Cal Thomas
Columns by Cal Thomas
Better late than never for sexual misdeeds to be exposed
The English poet of the Middle Ages, Geoffrey Chaucer, is generally credited with coining the phrase that has been updated in modern English to read, "Better late than never." It means to do something or to arrive later than expected may not be good, but it is better than not at all. Published November 27, 2017
Can Donald Trump-haters be thankful for him?
Any other Republican president but Donald Trump might expect to get at least some credit for the mostly positive direction in which the country is headed. Unfortunately, the Trump-haters prefer to focus on his, shall I say, unusual personality, rather than results. So let's put personality aside and consider what has happened in his first 10 months in office. Published November 22, 2017
Museum of the Bible is more than just a museum
The Museum of the Bible opened in Washington, D.C., last weekend, and not a moment too soon for a city (and nation) plagued by scandal. Published November 20, 2017
California’s high cost of living forces residents to flee
Evidence that when Democrats rule, taxes are never high enough can be found at any gas station in this once politically competitive state. Last month, the California gas tax was raised 12 cents a gallon. Regular gas at some stations is again approaching, and in some cities exceeding, $4 a gallon, a level not seen since natural disasters temporarily curtailed refinery production, and Gulf states manipulated prices. Published November 15, 2017
Social gospel is never equal to gospel of personal salvation
When Jim Zeigler, the state auditor of Alabama, invoked the Bible to defend Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore against allegations that he had inappropriate contact with underage girls while single and in his 30s (which Mr. Moore has sort of denied), it signaled perhaps the final stage in the corruption of American evangelicalism. Published November 13, 2017
Hillary and Bill Clinton still escaping scandals
How do they do it? I am not the first to compare the Clintons to Harry Houdini, the great magician and escape artist, but Bill and Hillary make him look like a rank amateur. Published November 8, 2017
Virtual medicine offers access to doctors at low cost
If you're tired of the dysfunction in Washington -- the backbiting, the questioning of motives, the failure to agree on much of anything, the one-upmanship, the allegations about a "stolen" presidential election, Russian "collusion," the posturing and boorish behavior, how about focusing on something that is working and benefits a growing number of people? Published November 6, 2017
Paul Manafort indictment makes Democrats gloat
In considering the indictment of former Donald Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort and an associate, I am reminded of former Bill Clinton aide and defender James Carville's line about the ability of a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich." Published November 1, 2017
Entertainment industry is rife with sexual predators
It should surprise no one that when it comes to sexual harassment, members of Congress and their staffs are treated differently from the rest of us. Published October 30, 2017
Spending cuts will help reign in government
The federal income tax was first introduced under the Revenue Act of 1861 to help defray war costs. Congress repealed the tax in 1871 when the need for government revenue declined, only to restore it in 1894 as part of the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act. The public policy debate surrounding the constitutionality of the income tax has been going on ever since. Published October 25, 2017
Sexual harassment doesn’t happen just in Hollywood
While trying not to indulge in schadenfreude over those hypocritical Hollywood elites who've claimed to stand for "women's rights," only to be accused of sexually harassing them, I noticed "#MeToo" trending on Twitter. At #MeToo, women who have been sexually harassed are invited to post their experiences and many have done so, including four female U.S. senators. Published October 23, 2017
Trump-McConnell feud may produce results
That was some chaotic scene in the White House Rose Garden Monday. After lunch with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, President Trump assured combative reporters and the country that the two are getting along just fine, in spite of the Senate's failure to repeal and replace Obamacare and an uncertain future over tax reform, the other Republican signature issue party members promised to get done. Published October 18, 2017
Trump heads, Pence tails
If a metaphor could be used for this White House, it might be a two-sided coin with President Trump as heads and Vice President Mike Pence as tails. Published October 16, 2017
Prohibiting debate leads to fascism
If it were a plague, the government would rush to quarantine the infected, as occurred during Europe's Black Death in the 14th century. Published October 11, 2017
Harvey Weinstein gets bipartisan criticism
Ancient wisdom from a Higher Authority, which is available to anyone who takes the time to consider it, was provided to constrain people like Harvey Weinstein from acts he has been accused of committing. Published October 9, 2017
Las Vegas shooter took evil path
Responding to the recent Las Vegas concert shooting that killed more than 50 people and injured hundreds more, President Trump described the act as one "of pure evil." Published October 4, 2017
Tax burden fix was foreseen by Calvin Coolidge
In school, I liked math the least and history the most. Both can be useful in the coming debate over President Trump's proposed tax reforms. Published October 2, 2017
Taking the knee takes the fun out of football
If you like professional sports, a major reason -- perhaps the reason -- you attend games or watch them on TV, is that it helps you escape from whatever occupies your mind the rest of the week. You certainly don't want the issues of the day encroaching on your enjoyment. Published September 27, 2017
‘The Vietnam War’ examines history of Southeast Asian conflict
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick have performed a vital public service in making their documentary "The Vietnam War" for the Public Broadcasting Service. Given the division that war caused in America, it is a pretty fair chronicling of the way things were a half-century ago. The film brought back a lot of mostly bad memories to people of my generation. Published September 25, 2017
United Nations, largely useless, could still have a purpose
While campaigning for the presidency, Donald Trump more than once referred to the United Nations as a "useless" organization and "not a friend of democracy." Published September 20, 2017
