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Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas

tcaeditors@tribune.com

Cal Thomas is one of the most widely syndicated political columnists in America. Based in Washington, he is a wide-ranging social commentator, not a "beltway insider," who supports traditional conservative values and the American "can-do spirit." He'll take on virtually any topic, from the decline of the family to growing terrorism worldwide.
A syndicated columnist since 1984, he is the author of “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires, Superpowers and the United States” (HarperCollins/Zondervan, January 2020). His latest book is “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen in 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books, May 2023). Readers may email Mr. Thomas at tcaeditors@tribune.com.

Columns by Cal Thomas

THOMAS: Significance of the moment

"What does change mean?" asked Woodrow Wilson in his Inaugural address. That is a question which will soon be answered by President Barack Obama.

January 22, 2009

THOMAS: Insolvent!

The late Edward Bennett Williams, attorney and owner of The Washington Redskins, once said of his coach, George Allen — “I gave him an unlimited expense account and he exceeded it.”

January 20, 2009

THOMAS: Welcome to prime time

Welcome to Washington, soon-to-be- "Mr. President." I know you've been here before for a short time as senator, but this is different. This is The Big Time, the world stage and you are the leading man.

January 16, 2009

THOMAS: Bush’s exit interview

Entering the West Wing reception area for my last interview with President George W. Bush is a surreal experience. There is no one there, other than two Secret Service agents, a White House police officer and a receptionist. The place used to teem with people eager for a moment with the commander in chief, now people speak in hushed tones. A small TV set in the coatroom is tuned to Fox News. That will soon change. The news anchor is talking only about President-elect Barack Obama. With two weeks to go in the Bush administration, it's all about the "O," not the "W."

January 8, 2009

THOMAS: Pigs at the trough

Like pigs waiting in line to get their snouts in the feeding trough, come many of the nation's governors - on the heels of the mayors - asking Washington for bailout money.

January 7, 2009

THOMAS: Gaza Nazis

Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, are the Nazis of modern times. Israel is right to pound military targets inside Gaza. But much of the violence Israel brought on itself by giving up land it had to know would be used to rain death on its civilians. That is always the pattern.

January 2, 2009

THOMAS: Make love, not war

One of the chants to come from the Vietnam antiwar movement was the memorable "make love, not war." That sentiment has resurfaced in a different but equally stimulating context, thanks to some creative people within U.S. intelligence.

December 31, 2008

THOMAS: The ultimate gift — faith

Examples of faith abound at this time of year. There is the faith children put in Santa Claus to bring them stuff that magically no one seems to have paid for. Call it a "bailout" for kids.

December 24, 2008

THOMAS: Sweet Caroline

Like many Americans my age, I first "met" Caroline when she was a child. The image of her in those black-and-white photos holding her father's hand and riding her pony remain indelible.

December 19, 2008

THOMAS: Santa Claus government

Most children have probably finished their Christmas lists to Santa Claus. Some elected officials, however, are still compiling theirs.

December 17, 2008

THOMAS: Think and act globally?

For years I have received letters written as elegantly as ransom notes, advising me of certain worldwide conspiracies. Sometimes the writing instrument of choice has been a crayon.

December 12, 2008

THOMAS: O.J. justice

the administering of deserved punishment or reward." - www.dictionary.com

December 10, 2008

THOMAS: Whatever happened to optimism?

During the Great Depression and World War II, truly challenging times, there were songs that boosted the spirits of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. "There'll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover" was one; "Look for the Silver Lining," was another.

December 5, 2008

THOMAS: Mumbai explained

Looking at the faces of two young men who were among the purveyors of death at Mumbai, India's Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus station and Leopold's restaurant, makes Westerners recoil, and not just in horror. We also question how anyone could be so insensitive to the value of human life.

December 3, 2008

THOMAS: Mission accomplished II

Nineteen months after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid declared the war in Iraq "lost" and just nine months after Speaker Nancy Pelosi asserted the war has been a "failure" because it had not brought political change leading to reconciliation, it can now be said conclusively that both were wrong.

November 26, 2008

THOMAS: Another deficit

While Congress spends -- and plans to spend -- like the proverbial drunken sailor to "bail out" various industries for practices that are largely their fault and the fault of those in Congress who were supposed to provide oversight, another deficit looms which is at least as troubling as the economic one.

November 21, 2008

THOMAS: The age of corporate greed

In an age when "big business" and "corporate greed" seem to be synonymous in the public mind, some bright lights occasionally emerge from the darkness brought on by AIG big spenders and over-the-top high-livers.

November 19, 2008