Common Ground

>Today: Defense cuts. > >Cal: Defense Secretary Robert Gates may have opened a can of missiles when he recently proposed cuts in military spending. Usually the way these debates go is that if you're liberal and propose cutting defense, you're a ...

Today: The congressional recess.Bob: Congress picked a fine time to get out of town. With an approval rating at 11%, it's just as well that members leave Washington for the August recess to regroup and figure out what it means to "serve" the people. ...

,Today: Arizona’s immigration law.,Cal: It was supposed to be D-Day — or I-Day — in Arizona. Starting today, a police officer, who questioned someone during a legal stop, such as a traffic violation, would have been able to ask that person ...

Today: Guns in the USA.  Bob: Despite what you might think, Cal, I don't hate guns. I might hate the havoc they unleash on our society, but I'm not your typical no-gun-is-a-good-gun liberal. Cal: Well I, too, hate the havoc that ...

Today: The war in Afghanistan.Cal: Before we get to the politics surrounding the McChrystal affair, I think we can both stipulate that the war in Afghanistan is one we can't afford to lose. Would you agree?Bob: Certainly, but we also can't afford ...

Today: Lying and American politics. Cal: How do you know a politician is lying? Bob: How? Cal: His lips are moving. We've all heard some version of this joke, whether lawyers or politicians are the butt of ...

Today: Cutting government. Cal: With all the hand-wringing about the swelling U.S. deficit, you'd think Washington would get the message. If you're spending more than you're "earning," - or rather, taxing - you need to start cutting. Americans who ...

Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. But as longtime friends, they can often find common ground on issues that lawmakers in Washington cannot. View the video version of this column at www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/default.htm or at USA ...

Today: Joblessness in the USA.Bob: It is a tough time to be out of work in America. Not that any time is a good time, but wow, the pain this country is experiencing should be too much for even the coldest ...

What to do about a do-nothing Congress?Partisan politics has handcuffed the legislative process as the nation’s big problems keep piling up. Something’s gotta give, Cal and Bob say.Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberalDemocratic strategist. But ...