Common Ground

Today: President Obama's troop build-up for the Afghanistan war. Bob: Now that the president has made his decision to add 30,000 additional US forces to the Afghan war, it's clear he was considering goals, methods, and an exit strategy, ...

Today: Unity and the war effort - yesterday Vietnam, today Afghanistan. Bob: As President Obama contemplates sending thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan, I am struck by how few Americans are engaged in the debate on this war. It's ...

Today: The economic bailout, one year later. Bob: Exactly a year ago today, this newspaper's lead story on page one captured the urgency and fears facing our political leaders - and the country - as Congress considered whether to ...

Time to dig in, not bail outForget left or right. Forget politics. Think ‘war on terror.’ Bob and Cal agree that now is not the time to abandon the war in Afghanistan.Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a ...

The lives behind a liberal (Bob) and a conservative (Cal)Bob’s dad marched with Dr. King. Cal’s went to college on the GI Bill. The columnists’ family stories shaped the principles they adhere to today.Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel ...

Health reform: Everyone take a deep breathReforming the U.S. health care system is not something that one person, or one party, could or should attempt alone. Congress should leave town and return with one thing in mind: coming together.Cal Thomas ...

Cap and trade — and youCan Congress find an effective — and efficient — way to reduce greenhouse gases? Where Bob sees a world-saver, Cal sees a jobs-killer.Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. ...

Today: The partisan nature of Supreme Court justice nominations.Bob: There have been millions of words written and spoken about President Obama's first Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, in the few weeks since he chose her. Within minutes of the announcement, we ...

Don't fear the truthAmerica needs a clear record, and a clean conscience, on how we’ve fought the war on terror. What to do? Cal and Bob agree on the need for a non-partisan ‘truth commission.’ Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob ...

Graduates, lend them your earsCal and Bob weren’t invited to douse the Class of 2009 with their wisdom, but that didn’t stop them. So please take your seats and save the applause for the end.Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. ...