Cal Thomas
Columns by Cal Thomas
THOMAS: The meaning of words
“Words must mean something,” President Obama said in Prague last week in response to North Korea's missile launch. He was speaking about the numerous resolutions and condemnations of North Korea's actions through the years by the United Nations and others. It is a standard the president should apply not only to North Korea, but also to the Middle East and the Muslim world. Published April 9, 2009
THOMAS: Courting trouble in Iowa
When Meredith Willson wrote the wildly popular musical "The Music Man" half a century ago, Harold Hill proclaimed trouble had come to River City, Iowa, in the form of a pool hall, which he claimed would corrupt young people unless the local citizens bought the musical instruments he was selling and got their children into a marching band. Published April 7, 2009
THOMAS: Life imitates Pod-People art
The plot of the 1956 cult classic "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" seems remarkably similar to the story line of the Obama administration, which is invading, and appears eager to take over, corporate America. Unfortunately, the reality of the threat to American corporations is far creepier than any science-fiction film could ever be. Published April 3, 2009
THOMAS: Obama’s war or ours?
One often reads and hears that Afghanistan has become “Obama's war.” The implication by many is that if things go badly in Afghanistan, President Obama will be blamed and it will cause him political damage. But if things go well, who will get the credit? It won't be former President George W. Bush, of that you can be sure. Published April 1, 2009
THOMAS: Consensus or censorship?
The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a "finding" to the White House Office of Management and Budget that will force the Obama administration to decide whether to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. If adopted, new laws and regulations will likely follow that have the potential to change our lifestyles and limit our freedoms. Published March 27, 2009
THOMAS: Channel anger at Pelosi, Frank, Dodd
One of the more familiar sayings in politics is, "Don't get angry, get even." Published March 25, 2009
THOMAS: Prevailing politics of envy
When politicians get on their high horses about something, it is almost certain that a considerable amount of horse manure will get spread around. Published March 20, 2009
THOMAS: No one defends Bernard Madoff
The bilked have provided numerous sound bites denouncing Bernie Madoff as "evil," a word whose true meaning is sometimes difficult to grasp in our "nonjudgmental" age. Published March 18, 2009
THOMAS: Journey to destruction
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," said Confucius. But a journey of whatever length presumes one has a destination in mind. With President Obama's executive order authorizing expanded federal funding for research using stem cells, produced from the destruction of human embryos, the destination will be left up to scientists, as will any "speed controls." Published March 13, 2009
THOMAS: Republicans have forgotten who they are
Republicans think they are somebody else: liberals. Published March 11, 2009
THOMAS: A taxing situation
Class warfare costs, but not the people at whom the rhetorical mortars are aimed. Published March 6, 2009
THOMAS: Guilty consciences
For social liberals, what is it about abortion that makes some of them consider it a sacrificial rite through which only the killing of an unborn child can truly liberate a woman from the clutches of paternalism? Published March 4, 2009
THOMAS: The president and the governor
After weeks of "talking down" the economy and concern among some of his supporters that his sobering prognosis for the nation's recovery might be affecting America's natural optimism, President Obama delivered a speech to Congress on Tuesday, parts of which sounded as if they could have been written by a Republican. Published February 27, 2009
THOMAS: Changing nation
"Always pay the bank" was my father's economic advice. In good times and in bad, whether I had low, moderate or high income, I always paid the bank. The bank now offers me loans. Published February 25, 2009
THOMAS: Time to say goodbye
General Motors made my first car. It was a 1955 two-tone Chevrolet with stick shift and black tires. It had an AM radio and air conditioning, if I hand-cranked the window down in summer. It came with bench seats, the better to have your date close to you. I bought it used (this was before cars were "pre-owned") in 1961. My Dad co-signed the $750 note, which I paid. Published February 20, 2009
THOMAS: Why Obamacare may beget euthanasia
Thanks to former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey and her recent essay on Bloomberg.com titled "Ruin your health with the Obama stimulus plan," we know of another problem with the just-passed stimulus bill, one that may threaten the lives of many Americans. Published February 18, 2009
THOMAS: The other Indiana
When President Obama visited Elkhart, Ind., on Monday to flog his economic stimulus plan (aka, more government spending), he saw a struggling town in the midst of a relatively prosperous state. Had he taken the time to visit Indianapolis and to meet with Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, he would have seen a different picture. Published February 13, 2009
THOMAS: Happiness or misery?
In Charles Dickens' novel "David Copperfield," Wilkins Micawber delivers an economics lesson to young David that has been lost on most congressional Democrats, the president and many of us. "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." Published February 11, 2009
THOMAS: Honestly Abe
Had enough of Abraham Lincoln? Of course you haven't. In the bicentennial year of his birth, Lincoln is more interesting than ever. Published February 6, 2009
THOMAS: Once more into the breach
Like Linus van Pelt sitting alone in the pumpkin patch, George Mitchell, Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, is in that dysfunctional region thinking that if he and the Obama administration demonstrate enough sincerity the diplomatic equivalent of the Great Pumpkin will arrive, making all things right. Published January 30, 2009
