Cal Thomas
Columns by Cal Thomas
Why everyone must stop treating political opposites as a burdensome mother-in-law
DUBLIN, Ireland — "Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods. According to Wikipedia, it was first recorded on Dec. 8, 1932, by the Ray Noble Orchestra (with vocals by Val Rosing). Probably these names are as unfamiliar to us today as the demonstration of tenderness is in our modern political culture. Published January 1, 2018
Britain, America embrace secularism
The U.K. Daily Mail has again published a story about a subject that has become a recurring theme this time of year. No, not Christmas, but rather drunkenness, though the holiday is used as its primary excuse. Published December 27, 2017
The Heritage Foundation’s new president is a black woman and a conservative
Hillary Clinton was supposed to break the glass ceiling, which she said has kept a woman from becoming president, but the Heritage Foundation, a conservative public policy think tank based in Washington, D.C., has actually done it. Published December 25, 2017
The ultimate Christmas gift
Unless you are spending this time of year at a spiritual retreat cut off from TV, newspapers or internet service you cannot escape the blaring music and the marketers attempting to sell you something they promise will bring you happiness and peace. Published December 20, 2017
A government ‘refund’
So, a Republican majority Congress has "reformed" the tax code for the first time in 31 years, allowing us to keep a little more of the money we earn. Woohoo! Published December 18, 2017
Donald Trump actually accomplishing his goals
Side issues — some of them created by the president himself — have obscured the accomplishments of the Donald Trump administration during his first year in office. Published December 13, 2017
It’s shortsighted to choose temporal power
In September 1862, a group of Chicago ministers sent a "memorial" (or long letter) to President Abraham Lincoln in which they made a theological argument for the elimination of slavery. Published December 11, 2017
There will be no Middle East peace until hatred of Jews ends
President Trump's son-in-law and designated Middle East peace envoy, Jared Kushner, told the Brookings Institution's Saban Forum last weekend that a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is key to solving larger goals, such as stopping Iranian aggression and Islamic extremism. Published December 6, 2017
Tax reform is just the first step in rolling back the nanny state
One way to kill a predatory animal is to deny it sustenance. The tax-cut bill passed by the Senate, if it clears a conference with the House and President Trump signs it, may be the first step toward starving the big-government beast. Published December 4, 2017
The value of high moral standards has never been more apparent
Rarely has the idiom "virtue is its own reward" looked better than it does in light of the sex scandals sweeping the nation. The so-called "prudishness," of a previous generation and the respect most men were once taught to have for women — and which Hugh Hefner and his disciples of "free love" mocked — are looking better with each passing day. Published November 29, 2017
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
