t help overhearing it; they were speaking loudly, and

Liberal Intolerance: You Believe What?

I was at a dinner recently where I happened to be seated at a table with new acquaintances of the liberal political persuasion.  We went around the table introducing ourselves. As I said that I work for a “conservative website,”

Harvard Pays Tribute to Alan Dershowitz

Harvard Pays Tribute to Alan Dershowitz

On Monday, Harvard Law School hosted a celebration of Prof. Alan Dershowitz’s fifty years of teaching with an entire afternoon of panel discussions featuring legal scholars, past students, and colleagues in the academy and the law. It was a moving

Celebrating Alan Dershowitz

Today I will have the honor of participating in a special Harvard Law School event honoring the career of Alan Dershowitz, the famous defense lawyer and legal scholar. I have been asked to speak specifically about his work as a

While the World Debates Iran, Covert War Continues

While the World Debates Iran, Covert War Continues

The Iranian government claimed Sunday that it had arrested four individuals accused of trying to sabotage the country’s nuclear sites. While the exact sites allegedly targeted were not named, if such sabotage is indeed going on, it likely involves the

California's 'Trust Act' Defies Feds on Immigration

California's 'Trust Act' Defies Feds on Immigration

When Arizona passed SB 1070, allowing law enforcement officers to demand proof of legal U.S. residence from people detained for other legitimate reasons, the Obama administration acted quickly to challenge the constitutionality of that law in court (and won). Now

Stephanopoulos's Misleading Parting Shot

Stephanopoulos's Misleading Parting Shot

On ABC News’ This Week, House Speaker John Boehner told host George Stephanopoulos that the votes were not there to pass a “clean” debt ceiling increase–i.e. a plain increase with no changes to spending and none of the changes to

NPR's Horsley Spins the Debt Ceiling for Obama

NPR's Horsley Spins the Debt Ceiling for Obama

Scott Horsley continues to be one of the most biased reporters at National Public Radio–and that’s saying something. Horsley, NPR’s White House correspondent, described the looming debt ceiling battle on Weekend Edition on Sunday in terms that not only painted Republicans in

NYT Tells Only Half the Story of Shutdown

NYT Tells Only Half the Story of Shutdown

The New York Times led Sunday morning with a feature on how the government shutdown over Obamacare was “waged by a galaxy of conservative groups with more money, organized tactics and interconnections than is commonly known.” It recycles some typical left-wing

Full Faith and Credit Act: House Republicans' Trump Card

Full Faith and Credit Act: House Republicans' Trump Card

The Wall Street Journal editorial page recently highlighted a largely unknown piece of legislation passed by the House of Representatives in May: the Full Faith and Credit Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA). The bill would prevent the federal government from

Obama Has Lost It

It is worth noting that in most of the serious political crises during (or, more accurately, fomented by) the Obama administration, President Barack Obama has done nothing to reach agreements, and much to destroy them. Dealmaking comes down–alarmingly!–to Vice President

Netanyahu Schools Obama on Diplomacy, Again

President Barack Obama has apparently been quite desperate to meet his Iranian counterpart–so desperate, according to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, that he has persevered despite being rejected over five times. Contrast that with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told

NPR: 'Obamacare Rolled Out as Planned'

NPR: 'Obamacare Rolled Out as Planned'

National Public Radio’s David Greene introduced Friday’s Morning Edition by pronouncing: “Obamacare rolled out as planned.” He repeated the phrase in introducing NPR’s news story, “Ready or Not, Obamacare Rolls Out As Planned.” The story did cover the “computer glitches and slowdowns” that

Obama Administration Asks Congress to Delay Iran Sanctions

Obama Administration Asks Congress to Delay Iran Sanctions

The Obama administration asked Congress on Thursday to delay a new round of sanctions against Iran, citing new negotiations and the progress made in recent overtures between President Barack Obama and Iranian president Hassan Rouhani. Until now, the administration has