Viewer Mail

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, May 8

2013-05-08T13:51:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“In a heartbeat, I would advocate chipping my grandchildren with a GPS tracking device in the unlikely event they should ever be kidnapped. After all, we chip our pets in case they get lost.”

Deb Cochran

Leesport, PA

BENGHAZI INVESTIGATION

Hearings today before the House Oversight Committee looked into why Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans who were murdered in Libya last September were not better protected by our government.

“The same Democrats who politicized and used personal attacks against their political opponents are now screaming foul about the Benghazi hearings. Do they not realize this whole crisis could have been avoided if the Obama administration had simply been truthful when it happened?”

Mark Zimmerman

Hutchinson, KS

“House Democrats who don’t want the truth about Benghazi to come out are not working for the good of this country or its citizenry. I believe their actions border on treason.”

Becky Sprinkle

Meyersville, TX

“The affair at Benghazi is a white wash. In spite of efforts by well-intentioned hearings on the matter, it is a cover-up that will never see the light of day.”

Jesse Salazar, Sr.

Aurora, CO

“This inquiry is not being done to help Republicans or hurt the Democrats; it’s being done to establish what went on that night and who is responsible for the deaths of four Americans.”

Stan Hess

Palmdale, CA

“If Obama can’t be impeached for his dereliction of duty and subsequent cover-up of Benghazi for political gain, what could he be impeached for? It seems he could throw live babies out Air Force One’s window and escape accountability.”

Scott Clark

Irvine, CA

“Obama was informed and made the political decision to do nothing and deliberately mislead the public to sway the election.”

Laurence Cohn

Huntington Beach, CA

“You just stated that Republicans want the facts to be revealed regarding Benghazi to embarrass Democrats. You are wrong – they want the truth because Americans died!”

Kathy Benson

Rehoboth Beach, DE

“Why are you giving President Obama a pass? He went out for weeks blaming the attack on a video. Either he was lied to by his people or he participated in this fraud.”

Dean Johnson

Cedar Rapids, IA

“It seems pretty clear that Mr. Obama was nowhere to be found on the night of the Benghazi attack. Given that he is commander-in-chief, one wonders what happens to military who abandon their post.”

Paula Doss

Roanoke, VA

“Ever wonder why one president lies about a dumb political burglary and has to resign, but Obama has lied since he got into office beyond the Benghazi mess and nothing is done?”

Gene Siburn

Stony Point, NY

“It shouldn’t make any difference whether this was a terrorist attack or a response to an anti-Muslim video. The issue for me is that the President and Secretary of State should have sent help to try and protect American lives.”

Richard Kannarr

Calgary, Canada

PROTECTING KIDS

While kidnappings like the horrific ones in Cleveland are relatively rare in America, they have impacted the way American children live. Gone are the days when kids play outdoors. Have evil people destroyed our freedom?

“It’s ironic that we are dismayed at this wickedness in our communities where children no longer go out and play and students attack their teachers. This is a direct result of removing religious influence from both our schools and our communities.”

Don Westerhoff

Bradenton, FL

“What should we do about evil in America? Harsher punishment! Forget life in prison – people like Tsarnaev and Ariel Castro should be subject to public execution.”

Christie Boils

Little Rock, AR

“Can’t the brothers of the kidnapper in Cleveland be charged with aiding and abetting? They had to be aware and didn’t report it or stop it, but facilitated his continuous imprisonment of these women.”

Marion Mandeville

Hays, KS

“I think all the Castro brothers knew what was going on. If I was a jury, I would sentence them to life in solitary confinement without any human contact like the animals they are.”

Nancy Picciano

Placentia, CA

“My heart is broken and thoughts disturbed by the horrendous kidnappings in Cleveland. I want to do more than just express my grief in words. I hope a foundation is set up to support the victims.”

Gayle Schutte

Chaffee, NY

“The number of child molestations and kidnappings has gone down 50% in the U.S. since 1990. Yet the news reporting of such incidents has gone up 675%. This is the reason kids don’t play outdoors.”

Barry Rotz

Cranberry Township, PA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, May 7

2013-05-07T13:26:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“In regards to Benghazi, the President either lied to the American people for weeks, or his advisors and handlers lied to him for weeks and he made command decisions based on those lies.”

Alan Von Ah

Shawnee, KS

DANGEROUS NATION?

What does the discovery of three women, kidnapped and held hostage by a man in Cleveland for a decade, say about the state of personal security in this country?

“You are correct in her assertion that this crime will enhance the perception that America is a dangerous place. We are rapidly becoming a detached society and that has a cost.”

Dan Curtis

Mesa, AZ

“I’m the victim of a seven year kidnapping by my father at age 12. As with the Ohio neighborhood, my neighbors were oblivious that I was being held hostage in his home.”

Noelle Aipperspach

Kansas City, MO

“All it says about America is that there are some pedophiles and sick people in this country, as there are in every country throughout the world.”

Sassan Darian

Orange County, CA

“The kidnapping doesn’t say anything about a country of 300 million people, but it does say a lot about a dense, inner city neighborhood and the culture of suspicion decaying there.”

Duncan Harvey

Phoenix, AZ

PARTISAN WITCH HUNT?

Is the Benghazi investigation a controversy being unfairly drummed-up by Republicans, as some Democrats are suggesting?

“The reason Benghazi has not resonated with the American public is because ABC, CBS, and NBC have covered for the administration. Not everyone has access to cable, but everyone has access to the network news.”

Kevin Dunn

Ojai, CA

“If the mainstream media had focused on Benghazi like the focused on Watergate, the folks would not be so apathetic.”

Betty Strain

Oakhurts, CA

“I’m outraged by the lack of accountability when it concerns the deaths of four Americans on the watch of Obama and his cronies. Like many Americans, I knew something didn’t add up from the beginning.”

Lacey Barrett

Gulf Breeze, FL

“The Benghazi debacle is a battle for who writes history. Is it Obama and Clinton already caught in lies regarding the video and the perpetrators, or do we look for the truth?”

WR Jones

New Port Richey, FL

“Why is it when things go right like getting bin Laden, President Obama takes credit, but when things go wrong like Benghazi, it is the underlings’ fault?”

Ray Webber

Rancho Cordova, CA

FIREARM FUROR

The Factor recommends that all crimes committed with a gun be handled by federal authorities, with tough minimum sentences for any conviction. Fox Business guy John Stossel vehemently disagrees.

“I like the idea of all gun crimes being federal crimes, but Stossel is right – there is no punishment that could be harsh enough to stop crazy people like those in Newtown or Aurora.”

Gerry Martin

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

“Judicial discretion is a must. No system is perfect, but mandatory minimums on gun crimes would end up like schools’ zero tolerance policies where a kid gets suspended for pointing a pencil at his friend. The innocent will suffer more than the guilty.”

David Beville

Spartanburg, SC

“Stossel’s point was right on. An individual bent on murder and mayhem will not be deterred in the least by the threat of a mandatory one or two years for illegal gun possession.”

Mark Winters

Dublin, OH

“When it comes to understanding gun issues, your Long Island, East Coast influence is showing. I fear Stossel’s evaluation of your position as ignorant and arrogant may be right on-target.”

Rob Kornacki

Platte County, MO

“More gun laws will only create new criminals. The people who are determined to commit gun crimes won’t stop to check a law book before they act. Stop making me yell at my TV.”

Randy McLean

Evansville, IN

“Federalizing gun laws would have done absolutely nothing to prevent the mass killings we’ve seen this past year. You are no different than the elected officials who think we can do something to stop this.”

Rocco Pangallo

Grand Junction, CO

“I’m a retired police officer, and based on my experience, I agree with your idea of federalizing gun crimes, but I completely disagree with mandatory sentencing, as it would remove the judge’s ability to use discretion in sentencing, which is often needed.”

Jim Raue

Grand Rapids, MI

Viewer Mail for Monday, May 6

2013-05-06T13:03:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I believe your statement that the public is not interested in Benghazi is way off. Ask any of us connected to the military in any way and you will find that we are not only interested, we are disgusted.”

Christina Fusco

Sopchoppy, FL

WAS THERE A COVER-UP?

Three key witnesses are expected to testify about the murder of four Americans in Benghazi in September. When the Obama administration first told the world this was an anti-American action, were they trying to hide the fact that it was really a terror attack?

“Our nation functions by rule of law, regardless of the interests of the American people. Please stop claiming because the people don’t care, the Benghazi cover-up is diminished.”

Frank Castro

Colorado Springs, CO

“How could anyone want to look the other way? As Americans, we should always want the truth and should accept nothing less.”

Steve Hanson

Omaha, NE

“The administration spent more effort developing their talking points to explain the Benghazi attack than on saving Ambassador Stevens.”

Cyndi Tolsma

Camp Hill, PA

“It is apparent the Obama administration purposefully lied to Americans in order to win the 2012 election. This is corrupt and the President should be impeached.”

Pamela Rocco

Haymarket, VA

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize Benghazi was a complete cover-up by the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton, nor does it take one to realize they’ll get away with it.”

Cecelia Romesberg

Johnstown, PA

“The reason the public doesn’t care about Benghazi is because the press is largely covering it up. They don’t want their golden boy to be held accountable.”

Karen Shepherd

Kirkland, WA

“This affair is probably a combination of calumny, ineptitude, and an amateurish response to a serious breach of security.”

Jim Murphy

Germantown, TN

“Even a blind person can see how the Obama administration manipulated the facts about Benghazi. I’m disgusted that most Americans don’t care about the truth, nor do they want to hold those responsible who might have authorized an intervention during this attack.”

John Kurz

Killeen, TX

“Benghazi has been beat to death and the American voters don’t care much about four dead Americans. They’re more tuned into an NBA player coming out of the closet.”

Lou Frederico

Chandler, AZ

“Benghazi is the only spot on Hillary Clinton’s record? Are Vince Foster, Travel-gate, FBI File-gate, Whitewater, and China-gate just bumps in the road?”

Paul Epley

Surigao, Philippines

“Fox News needs to stick with the Benghazi story like the Washington Post stuck with Watergate. Keep banging the drum and eventually the truth will come out.”

Jennifer Logan

Stamford, CT

“I’m one American who does care about the Benghazi cover-up, but you are right to suggest most people don’t care. If they did, we would not have the liars we now have elected to high office.”

Mike King

Puklaski, VA

“The 43% who don’t believe there was a Benghazi cover-up are the same 43% who drink the Kool-Aid and simply don’t care what our government does.”

Steve Smith

Holley, NY

“The Benghazi investigation is solely an attempt to try to bring Hillary down, as she is unbeatable in 2016. It simply won’t work.”

Sassan Darian

Orange County, CA

“Americans would rather watch the Jodi Arias trial because they are aware of it. The liberal media has kept Benghazi under wraps. If you haven’t been watching Fox News, you don’t even know about the story.”

Bob Sherman

Daytona Beach, FL

“The American people don’t care about Benghazi because the news media hasn’t made a big deal out of it. Benghazi could be Obama’s Watergate if only the media would cover it like they did Nixon’s scandal.”

Barry VanTrees

Indianapolis, IN

REDNECK DAY

When an Arizona high school declared May 1^st “Redneck Day,” controversy erupted among students and parents.

“According to several historical documents, the term ‘redneck’ was first used to describe coal miners trying to unionize. They showed their solidarity by wearing a red kerchief around their necks.”

Michael Janik

Chandler, AZ

“I’m 69-years-old and I’ve never associated the Confederate Flag with anything racial – it just means being a rebel. I remember it being painted on the roof of the General Lee in the Dukes of Hazard without controversy.”

Jim Cardinal

Philadelphia, PA

“As Jeff Foxworthy once explained, being a redneck is the glorious absence of sophistication.”

Peter Wurzbach

Coppell, TX

“The term ‘redneck’ came from white farmers getting a red neck from being out in the sun farming. It was a derogatory term used by northerners or non-farmers to define rural and less refined southerners.”

Harold Billings

Greensboro, NC

“You’re a former history teacher. You should know the term originated in the earliest days of the 20^th century when union members wrapped red bandanas around their necks to recruit additional members. ‘Redneck’ has since been given a bad rap.”

Michael Hambright

Overland Park, KS

Viewer Mail for Thursday, May 2

2013-05-03T03:17:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Youngsters may be more sexually active than adults realize. What if they’re taking these morning-after pills two or three times a week? We don’t know what frequent use will do to them, and this is a dangerous way to find out.”

M.S. Haden

Houston, TX

MOB MENTALITY

Anarchists in Seattle took to the streets to protest capitalism. Democratic pundit James Carville appeared in the no spin zone to disassociate his party with these loons.

“You were wrong letting Carville get away with implying the Seattle thugs are anarchists. Anarchy suggests a far-right ideology with little or no government. Those loons were far-left, approaching Communist.”

Ed Groth

Beacon Falls, CT

“As a retired police officer, I can tell you these individuals are not left-wing loons. Unlike the protests of the 60s and 70s, a significant number of these people today are hard-core anarchists.”

Carl Caudill

Reno, NV

“As a native Seattleite, I have seen firsthand too many times these self-proclaimed anarchists causing massive disruption on Seattle streets. To call them far-left is giving them too much respect.”

Kyle Poague

Phoenix, AZ

“With Obama in power, the anarchists are emboldened, aided and abetted by the law-abiding Carvilles of this world. The liberal tone is dominating, which will lead to chaos.”

Richard Johnson

Springfield, MO

“Call them what you want, but the bottom line is that these protesters vote Democrat so that makes them Democrats. By calling them anything else, you are letting the Democratic Party off the hook.”

Kevin Dunn

Ojai, CA

“The Seattle police officers were not hurt in random acts of violence perpetrated by random criminals as Carville tried to spin it. They were harmed in the name of a far-left agenda.”

Tim Lazicki

Lombard, IL

“When you bring on a guy like James Carville to help define left-wing extremism, you’re looking for love in all the wrong places. Just because he’s not rioting in the streets doesn’t make him mainstream.”

Bruce Edmund

Roswell, GA

MILITARY PROSELYTIZING?

An organization called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation claims non-believers are being punished by military officers.

“If Mikey Weinstein gets his way, it will be a whole new don’t-ask-don’t-tell in the military – this time for Christianity.”

Geoff Roark

Tyler, TX

“Too bad there wasn’t more proselytizing when I was stationed in Germany while training to stop the Soviet Army moving into Western Europe. The troopers would have had fewer hangovers and social diseases.”

Keith Wilkening

Bloomington, MN

“I’m a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and I have never experienced any overzealous Christian proselytizing. If anything, being a Christian in the military today is an extreme challenge because you’re a minority.”

Justin Rose

Castle Rock, CO

“While Mr. Weinstein opposes Christian evangelism in the military, he believes it’s acceptable to impose his own atheistic religious views upon everyone else in the military.”

Joel Hunt

Lincoln, NE

“You let Mr. Weinstein off a bit easy. He has stated that chaplains in the military are guilty of treason. He needs to explain these comments.”

Corey Kunde

Madison, WI

“I’ve served 16 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and I’ve never been subjected to what Mr. Weinstein is talking about, nor have I ever heard of it being done to anyone else.”

George Thompson

Janesville, WI

“Why is it that when Christians have an opinion, they are evil, wrong, and intolerant, but when Mr. Weinstein has an opinion, he’s just right?”

Mary Loudon

Long Point, IL

“I’m a military officer with more than 20 years in service. I have had Muslims, homosexuals, atheists, and everyone under the sun work for me. Religious freedom is highly respected within the ranks.”

Candido Ortiz

Jacksonville, FL

NO AGE LIMIT

A federal judge has ruled that morning-after birth control pills should be available to females of any age without parental consent or a prescription.

“I’m a 21-year-old college student who still gets carded at Wal-Mart when I buy cough medicine. Teenagers being allowed morning-after pills without supervision is absurd.”

Tommy Mitch

Butler, PA

“By selling kids Plan B without parental supervision, we may as well be telling them it’s OK to have unprotected sex. Parents have a right to know what’s going on with their kids.”

Sara Blake

Jackson, TN

“When we allow young girls the morning-after pill in secret, we are not teaching them moral responsibility and accountability for their actions, and it destroys their integrity.”

Donna Bleiler

Salem, OR

“How can it be good for the developing body of a 15-year-old to have the morning-after pill? I fear these young girls will use it often.”

Susan Gallagher

Wallingford, CT

“As an OB/GYN, I’m concerned that having a safety net in the eyes of a child will discourage safe sex measures like condoms. Many of these children will have the false idea that they can always just use the morning-after pill.”

Mark Boles, M.D.

Dublin, GA

“Allowing children to obtain the morning-after pill is another example of adults teaching American children that consequences can be avoided.”

Tim Kleiner

Bentonville, AR

“Every psychologist will agree that people under the age of 15 are too young to handle the stresses of the adult world. It is necessary for parents to be included in this discussion.”

Bryan Szuch

Marion, OH

“If kids make a mistake regarding sex, they are not likely to talk to their parents immediately after it happens. If they have to talk to their parents in order to get the pill, they won’t take the proper measures to ensure against pregnancy.”

Kirk Morgan

Zanesville, OH

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, May 1

2013-05-01T23:06:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The major media outlets have intentionally ignored perhaps the largest scandal in U.S. political history with this potential Benghazi cover-up. It makes Nixon’s Watergate and Clinton’s Lewinsky look minor in comparison.”

Dr. Wayne DeSarbo

Centre Hall, PA

TERROR ACCOMPLICES

Three students at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth have been arrested for helping Dzhokhar Tsarnaev after the Boston Marathon bombing.

“The three people indicted today for trying to cover up the Boston bomber’s involvement in the crime are not kids. They are 19-years-old and should have known better.”

Louis Carballo

Sugar Land, TX

“We have heroes in the military protecting the United States who are barely 18. Calling these accomplices kids is wrong – they are men, just like our servicemen.”

George Drennan

Canton, GA

“When people are old enough to serve their country, buy alcohol, and attend a school of higher learning, they are not kids.”

Bill Kemp

Lisle, NY

“Hearing that the family of the Boston bombers received aid from taxpayers is disconcerting. If they received aid for college, why can’t my kids?”

Jackie Borsum

“We need to step up and prevent the Boston bomber from having a team of attorneys at taxpayer expense. If he can’t afford one, he should get one public defender.”

SFC William Oakley (Ret.)

Tulsa, OK

“I don’t think our system of justice can effectively deal with terrorism. On the one hand, we send FBI agents to Russia to find out more about the bomber, but we also send a judge to the hospital to guarantee the bomber keeps his mouth shut.”

Lari Attai

Irvington, NY

“One hundred thousand dollars of our money to support the terrorist family is certainly a waste, but it will be chump change compared to what we the people will be giving the attorney to defend him. This case could take years.”

Mike Hatcher

Fort Worth, TX

SPENDING SCANDAL

The city of Philadelphia, $13 billion in debt, will now pay for sex change operations for city employees.

“After watching the segment on health care covering sex change operations, my husband admitted that he felt trapped in his bald head. Do you think we could get that one covered?”

Patricia & Lloyd Hershwitzky

Las Vegas, NV

“Kirsten Powers thinks the states should pay for sex change surgery because some people feel they are trapped in the wrong body? Well, I’m 68 and feel trapped in an old body. Will my cosmetic surgery be paid for?”

Bob Leary

Queenstown, MD

“I’m a millionaire living in a pauper’s body. Will they city of Philadelphia pay for my transition?”

Sean Lennon

Midlothian, VA

“I always thought Kirsten Powers was the most sensible liberal pundit on your show. That all changed last night when she defended the city of Philadelphia’s decision to require their city’s health plan to cover sex change operations.”

Gabriel Villarreal III

Zapata, TX

“If Philadelphia is doing sex changes for medical reasons, I’ll want to move there so I can get liposuction for my obesity. It’s a medical reason too.”

Ray Brewer

Nashville, NC

“The reckless spending will continue until we routinely ask ‘why is this a function of government?’ instead of expecting the government to be the first resort.”

Ed Grimes

Edgewood, KY

“Kirsten Powers was really amazing in her justification for the taxpayer-funded sex change operations in Philadelphia. She has now powered herself to seamlessly replace Alan Colmes on your show.”

Dr. Ashish Sachan

Guelph, Canada

ANCIENT HISTORY?

Jay Carney, the press secretary for the Obama administration, dodges questions about September’s Benghazi murders, saying it happened so long ago.

“I suspect the families of those killed in Benghazi don’t feel like it was a long time ago. It was truly insensitive for Obama’s Press Secretary Jay Carney to suggest otherwise.”

Fred Schwartz

Burlington, NJ

“Nobody died in Watergate. Four people died in Benghazi. The biggest difference is the mainstream media doesn’t care. The Democratic President gets a pass!”

Catherine Barrett

Englewood, FL

“Stop nibbling around the edges of the Benghazi investigation. It is not about a botched job; it’s about a cover-up by the Obama administration with the media turning a blind eye.”

Ruben Lovato

Petaluma, CA

“Mr. Carney says the Benghazi incident was a long time ago. Well, the 9/11 attacks of 2001 must be ancient history. Still, we continued to hunt bin Laden for all those years and took care of business.”

Lee Ambrosino

New Braunfels, TX

“It’s 3am…who do you want answering your Benghazi call?”

Howard Tuckey

Lisle, NY

“Is it possible that Mrs. Clinton didn’t know the full details of the Benghazi raid, as she testified? It was the most significant event to happen during her tenure.”

Steve Stephens

Allyn, WA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, April 30

2013-04-30T23:01:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The question isn’t whether the bombers should have received welfare. They may have qualified. The bigger question is why they didn’t appreciate what this great country did for them, and chose instead to kill innocent people as payback for what we gave them.”

Russ Olsen

Salt Lake City, UT

ON THE DOLE

The Tsarnaev family reportedly received more than $100,000 in taxpayer-funded assistance since coming to the U.S. in 2002.

“Does this make the United States a state sponsor of terrorism? Our country is upside down.”

Dan Conroy

San Antonio, TX

“I’m a Massachusetts taxpayer, and I’m outraged. How does this happen? My outrage will do absolutely nothing to change how politics function. My vote really means nothing.”

Beth Cirella

North Reading, MA

“The Tsarnaev family deserved to get benefits and still do. They are legal immigrants, entitled to be treated like everyone else. I thought you were innocent until proven guilty in America.”

Seon Ferguson

Canberra, Australia

“Welfare is supposed to help someone get over a rough patch in their life. The liberals have turned it into a lifestyle choice.”

Gary Geahos

Pingree Grove, IL

“It’s not about the amount of money they got; it’s that welfare doesn’t work. If welfare worked, the terrorists would not have become radicalized. They would have used it for a hand up and assimilated.”

Matt Kurth

Philadelphia, PA

“You are missing a major point on the family traveling to Russia. How can anyone on public assistance afford a vacation, let alone be entitled to one? Did my tax dollars pay for their travel?”

Charles Truthan

Ocala, FL

“Whatever happened to the time when immigrants came through Ellis Island and if they didn’t have a family to sponsor them or the means to support themselves, they were sent back? We need to return to those days.”

Diana Pope

Greenbrier, AR

LEGAL RIGHTS

The fallout continues over Dzohkhar Tsarnaev being read his Miranda warning in the midst of the FBI’s interrogation.

“The reading of Miranda rights to Tsarnaev was not botched. The timing was intentional. The opportunity for greater interrogation would have resulted in more knowledge of jihad and further revelations of President Obama’s ineptitude in the area.”

Bruce Johnson

Auburn, CA

“Having spent 20 years in law enforcement, I find it absolutely astounding that the living Boston terror attacker was read his Miranda warning. The U.S. Supreme Court does not require its reading in this case.”

David Ondrick

South Salem, NY

“The improper and protective role of Eric Holder in the Boston terrorist matter is supported by the fact that the landmark decision of Miranda v. Arizona mandates that the warning be explained by police, not a judge, when the two-prong test of custody and interrogation is met.”

B. Francis Chase

Concord, NH

“The bomber will have to answer to a much higher authority. I worry about the erosion of our Constitutional rights. I don’t care whether he was read his Miranda warning. As a citizen, he has the 5^th Amendment right to refuse to answer questions.”

Frank Lee Reed

Alta Loma, CA

GLITZ & GLAMOUR

Factor producer Jesse Watters descended on the swells at the D.C. Correspondents’ Dinner to find out if they think the press shows bias in favor of President Obama.

“I find the treatment of Jesse Watters by the celebrities he interviewed disgusting. The majority of them didn’t even answer him.”

Eric DeLong

Streator, IL

“With his question, ‘is there bias in the media?’, Jesse Watters proved there is stupidity in Hollywood.”

Kate Bochte

Geneva, IL

“Shame on Norah O’Donnell! Walking away from Jesse was very rude. A good news anchor wouldn’t do that.”

Donald Balderrama

Rialto, CA

“No wonder Matthew Perry hurried away from Jesse Watters. Jesse looks and sounds so much like Ross from Friends, Matt must have thought he was having a flashback.”

Harry Knipp

Reisterstown, MD

“Jesse Watters showed that the Correspondents’ Dinner was full of arrogant, condescending, shallow elitists.”

Julian Tosky

Palo Alto, CA

“All those celebrities looked like deer in headlights. I want to be Jesse Watters for a day!”

Jay Stadler

Danville, CA

Viewer Mail for Monday, April 29

2013-04-29T22:40:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“As a native of Afghanistan, I agree with you 100% that Karzai and his cronies are all gangsters. No amount of our American tax dollars will ever buy their loyalty.”
Nas Kakar

Lake Forest, CA

PRESS SCHMOOZE-FEST

The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington brings together politicians, media heavyweights, and celebrities.

“President Obama’s jokes fell into two categories: soft jabs aimed at Democrats and the media, and mean-spirited barbs aimed at Republicans, Fox News, and talk radio.”

Thomas Gauthier

Pineville, LA

“With a few exceptions, I have never seen so many ass kissers in one room in my life. Disgusting!”

John Clark

Kerrville, TX

“Next year, you should take a few wounded warriors to the correspondents’ dinner in Washington.”

Mike Stay

Granger, IN

“I don’t fault you for attending the bash in Washington, but in view of the Boston tragedy less than two weeks before and the incompetence of the government charged with keeping the homeland safe, I thought the spectacle was obscene.”

Jay Polis

Philadelphia, PA

BUYING INFLUENCE?

The New York Times is reporting that the CIA is transferring bags of cash to Afghani President Hamid Karzai.

“It’s wishful thinking to hope an honest man could run Afghanistan. He would be assassinated within a month and are Special Forces would probably be blamed somehow.”

Dave Palomba

San Francisco, CA

“You told Brit Hume that Afghanistan is run by gangsters, and that may be true, but the more powerful and brutal gangsters are actually in Washington.”

Ray Marcantoni

Baltimore, MD

“My sympathy is with Karzai. We betrayed him when we announced that we were leaving Afghanistan. We’re lucky he’s still willing to do business with us.”

Will Erickson

San Diego, CA

“If one of those bags of cash the CIA gives Karzai saves an American soldier from death or injury, I say it is money well spent.”

Don Helgerson

Jakarta, Indonesia

“When are we going to learn that you can’t buy loyalty? At best, you can briefly rent it.”

Becke Tomkiewicz

Palmyra, NY

“Thank you for standing up for our warriors. Karzai is lining his pockets with cash while our boys and girls are losing life and limbs. These American patriots deserve better from their own government.”

Mitch Tyree

Newport News, VA

“My eldest son has done seven tours in Afghanistan. He told me Karzai is like a deer in headlights when it comes to leading his country and is just trying to stay alive when he leaves office.”

Bill Davis

Mission Hills, CA

“Karzai is a gangster and the people are still living in the Stone Age. The whole country is a lost cause. I like your suggestion of getting out to save our treasury.”

John Poulos

Fairfield, CA

SHOCKING INVESTIGATION

Anti-abortion activist Lila Rose has conducted another undercover sting at an abortion clinic, showing shocking late-term abortion practices.

“The mindset and evil of these abortion mills is the same as those than ran the death camps during WWII, with absolutely no regard for human life.”

Jerry Cook, M.D.

Weatherby Lake, MO

“My wife would have died had our son not been born via C-section at eight months. No one ever suggested that our son be killed in order to save my wife’s life. Late-term abortion is a euphemism for infanticide.”

Brad Poston

Pleasonton, CA

“As a labor and delivery nurse, we have women who walk in laboring with 24 week babies. We have a whole team of dedicated personnel to help save that baby. It’s appalling to hear about abortion doctors who work for one thing only: money.”

Kathryn McCracken

Sedalia, CO

“Most women aren’t aware of the horrors of abortion. I went to Planned Parenthood with a friend and we were told her 16 week old fetus was just a blob of cells, but really all of its organs and nervous system are intact at that point.”

Lynn Leo

Henrietta, NY

“After seeing your guest’s video of the two abortion doctors and their despicable behavior, I made a donation to her organization. She’s a patriot.”

Ron Siwiec

Binghamton, NY

“Abortion is cold-blooded, premeditated murder. Life begins at conception and the result of conception is a baby, not a fetus.”

Ed Osborne

Lenoir City, TN

“If that were a puppy mill instead of an abortion mill, this would be front page news running 24 hours a day.”

Dean Johnson

Cedar Rapids, IA

Viewer Mail for Friday, April 26

2013-04-26T22:13:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I think reports categorizing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as just another ‘boy next door’ have news value. They show us how fast he slid downhill from being a typical teenager to a typical terrorist.”

Larry Brady

Crownsville, MD

PRISON PANDEMONIUM

Tavon White, a gang leader at the Baltimore Detention Center, has reportedly impregnated four prison guards while running a drug-and-sex ring inside the facility. What is going on in Baltimore?

“As a lifelong resident of Baltimore, I’m mortified by the story of Tavon White. This was a complete lack of oversight by prison officials, but the fact that nobody was fired clearly falls at Gov. O’Malley’s feet.”

Pat Foster

Baltimore, MD

“The fiasco at the Baltimore Detention Center comes as no surprise to Marylanders. The inmates literally run the institution here. The only thing Gov. O’Malley truly has his hands on is our wallets.”

Robert Ziegler

Hampstead, MD

“I was shocked to hear about what went on at the Detention Center. To think that my tax dollars are going to fund corruption! Gov. O’Malley and his liberal administration should be ashamed.”

Leigh Spicer

Bel Air, MD

“So the taxpayers in Baltimore will end up supporting five babies who were born in the penal system by a criminal and criminal guards? Wonderful.”

Gary Daugherty

Waynesboro, PA

“The Maryland prison scandal affects taxpayers here in many ways. We’re paying for maternity leave and health care of the prison guards, as well as their kids. These employees will also receive their state retirement and other benefits as well.”

Anne Williams

Baltimore, MD

“I’ve lived in Baltimore my whole life and seen the damage corruption has done to the city. When the bad guys know they can get away with criminal acts, it emboldens all of them. The corruption here starts at the top.”

Christopher Liddick

Essex, MD

“It’s no surprise at all that a gang kingpin took over a Baltimore jail. Maryland has been tyrannized for at least three generations by the Democratic machine, of which O’Malley is a prominent part.”

Sarah Peach

Renton, WA

“As a retired Baltimore homicide detective, I know that Governor O’Malley is too busy campaigning for his next office to take control of his state. These abuses have been going on for many years and are well known in the law enforcement community.”

Kevin Davis

Baltimore, MD

“Martin O’Malley has never accepted responsibility for anything that has gone wrong in Baltimore as mayor or governor. I’m glad you’re going to hold him responsible.”

Sue Reich

Havre de Grace, MD

SCHOOL BRAWL

A student caught on tape physically assaulting her teacher has been suspended – but is the penalty too soft for the offense?

“I disagree with the way the Stockton superintendent handled that student who attacked a staff member. As a retired high school administrator, I would have investigated the situation by calling the police.”

Bob Parks

Minden, NV

“You are wrong about the student needing to be suspended. The teacher should be adult enough to control the situation, not provoke the student.”

Aaron Baum

Fruitland Park, FL

“I’m a teacher in the public school, and I find it appalling that attacking a teacher results in suspension. Schools are telling us that they can discipline students less due to state laws that restrict what they can do in the classroom.”

Kalpana Digiambattista

Menifee, CA

“If that incident would have happened in our rural school, the student would have been escorted home by the sheriff, and then expelled.”

Carol Laughlin

Louisiana

“I taught juniors and seniors for several years. The student was definitely out of line to argue with the teacher, but it seems the teacher should have diffused the situation rather than continuing the argument.”

Colleen Guerrero

Tucson, AZ

“I agree that students need to respect teachers, but this particular teacher created a power struggle by not simply giving the teen her things. Further, the teacher responded by shoving the student forcefully in response to light touching by the student.”

Dr. John Stewart

Walnut Creek, CA

“The student fighter needs to be home schooled, as she is obviously not fit for public school. The parent responsible for this situation needs to be required to deal with it.”

Dr. John Swingle

Stockton, CA

SYMPATHETIC COVERAGE?

60 Minutes aired an interview with a high school classmate of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the accused Boston Marathon bomber, who described the suspect in glowing terms. Is there any merit to this type of coverage?

“If the Boston Marathon bombing story can be spun to say something negative about America, the liberal press will gladly do it, even if it means sympathizing with the murderers.”

J.J. Martin

Shoreline, WA

“I watched with disgust as Scott Pelley tried to drum up sympathy for the cold-blooded Marathon killers.”

Randy Matthews

Valrico, FL

“I don’t know if the media is humanizing these terrorists, but do you really think that would change anyone’s mind about them and what they did?”

Richard Doyle

Clayton, MO

“Why should it surprise you? Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Chavez, Castro, and other far-left ideologues were all humanized at some point by their citizens.”

Joseph Motto, M.D.

Chattanooga, TN

“They do it to influence future jurists, hoping they will not vote for the death penalty.”

Kathy Guidry

Trenton, GA

“While I’m opposed to sympathizing with the terrorists, I take issue with using the word ‘humanizing’ in your report. After all, they are human.”

Michael Chiz

Longmeadow, MA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, April 25

2013-04-25T21:20:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“It’s interesting that the mother of the Boston bombers had no tears on her face or in her eyes as she berated this country and accused it of unfairly killing her son. In my opinion, she’s trying to get other extremists riled up.”

Barbara Williams

Lancaster, CA

MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

The FBI was in the middle of questioning the surviving bombing suspect when a judge was sent to read him his Miranda rights. Did that stall the interrogation?

“If Eric Holder’s Justice Department is choosing not to enforce some laws, why didn’t they choose not to enforce Miranda in the case of the surviving bombing suspect?”

Cary Kozberg

Columbus, OH

“President Obama and his Attorney General are making it painfully clear that they have no problem risking our national security by cutting off the FBI questioning of the Boston bomber.”

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

“This whole problem could easily have been avoided. The people wanting to give the warnings should not have been admitted. The only consequence of this would be to make any statements inadmissible against the defendant. The case against him is already overwhelming.”

Paul Greisen

Sacramento, CA

“With all the news about Miranda, all I can see is that it helps guilty people get off. Can you tell me how it can possibly help innocent people?”

Marvin Peyser

Torrington, CT

“Unfortunately, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is an American citizen and is therefore entitled to protections under the Constitution. The question that should be asked is how he fell through the cracks.”

Michael Ficaro

Chicago, IL

PARENTS’ OUTRAGE

The parents of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects are denying that their sons were involved in the attack and lashing out at the U.S. for allegedly setting them up.

“While I agree that there are far too many in today’s politically correct culture who will not accept the reality of the terror threat, the denial of a parent to accept the worst about their child is fairly consistent across cultural boundaries.”

Alex Adams-Leytes

Minneapolis, MN

“Your assessment of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects’ mother is 100% accurate. Speaking as a mom who’s dealt with my son’s behavior issues, I know it’s crucial to deal with reality. It allows us, as parents, to identify teaching moments and instill values in our children.”

Rose Marie Baloga

Gainesville, GA

“The parents knew their sons were radicalized and supported them. They also knew that when caught, the name of the game is deny, deny, deny.”

Joan Park

Tampa, FL

“The jihadist mother of the boys is a true nut case and loon, deceived and in denial about her son’s evil acts.”

Paul Ecowater

Los Angeles, CA

“Could it be possible that the Boston Marathon bombers’ parents are making such a scene, claiming their sons’ innocence, in an effort to throw suspicion off themselves?”
J. Truett

Melbourne, FL

“As far as the parents saying they don’t believe their two sons are savage killers, I don’t give a damn what they think.”

Sue Renard

Mill Creek, WA

“This woman is lying about her sons. She would have to be a moron to not understand, especially with all the evidence. I’m certain she knew her sons’ feelings towards America.”

R.A. Shelton

Evansville, IN

“I was sickened to see the mother’s tearless histrionic rant against the USA. The parents remind me of Lee Harvey Oswald’s mother, who made a career out of denial and conspiracy theories.”

Terry Hesse

Dinagat Islands, Philippines

POT CONVENTION

Factor producer Jesse Watters headed to Colorado, where pot smokers were out in force to celebrate the state’s legalization of marijuana.

“The Watters’ World report from the Denver pot festival makes a great point. It shows why the far-left is pushing for the legalization of marijuana. As long as the Democratic Party can herd these dope smokers into a voting booth every other year, they’ll have a firm grip on power.”

Robert Hempel

The Villages, FL

“Excellent report by Jesse Watters. It’s scary when you realize these individuals have the right to vote.”

Dave Moros

Miami, FL

“You owe me and 99.9% of Coloradoans an apology. You made it sound like everyone in the state is stoned on marijuana.”

Joy Fowler

Castle Rock, CO

“What will become of our world with a populace of uninformed pot smokers? I realize these segments are satirical, but I really do think people are becoming more ignorant.”

Sandi Hartman

Allison Park, PA

“Please send Jesse back to Denver in nine months to check on the stoner babies.”

Marti Dolinar

Kansas City, MO

“I’m disappointed with your characterization of all potheads as morons. I burn one every night while watching the Factor and still retain a better understanding of the issues than most of your guests.”

Jeffrey Piatt

Warwick, RI

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, April 24

2013-04-24T20:57:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Baseball players lie to Congress about steroids and get in trouble. Hillary Clinton lies to Congress about Benghazi, but there seem to be no consequences. Four deaths are far worse than steroids.”

Mike Landry

Honolulu, HI

ACTED ALONE?

Did the Boston Marathon bombers have help to carry out their sinister plot, or were they acting as radical lone wolves?

“Why bother asking where the funding for the terrorists originated? With three dead and hundreds injured, what difference does it make?”

Fr. Pat Copalello

Albuquerque, NM

“I project the Tsarnaev brothers’ terrorists activities were funded by their mother’s shoplifting.”

Peter Grassl

Shawnee, KS

“Just as Christians give money to spread the gospel around the world, Muslims give to their mosques to help spread Islam. In many cases, the money ends up in the hands of terrorists.”

Marc Montgomery

Helena, MT

“You’re right – these two clowns were not lone wolfs and anyone who believes they were is absolutely delusional.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

“The lone wolf theory is promulgated because they are hiding the truth. The first bomber had money to go to Russia. He had to have gotten that money somewhere.”

Jim Wylder

Silverdale, WA

UNDER OATH

Congressional Republicans have issued a report claiming former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lied to them about the attacks in Benghazi.

“Benghazi may well become Hillary’s Chappaquiddick moment in her 2016 bid for the presidency.”

Ray Marchi

Crystal Falls, MI

“So what if Hillary lied about her knowledge of the Benghazi murders? Will there be any repercussions? Is Congress going to put her in jail?”

Lou Alquist

Kingsley, PA

“Any way you slice it, Hillary Clinton dropped the ball. If she can’t run one department, how can she be seriously considered to be president?”

Larry Shuppy

Minneapolis, MN

“Don’t let Hillary off the hook! Four of our fellow Americans were murdered and it could and should have been prevented by the State Department.”

DeAnne Davis

Snellville, GA

“Why are our Congresspeople so afraid to take Secretary Clinton to task on Benghazi? She received nothing but praise during the first inquiry from both parties.”

Hillsman Boyers

Southside, AL

“Hillary signed the letter regarding the Benghazi terrorist attack, but it was auto-signed, so that means she can divert responsibility? What a joke.”

Claude Mitchell

Courtnenay, Canada

PRESS COVERUP?

Why has the mainstream media largely ignored the trial of Philadelphia abortion doctor, Kermit Gosnell, who is charged with murdering infants who were born alive?

“Nothing will happen to Gosnell. He’ll cut a deal and spend a few years in prison. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him end up on probation, with a fine.”

Mark Erickson

El Paso, TX

“Dr. Gosnell’s defense team claims it cannot be proved that three of the babies he’s accused of murdering were born alive. If they weren’t alive, please tell me why he needed to snip their spines.”

Donna Henry

Brooklyn, OH

“This guy is disgusting. However, the networks have the right to cover whatever they deem important.”

William Gilbert

Smyrna, GA

“The reason the media is not covering the Gosnell trial is because they’re protecting Obama: they don’t want people to remember that has a state senator, he voted against having these types of infanticides declared murders.”

Jorge Vasquez

Santiago, Chile

“You can bet if Gosnell shot those babies with an AR-15, it would be all over the major networks 24 hours a day. Why is cold-blooded murder less of a story if you don’t use a firearm?”

Sam Person

Papillion, NE

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, April 23

2013-04-24T02:38:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I don’t see how an allegedly intelligent person like Tom Brokaw could say America is a bad nation for saving lives by using aerial drones in the targeting and killing of Muslim terrorists during wartime.”

Jim Douglas

Universal City, TX

MUSLIM REACTION

Should peaceful Muslims in America be condemning the terrorism at the Boston Marathon more forcefully?

“Terrorism is a political movement using Islam as justification to recruit followers. Arab leaders should be outraged.”

Dr. George Rinard

Longmont, CO

“Nowhere in the Quran does it state that believers should kill innocent people, especially children. These terrorists are not Muslim; they are hijacking the religion to justify their atrocities.”

Malaka Thompson

Scotts Valley, CA

“By condemning radical Islamic jihadists, your guest could have shown a clear division from them. Instead he stressed the unity of all Muslims and made it seem like his organization supports acts of terrorism.”

Bob Garratt

Tucson, AZ

“There are very few high-profile Muslims who publicly condemn terrorism. Every imam in every mosque in this country should be condemning it.”

Thomas Gauthier

Pineville, LA

“It’s frustrating to listen to Islamic leaders like Nihad Awad. If he refuses to acknowledge that radical Islam exists, how are we ever to expect that rational Muslims will help us in the war on terror?”

Paul Christofanelli

Phoenix, AZ

“Browbeating peaceful Muslims like Mr. Awad isn’t getting you any points with me. When someone says they are peaceful, you should believe them.”

Jim McBurney

Aptos, CA

“The majority of terrorism is Islamic, but the majority of Islam is peaceful. Just like the majority of lung cancer occurs in smokers, but the majority of smokers don’t get lung cancer.”

Dr. Selim Benbadis

Tampa, FL

“The heinous crimes committed by these terrorists were perpetrated in the name of Islam. The only way this abomination can be stopped is if the millions of moderate Muslims rise up and demand it.”

James Stewart

North Vancouver, Canada

“Awad’s supposed condemnation of terrorism must have been spoken in private because they never made it to the media. His organization is just a spin machine for radical Islam.”

Mitch Tyree

Newport News, VA

“Islam is the world view to these radicals, and they are willing to kill the masses to promote their agenda. This administration is blind to the threat.”

Andrea Huff

Katy, TX

MILITARY ANGER

Some former members of the military are miffed at newsman Tom Brokaw for suggesting that the American drone program may be partly responsible for terror attacks on us.

“Tom Brokaw is naïve. The radical Islamic terrorists are not reacting to our policies, but rather to our existence. They want one thing: us dead.”

Peter Byrnes, Jr.

Millersville, MD

“It was cowardly of Mr. Brokaw to go public with these controversial comments. Is it possible he’s just a spokesperson for these liberal ideologues and doesn’t believe these things personally?”

Philip Cenci

Staten Island, NY

“I can’t believe anyone is surprised by what Tom Brokaw said. He hasn’t said anything pro-American in decades, if ever.”

Chuck Bekos

Milwaukee, WI

“This is what happens when Tom Brokaw spends too much time in his home where the buffalo roam. He gets mired in BS.”

Richard LoConto

Palmdale, CA

“I don’t believe drones are the best policy. Mr. Brokaw is right about that, but I disagree with the policy because we lose potentially valuable intelligence. I consider special ops to be far preferable to drones in most cases.”

Alex Adams-Leytes

Minneapolis, MN

“Brokaw needs to wise up. Drone strikes are the response to jihadist suicide bombings. They struck us first, now they get droned.”

Col. Kent Miller

Kissimmee, FL

SURVEILLANCE ALERT

Following the Boston Marathon bombings, there are renewed calls for more surveillance cameras in public places. Is this Big Brother gone wild?

“All these people complaining about the lack of privacy are the same people who take to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to chronicle every aspect of their lives.”

Martha Alfonsi

Hollywood, FL

“If security cameras are put in public places and x-ray machines are used to see into our bags and through our clothes, it would be a huge danger to the public. X-ray causes skin cancer.”

Rick Nowack

San Jose, CA

“As a 40-year security tech expert, video cameras have a miniscule effect on preventing any sort of crime, especially terrorism. Their primary benefit is for post-incident forensic investigations.”

John Strauchs

Ashburn, VA

“Security cameras in public don’t invade privacy any more than guns kill people. It’s only their misuse that’s a problem.”

Richard Liebert

Majuro, Marshall Islands

“The New York City police already have a computer surveillance system that can detect when someone leaves a bag unattended on a sidewalk. Police are then dispatched to investigate.”

Tim Hamill

St. Charles, MO

“How about temporary cameras that can be moved from place to place to monitor high occupancy events from a mobile location?”

Corky Thompson

Palmdale, CA

“John Stossel claimed that the technology for alerting police to an unattended bag or package in a public place doesn’t exist, but it actually does exist and is being used in NYC every day.”

C.J. Sullivan

Yonkers, NY

Viewer Mail for Monday, April 22

2013-04-22T23:19:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“If it’s discovered that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev planned to commit a terrorist attack before he received his U.S. citizenship, then his citizenship, with all its legal protections, should be removed.”

Elliot Cohen

Brooklyn, NY

BLAMING AMERICA

Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw claims the U.S.’s drone program has inspired “enormous rage.” Is he suggesting we provoked the Boston Marathon bombers?

“Brokaw’s comments about the USA provoking its enemies remind me of the claims that Japan was provoked into attacking us in December 1941.”

Tony DePaul

Glenside, PA

“Tom Brokaw missed the point. The best way for peace-loving Muslims to protect themselves and their families is to rid their communities of the terrorists.”

Jim Casey

Newark, DE

“Tom Brokaw has always been a left-wing liberal; now he’s a senile left-wing liberal. He’s also irrelevant.”

Doug Abrams

Louisville, KY

“Is Tom Brokaw that naïve? It doesn’t matter how generous, kind, or submissive we are – radical Muslims will never stop trying to destroy us.”

Terecia Helm

Louisville, KY

“Tom Brokaw should be banned from Boston for those lame-brained remarks. I think Berkeley would love him.”

Bill Swisher

Tampa, FL

MISSED OPPORTUNITY?

The FBI is being criticized for not keeping an eye on Tamerlan Tsarnaev, even after Russian officials warned us a few years ago that he was a militant.

“The FBI blew it in at least one respect: they didn’t share any information with Boston or Watertown Police. From my own law enforcement days, the FBI never liked to share info.”

Neal Clacher

Cape Coral, FL

“I disagree with your assertion that the FBI performed well in Boston. In my opinion, they dropped the ball. The fact that they needed the public’s assistance to ID suspect #1 makes their performance a failure, as they were notified about him by Russia two years ago.”

Danny Case

Liberty, NC

“I don’t understand the feigned surprise at the FBI not apprehending the Boston bomber after their first interview with him in 2011. Isn’t this the same FBI that interviewed Lee Harvey Oswald prior to the Kennedy assassination?”

Jeffrey Greenspoon, M.D.

Melbourne, FL

“Even if the FBI couldn’t have prevented the bombing, they should have had a picture of Tamerlan in their database. They shouldn’t have had to go to the public.”

Bonnie Daily

Las Cruces, NM

“If the FBI at one time interviewed the older bomber, why did they need the help of the public to identify his photo?”

Joe Lissi

Easton, PA

“The FBI needs to err on the side of protection instead of being politically correct.”

James Palmer

Mesa, AZ

“I’m a former FBI agent. I would suggest that you consider the agents did everything allowed by current regulations. They agents I know continuously express frustration that they are not allowed to conduct more questioning because of Department of Justice interference.”

James Malone

Omaha, NE

“The FBI needs to explain, and so does the immigration department, how they allowed the suspect to gain U.S. citizenship when he had a close association with his older brother, about whom we were warned.”

John McCann

Augusta, GA

CIVILIAN TRIAL

The Justice Department has decided against trying to pursue a case against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as an enemy combatant.

“I don’t understand how the government can’t classify this person as an enemy combatant. When I enlisted ten years ago, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Terance Paulsen

San Antonio, TX

“If the Bill of Rights is a human right, how can they be denied to a non-U.S. citizen (much less a U.S. citizen) simply by government decree that someone is an enemy combatant?”

Adrian Alford

Idaho Falls, ID

“The Boston bomber should not be considered an enemy combatant, but he should lose citizenship.”

Edward Mikanka

Sturgeon Bay, WI

“In America, we are innocent until proven guilty. If any one of us can lose our rights as a citizen by simply being declared an enemy combatant, we all can.”

Bob Lamothe

Hampton, NH

“Time is of the essence to find out whether the brothers had support in the USA. If they did, then we need to know about those people and catch them before they can escape overseas and out of our reach.”

Richard Allen

Colorado Springs, CO

“I have to agree that Tsarnaev is not an enemy combatant because he is an American citizen. However, we should try him for treason as well as murder.”

Ed Zingone

Temple, TX

“The discussion over Miranda rights is being made more difficult than it needs to be. Everyone enjoys the right against self-incrimination at all times. That right is not given by law enforcement, but the U.S. Constitution. Without his statements being used against him, I’m confident we have more than enough evidence to convict this shameful excuse for a human being.”

Michael Dorris

Brownfield, TX

Viewer Mail for Friday, April 19

2013-04-20T04:42:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“We spend billions of dollars every year on counterterrorism, and with the combined resources of Homeland Security, the FBI, the NSA, and multiple federal, state, and local agencies, they were still unable to detect the Boston Marathon plot and prevent it from happening.”

Edward Stewart

Austin, TX

MANHUNT

One suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing is shot dead, while his younger brother is being hunted by authorities.

“The safety of our children is gone with this administration. Since 9/11 we have been kept safe, but now terrorism has come to our neighborhoods.”

Susan McDonald

Tennessee

“Here we go again: young Muslims between the ages 17 and 40 committing acts of terror in the U.S. Yet the stupid ACLU says we can’t profile.”

Larry Kitchen

Womelsdorf, PA

“Nobody needs to travel to another country to be trained in bomb making. All you have to do is get on the computer and there are plenty of sites that give very simple detailed directions.”

Buddy Phillips

Irmo, SC

“The bombers are more likely sociopaths rather than psychopaths. The former would derive pleasure from the suffering of others. The latter have no empathy because they have no ability to feel normal human emotions.”

Mary McLemore

Pike Road, AL

“Why are these people even here? How do we decide who gets to come into the country? What benefit do we derive from them coming to the USA?”

Jim & Lee Ann Harris

Birmingham, AL

“Since our borders are open, I would think our government cares very little about terrorists in our country. They can just walk across the border.”

Bob Sherman

Daytona Beach, FL

“By becoming U.S. citizens, they know they’ll get tried in civilian courts when they get caught instead of treated as foreign terrorists. They planned this a long time ago.”

Sue DeMaggio

Irvine, CA

“Maybe these terrorists were radicalized at the university. You have mostly left-wing loons on the faculties, particularly in the Boston area.”

John French

Mission Viejo, CA

“The entire family of the two bombers needs to be deported for their own protection.”

Art Rife

Broken Arrow, OK

“The USA must be bursting with pride after the incredible performance of the various law enforcement agencies in Boston. Watching from Australia, it is more than impressive; it is awe inspiring.”

Will Watson

Sydney, Australia

“Just wondering why the FBI agent who interviewed the older Boston bomber two years ago didn’t immediately identify him at the outset of the bombing investigation or when the photo was circulated.”

Les Lauziere

Lexington, SC

“I’ll give you two words to explain how Tamerlan Tsarnaev slipped through the cracks after the FBI was tipped off about him by a foreign government: Obama administration.”

Ryan Koolick

East Meadow, NY

“You believe there’s a new resident in hell, but according to the older bomber’s faith, he’s enjoying 72 virgins at the moment. These people cannot assimilate into our culture.”

Sandra Johnson

Custer, SD

“It is time for us to drop all the PC crap and check out what is being taught in American mosques.”

David Hosmer

Orange Beach, AL

“Last week, the bombers’ mother was arrested for shoplifting thousands of dollars in merchandise from Lord & Taylor. This week, footage from a Lord & Taylor security camera played a pivotal role in identifying the bombers. Talk about karma!”

Jennifer Logue

Quincy, MA

“Since Obama took office, we have had so many terror attempts, and now it has actually happened. I don’t think these attempts will slow down until Obama is no longer in office.”

Herman Beresid

Florida

“Just pipe the O’Reilly Factor into the boat and the terrorist will surrender for sure!”

Steven C.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Imagine if our government actually believed in the right to bear arms and told the people of Boston to arm up rather than cower in their homes. What kind of message are we sending our enemies?”

Tim Cunningham

Crossville, TN

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, April 17

2013-04-18T04:36:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Regarding Barney Frank, I am mindful of the old adage that it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.”

Jack Toon

Las Vegas, NV

PLAYING POLITICS

Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank used the Boston bombing as an opportunity to mock those who want smaller government and lower taxes.

“Efforts to politicize the Boston bombing by Barney Frank and other left-wing loons show how far out of touch they are with decency and mainstream American values.”

John Russell

Fortuna, CA

“I too am enraged by Barney Frank’s politicizing of the events in Boston. However, I take solace in the fact that due to statements like this, he’ll forever be identified as the former Congressman from Massachusetts.”

Richard Fleming

New Iberia, LA

“I would tell Barney Frank: with all the billions of dollars we give to the FBI, they weren’t able to protect us.”

Paul Amedee

Kenner, LA

“You lambasted Barney Frank for politicizing the Boston terror attack, yet you seemed to approve of Dennis Miller’s boisterous criticism of the President. How is that not political?”

Bill Andersen

Park Ridge, IL

“Please do not give so much coverage to the village idiot.”

Judy Andreas

Marlton, NJ

“I have often thought Barney Frank was not quite human. His comments about the bombing prove it.”

Tom Burrell

Phoenix, AZ

“Although he took it much further than anyone else on the left, Barney Frank just carried on the time honored tradition of trying not to let a crisis go to waste.”

Den Gormley

Long Beach, NY

“Barney Frank’s character is obviously a reflection of the people who keep him in office.”

J.T. Shealy

Titusville, FL

“Barney Frank said that tax cuts could have made the Boston bombing more likely and you chastised him for using the occasion to play politics. Immediately afterwards, you had on Karl Rove who said tax increases would not have made the bombing less likely. What’s the difference?”

Eric Bram

Poughkeepsie, NY

“Barney Frank is a political tool. Cold, calculating, and insensitive to the real world. His response to the bombing doesn’t surprise me.”

Bill Forrest

Woodbridge, VA

“I’ve lived in a suburb of Boston my entire life and most people here consider Barney Frank to be an embarrassment and would never take anything he says seriously.”

Renee Heff

Dover, MA

“Barney Frank should stick to what he does best: creating housing bubbles.”

Dan Galvin

Congers, NY

EDITING HOAX

A doctored clip of the animated show “Family Guy,” depicting the lead character winning the Boston Marathon after blowing up everyone else in the race, goes viral.

“You asked what kind of sick guy recuts the Family Guy episode like that. But what kind of sick guy makes his living making a cartoon with a lead character who drives through the Boston Marathon?”

Rick Smith

Sylmar, CA

“The Family Guy webisode was not an eerie foreshadowing of the bombing. It’s what caused it! It gave the psychos the idea, just like the movie theater massacre was inspired by Batman.”

Donna Pare

Stow, MA

“While I agree that the splicing of the Family Guy episode was distasteful, I find it funny that Seth MacFarlane’s tasteless humor was turned around on him. He’s not better than the people who edited his show.”

David Ford

Colorado Springs, CO

“When we changed to digital TV, my fear was that something like this would happen. It’s very easy to edit and alter the material.”

Lucrecia Scheverin

Bremerton, WA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, April 16

2013-04-17T00:57:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Have you noticed the President uses words like ‘unacceptable’ and ‘held accountable’ when monstrous things happen? In my opinion, he should be saying ‘abominable’ and ‘firing squad.’”

Sharon Leutschaft

Redmond, OR

NEW DETAILS

The terrorists who attacked the Boston Marathon put nails and ball bearings in their bombs to inflict maximum carnage.

“Just like 9/11, April 15^th is an important day for Americans. This country is once again being taxed, metaphorically speaking, by terrorists intent on killing us. I’m surprised nobody has picked up on this significance.”

Wayne Brown

Chattanooga, TN

“I think if the people that committed the atrocity in Boston are caught and convicted, they should be led out of the courthouse so the people of Boston can institute justice as they see fit.”

Michael Berg

Georgetown, TX

“I’m disturbed by the language President Obama used. He used softer language instead of coming right out and saying this was an act of terrorism, in response to which America will act accordingly.”

Geoff Purvey

Brisbane, Australia

“The President has a long history of jumping on a situation without having all the facts. It’s not surprise that he chose this event to withhold comment.”

Colleen Moore

Billerica, MA

“You made such a big deal about the President using the word tragedy, but the definition of a tragedy is an event resulting in great loss and misfortune. A terrorist attack is a tragedy.”

Carl Hafner

Copiague, NY

“The terrorists responsible for the Boston bombings will be found and probably spend the rest of their lives in prison. Obama is more concerned with restricting gun ownership than killing terrorists.”

Tim Dunagan

Leesburg, FL

“When horrific incidents like the Boston attack happen, we often struggle to find words to describe the depths of our sorrow and pain. The word tragedy may fall short, but it explains the personal impact accurately.”

Donald Anthony

New York, NY

“President Obama actually outperformed himself by using the word tragedy for the Boston Marathon bombings. You should be happy he didn’t label this act of terrorism a ‘sports-related injury.’”

Dr. Ashish Sachan

Guelph, Canada

IMMIGRATION INFIGHTING

Some Republicans, like Rep. Steve King, can’t get behind immigration reform proposed by GOP star Marco Rubio.

“I’m sorry to say Congressman King made more sense than you did on the border issue. No matter what Congress passes, the border will not be controlled until we have an administration that doesn’t just give lip service to the rule of law.”

Joel Harding

Larkspur, CO

“Rep. King may have a valid point about the executive branch not enforcing existing laws. It’s hard to imagine, for example, a Democratic administration ceasing entitlements to illegals.”

Wayne Sims

Talladega, AL

“There’s no point in Congressional action on immigration if the Obama administration won’t enforce parts of the law they don’t like.”

Dave Tolsma

Camp Hill, PA

“I don’t get how pandering to illegal aliens, who by law are not permitted to vote, will help Republicans will elections.”

Marilyn Correia

New Market, AL

“I’m confused – I thought we already had comprehensive immigration reform. We call it the Constitution. Reagan made a mistake by never closing the borders. It looks like we’re destined to make the same mistake again.”

John Gaccione

Henderson, NV

“Granting legal status is amnesty, which is the same as advertising for even more illegals to come to the USA. Border security is a must to stop the flow into the country.”

Steve Watson

Palermo, Italy

“You’re dead wrong in saying illegals are crossing the border to feed their families. Mexico is the second most obese nation on the planet. Their motivation for breaking the law is no different than a bank robber: money.”

Bryan Smith

Cortaro, AZ

“Republicans should vote for a bill only if it’s practical and logical, not just to gain favor with Hispanics.”

Ed Grimes

Edgewood, KY

“Until the media and culture change, Mexican immigrants will not support the Republican Party. Even amnesty will not help. If amnesty is granted, Democrats will have a whole new group of voters.”

Linne DePasquale

Henderson, NV

Viewer Mail for Monday, April 15

2013-04-15T23:52:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I have to respectfully disagree with you on your call that the bombing in Boston was not a tragedy. The bombing was an act of war, but any act of war is a tragedy.”

Dave Sobczak

Raleigh, NC

MARATHON ATTACK

In the aftermath of the deadly bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the Factor criticized President Obama for describing the bombing as a “tragedy,” rather than as an act of terrorism.

“It sure didn’t take you long to start placing blame on President Obama for mishandling the incident. I respect you, but give me a break!”

Fred Sampson

Warren, RI

“Unfortunately, the Boston Marathon bombing is a sign of things to come. With open borders and the lack of vetting of foreigners entering our country, I’m surprised this sort of thing isn’t happening more often.”

Sonny Tannenbaum

Staten Island, NY

“You are wrong for once. President Obama will not be held accountable for the terrorism in Boston, just like he’s not being held accountable for Benghazi.”

Ken Vance

Mesquite, TX

“The news should refrain from calling these horrible events an act of terrorism, which gives credit to the perps for inflicting fear. This should be referred to as an act of cowardice.”

Randall Strauss

Colorado Springs, CO

“I was very disappointed when you described the street where the bombs went off as a crime scene. That’s like calling the site of the World Trade Center on 9/11 a crime scene.”

Steve Murphy

Klamath Falls, OR

“We let our guard down. We know this is a big event on Patriot’s Day. Why didn’t the experts connect the dots ahead of time and do what was necessary to secure the Marathon?”

Richard Carlton

Stoughton, MA

“What happened in Boston was a vile act. The terrorists, who probably walked freely across the border, must be brought to justice.”

Bob Sherman

Daytona Beach, FL

“Why in the world did you have to make a political statement about the bombing today at the Boston Marathon? It was a vile attack, but it was also a tragedy, as President Obama stated.”

Richard Doyle

Clayton, MO

“It was a poor choice of words by President Obama. A thought-out and calculated plan to harm and kill innocent people is not a tragedy; it’s an outright act of terror against our country.”

Carlys Stribe

Manning, IA

“A terrorist attack, like any event that yields casualties, is a tragedy. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive.”

R.S. Ferracane

Wesley Hills, NY

“Calling it a tragedy is one thing, but I didn’t see any anger, and he read the statement off a TelePrompter.”

Jim Wood

Palmdale, CA

“President Obama continues to appear reluctant to call out terrorism when it happens. Is he trying to avoid admitting his record of successful prevention of attacks isn’t as good as that of President Bush?”

Charles Lopresto

Phoenix, AZ

“Terrorism is not a word that can be prettied up. Nonetheless, the President should have called the attack today exactly what it was.”

Rachel Pohorence

Vero Beach, FL

“President Obama was very responsible for not using the word terrorism before any investigation had commenced. So he called it a tragedy, which by definition can be an accident, a crime, or a natural catastrophe.”

Tom Boone

Houston, TX

“I just wanted to say America is in our hearts and prayers tonight after the terrorist attack. Those brave men and women I saw on the news rushing to the aid of the injured should be congratulated for their bravery.”

Josie Alder

Newcastle, Australia

“I can tell you hate President Obama when you pick on him for his use of the word tragedy. It was a tragedy. Get real.”

Michelle Franklin

Chaparral, NM

Viewer Mail for Thursday, April 11

2013-04-11T17:11:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The DEA has been fighting the drug war for 40 years, has spent trillions of dollars, and illegal drug consumption has remained about the same during that time. Legalize it and take the criminal element out of it.”

Don Estif

San Salvador, El Salvador

GUN BATTLE

The Senate advanced a bill that would require more background checks on gun buyers, but will it ever land on the President’s desk?

“The best gun control is to make gun owners who let their weapons fall into the wrong hands more accountable. Sandy Hook is a perfect example.”

David Crawshaw

Clarence, NY

“Current gun laws are not being enforced, and more importantly, the U.S. Attorneys only prosecute a very small percentage of those who failed the instant background checks.”

Capt. B. Wenke (Ret.), LA County Sheriff’s Dept.

Glendale, AZ

“Weapons in the hands of those who are mentally ill is the principle area of threat. They’ll kill with guns, knives, broken bottles, or their hands if necessary.”

Ed Schirmer

South Burlington, VT

“I feel that gun registration would require random searches of persons and homes to catch a criminal before he acts. That seems just as intrusive to their rights as banning guns.”

Ryan Walton

Wallingford, CT

“You seem enthusiastic about the possibility of living inside a police state, complete with random searches without cause and harsh prison sentences for paperwork violations. Frightening.”

Geoffrey McNew

Novato, CA

“You keep asking why we can’t have gun laws where all owners have to register their firearms. Because it is illegal for the federal government to run such a system since the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act, which explicitly prohibits such action.”

Rick Trinkner, Ph.D.

Durham, NH

“I am against registration because every time guns are confiscated, registration has come first.”

Dale Campbell

Georgetown, KY

“You are living in la la land if you think that universal registration will solve the problem. Criminals do not register guns.”

Delbert Smith

Grand Junction, CO

“Just like our politicians, the criminals and criminally insane don’t care what database you create or what law you pass. In their minds, they are exempt.”

Bob Sharp

Sarasota, FL

PUFF PUFF PASS

A new Pew Research poll shows that a slim majority of Americans now favor legalizing pot. The Factor thinks putting another intoxicant on the open market sends the wrong message to kids.

“If you really want to keep marijuana away from children, you should support legalizing, regulating, and taxing it. It should be treated just like alcohol and tobacco.”

Steven Rosenblum

Jupiter, FL

“I can’t believe your guests who want to legalize marijuana. Legalize pot, but make it illegal to purchase large soft drinks? Have we lost all sensibility?”

Judy Garcia

Casa Grande, AZ

“The problems associated with marijuana are due to prohibition policy. Imagine how destructive coffee would be to society if they tested and fired people for caffeine use.”

Michael Todaro

Goldsboro, NC

“Keep fighting! It’s my experience that marijuana can and often does lead to harder drugs.”

Darrell Buck

Spokane, WA

“I believe if we vote to legalize marijuana, we will encourage young people to develop an addiction, which will lead them to other harder drugs. Marijuana is an established gateway drug.”

Sandy Box

Ivanhoe, CA

“Pot is a hallucinogen and people don’t care about anything while they’re smoking it. Pot also leads to obesity because users get the munchies. I’m against legalizing it.”

Kathryn McCracken, RN

Sedalia, CO

“I’ve tried marijuana twice. It does less harm to our bodies and on the roads than alcohol in excess does.”

Mike Hoffman, Jr.

Englewood Beach, FL

MOTOR CITY MAYHEM

Factor producer Jesse Watters visited the once-great city of Detroit to investigate how the city has fallen to crime, unemployment, and drugs.

“I have sympathy for the folks in Detroit. However, at what point does one say to them that they’re sleeping in the bed they’ve made? After all, it was their elected politicians who supported the unions to an extent that business and education is all but void in the once great city.”

Ricky Parrish

Greenbrier, TN

“Capitalism made Detroit great. Socialism made it what it is today.”

Ed Atlas

Nashville, TN

“Jesse Watters’ report on Detroit could have been done in any major U.S. city. Isn’t it a shame what the left has done to this country?”

Ken Collins

North Myrtle Beach, SC

“As a retired Detroit police officer, your spotlight on my once proud city made me depressed. It’s not just white flight; blacks raced away at equal speed due to the poor education provided by the public schools.”

Patrick Opipari

Clinton Township, MI

“Thank you for highlighting Detroit. If anything, it is a warning to all America of what can happen when Democrats are given free reign.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

“Jesse Watters deserves combat pay for going into the war zone of Detroit.”

Bernie Rohr

Philadelphia, PA

“As a lifelong resident of the Detroit area, one of the major problems facing Detroit is how the city spends money. The city spends millions on entitlement programs, many of which a bankrupt city should not be funding.”

Alex Baker

Dearborn, MI

“As a Michigander, I enjoyed your piece on the grim situation in the Motor City. However, there are still nice areas that Jesse Watters should have explored – downtown near Comerica Park and Ford Field, the streets are full of successful businesses.”

Kenneth Kettler

Castle Rock, WA

“Detroit needs to go under martial law. Living in the area for two decades and being in law enforcement, this is the only way to truly start to fix everything that is wrong with the city.”

Justin Novak

Novi, MI

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, April 10

2013-04-10T16:45:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I take umbrage with Santorum’s assertion that procreation is the centrality of marriage. My wife and I knew going into our union that we’d never have children. Our 35 years together have been wonderful.”

Jerry Mowery

Palo Alto, CA

VIOLENT CRIME?

A bunch of Hollywood celebrities have signed a letter to President Obama demanding softer drugs laws and claiming that drug offenses are non-violent crimes. The Factor strongly disagrees.

“You can’t win an argument about drugs with Bob Beckel. Although I disagree with most of his political views, he has lived and survived the drug scene and you looked weak in the debate.”

Bill Garvin

Friendswood, TX

“My little sister was given meth when she was 13-years-old; she suffered a heart attack and almost died. The woman who gave her the drugs was shot in the head by her drug dealing boyfriend a few years later. There will never be drugs without violence.”

Jaime Brizeno

Las Vegas, NV

“If you have never been in the weed world, please don’t comment with such authority. Not every pot person is violent, nor do they all move on to heroin.”

Grand Rapids, MI

“Beckel is a shining example that drugs make you stupid.”

Bill Burnette

Key West, FL

“Drug dealing is not a violent crime. Your Talking Points were off base. Alcohol drives more violent crime than drugs.”

Scott Moroz

Port Jervis, NY

“No one forces people to purchase and use drugs and there will always be those who attempt to meet the demand that exists. The 38,000 people who died of drug overdoses in 2010 were not innocent victims.”

Ben Ruffcorn

Chicago, IL

“Drugs such as meth, cocaine, and heroin are hard drugs that cause primary harm to those who choose to use the illegal substances and secondary harm to anyone with whom they come into contact.”

Lindsey Waters

Macon, GA

“The reason Hollywood celebrities are urging Obama to legalize drugs is because so many of them do drugs. They don’t want to be punished if they get caught.”

William Harris

Colorado Springs, CO

UNINVITED

Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum was uninvited to speak at a Michigan high school because of his stance on gay marriage.

“I live just two blocks from the high school in question. I’m sickened by the opt-in policy established for Senator Santorum’s speech.”

Esther Wolfe

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI

“Santorum derailed his own point when he argued that a single mother who adopts provides a more stable home than a gay couple. A two-parent household is best regardless of sexual preferences.”

Larry Veasman

Ann Arbor, MI

“People don’t think Santorum is a bigot because he’s opposed to gay marriage; they think he’s a bigot because he’s anti-gay. He says vile things about the gay community.”

Matt Glosser

Chandler, AZ

“Government recognition of gay marriage in no way threatens or diminishes my marriage of 30 years. Religious conservatives have no compelling reasons to oppose marriage equality for gays and lesbians.”

Patty Romano

Austin, TX

“The school is practicing censorship. Plain and simple. I wouldn’t want my child being fed what the administration deems appropriate.”

Jackie Johnson

Pinetop, AZ

“It’s mind-boggling that we need parents to sign permission slips for their child to hear a presidential candidate speak just because he opposes gay marriage. Yet we don’t notify the same parents when their child needs an abortion. I give up.”

Louie Stamas

Peoria, AZ

“Santorum’s argument is flawed because a loving man and woman can get married at any age. If a couple gets married when they’re older, they’re obviously not entering into the union to have children.”

Jim Greene

San Francisco, CA

STAR-STUDDED EVENT

A posh concert held at the White House will be televised on PBS. The soiree cost $1.3 million, with about half the price tag being covered by taxpayers.

“The federal government does not exist to provide high-end entertainment to people who cannot otherwise afford it. The concert was a massive waste of taxpayer money.”

Jim Radziun

Cambridge, MN

“I thought the White House was closed to tours, but the President invites his Hollywood friends to see concerts there. What hypocrisy!”

Jim Bahar

Sheboygan, WI

“If PBS can afford to pay that kind of money for a concert, then the taxpayers should not be subsidizing them. As for the President, his ongoing frivolous spending shows you how out of touch he is with the people.”

Pat Daviau

Blandford, MA

“Why did this silly concert cost so much and why didn’t the celebrities, who are all friends with President Obama, perform for free?”

Leo Zakharoff

Pampanga, Philippines

“Since taxpayers subsidized the latest PBS concert held at the White House, I assume PBS will share the proceeds for the sale of CDs and videos with the taxpayers.”

Preston Morgan

Peterburg, IL

“So let me get this straight: taxpayer money paid for the big concert at the White House on Monday night, which will be aired on public television, which is also funded by taxpayer money. Is anyone OK with this?”

Sandy Sacks

Schnecksville, PA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, April 9

2013-04-10T05:57:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Those celebrating Margaret Thatcher’s death give credence to the theory of evolution – they are the missing link between apes and man.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

THE GOOD OL’ DAYS

The death of Mickey Mouse Club member Annette Funicello harkens back to a better time, the 1950s. Why was the country so much more wholesome back then?

“Life was much better in the 1950s. Proof? Doors of all houses were wide open, and bicycles on the front porches were never stolen.”

George Naniche

Moraga, CA

“We felt a lot safer in the 50s. We didn’t worry about crime, drugs, or gangs. It might have been a time of innocence.”

Bob & Patricia Inman

The Dalles, OR

“One wage earner, one TV, one car, the pledge of allegiance in school, family dinner every night, paper routes…what happened?”

David Crawshaw

Clarence, NY

“There were two things that made life in the 50s better. There was honesty and respect for others. And we didn’t have government regulations invading every aspect of our lives.”

Dave Nelson

Bloomington, MN

“My dad grew up in the 50s and he constantly tells me that his monthly household bills from back then made it so much easier to live.”

Jim de la Rosa

Oakland, NJ

“Offer me a one-way ticket on the time machine back to the 1950s and I will be gone in a flash!”

Jim Crawford

Salmon, ID

“I enjoyed your Talking Points on the USA and Mickey Mouse. I’m sure the 1950s were a more wholesome time in America, and I often feel I was born a few generations too late.”

Maj. Dan Rempfer

Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA

“As the son of baby boomer, I must say the stories my parents shared with me about growing up in the 50s all had a magical air to them. It sounded like a special time to grow up.”

Jeremy Palmer

Santa Rosa, CA

DEFENDING THE BIG EASY

Democratic adviser James Carville entered the no spin zone to defend his city, New Orleans, from charges that political corruption has led to its demise.

“Carville said that New Orleans’ crime rate is what you’d expect from a city with its demographics. Wasn’t that kind of racist?”

Chris Davis

Sandy Springs, GA

“You should have asked Carville if all the wonderful things he pointed out about Louisiana are the result of the sound policies of a conservative governor.”

Bruce Bales

Arden, NC

“What Carville didn’t mention is that all those great things he boasts about in New Orleans are attributable to Gov. Jindal’s policies and programs.”

Rod Dickerson

Homer, LA

“James Carville talks about the improved school system, crime rate, etc. What he didn’t say is that many of the undesirables shipped out during Katrina and have not returned.”

Rickey Pearce

Whitehouse, TX

“James Carville stated that the schools in New Orleans are doing well. Perhaps the reason is that the majority of them are independent charter schools.”

Irene Brewer

Tacoma, WA

“All the public schools in New Orleans were destroyed and replaced by private schools. The public schools are akin to prisons.”

Dean Business

Des Moines, IA

THE IRON LADY

Why were some left-wing Britons celebrating in the streets following the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher?

“Watching some Brits celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher was enlightening. They poured champagne, wore Addidas jackets, and carried cell phones – all products made possible by the capitalism she espouses, and they abhor. What hypocrites.”

Myrna Davis

Granada Hills, CA

“I’m very disappointed you didn’t mention how Mrs. Thatcher allowed the ten hunger strikers in Ireland to die in 1981. Was that one of her shining moments?”

Tom Earley

Pompton Lakes, NJ

“Those people celebrating Mrs. Thatcher’s death were barely born when she was Prime Minister. Someone taught them to hate a person they didn’t even know, who saved their country, for the sake of ideology.”

Brian Gutherman

Shamong, NJ

“I was completely disgusted by the video depicting the celebrations of Lady Thatcher’s death. No matter what the situation, she behaved with grace and decorum, which is more than I can say for those punks in that film.”

Laura Barnett-Kessler

Bloomington, IL

“It’s sickening to see the socialist idiots in Britain celebrating the death of a great lady who saved their country from economic demise.”

Peter Bruno

Arvada, CO

Viewer Mail for Monday, April 8

2013-04-08T22:56:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“By being free market proponents, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan reduced unemployment in their countries from 10% to 5%. How can Mr. Obama be so blind as to pursue the exact opposite policies?”

George Naniche

Moraga, CA

MOURNING A LEGEND

The former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher, passed away. How would the conservative leader have viewed President Obama’s policies?

“We mourn the passing away of the UK’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – a strong, wise, and true leader. These are qualities we’re lacking in America today; instead we have a talker, fundraiser, and campaigner.”

Martin Salvador

North Chicago, IL

“Learning how Margaret Thatcher rescued England from destructive socialism and a dismal economy can give Americans hope after Obama.”

Claudell Ferebee

Birmingham, AL

“The reason the left hates Margaret Thatcher is because she proved them wrong.”

Chris Holgate

Kingman, AZ

“For the left to be honest, they must recognize that Mrs. Thatcher, along with President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, freed more people, from far worse conditions, than Abraham, Martin, and John combined.”

Mike Mahaffey

Austin, TX

“We lived in England for 2-1/2 years in the 70s. Because of the tax burden, small business owners made no effort to grow their businesses during that period. We returned during Margaret Thatcher’s tenure and the environment had completely changed for the better.”

Wilma Kelly

New Carlisle, OH

“I agree that Margaret Thatcher would not have approved of President Obama. I voted for him four years ago, but I didn’t make the same mistake this time around.”

Amanda Sowers

Baltimore, MD

“Prime Minister Thatcher was not only strong domestically, but she displayed a unique diplomacy that is so rare in leaders.”

Richard Kwiecienski

Sugarmill Woods, FL

“Thatcher’s quote that socialism is great until you run out of somebody else’s money says it all in terms of what she might have thought of President Obama.”

Tom Walsh

Swan Valley, ID

CHAPLAIN CONTROVERSY

Two gay students at George Washington University are demanding the dismissal of the school’s chaplain for calling homosexual acts sinful.

“Should Father Greg Shaffer also not tell his students that cheating on exams is wrong, even if some students don’t think it’s a sin? The pastor’s job is to tell the truth, not keep the peace.”

David Wanamaker

Overland Park, KS

“I disagree with your guest that the Catholic Church should be more accepting of homosexuals. Even with decreasing numbers, the church needs to preach what it actually believes.”

Jason Boardman

Satellite Beach, FL

“While the Catholic Church has every right to hold that sexual behavior is only acceptable between a husband and wife, the real threat is intellectual fascism and repression of free speech.”

Father James Lloyd

New York, NY

“I’m really fed up with all this talk about gay marriage when homosexuals only represent 3-5% of the population. It’s time we started focusing on the real problems in this country.”

Dave Pierce

Great Falls, MT

“How can you support the removal of Ward Churchill from the University of Colorado, but not the removal of Father Shaffer from George Washington University? They’re both free speech issues.”

Matt Langhorne

Denver, CO

“This is a complete denial of freedom of religion and speech. What the priest said is factual and unbiased – plain and simple.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

THE UNFRIENDLY SKIES

Commentator Adam Carolla complains that airline travel has become a microcosm of the world, where there are no manners among passengers and little customer service.

“It’s really a dog’s world! We were flying in the bulkhead seats in economy class on Alaskan Airlines. My husband, who was experiencing some health problems, was allowed to use the first class restroom but only after a fellow passenger and her dog used the facility.”

Rose Knowles

Willow, AK

“Blankets, pillows, a meal, and maybe a movie used to be included in airline fare, but now the airlines only provide these perks to first class passengers. Airline travel is stressful enough without dividing us into the haves and have-nots.”

Jennifer

Ocean View, HI

“You want to know what’s wrong with the airlines now? There are too many passenger classifications. Club members, priority passengers, first class, etc. Enough of all this! If you want to board first, just sit at the back of the plane.”

Anne Beal

Colman, SD

“I travel 42 weeks out of the year. People are the problem. Flying used to be a classy thing; now it’s worse than riding the subway.”

Clint Massey

Bentonville, AR

“If you want to know what’s wrong with the American airline industry, just fly in Asia. It’s a pleasure, rather than an ordeal.”

BW Smith

Yokosuka, Japan

Viewer Mail for Friday, April 5

2013-04-05T22:33:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Obama giving back $20,000 of his salary is not significant. It is seven minutes of the cost to fly Air Force One.”

Star Marie Anderson

Chester, VA

SUICIDE MISSION?

North Korea is ramping up its rhetoric, threatening to attack both the USA and South Korea. But is the dictator Kim Jong-un foolish enough to follow through?

“Do you remember the movie ‘The Mouse That Roared’? North Korea is playing the United States because they feel the U.S. will continue to make sure their citizens have food and other benefits. They have successfully gotten us to provide this for more than 50 years.”

Bruce Green

Brunswick, ME

“I would bet that if I sent Dennis Rodman to your house for a week, you would be threatening me.”

Chuck McLaughlin

New Paris, IN

“If North Korea invades South Korea on the ground with a massive troop deployment, how can we stop them with only 28,000 troops there? And if we use fighter jets, we’ll kill South Koreans too.”

Tim Belk

Joplin, MO

“The only way the U.S. could defeat North Korea would be if it also militarily defeated both China and Russia. It scares me that anyone thinks we could defeat North Korea easily.”

Martin Wilt

Sacramento, CA

“Col. Peters made an excellent point about the obsolescence of North Korea’s military equipment. The question is whether or not the North Koreans recognize their limitations or believe they have the upper hand.”

Alex Baker

Dearborn, MI

“We can blow North Korea to the Stone Age, but then we’ll have to spend billions and billions to rebuild it.”

Obeid Mall

Albany, NY

CITY GONE WILD

Corruption in New Orleans is out of control, as new video surfaces showing inmates there smoking weed, shooting heroin, and holding handguns.

“As a New Orleans native, I can tell you that if you want to know why the prisons and political system there are so bad, then just look at the bad choices the city’s voters make at the ballot box.”

Louis LaGuardia III

Chattanooga, TN

“We all wish the corruption was limited to New Orleans, but crony government is business as usual in Louisiana. It’s what caused me to leave the state.”

John Turner

The Woodlands, TX

“As a lifelong resident of New Orleans, I, along with many others, consider the city to be a lost cause. The level of ineptitude at city hall is beyond comprehension.”

Kevin Clabert

Franklinton, LA

“You and Geraldo show your ignorance when you say the only good part of New Orleans is the French Quarter. Most of the business, music, art, history, festivals, sports, etc. are outside the French Quarter.”

Lynnette Molin

Metairie, LA

“I don’t think the city will ever be reformed. During Hurricane Katrina, too many people were too stupid to walk to safety. Once you’re at a point where you can’t function unless the government takes care of you, you’re done.”

Bradley Howe

Rochester, MN

“You were out of line to demean the good citizens of New Orleans. It’s bad to a degree, but Gov. Jindal is doing a good job weeding out corruption.”

Louis Schwartz

New Orleans, LA

“The murder rate is something that is rarely talked about here, and although I had hoped Hurricane Katrina would provide us a clean slate, it only shed a light on our corrupt government.”

Jessica Spitale

New Orleans, LA

PRESIDENTIAL PAY CUT

As a gesture of good will during difficult economic times, President Obama is giving the federal treasury 5% of his salary back.

“I’m supposed to be impressed when Obama returns $20,000 of his salary while taking multiple multi-million dollar vacations paid by the taxpayers? Give me a break.”

Rod Hibma

Golden, CO

“You were right to give President Obama credit for his salary gesture. Your guests came across as angry guys totally incapable of giving the President credit for anything.”

Steve Bradshaw

Clarkston, GA

“Obama gave up 5% of his salary as his shared sacrifice. If he really wants to share in the sacrifice, the government should end its health care plan and enjoy Obama-care with the rest of us.”

Brad Emmi

Kennett Square, PA

“As governor, Mitt Romney never took a salary. He also paid for his own political and personal travel expenses.”

Peter Goldthwaite

Worcester, MA

“Forget 20% of his salary. Just giving up one round of golf would save the country so much more.”

Rick Roberts

Titusville, FL

“If President Obama is serious about helping with the country’s money woes, instead of returning part of his salary, he should let
Air Force One sit on the ground for one week a month.”

Charlie Murdock

Gastonia, NC

“Obama’s $20,000 payback is a joke. He doesn’t pay for anything anyway. We do. His salary is all gravy.”

Chuck Salzmann

New Port Richey, FL

“President Obama giving 5% of his salary back, given all the perks and alternate incomes he has, is like me finding $100 on the sidewalk, giving it to charity, and then calling the paper to say I gave $100,000. It’s a gesture to pacify the ignorant.”

Mike Davis

Pekin, IL

“I believe Obama is giving 5% of his income back only to persuade Americans that he is a good guy. I’m not buying it.”

Anne Rue

Laguna Niguel, CA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, April 4

2013-04-05T01:07:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The federal government has the obligation to permit gay marriage – plain and simple. Traditional marriage is a social stabilizer? I think not. Just look at the divorce rate.”

Carl Hafner

Copiague, NY

CULTURE CLASH

In the ongoing battle over same-sex nuptials, anti-gay marriage forces have not seized upon a central persuasive argument and many are using the Bible as their basis for opposing gay unions.

“People who are hostile to Christianity often use the term ‘Bible thumping’ as a pejorative. In my view, it’s almost as hurtful as using the n-word to describe African-Americans.”

Tonya Van Horn

Edmond, OK

“I agree with your premise that a defense of marriage must be made in the secular realm. However, as a nightly viewer, I take issue with your description of those of us who object to gay marriage as Bible thumpers.”

Mary Elle

Oregon City, OR

“You have surrendered the issue of marriage to the secular-progressives by refusing to utilize the defense of religious belief argument. If gay marriage is made equal, the government will be interfering with an institution that has always been in the purview of religion.”

David Ford

Colorado Springs, CO

“Marriage is a contract between two distinct parties: a husband and a wife. Instead of redefining marriage, allow for civil unions as you’ve suggested.”

Tommy Olsen

Montgomery, AL

“The law should be that marriage is between two people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. It should be unconstitutional for states to make contrary laws.”

Robert Kalish

Phoenix, AZ

“You say you’re opposed to gay marriage but support civil unions because if gay marriage is allowed, then marriage would also be allowed for other kinds of relationships. But can’t the same be true for civil unions?”

Charles Kay

Aurora, CO

“Homosexuality is abnormal. It is a cultural and genetic dead end. IT survives only on the generosity of liberalism and was even considered a clinical abnormality when I was growing up.”

Gerald Hogan

Cameron Park, CA

“Bernie Goldberg says society draws lines, but we can’t draw the line at homosexual marriage. He seems to change his arguments to fit his beliefs.”

Jenny McCombs

Greenville, OH

“Goldberg is totally wrong. Gay marriage, along with any other type of marriage except between one man and one woman, will lead to moral decay and the downfall of society.”

Jack Myers

Columbus, GA

OUT-OF-WEDLOCK UPTICK

New statistics show that 41% of births in the United States are now to women who are not married. Why?

“Unwed mothers used to be a slipup of birth control – an accident – if you will. Now, many more women are making the informed choice to have babies on their own.”

John Stires

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

“Unwed mothers are entitled to all the free stuff Uncle ‘Sugar Daddy’ Sam has to offer. Free formula, diapers, food stamps, health insurance, etc. Why would they get married?”

Lynn Battaglia

Hebron, KY

“Do you want to know why there’s a rise in out-of-wedlock births? Turn on your TV! Go to the movies! The role models for kids today are despicable.”

Isabel Rodriguez

Hialeah, FL

“Women are not getting married before giving birth not because they are more independent, but because the government gives them free prenatal care, housing, food, child care, and a cell phone. The message is clear: get pregnant, get free stuff.”

Martha Jordan

Marion, NC

“There are no longer repercussions to having babies out-of-wedlock. Nobody says shame on you anymore. Plus, the taxpayers will foot the bill.”

Kathy Ishcomer

Altus, OK

“Most women are not concerned with becoming pregnant or being married to the father because they know they will be taken care of by the state. How to support a child financially is no longer a consideration.”

Karol Parrish

Tampa Bay, FL

“Your criticism of single mothers is an attack on the pro-life movement. You’re doing more damage than good. These young women need encouragement, not trash talk.”

Mark Isabella

Atlantic Beach, FL

“I may be mistaken, but don’t single mothers receive more benefits from the welfare system? This may be contributing to the rate of unwed pregnancies.”

Dan O’Connor

Sonora, CA

“As a man in my late 20s, I firmly believe the reason so many young ladies are having children out-of-wedlock is because our society encourages men to move from one woman to the next without committing.”

Jeff Snyder

Pittsburgh, PA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, April 3

2013-04-04T04:20:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Hiring Kathy Boudin to teach social studies at Columbia University is like hiring a convicted robber as bank president. You don’t hire a murderer to teach our youth social ethics.”

Margaret Knox

Savannah, GA

RADICAL FOR HIRE

What was Columbia University thinking by hiring former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin, who served two decades in prison for murder, as a professor?

“Just because Ms. Boudin has served her time does not erase her hideous deed. Is there no common decency in academia anymore?”

Philip Wade

Bossier City, LA

“Kathy Boudin should be considered for a professorship at Columbia if she is qualified. Does the university consider her being a member of the Weather Underground and murdering three people a qualification to employment?”

George Rinard

Longmont, CO

“How can the crime of murder ever be paid back to society? Kathy Boudin can never repay the families of her victims.”

Tod Ehrmantraut

Centennial, CO

“Following Beckel’s reasoning, a convicted pedophile should be allowed to take a job as an elementary school teacher at serving their time. To expose students to Ms. Boudin’s perverted social philosophy is no different.”

Steve Sepo

Chester, CT

“Columbia didn’t hire Boudin in spite of her criminal past; they hired her because of it.”

William Charamut

Wethersfield, CT

“Boudin should be talking about those nine fatherless kids who had to be raised by single parents and how they all had to adjust due to her actions.”

Barbara Finnigan

Congers, NY

UNEMPLOYABLE?

Black Entertainment Television founder Robert Johnson complained about the unemployment gap, in which 14% of black Americans are without jobs, a rate double that of white Americans.

“Where I work, black employees have the same opportunities as everyone else. The problem is that many young black people who are interested in math, science and engineering are told by their friends that they’re not black enough.”

Van Snyder

La Crescenta, CA

“With all due respect to Mr. Johnson, his claim that corporate America is failing to give small business loans to African-Americans is pure nonsense. I’ve been trying to get a loan like that for three years without success and I’m white.”

Jim Marquez

Las Vegas, NV

“Why didn’t you ask Mr. Johnson about the high school dropout rate among black youths? As a past employer, experience proved that hiring a dropout was a risk.”

John Compton

Rochester, NY

“The workforce of this country was changed forever when the government started telling companies it had to hire minorities or they wouldn’t receive government contracts.”

Wayne Golish

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

“When Robert Johnson said it was the color of a person’s skin that held unemployment so high in the black community, he should have been asked how it was that he succeeded then.”

Joan Tallman

Dubuque, IA

“Robert Johnson is wrong to blame corporate America for the high black unemployment rate when we have a President who wants to destroy small businesses and corporations.”

Samuel Arroyo

Macungie, PA

“Robert Johnson blames everyone but blacks themselves for high unemployment in the black community. Blacks will continue to fail in our economic system unless they realize that they are responsible for their own futures.”

Kyle Little

Carrollton, VA

PAPER TIGER?

The Obama administration is taking a nuclear threat from North Korea seriously, but should it be?

“Why in the world are we still dancing around North Korea’s nuclear threats? There’s a simple solution: stop sending them aid.”

John Jenkins

Mt. Airy, MD

“The troublesome spot we now find ourselves in with North Korea could have been avoided decades ago if we had fired Harry Truman and listened to Douglas Macarthur who said, in war, there’s no substitute for victory.”

Dwight Arrington

West Columbia, SC

“North Korea’s leadership is very rational; otherwise we would have been at war with them years ago. When we dismiss them as irrational, that’s when we’ll find ourselves at war.”

Alex Baker

Dearborn, MI

“I believe North Korea is controlled by China. Israel and the U.S. have said this spring is the deadline for Iran. China seems to be diverting our attention with multiple problems.”

Robert Whitman

Scranton, PA

“I don’t believe North Korea has any nuclear capability at all. If it did, it would have set off an above ground test, just to prove the point. Every verified nuclear power has done this.”

Charles Knapp

Traverse City, MI

“You must take a conflict with North Korea more seriously. Remember that communist China has a military contract to protect them if they are ever in a conflict. We would be at war with China if we went to war against North Korea.”

Bob Jack

North Las Vegas, NV

“North Korea is rattling its missiles at the behest of Iran, to whom they sell nuclear technology, to take the spotlight off Iran while they achieve nuclear capability.”

Michael Kessler

Atlanta, GA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, April 2

2013-04-02T22:41:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I agree with your point - we Bible believers must do a better job of articulating our arguments against gay marriage. However, you calling us Bible thumpers evokes images of foaming at the mouth fanatics, which I resent.”

Kip Coley

Huntsville, AL

DIMINISHING RELIGION?

Laura Ingraham accused the Factor of insulting religious Americans by using the term “Bible thumpers” in a discussion about people who support traditional marriage.

“It’s not ‘thumping the Bible’ to call gay marriage a sin against religion, but it’s not right either. It’s a sin against nature.”

Tom Karopoulos

Northport, NY

“The term ‘Bible thumping’ has been used in the past by the secular and non-religious communities to denigrate Christian believers. Whether you acknowledge or not, some people will in fact be offended by your use of this term.”

Lori Kruczek

Austin, TX

“I understand your point, but your choice of language diminished it. Insert ‘Jesus freaks’ for ‘Bible thumpers.’ It’s the same exact thing.”

Mike Weaver

Dallas, TX

“You offended a lot of Bible thumpers out there. If I wasn’t a Bible thumper, I wouldn’t care who marries who.”

Kathy

Beachwood, NJ

“My life is guided by the Bible, so yes, I oppose gay marriage. I don’t like being referred to as a slang term when I stand up for what I believe my faith says.”

Judy Eledge

Anchorage, AK

“When you use the phrase Bible thumping in any context, you are offending believers everywhere.”

Shawn Sacks

Arbutus, MD

“Biblical citations alone are indeed inadequate, but I don’t understand why you advocate separation between private belief and public policy on the gay marriage issue.”

Steve Casey

Yorba Linda, CA

“The real flaw in the equality argument supporting gay marriage is that as citizens of the USA, we all have equality as guaranteed by the Constitution. But marriage is a pillar of the American community, thus we will support civil unions but not gay marriage.”

Jim & Carolyn Raue

Grand Rapids, MI

“Bible thumpers can’t differentiate between policy and personal convictions? Our belief is our policy. We believe there are two sexes, and that marriage is between one woman and one man.”

Bill Russell

Brighton, MI

“While I agree with you that making a policy argument from a Biblical perspective is ineffective in today’s culture, I’m with Laura Ingraham on the Bible thumper remark. It was a real slap in the face.”

Mary Elle

Oregon City, OR

“Laura really needs to get over the Bible thumper expression. Even if homosexuals can marry in the eyes of the government, she may still live her life her way. It’s called freedom.”

Joe Kudla

Lake George, MI

ENTITLEMENT EXPLOSION

The number of Americans receiving food stamps has increased 50% since President Obama took office. What’s behind the huge expansion?

“Food stamps buy votes. Pithy enough?”

Thomas Peterson

Bay City, MI

“I have operated a supermarket since 1986. Food stamp sales now represent about 8% of our sales, up significantly from a few years ago. The people who use food stamps in my store are the same people who used cash a couple of years ago when they had jobs.”

Ray Garrett

Rio Rico, AZ

“Here’s how people cheat using food stamps: A single mom gets food stamps for her and her children, but her boyfriend works and sells the food stamps for cash.”

Cindi Peterman

Dix, IL

“It’s very frustrating to my wife and I, who work and earn 75K annually, to spend time clipping coupons and shopping for supermarket deals. We always are behind multi-generational welfare frauds who are capable of working with a cart full of groceries paid for by food stamps.”

Greg Shick

Du Bois, PA

“Food stamps should be limited to basic need food items and the amount based on household members. Period.”

Monte

Vernal, UT

“If people are abusing money meant for food, which means kids are going without food and diapers.”

Kim Palmer

Raynham, MA

“The stigma of using food stamps has been removed. There is no shame, whereas it used to be a last resort.”

Mike Cuggino, Sr.

New York, NY

“One of your guests said both Presidents Bush and Obama raised the limit for food stamps. The U.S. is not a dictatorship. Doesn’t Congress also have a say?”

Stafford Gillespie

London, Canada

SERMON SCANDAL

President Obama and his family attended an Easter service where Pastor Luis Leon accused the religious right of racism and sexism.

“Shame on Reverend Leon! The only message that should ever be preached in an Easter Sunday sermon is the message of salvation, through the sacrifice on the cross by Jesus Christ.”

Nancy Mehl

Yorba Linda, CA

“If the Reverend’s sermon had slandered gays, minorities, Democrats, or welfare recipients, President Obama would have gotten up and left the church. The President still hasn’t learned that he represents all Americans.”

Jim Dooley

Lincroft, NJ

“The pastor felt empowered by the presence of the President. Birds of a feather stick together.”

Amy Klick

Andover, MN

“I thought you believed in the separation of church and state? Now you’re criticizing the President for not walking out of church on Easter Sunday and denouncing a sermon because it offended your views.”

Jane Jobe

New York, NY

“The so-called controversial sermon was more like an opportunistic sermon because the minister knew President Obama and his family were in attendance. He knew his words would be appreciated by Obama.”

Anne Smyth

Scarborough, Canada

“There is a very simple reason the President bears some guilt in the Easter sermon situation. The pastor was simply stating what he thought Obama wanted to hear, and he nailed it.”

Bill Jones

New Port Richey, FL

“The sermon disregarded the fact that it was Senate Democrats who filibustered passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.”

Robert Castleberry

Pasco, WA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, March 27

2013-03-28T03:55:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“It’s no surprise that pinhead protests against the Easter bunny are bound to occur. As Jesus said to his apostles, ‘You will be hated by all on account of me.’”

Jennifer Sokol

Shoreline, WA

FINANCIAL MADNESS

Californians pay the highest taxes in the nation, and the state is $164 billion in debt. So why is a county administrator named Susan Muranishi earning $424,000 a year with a $470,000 pension?

“The only justification for giving that California administrator such a large pension would be if the taxpayers themselves had voted for it in a referendum. The politicians who approved such a deal had no good reason to do so.”

Don Cooper

Tampa, FL

“Public service unions should not be allowed to have collective bargaining rights. The politicians they’re bargaining with for better pay are the same ones receiving union donations to their campaign funds.”

Maurice Fox

Valley Stream, NY

“Susan Muranishi’s pension package is only half the story. If she decides to leave California and move to state with no income tax, she won’t have to pay any state income tax on her pension benefits.”

Dave Fogel

Roseville, CA

“In 1937, FDR warned that public employee unionization would lead to a clear conflict of interest. The administrator’s half a million dollar pension makes it clear that he was correct.”

Jay Baker

Stockton, CA

“The difference between the CEO of IBM getting a big pension and a public sector worker is that we have a choice not to buy IBM, but if we don’t pay our taxes we’ll go to jail. This is why public sector expenses should be kept to a minimum.”

Marc Silvagni

Beverly, MA

“The annual pension for the President is $400,000. Does a local administrator really deserve more than the President of the United States? Unbelievable.”

L.J. Adams

Richmond, VA

“Bob Beckel claims the free market allowed a government employee to receive a government-funded pension. Gotta get me some of that logic!”

James Yearington

Hudson, WI

“If Fox was broke, you would get a pink slip, not a contract or a pension. That’s the difference.”

Ed Gallucci

Mentor, OH

“Public employee unions in California spend huge amounts of their mandatory dues revenue on electing politicians who will grant their members lavish pay and benefits.”

Bill Packer

Sacramento, CA

“The city of Oakland doesn’t have enough police officers due to a lack of funds, yet they pay this person an outrageous salary and retirement. It’s not right.”

Matt Ostrofsky

Fremont, CA

“Taxpayer-funded pensions are the dirty little secret of our eminent economic demise. Shine the light before it’s too late!”

Mary Reardon

Santa Barbara, CA

“The reason public employees’ unions have been banned for so long is that there is no countervailing force at the negotiating table. Management is represented by other public employees.”

Bob Trecartin

Corona, CA

EASTER UNDER ATTACK

Will religious leaders stand up to those who are trying to diminish Christianity by banishing the word “Easter” as well as the holiday’s symbols?

“It angers me to hear people trying to change the name of holidays such as Easter. People need to respect the religion of others.”

Tyler Freeman

Blaine, WA

“I agree that we should dispense with that most offensive symbol, the Easter bunny. We should rename it: the springtime gender-neutral egg-laying lagomorph.”

Carol Nichols

Spartanburg, SC

“Concerning the disdain shown to Easter in many public schools, it may be an alternative for Christian students to refer to it as Resurrection Day instead. I’ll bet the liberal naysayers would be begging for the return of Easter.”

Jack Sember

Hawthorne, NJ

“It’s not only those in the pulpits who need to stand up for Christian values; it’s also those in the pews. While they are mostly silent, those with anti-Christian values are not.”

Bernard Budney

Temecula, CA

“Pastor Jeffress, your guest, said the Christian message was powerful enough to overcome the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire did not have any Democratic progressives, or Paul may not have prevailed.”

Skip Shipman

Kennesaw, GA

“I agree with Pastor Jeffress that we hesitate to fight back against secularism because we view it as un-Christian.”

Mike Ramey

Ashville, OH

ANTI-GUN GAFFE?

Comedic actor Jim Carrey has created an Internet video where he mocks gun owners and the late Charlton Heston.

“The funniest thing about Jim Carrey is that he’s gotten more publicity from this YouTube video than from his last three movies combined.”

Bob Bialecki

Eldersburg, MD

“What’s the matter, gun people? You seem pretty brave toting your weapons around, but have very thin skin and absolutely no sense of humor. As far as I’m concerned, Charlton Heston lost all credibility when he uttered that insane ‘when you pry it from my cold, dead hands’ line.”

Mike Calendar

Chicago, IL

“Jim Carrey starred in the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber.’ He now stars in the sequel, ‘Dumbest,’ in his immature and pathetic video mocking Charlton Heston.”

John Lloyd

Colorado Springs, CO

“You’re wrong about Jim Carrey being funny. As a Canadian, I find him about as funny as a kick in the family jewels and that’s exactly what the guy needs.”

Cliff Holland

Lone Butte, Canada

“I had to laugh when Jim Carrey said Charlton Heston’s films were no longer relevant. I’d rather sit through four hours of ‘Ben Hur’ than five minutes of ‘Ace Ventura.’”

Ron Karjian

Wellesley, MA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, March 26

2013-03-26T21:54:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“People need to understand that marriage is a rite, not a right. However, civil unions should be passed entitling everyone to the legalities of marriage.”

William Oakley

Tulsa, OK

CATASTROPHE CONTAGION?

Cyrus is bankrupt, so to keep the country from completely falling apart, private money is being seized from banks on the Mediterranean Island. Could the same thing happen here?

“Your Talking Points tonight regarding Cyprus, our own economy, and the potential for financial collapse here was spot on. It should be mandatory viewing for all Americans.”

LaDon Findley

Prattville, AL

“We are now witnessing another instance of a massive transfer of wealth from the middle and lower classes in order to prop up the ultra-rich. The actions of the government in the past several years, particularly monetizing our debt, will lead to catastrophe.”

Patty Simpson

Tulare County, CA

“California will be our Cyprus. The fed will bailout the state, but California will have to come up with a big chunk of the funds. The solution will be to raid bank accounts.”

Dave Nichols

Okeechobee, FL

THE HIGH COURT

The whole country is watching as the Supreme Court hears arguments about the legality of same-sex marriages.

“Dismantling the definition of marriage is a slippery slope. Once it has more than one definition, it’s only a matter of time before the next step will occur. Marriage will then have no meaning at all.”

Jim Bland

Varina, VA

“Traditional marriage is the foundation upon which our society is built. Every sociological marker – depression, crime, child abuse, domestic violence, addiction, education, suicide, etc. – is better when traditional values are intact.”

Dr. Neil Skogerboe

Bemidji, MN

“Since marriage is a sacrament of the church, it should not be violated by the state of secularism. Any union sanctioned by the state should be a civil union.”

Kathy Barlow

Cave City, KY

“Marriage is God presiding over the union of a man and a woman in a state of holy matrimony. You make a deal with God that you will follow His laws and precepts, and He in turn will bless your union.”

David Ragsdale

Atlanta, GA

“The argument that one can’t get married at the age of 55 because you can’t procreate is bunk. The issue is not a function of human physiology, but rather a societal recognition that identical biological systems cannot perpetuate the human race.”

Jacob Cralidis

Baldwin, NY

“Marriage was brought into place to provide a legal structure for those who wanted to get together to start a family. This was designed for a man and woman.”

Dean Johnson

Cedar Rapids, IA

“Every time the majority votes for something, it is trumped by a single court. Americans are sick of this. Most of us want to define marriage as between one man and one woman.”

Warren Ripley

Pleasant Hill, MO

“If you take the Bible out of the discussion of public policy, then of course marriage can mean almost anything. There are only secular progressive definitions of what is wrong and right remaining.”

Eric Stephan

Lake Havasu City, AZ

“The government has no business regulating and licensing marriage to begin with. The answer is to return marriage to our private religious and social institutions from whence it came.”

Rabbi Adam Bernay

Fresno, CA

ANIMAL RIGHTS KERFUFFLE

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is chastising a 14-year-old Louisiana boy for raffling off a cow to raise money for a school trip.

“I find it consistent that PETA doesn’t care about the cow’s life because PETA had the means to buy the trip for the 14-year-old and send a powerful message respecting all life.”

Dave Murphy

Grayslake, IL

“How can I get a ticket for the beef raffle? If I should win, we can invite PETA to a steak cookout in my backyard.”

David Abbott

Garden Grove, CA

“If PETA cares about the cow, they should buy the other $5,000 worth of raffle tickets and then put her in a rescue farm for the rest of her life.”

Gilbert Forrest

Mulhall, OK

“Seriously? Alan Colmes is comparing PETA to an anti-abortion group. So humans are now on the same plane as animals?”

Marv Pederson

Waseca, MN

“If Logan owns this cow outright, he has a legitimate beef. PETA doesn’t stand a chance!”

Carl & Patty Walden

Addy, WA

“If PETA really wanted to save the cow, why didn’t they just buy all the raffle tickets? Everyone wins.”

Lori Fink

Ennis, MT

Viewer Mail for Monday, March 25

2013-03-25T21:21:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Mr. Obama owes the Clintons big time for his re-election and that chip will be cashed in when Hillary runs for president. The Clinton and Obama machines, combined with a large war chest, will be impossible to defeat.”

Richard Paltenghi, M.D., Ph.D.

Reno, NV

CAMPUS CORRUPTION

A student at Florida Atlantic University, who refused to participate in an exercise where the professor asked students to write Jesus on a piece of paper and then stomp on it, faces disciplinary action. Has liberal activism run amuck on American college campuses?

“I stand with the students at Florida Atlantic University. This just shows what every conservative student already knows: the biggest bullies in this country are tyrannical college professors.”

Pat Schantz

Seattle, WA

“Florida Atlantic has apologized for its assignment requiring students to write Jesus on a piece of paper and stomp on it. Apparently they decided to follow their policy forbidding any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment.”

Donald Bohlken

Indianola, IA

“The critical thinking exercise conducted by Deandre Poole was vile and deeply sinister. It disappoints me that Juan Williams defended it.”

Gerald Davey

Luling, LA

“Please let the young man, Ryan Rotela, know that he was absolutely right to stand up for what he believes in and not stomp on the name of Jesus. We are behind him and praying for him.”

Melinda

Louisville, KY

“I sent my kids to college to learn to think for themselves, not to blindly think and do whatever a professor tells them to do. Ryan’s reaction should have been a teaching moment; it was not insubordination.”

Lisa Johnson

Jersey City, NJ

“I do hope these liberal professors keep these crazy stunts up and keep making people angrier and angrier. Public opinion will be pushed over the edge and bring college campuses back to the center.”

Judy Flynn

Allentown, PA

“I wrote a letter to the president of FAU commending them for not pursuing academic sanctions against Ryan Rotela. As a college professor, I was shocked by the incident.”

Kirk Heriot, Ph.D.

Columbus, GA

“If this was a critical thinking class, Rotela should get an A+. He thought about what it meant to stomp on Jesus’ name and made his own choice not to do it.”

Kathy Klemz

Fargo, ND

“Help me out. I don’t see why Ryan Rotela is being disciplined. He pays tuition at Florida Atlantic University. They work for him.”

John Shugrue

Stamford, CT

“I’m appalled by the treatment Ryan Rotela received from FAU. He deserves our admiration for standing up for his values. As a former FAU student, I know it’s not easy to do that in such a liberal environment.”

Lynn Voyer

Cumming, GA

FUTURE OF THE GOP?

Rand Paul, the son of Ron Paul and a libertarian, is a rising star in the Republican Party. But does he have what it takes to go all the way to the White House?

“I applaud Rand Paul’s enthusiasm, but he’s not a Republican I would vote for. Marco Rubio is the candidate for 2016; Republicans just need to find him a running mate.”

Dan Delly

Cleveland, OH

“Karl Rove is history, but Rand Paul is the future of the GOP.”

Patricia Tobin

Poughkeepsie, NY

“The reason Rand Paul wants to legalize dope is so the dopes using it will vote for the dopes running in the Republican Party.”

Danny Bender

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

“In the last two presidential elections, Republicans have not picked the best candidates. Running Rand Paul would guarantee the Democrats another victory. He has too many views similar to those of his father.”

Sandie Thiery

Claryville, KY

“It comes as no surprise to me to see Karl Rove, representing the GOP establishment, come on your show and try to discredit Tea Party favorite Rand Paul as the future of the Republican Party.”

Joseph Cross

Hanover, VA

“Rand Paul is the only bright spot on the horizon for America, not just the Republican Party. Republicans need to ask themselves how it’s working out letting Karl Rove, John McCain, and John Boehner run the party.”

Tony Schiano

Denver, NC

“If Rand Paul is the future of the Republican Party, count me out. If they think they lost badly last time, wait until they select him.”

Gordon Stenhjem

Sun City West, AZ

INEVITABLE PRESIDENT?

Hillary Clinton’s public about-face on gay marriage has many speculating that she’s already gearing up for a run for the White House in 2016. If she decides to throw her hat in the ring, can anyone stop her?

“Much of the public is going to see Hillary Clinton and equate her policies with those of her husband, which were successful in the 90s. She will be a formidable opponent if the economy holds for the next few years.”

Kevin Dozier

Aiken, SC

“If the Democrats give Hillary the nod, would it not be prudent for Republicans to also select a woman to go up against her? This great country cannot afford another Clinton presidency.”

Herb Merten

Hart, MI

“You’ll be wearing a girdle before Hillary Clinton is the Democratic presidential nominee.”

Lawrence Gray

Kings Park, NY

“When discussing 2016 potential nominees, you failed to mention that silver-tongued Joe Biden. If he can keep his current job for eight years with all his faux pas, he can’t lose.”

Jamie Bartlett

Bella Vista, AR

“This fix was in on the deal when Bill Clinton campaigned for Obama. Hillary will be given the political machine that Obama runs and she’ll win in a landslide.”

Don Evans

Ocala, FL

“You and Brit Hume missed two important wild cards that may pose a problem for Hillary Clinton: gay marriage and Benghazi.”

J.T. Shealy

Titusville, FL

“Hillary Clinton is not a shoe-in as long as Michelle Obama is in the equation in 2016. The liberals are not yet ready to retire Obama-mania.”

Grace Rowland

Bridgeville, PA

“You overlooked John Kerry as a very likely candidate to re-emerge in 2016. Why do you think Obama selected him as Secretary of State?”

David Reid

Longmont, CO

“Winning the nomination is all about how many free things the candidate promises the public. Hillary will promise the moon just like Obama has done. That will make her a sure bet to win the White House in 2016.”

Frank Sapena

Fremont, CA

Viewer Mail for Friday, March 22

2013-03-22T20:23:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The tax proposals put forth by progressives make King George look like a benevolent uncle. Who votes for these pinheads?”

Dan Gorenflo

Moorefield, WV

TAX OVERLOAD

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is calling for a 49% marginal tax rate on ultra-wealthy Americans.

“I wouldn’t mind paying more taxes if it was really needed, but the government is so wasteful with what they take from us.”

Ed Lamb

Easton, PA

“The progressives want to return to 1981 tax rates. How about the government returning to 1981 spending levels?”

Richard Smith

Williamsburg, VA

“People like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs worked very hard and created millions of jobs. Why should they be punished and pay more taxes in the name of fairness?”

Joe Speiser

Philadelphia, PA

“When the progressives refer to the higher tax rates of the Clinton and Reagan eras, they fail to mention that most people paid some amount of taxes. That is not so now.”

Bob Sherman

Daytona Beach, FL

“Our economy today can’t handle the same tax rates we had in the 1960s. We’re in a much more competitive and global economy. It’s like saying I should take children’s Tylenol because it worked when I was five.”

Rob Koluch

Perrysburg, OH

“As a 19-year-old, it’s discouraging to hear people say the rich basically don’t own their money. Why should I work hard just to turn around and have it taken from me?”

Morgan Ebsch

North Royalton, OH

ABORTIONIST TRIAL

An abortion doctor in Philadelphia is standing trial, charged with murdering seven babies after they were born alive.

“The segment on Dr. Kermit Gosnell left me sickened. To think such a person can even call himself a doctor is beyond belief. I sincerely hope this butcher is found guilty.”

Rosalie Juchli

Sierra Madre, CA

“The reason the mainstream media doesn’t cover stories like Gosnell’s abortion clinic is because they want to continue to promote legal and on-demand abortions.”

Roni Jaure

Rawlins, WY

“Dr. Kermit Gosnell now joins the ranks of Goebbels and Himmler as one of the most horrific villains in recent history. When I think that God is just, I tremble for Dr. Gosnell.”

Mark Johnson

Laguna Beach, CA

“Why is everyone upset over the baby killing doctor when this country elected President Obama twice? This is a man who voted to kill babies who were born alive during abortions.”

Howard Wilkerson

Sacramento, CA

“The abortion doctor that killed the live-born babies should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Murder is murder.”

Ray Frye

Cape Canaveral, FL

“Please don’t call butchers like Gosnell abortion doctors. The Hippocratic Oath clearly prohibits abortion, so these people should be called what they are – abortionists.”

W.A. Krotoski, M.D.

Baton Rouge, LA

“Since the doctor’s lawyer knows he doesn’t have a leg to stand on, he must turn to the tried and true technique of crying racism. No matter what this heinous doctor does, the liberal media supports abortions on demand.”

Courtney Cates

Houston, TX

NBC SHAKEUP

Late night guy Jay Leno is reportedly being shown the door, slated to be replaced by the younger and hipper Jimmy Fallon.

“While I enjoy Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno is a vastly superior comedian. He just doesn’t lean far enough left to satisfy the NBC commissars.”

Bob Nunn

Twinsburg, OH

“It’s never a good idea to insult those who sign your paycheck, although I remember Johnny Carson getting away with it all the time. I’ve noticed America is losing its sense of humor as liberalism takes over.”

Sue Wilson

Omaha, NE

“I’d say you need to advocate a campaign to boycott NBC for replacing Leno, but judging by the ratings, it looks like somebody already has.”

Pam Harrison

Memphis, TN

“I love the idea of putting Jay Leno on Fox opposite Jimmy Fallon. I’ve not watched Fallon since he disrespected Michele Bachmann with a disgusting song. She’s a good, decent woman.”

John Dudley

Spokane, WA

“Leno was not as funny when he returned. His jokes seemed more hateful than before, so we quit after having watched him from the very beginning.”

Mike Reid

Jay, OK

“I know you like Leno, but do you remember what he did to Conan? What goes around comes around.”

Ray Fitzpatrick

Brooklyn, NY

“I think NBC underestimates the power of the baby boomers. The network has been in a steady decline for several years, having lost many of its older viewers. If they do away with Leno, the boomers are gone for good.”

Katie Heaford

Dysart, IA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, March 21

2013-03-21T17:20:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“A war on Easter? I’m armed. I have plenty of hard-boiled eggs, Peeps, Cadbury eggs, and jelly beans. Bring ‘em on!”

Darlene Verbelia

Hoffman Estates, IL

BUNNY BANTER

Some public school districts are banning the word “Easter” and denying children the right to celebrate the symbols of the season, like Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs.

“Ever hear of the separation of church and state? Easter is a religious tradition and the Constitution prohibits public entities from promoting it.”

Kate Bochte

Geneva, IL

“The liberals want to ban Easter because they associate it with Christianity, but Easter actually pre-dates Christianity and originated in Europe as a festival honoring the Germanic goddess of springtime.”

Steven Akins

Jasper, AL

“Once again, something that most children look forward to is being taken away. Are there no parents willing to respond to this ridiculousness?”

Ruth Begin

Lufkin, TX

“Easter went downhill when the bunny came in. Easter should celebrate the resurrection of Christ.”

Karen Babcock

Meridian, ID

“Easter bunnies and eggs have nothing to do with Christianity. As with most holidays on our calendar, the secular world celebrates them in their own way.”

Rev. Jim Mertz

Pueblo, CO

“First Santa Claus and now the Easter Bunny? The progressives aren’t smart enough to realize that they’re attacking what is secular about these holidays while not touching Christianity one bit.”

Bob Erdmann

Schofield, WI

“In defending Easter from the secularists, you overlook that there’s nothing particularly Christian about Easter bunnies. Even the name Easter is derived from a pagan goddess.”

Jeff Verdoorn

Eden Prairie, MN

“We in the Southern Hemisphere are appalled that Easter eggs should be called ‘spring eggs.’ It’s blatant discrimination against autumn, bordering on hemispherephobia!”

Steve Godby

Gold Coast, Australia

“I’m a Jew and I wish happy Easter and will continue to do so to all my Christian friends. We need to be united against this concerted attack on religious beliefs.”

Sergio Wolberg

Miami, FL

SEX CONTROVERSY

The University of Tennessee is contributing thousands of taxpayer dollars to a student “sex week” event.

“If the University of Tennessee sponsors were truly interested in educating other students about sex, they should have chosen to call their event ‘sex education week’ instead of tagging it ‘sex week.’”

Peter Hingtgen

Eagle, ID

“I grew up going to Catholic schools and learned about sex from nuns. If anyone laughed during that class, they got whacked with a ruler. Your segment tonight reminded me of that.”

Kevin Smith

Plainfield, IL

“Aren’t UT students smarter than 5^th graders? What can sex week teach them that they don’t already know? Today’s 5^th graders know more about sex than I did when I got married.”

JoAnn Carter

Farmington Hills, MI

“As with most young people, the students you interviewed are so used to mommy and daddy or the government paying for everything, they didn’t get it when you talked about charging fees or raising private funds for their sex week.”

Susan Mue

West Chester, PA

“Sex week is all-inclusive. All voices are heard, which is precisely why approval for this week was passed in the first place. UT students fight for the right to knowledge and open dialogue.”

Nickie Hackenbrack

Knoxville, TN

“We had sex week in college in the late 60s and 70s – it was called spring break! And we used no public funds.”

Arnie Vedrin

Trinity, FL

“Will sex week be followed by shooting up heroin week? What about crack smoking week? Is this the best we can do when we send our kids off to college? Talk about an entitlement generation!”

Tammy Ruff

Jarrettsville, MD

“As absurd as the concept of a publicly funded sex week seems to you and me, I must say the two University of Tennessee students defending the concept impressed me as polite, well-spoken, and thoughtful.”

Darren McKinney

Washington, D.C.

“I agree with the student who said many college kids are charged fees for things they don’t want. At the University of South Florida, I have to pay an athletic fee every semester even though I’ve never been to an athletic event.”

Joe Mendolia

Tampa, FL

“And we wonder why we’re getting our butts kicked academically by schools around the world. What happened to learning math and science?”

Dick Paschke

St. Clair, MI

DOES SATAN EXIST?

Millions of Americans are glued to their televisions for the History Channel’s miniseries on the Bible. The Factor is asking theologians whether the devil is real.

“Jesus spoke unambiguously about the reality of both Satan and hell. If he had lied, he would not have risen from the dead.”

Cliff Kolence

Round Rock, TX

“There can be no doubt that Satan is real, not just some power. He was the fallen angel cast out of heaven. One day, he will be bound and thrown into a bottomless pit.”

Marsha Smith

Austin, TX

“The Rabbi should know that evil can only exist because of disobedience to a holy God. Satan is a real being who chose to defy God.”

Joe Marek

Orlando, FL

“Evil and good is born into each person. Whether that person decides to do good or evil depends upon their religious beliefs. Destroy God and you destroy man’s ability for good.”

Stephen Fabula

Pismo Beach, CA

“I believe Satan is very real because Peter said: ‘Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.’”

Michael Doran

Sagniaw, MI

“The reason it seems that the world is getting more evil is because more and more people have chosen something other than our awesome God to be the center of their lives.”

Jill Fortney

Arvada, CO

“I was very surprised to hear the Rabbi say on your show that he doesn’t believe in Satan. He said he believes evil is just a force in the world. He mentioned Job, but according to Job, God had a conversation with Satan.”

JoDee Stratton

Castle Rock, CO

“The potential for evil exists in all of us. The devil made me do it! This is where humanity has to take responsibility and resist evil and embrace goodness.”

Jack Atkins

Pembroke, MA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, March 20

2013-03-20T17:26:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“My wife and I have two Marines actively serving our great country, and we were both beyond upset at the stupid comment made by Harry Reid. To blame a horrific accident that took the lives of seven Marines on a budget issue is reckless at best.”

Michael Peddie

Lakeside, AZ

TEN YEARS LATER

It was 10 years ago that President Bush launched a controversial attack on Iraq. Was it worth it?

“As a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I’ve seen the situation firsthand and I don’t think you can force democracy on a culture that doesn’t share our ideals.”

Ryan Rennecker

Georgetown, KY

“As a veteran of the Iraq war, I was furious to hear your guest opine that we should have stayed there as liberators. It’s easy for someone who has never worn the uniform to say that.”

John Fedele

Moyock, NC

“It’s easy to now say we shouldn’t have gone into Iraq because there were no WMD. We can’t discount information just in case it turns out not to be true.”

Nancy J.

Indian River, MI

“The press turned on the Iraq campaign the moment main combat was over. Every time the U.S. does something the left doesn’t like, the media destroys the effort.”

Lee Hempfling

Apache Junction, AZ

“I think the biggest mistake about Iraq was made by George Bush 41 when he didn’t take out Saddam after he invaded Kuwait. We had the whole world, including the Arabs, behind us.”

Ronald Kowalewski

Sellerville, PA

“There was no way Saddam Hussein was going to be removed through sanctions. The U.N. had sanctions in place, and almost all of our allies were breaking them.”

Christopher Casey

New York, NY

“Hindsight is 20/20 and all we can do is learn from our mistakes. We can’t force democracy on nations that don’t want it. Let’s expend our resources on strengthening the homeland instead.”

Dianne Pickford

Santa Rosa, CA

EXPLOITING TRAGEDY?

Senator Harry Reid, while speaking on the Senate floor, seemed to imply that budget cuts were to blame for a training accident in Nevada that killed seven Marines.

“No one should be surprised about Harry Reid upholding the Democratic mantra – never let a serious crisis go to waste.”

Grant Rohman, M.D.

Cookeville, TN

“I’m not a resident of Nevada, so I can’t vote Harry Reid out of office. However, I can vote with my wallet, and I’ll never vacation in Nevada again.”

Ed Delph

Brush Prairie, WA

“The comments Harry Reid made about the Marine tragedy and its connection to sequester were not right.”

Helen Walker

Cocoa, FL

“Although I strongly dislike Harry Reid, anyone who took the time to listen to his remarks knows that it was not his intention to tie the Marine tragedy to budget cuts.”

James Fortney

Camarillo, CA

“As an eminent spokesman for U.S. history, you will recognize Harry Reid’s comments on the tragic Marine situation for what they are – waving the bloody shirt. He should be ashamed.”

Tony Vermillion

St. Louis, MO

“Harry Reid is undoubtedly a pinhead, but Bob Beckel seems to be aspiring to the same distinction with his defense of Reid’s political exploitation of a tragic accident.”

Patrick Riley

North Royalton, OH

“The timing of what Sen. Reid said about the Marines and the sequester was bad. Unfortunately, it was also intentional.”

Don Cash, Jr.

Richmond, VA

“Reid’s statement was directed at the President to ensure the military gets the funds it needs to continue maintenance and training. Only conjecture can bring one to think he blamed the accident on the sequester.”

Richard Ask

Magalang, Philippines

“Clearly Harry Reid’s message was intended to blame the accident on lack of funding due to the sequester. Anyone who doesn’t see the insinuation is kidding themselves.”

Pat Foster

Raspeburg, MD

“The fact that Harry Reid mentioned sequestration and the unfortunate training accident in the same breath, at a minimum, linked the two together and politicizes the situation.”

Ron Tipa

Sunny Isles, FL

“Democrats like Harry Reid talk in a code that only other Democrats can decipher. The rest of us don’t get it.”

Bob Stille

Virden, NM

ANTI-AMERICANISM GOES GLOBAL

The Factor analyzed a poll showing that Pakistan leads the world when it comes to hating America. But surprisingly, Greece also is near the top of the list.

“Most of these countries hate the U.S. strictly because of religion. What galls them is that those who don’t believe in religious tyranny succeed based on recognition of every person’s free will.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

“They don’t hate the USA; they hate the freedom we have. Here we can change the laws and the people who make them. They intimidate their people with threats and violence.”

Nancy Picciano

Placentia, CA

“You mentioned that we give more to India than Pakistan. Why are we giving anything to countries that openly hate us?”

Tom Davies

Gautier, MS

“Like you, I was surprised to learn that Greece hates us. I thought they’d appreciate us more for copying their economic policies.”

Craig Allen

Oxnard, CA

“My husband and I visited Greece in the 90s when President Clinton bombed Serbia. The Greeks were really angry with us then, saying we were killing women and children.”

Grace Hoffmann

Waterloo, IA

“As a Greek American, it is my opinion that the Greeks hate us because they’re jealous of our money. They don’t understand that we work hard for it, and while vacationing there, they always try to rip Americans off.”

Spiro Kalamaras

Brooklyn, NY

“Most Muslims feel we are infidels and should not be allowed to live. However, any one of them would gladly come to the U.S. to live if given the opportunity.”

Yagnesh Raval

Piqua, OH

“The hatred for our country is born of jealousy. They are mad that we have and they don’t. But when given a chance to set up a new system, they succumb to sharia or something similar.”

Tim Pears

Vancouver, WA

“Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, but I didn’t see them on the top ten list of countries that hate America. I think it’s Arab Muslims who hate us.”

Bruce Daniel

Fallbrook, CA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, March 19

2013-03-19T16:52:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“As good stewards of our tax dollars, the government should make sure those dollars are spent wisely when it comes to feeding our children at school. By the same token, they should ensure tax dollars spent on food stamps only go towards nutritious items.”

Ralph Roda

Pine Bush, NY

LUCIFER LOOKALIKE?

Some people are noting the resemblance between President Obama and the character of Satan in the History Channel’s popular mini-series “The Bible.” Was this intentional on the part of the producers?

“I watched the episode and never made the connection between the Satan character and the President. It wasn’t even in my mind until the media started flipping out over it.”

Terry Kilpatrick

Greensboro, NC

“Of course Satan looked like Obama. Doesn’t it say many times in the Bible that he wears the face of an attractive dissembler?”

Paul Wallin

Wasilla, AK

“The devil is associated with evil and darkness. If that happens to come out looking like Obama, perhaps it’s a subliminal message. But I doubt it was done intentionally by the producers.”

P.S. Johnson

Rochester, MN

“I agree the character of Satan has a strong resemblance to President Obama, but your guest was incorrect in saying this was the only black character in the series. This has nothing to do with racism.”

Janice Wilkerson

Smithville, MS

“Too bad Obama didn’t actually play the part of Satan in ‘The Bible.’ He might have been awarded an Oscar to go with his Nobel Peace Prize, doing very little to earn either.”

Larry Tapia

Temple Terrace, FL

“If the producers of ‘The Bible’ really wanted to irritate the liberals, they should have chosen a Bill O’Reilly lookalike to play Jesus.”

TJ Pavlian

Patton, CA

“Finally they’ve made a quality TV movie about the Bible, and Christians are picking it apart with trivialities.”

Mike Harper

Tyler, TX

“The Bible is about Israelites. Even so, there have been Africans depicted in the series, including Samson.”

Kathryn Watson

Wayne, NJ

“Samson was a black man, there were black angels, and many ordinary black folks portrayed in the series. Your guest should know what she speaks of before she complains.”

Lois Halls

Edmonton, Canada

“Perhaps you and your guest are losing your vision and need new glasses. The portrayal of the devil in ‘The Bible’ was not black. Look closely and you’ll see he’s actually silver.”

Dustin Isaacs

Richmond, KY

CHANGING HER TUNE?

In a dramatic shift of position, Hillary Clinton has come out in favor of gay marriage. Is she gearing up for a run for the White House in 2016?

“In an attempt to solidify the voting base of President Obama for 2016, Hillary Clinton has flip-flopped on gay marriage to placate them. This is no surprise to those of us at the grassroots level.”

Francis Elliott

Pineville, LA

“In 2004, Hillary Clinton saw it to her political advantage to be against gay marriage, and in 2013, she believes it’s to her advantage to support it. Who knows what she actually feels at heart.”

Tom O’Brien

Fort Jones, CA

“Being gay today is cool. Hillary Clinton has always been an opportunist.”

Melanie White

Sunset, LA

“Apparently marriage has nothing to do with procreation anymore. I’m in love with my wonderful sheep – do you think we’ll be able to marry soon?”

Bryson Garwood

Montague, MI

“Of course Hillary Clinton is wooing the gay vote, just as the President did before her. No doubt about it.”

Carol Riehle

Harrisburg, PA

“Mrs. Clinton’s flip-flop on gay marriage is yet another example of a Democrat who will say anything to get elected.”

Marilyn Correia

New Market, AL

“It’s my firm belief after many years of observation that the Clintons never say anything they haven’t rehearsed. I doubt there’s any sincerity here.”

Rick Wagner

Reading, PA

JUNK FOOD BAN?

The Department of Agriculture wants to ban some popular snack foods, like Rice Krispies and Doritos, from American schools. Do they have a point?

“The federal government has no constitutional authority to use tax dollars to promote nutrition. End of story.”

Rich Hammond

Jamestown, NY

“It’s not the government’s role to raise my children. However, I agree that if they’re spending our money on school lunches, there ought to be rules associated with it.”

Cathy Perri

Jim Thorpe, PA

“I find it outrageous that the Obama administration thinks it should hold parents responsible for the food our kids eat. They are not in charge of our children’s food intake.”

Jennifer Hastings

Mendham, NJ

“Local communities decide what’s best for our kids, not bureaucrats in Washington who think one size fits all on every issue.”

Steve Hanson

Omaha, NE

Viewer Mail for Monday, March 18

2013-03-19T03:35:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Palin at CPAC reminded me of my drunk Aunt Karen at a family reunion.”

Vince O’Driscoll

Plattsburgh, PA

COMPELLING COMPARISON

Conservative Senator Ted Cruz from Texas delivered an emotional speech about how his father came to America from Cuba with nothing. President Obama has also overcome many obstacles – his father abandoned him and he was raised with few resources.

“We know about Cruz’s upbringing, but we can’t find out about Obama’s. We don’t even know who paid for his expensive education.”

Noel Spaid

Del Mar, CA

“I think it’s misleading to compare Cruz’s rise to power to Obama’s. The President’s story is not a rags to riches story. No poor kid ever lived abroad his whole life before going to Harvard.”

Steve Luedtke

Webster City, IA

“Like Ted Cruz’s family, mine also came from Cuba. They didn’t know the language and they came here without a penny. We never sought government assistance, and we all achieved the American dream.”

Antonio Romanach

Doral, FL

“Obama has always gone to private schools. His mother and grandparents were educated and lived privileged lives. There is no comparison with Ted Cruz and his father’s flight from Cuba.”

Nancy Kufel

Sterling, AK

“The difference is when Cruz opens his mouth, he isn’t spewing out lies, but when Obama speaks you can be sure he is.”

Corrine Erdmann

Catawba, WI

“Senator Cruz is correct that one vision for the future of this country has to win and it has already happened. Progressives have won even though conservatives refuse to acknowledge the victory.”

Dave Tolsma

Camp Hill, PA

ZING!

At the Conservative Political Action Conference, Republican firebrand Sarah Palin took some shots at the establishment.

“Ronald Reagan was the king of the one-liners. Sarah Palin is the queen of the one-liners.”

Dr. Carlton Corrow

Providence, RI

“I’m offended by Brit Hume’s implication that those who support Sarah Palin are the extremists in the Republican Party. It is time to draw the line in the sand and stand firm for fiscally conservative principles.”

Sarah Goodson

Hixson, TN

“Conservatively speaking, Sarah Palin is a liability. It’s time for her to exit the stage.”

Bill Ripley

Greeneville, TN

“Sarah Palin doesn’t have a small, fringe following. She has a huge following among Tea Party, traditionalists, and conservatives like me. Karl Rove, on the other hand, only has a following among the D.C. consultant class.”

Joe Allen

O’Fallon, MO

TOP O’ THE MORNING!

Factor producer Jesse Watters checked out the drunken debauchery at New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

“It appears that St. Patrick’s Day is to New York what Mardi Gras is to New Orleans.”

James Bryan

Fayetteville, AR

“Your admiral goal of elevating moral decency was sorely missed by Watters World glorifying drinking in his piece about the St. Patrick’s Day parade.”

Doris Loose

Port St. Lucie, FL

“I’m not Irish, but I’d be insulted if I were. Watters World was all about teenagers who were bombed out of their mind. That’s not what St. Patrick’s Day is about!”

Bill Lindstrom

Banning, CA

“Jesse Watters’ interviews appeared to be focused on substance abuse. It missed all the Irish families who are gentle, humble, proud, and extremely loyal.”

Judie Letizia

Columbus, OH

“I’m very disappointed that you ignored the issue of underage drinking during Jesse Watters’ segment about St. Patrick’s Day. You gave underage drinkers their 15 minutes of fame.”

Jeannine Bakulich

Folsom, CA

“Do you actually pay Jesse Watters to do this job? If so, attached please find my resume.”

Buddy Newman

Coral Gables, FL

“I was totally put off by Jesse Watters interviewing a bunch of drunken high school kids at the St. Patrick’s Day parade. He said 75% of the crowd was families who behaved, yet we saw none of those people being interviewed.”

Lana Lemons

Daphne, AL

“Where I grew up, wearing orange on St. Patrick’s Day as Jesse Watters did is disrespectful and provocative. Go for green next time!”

Brian Ramsperger

Rockville, MD

“Next year, may I suggest that Watters review the more positive and historical part of the parade instead of the debauchery of some youth?”

Felix Rijos

Stamford, NY

Viewer Mail for Friday, March 15

2013-03-15T19:15:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Who is more irrational – a person who believes in a God they can’t see or a person who is offended by a God they don’t believe in?”

Jerry Mazgay

Forest Grove, OR

PRESS SHENANIGANS

Covering for state Democrats who refuse to put the sexual predator law to a vote, Denver Post editor Curtis Hubbard claims nobody in Colorado law enforcement supports Jessica’s Law.

“You nailed it! The press isn’t policing the government as the Founding Fathers intended; they are acting as a propaganda machine for it.”

Mark Stoker

San Rafael, CA

“The Denver Post is nothing but a liberal rag and mouthpiece for the corrupt politicians who now dominate the legislature. Mark Ferrandino opposes Jessica’s Law because it assumes child molesters should be punished for their crimes.”

Stan Cowan

Aurora, CO

“Colorado is moving to the left because of brainwashed transplants from California. The Denver Post is continuing to keep their minds clean of any rational independent thought.”

Mark Pennington

Arvada, CO

“We were Denver Post subscribers for nearly 50 years, but we have canceled our subscription because of its far-left politics. We also don’t like the way Colorado is going.”

Clyde & Kim Hagan

Castle Rock, CO

“Good job calling out the Denver Post regarding Jessica’s Law. People say all publicity is good publicity but we must do everything we can to protect our children.”

Cy Mulholland

Arlington, WA

“I’m a Colorado native and so thankful that you are taking it to our government and the Denver Post over Jessica’s Law. This is insanity.”

Joni Raile

Colorado Springs, CO

“The Denver Post has always leaned left, but since the more centrist Rocky Mountain News folded, they have no competition. They are now unquestionably owned by the Democratic Party.”

Peter Bruno

Arvada, CO

“I’m a police sergeant and can’t imagine any law enforcement official who wouldn’t be in favor of a law that mandates stiffer sentences for convicted sexual predators who prey on children.”

Jeff Hausner

Denver, CO

POWER PLAY

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is praising President Obama’s job performance and saying he wished the President had even more power.

“I think a possible reason for Bill Gates’ unexplained liberal musings is because he’s a good friend and understudy of Warren Buffett.”

Roberta Wilson

Walla Walla, WA

“I’m glad Bill Gates was not at the Constitutional Convention supporting Alexander Hamilton, who wanted the president to serve for life. With all his executive orders, the President has already used more power than the Constitution grants him.”

Courtney Cates

Houston, TX

“Bill Gates needs to keep his disillusioned opinions to himself. Maybe if he can improve the efficiency of Microsoft Windows, he can then give his opinions on the economy.”

Wes Ferrin

Coos Bay, OR

“Bill Gates professes to believe in the Obama doctrine of spreading the wealth unless it applies to him. For years, Microsoft Office came as a free program, but once he got rid of all the competition, he started charging for it.”

William Schamroth

Boca Raton, FL

“When you’re as rich as Bill Gates, wishing higher powers to Obama may be some insurance against the President’s desire to confiscate everything in sight. Perhaps he hopes to be left alone.”

George Naniche

Moraga, CA

“I’d bet Bill Gates’ Microsoft fortune that had Obama’s policies been in place during the Reagan era while Microsoft was building the foundation for its company, he’d be singing a different tune.”

Matt Schissler

Fort Lauderdale, FL

“Bill Gates and his pal Warren Buffett remind me of industrialists in Cuba in the 60s, when they cowardly collaborated with the Castro regime thinking the pandering would make them untouchable.”

Antonio Romanach

Doral, FL

CURRENCY CONTROVERSY

Some atheists are proposing that the U.S. Mint remove the term ‘In God We Trust’ from our currency.

“I’m an atheist and I’m offended by the group of atheists opposing ‘In God We Trust’ on our money. They really need to shut up.”

Dennis Burleson

Tomball, TX

“If the atheists don’t want our currency to say ‘In God We Trust,’ they can arrange for direct deposit so they never have to see money.”

Merle Margot

Mansfield, OH

“The term ‘In God We Trust’ does not pertain to any one God. There are numerous names listed in the dictionary as Gods.”

Joe Condry

San Kamphaeng, Thailand

“If the atheists don’t like our money’s motto, they should go to a country where it isn’t on the money. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and these values are being eroded by a vocal minority.”

Cheryl Marks

Elk Grove, CA

“Couldn’t the atheists just use credit cards, bank checks, and money orders? Those don’t have ‘In God We Trust’ written on them.”

Sheryl Mathews

Auburn, ME

“Tragically, we may be moving from ‘In God We Trust’ to ‘In Gov We Trust.’”

Rich Russek

San Jose, CA

“’In God We Trust’ is our official national motto, per act of Congress.”

Jim Nichols

Portland, IN

Viewer Mail for Thursday, March 14

2013-03-14T18:46:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I always enjoy your segments with Marc Lamont Hill. He’s like a rerun of Seinfeld. You always know exactly what he’ll say, but it’s silly enough to make you laugh anyway.”

Jack Kump

Ormond Beach, FL

DEBT DOUBLE STANDARD?

When Barack Obama was campaigning in 2008, he called the $9 trillion national debt unpatriotic, but he has referred to his mounting $17 trillion debt as sustainable.

“Tell Marc Lamont Hill that the war in the Middle East could be seen as an investment. The return? A stable supply of oil makes this country productive.”

Tony Salazar

Albuquerque, NM

“Dr. Hill doesn’t think defense is an investment? What a dummy!”

David Bergsma

Scottsdale, AZ

“Obama is fine with running a huge debt because he knows eventually it will be so large that he’ll be forced to institute European-style VAT taxes, which will bring in huge amounts of revenue.”

Mark Van Osdol

Grosse Pointe, MI

“I doubt there’s anything President Obama could do, within reason, that wouldn’t be supported by Dr. Hill.”

Darrell King

Prescott, AZ

“If the national debt isn’t a problem, then why won’t Obama sign bills sans tax increases?”

Ken Kellow

Peach Bottom, PA

“I was so upset by Dr. Hill’s statement that Obama’s debt is cooler than President Bush’s debt. That man is extremely stupid for all his advanced education.”

Steve Boggess

Elkview, WV

“Was $500 million to Solyndra one of Dr. Hill’s ideas of a wise investment?”

Joe Delach

Sykesville, MD

“Marc Lamont Hill seems to be able to know when President Obama is earnestly telling the truth and when he is not. It would be helpful if the professor would instruct the rest of us in this matter.”

Dr. Alex MacMillan

Kingston, Canada

“Dr. Hill admitted that President Obama lied in 2008 when he said he’d go over the budget line by line, but he claims it’s OK because it’s a cool lie. The prosecution rests.”

Steven Tate

Ruidoso, NM

“Would Marc Lamont Hill have the President’s back if he was a white conservative racking up all this debt? Methinks not.”

Dennis Johnson

Woodland, CA

TOO CONSERVATIVE?

Within hours of Pope Francis being elected the new head of the Catholic Church, his critics are saying he is too hardline and not the right man to usher in modern day Catholicism.

“The bottom line is that Pope Francis I is an affront to Catholics who don’t hold the Catholic tenets, such as Nancy Pelosi, the Kennedys, and Joe Biden.”

Mary McLemore

Pike Road, AL

“You don’t have an eye on the moral traditional teachings on the previous popes in their encyclicals regarding life, marriage, and social justice issues. Pope Francis will reiterate the Church’s standings on these issues.”

Lee Colsant, Jr.

Orland Park, IL

“The Pope is not God, but a man doing God’s work. He can’t right every wrong, nor crusade for all good causes any more than we can give to every charity that comes to our door.”

Nancy Picciano

Placentia, CA

“Do you think it’s possible for the President to meet with the Pope and take some lessons on his frugal lifestyle?”

John Miller

Albemarle, NC

“I’m wondering why those against the new Pope and his steadfast ethics to follow biblical teaching aren’t as vociferous about Islam and its insistence you either convert or we cut off your head.”

Rosemary Schultz

Porterville, CA

FASHION POLICE

Factor producer Jesse Watters hit baseball spring training in Florida, where one big league manager called him out on his fashion choices.

“I enjoy the Watters World segment, but if I see the turned up collar on his polo shirt one more time, I will go insane.”

Rolf Bentsen

Auburn, WA

“I love Watters World, but please give Jesse a lesson from the sharp dressed man about the collar thing. Thankfully that fad really did go out in the 80s.”

Renee Roberts

Sonoita, AZ

“The Orioles manager was right. Jesse Watters is trapped in a 1980s fashion time warp. I’m surprised you haven’t taken him to Brooks Brothers and schooled him in proper fashion.”

Don Helgerson

Jakarta, Indonesia

“Watters should have been asking where the SPF50 was. It looks like he got a little too much sun on your dime.”

Dan Karczynski

Bernardsville, NJ

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, March 13

2013-03-13T17:47:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Since Congress can’t reach an agreement on balancing the budget, lock them in with bread and water until they send up white smoke.”

Bill Conner

Roseburg, OR

BUDGET BATTLE

For the first time in four years, the Senate has put forth a proposed budget. The Democratic Party claims it’s making massive spending cuts, but they don’t tell you that $3 trillion in cuts are happening over ten years.

“The Republicans can posture all they want, but the truth is half of the programs that need to be cut are programs they initiated. Don’t hold your breath.”

Arturo Diaz

Oxnard, CA

“$17 trillion debt is insane. House Republicans need to force President Obama to stop spending. No more blank checks.”

Ed Egger

Corpus Christi, TX

“Remember when President Obama said he would use a scalpel to cut the budget by eliminating waste and fraud? The Department of Agriculture, as one example, has well over 100,000 employees.”

Mark Lange

Richmond, VA

“Mr. Obama’s goal is not to chase a balanced budget for the sake of achieving it. He only wants to transform this country into a welfare state. The unbalanced budget allows him to continue spending.”

Marty Laifer

Savannah, GA

“The liberals can’t stick to a budget for ten minutes? How can they stick to one for ten years?”

Dennis Frandy

Studio City, CA

JESSICA’S LAW OUTRAGE

The Denver Post is accusing the Factor of denouncing a Colorado politician who is blocking Jessica’s Law solely because of the man’s sexual orientation.

“When is Colorado going to put children first? Pedophiles rob children of their innocence and they sentence their helpless victims and their families to a life that is never the same again.”

Cindy Cousens

Pleasanton, CA

“It’s obvious from your conversation with Curtis Hubbard that the priorities of the press in this country are way out of whack.”

Ken Anderson

Goleta, CA

“In his haste to play the homophobe card on you, the Denver Post editor was hoisted on his own petard. His primary focus should not have been to impugn you for criticizing a Congressman who is openly gay.”

John Dzwonczyk

Avon Lake, OH

“Mr. Hubbard is a perfect example of the left-wing zealots currently being produced at most of America’s journalism schools. They don’t use logic, only ideology, when reporting.”

Bob Jarvis

Canton, GA

“Although I always agree with you, you lost the argument. Your name calling and vitriol were not worthy of you. You usually afford your guests more respect than that.”

Ken Croft

Northridge, CA

“Your description of Mr. Hubbard as a charlatan is the kindest thing you could have said about him. If I lived in Colorado, I would have cancelled by subscription to his newspaper.”

Joseph Halchak

Kansas City, KS

“I am a Denver native, and I’m embarrassed for the city that such an ill-informed person is in charge of any newspaper. This, however, is reflective of the willful ignorance that populates the city of Denver.”

Diane Isler

Denver, CO

“You were absolutely right to call him a charlatan. With that smug attitude, it’s no wonder the Post’s circulation is going down the drain.”

J.E. Purvis

Scottsbluff, NE

“Your anger approach is not working for you. Stay with calm mastery of facts and the English language; avoid direct negative characterizations. The No Spin Zone is weakened by your outbursts.”

Del Hawkins

Phoenix, AZ

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

A new study shows that West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana are the fattest states in America. Why are they all Southern?

“I think it’s to Louisiana’s credit that we’re not ranked the highest obesity state. We’re at number four, which at least shows some restraint considering how good our food is!”

Brenda Lowry

New Iberia, LA

“I believe that poverty contributes to obesity, but living in a rural area does as well. We drive everyplace. It seems that only tourists enjoy the rock climbing, rafting, and hiking that this area has to offer.”

Linda Smith

Fayetteville, WV

“Organic veggies at Whole Foods are not cheap, but packages of seeds are. People in the South have the land, weather, and know-how to grow their own. I don’t think poverty is the problem.”

Michelle Roe

Costa Mesa, CA

“Obesity in southern states exists because the southern food culture leans toward fried foods. If you fry it, they’ll eat it. Grease and lard provide lots of cheap calories.”

Victor Stella

Irvine, CA

“Maybe the top seven obese states are southern because the south is too hot and humid for people to be outside exercising. They stay inside running their air conditioners and eating too much fried food.”

Tom Walsh

Swan Valley, ID

“As a proud Mississippian, I can tell you why the South has the highest obesity rates. Obviously it’s because we have the best food.”

Will Heidelberg

Jackson, MS

“I’m a transplanted Long Islander living in Tennessee. Here they fry everything from pickles to Twinkies. I’m attending a local St. Patrick’s Day celebration where I’m told the delicacy is fried cabbage.”

Rich Ali

Memphis, TN

“People in the South are not heavy because of poverty. We are heavier because we are more traditional than people living elsewhere. We spend more time with family and friends, eating and cooking.”

Paul Amedee

Kenner, LA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, March 12

2013-03-12T17:14:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“What do you mean soda pop has no purpose? How do you think I stay awake during your show?”

Greg Mech

Farmington Hills, MI

SPENDING STUPIDITY

President Obama apparently doesn’t want to cut any government programs, even as the federal government spends close to $10 billion a day.

“Obama will never cut spending. That is the only way Democrats will be elected. He’s legally buying votes at taxpayer expense.”

Mario Millena

San Diego, CA

“At what point does the President’s nonchalant attitude about fixing the government spending problem, something that endangers national security, constitute grounds for impeachment?”

Felix Rijos

Stamford, NY

“What’s insane is that this administration believes deficit spending will grow the economy and create jobs. If that axiom was true, by now we’d have the greatest economic boom in history.”

Pete Bruno

Arvada, CO

“President Obama had promised to go through the budget, line by line, to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse, but nothing has been cut yet.”
Deanna Frabotta

New Castle, PA

“The debt has increased under every President since Ike. However, our country needs to begin to act responsibly regarding finances for the benefit of the nation’s survival.”

Gordon Converse

Elk Rapids, MI

“Obama is the biggest spender of all past presidents combined. Alan Colmes wants you to compare the rate of spending, but I think we should be focused on the amount.”

Dan Canette

Rapid City, SD

“Spending cuts should involve three questions. 1) is it constitutional? 2) is it absolutely necessary?, and 3) can we afford it? Neither charity nor benevolence are mentioned in the Constitution.”

Jack Myers

Columbus, GA

“I believe you do a disserve when talking about wasteful spending by not pointing out that for each and every spending project, 46 cents of every dollar is borrowed.”

Tim Hope

Carson City, NV

SELECTIVE CHOICE

At a town hall meeting, Democratic Congressman Jim Moran was confronted by a woman demanding to know why he is pro-choice on abortion but not on gun ownership.

“Kirsten Powers mentioned that gun control is about what’s good for society. If that’s her standard, does she think abortion is good for society or is that particular issue about freedom of choice?”

Ken Brown

Watkinsville, GA

“You hear from all the anti-gun people that nobody needs an assault rifle, yet many of us drive cars that go faster than we need to go or live in homes that are bigger than we need to live. It’s not about need; it’s about want.”

Jay Haman

Kerrville, TX

“Please ask Kirsten if she’s willing to walk by herself late at night through the streets of Washington, D.C., New York, or Chicago unarmed.”

Albert Bushey

East Longmeadow, MA

“Kirsten Powers doesn’t seem to understand that as citizens of this country, our opinions as to whether or not to choose to carry a gun is up to each of us to decide.”

Paula Clark

Montgomery, TX

“Like most liberal loopholes, Ms. Powers feels that since she doesn’t feel the need for a gun, nobody else needs one either.”

Kevin Kordys

Redlands, CA

“Kirsten Powers’ attitude is very typical of someone who has never been attacked. I guarantee she’d change her mind if she was brutally beaten or raped. It’s only then that some people discover the value of the Second Amendment.”

Dreux Ste. Marie

Houston, TX

“Kirsten Powers doesn’t want women to be able to choose to have a gun because like all over liberals, she thinks she knows what’s best for everyone.”

Dan Galvin
Congers, NY

NOT SO FAST!

One day before NYC’s ban on large sodas was set to go into effect, a state judge has invalidated the law.

“I can’t believe Stossel drinks five diet sodas a day. He just lost all credibility. He obviously has no clue about nutrition or the dangers of diet soda. He’s been sucked in by Madison Avenue!”

Carol Hansen

Port St. Lucie, FL

“I was in the kitchen marinated by Texas-sized rib-eye steak and guzzling down my sugar-filled Coke while you and Stossel were talking about Nanny Bloomberg. I spit my Coke all over the place when you said my toes would fall off if I keep drinking this stuff.”

Scott Carpenter

Friendswood, TX

“The only difference between you and Bloomberg is that he has the power to propose a ban on soda and you don’t have the power to ban gluten as you’d like to.”

John King

Granada Hills, CA

“Thank you for trying to set Stossel straight on diet soda. Aspartame is far more detrimental to one’s health than sugar, but the FDA doesn’t want us to know that.”

James Lane

New York, NY

“I lost 110 pounds and drank all the diet sodas I wanted. It’s the Twinkies you eat with the diet Coke that make you gain weight.”

Matt Adams

Belton, TX

“You are wrong about pop having no nutritional content. It has the same component as orange juice, and thus a dose of vitamin C. The sugar is also converted by the body into glucose and acts as fuel for the muscles.”

Rita Colpo

Pittsburgh, PA

“I find it absolutely comical that we can’t buy a 16+ oz. soda, yet we can buy a carton of cigarettes. Why hasn’t the Mayor mandated that smokers only buy one pack of smokes at a time?”

Mike LaBelle

Bronxville, NY

“There is no scientific evidence to back up your statement that diet soda is bad for us. If you know for a fact that when a human digests diet soda, it produces chemical compounds known to be harmful, please tell me.”

Tom Gubala

Bellevue, WA

Viewer Mail for Monday, March 11

2013-03-12T01:55:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I attended Catholic schools for 14 years. From first grade on, I learned that when you sin, you repent and atone for your wrongdoings. But the church instead chose to cover up the worst kind of sin within its walls.”

Tom King

Laguna Hills, CA

JUSTIFIABLE ANGER?

The anti-FNC media is trying to diminish the network after O’Reilly’s heated shootout with Alan Colmes over the President’s refusal to cut federal spending. Is righteous anger sometimes in order?

“Righteous anger falls on deaf ears when people choose to ignore the facts. It is best to understand their rationale, and then debate the facts in a way to help them realize the flaws in their logic. Calling someone a liar will never make a persuasive argument.”

Brett Beauregard

Houston, TX

“I love your righteous anger! You are passionate about keeping the folks informed and I truly share your concern.”

Jean Mace

Madison, NE

“Righteous indignation is acceptable, but name calling is not.”

Joyce Wood

Fallbrook, CA

“Righteous anger is absolutely necessary when politicians and their henchmen continually fail to tell the truth. It’s the only way to get the truth out.”

Dean Shillingford

Roseau, West Indies

“You are losing it. I find your belligerent and egotistical attitude more than I care to watch. Many of your guests have suffered your disdain for their points of view.”

Ray Osterhout

Conklin, NY

“In no way am I comparing you to Jesus, but even He got angry with the money changers. I agree with your anger, but try to be a bit cooler because I don’t want liberals to use it against you.”

Diane Quick

Kosciusko, MS

“Anger, as you know, is a reaction to fear, frustration, or pain. Yet it seems only to create a similar reaction in return, which is not productive.”

Chris Thomas

Eureka, CA

“Righteous indignation is the last bastion of those who refuse to have their conscience neutered by the PC left. Stay your course and display your passionate convictions without restraint.”

Rocky O’Nan

Las Vegas, NV

“Your anger towards Obama’s disregard of the national debt is completely justified. As a soon-to-be college grad, the time bomb of dead he intends to give my generation is a crime.”

Richard Pohl

Scranton, PA

IS SHE KIDDING?

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN and claimed President Obama has been very respectful of Republicans during negotiations over the debt crisis.

“I don’t live in California, but I assume Nancy Pelosi is the elected representative of Fantasyland in Disneyland?”

Marc Snyder

Seattle, WA

“Nancy Pelosi has always been the bellwether for factual information. The truth is always the exact opposite of what she says.”

Bill Webster

Peachtree City, GA

“Let’s face it – Obama and Pelosi are either liars, stupid, or they think we’re stupid. Choose one.”

Doug Abrams

Louisville, KY

“As long as she’s talking to useful idiots like Candy Crowley on CNN, who would never challenge her lies, the truth will never matter to Nancy Pelosi.”

Robert Cooper

Breckenridge, CO

“Even Candy Crowley rolled her eyes after listening to Nancy Pelosi’s nonsense about how much President Obama respects Republicans.”

Paul Fisher

Phoenix, AZ

“A lie is a lie, be it political spin or not. Whatever happened to God-fearing honest Americans? The man upstairs knows the truth.”

Cathy Faulkner

Cedar Hill, TX

ON THE DECLINE?

Catholic cardinals are meeting in Rome to select a new Pope, but can the Catholic Church recover from the sex abuse scandals and declining attendance?

“Lanny Davis is wrong when he says the past abuse scandals in the Catholic Church is the main reason behind falling church attendance. Our secular society now schedules kids’ sporting events every Sunday, even on Easter.”

Marci Thomsen

Port Angeles, WA

“How can you say you are a Catholic, then turn around and say you support same-sex unions? Like so many Catholics who have left the church, you seem to embrace a secular theology, believing your interpretation on moral issues trumps the prayerful consideration of Catholic leadership.”

Richard Rowe

Macon, GA

“I have hope for the Christian faith, in spite of declining attendance. The Church has always faltered in prosperous times and flourished in hard times. There is little doubt we are headed for hard times.”

Beverley De’Athe

Winnipeg, Canada

“How can you even ask if it’s possible for the Catholic Church to rise above the child abuse scandal? The Bible makes clear all things are possible with God.”

Janet Harlan

Edmond, OK

“While the Catholic Church may be taking some hits, I can tell you attendance is increasing in my area. Why? Its leadership loves people and shares the hope that lies within.”

Carolyn Schuster

Port Orchard, WA

“One step the Catholic Church could take in regaining moral authority is to end the forced celibacy of priests.”

Don Ziriax

Brady, TX

“The Church needs to approach society differently than it has in the past. Our society is now more educated and more sophisticated. No one wants to hear leadership preach medieval sermons.”

Kathryn Watson

Tinton Falls, NJ

“The Catholic Church needs to stop hiding and moving the pedophiles from church to church and get rid of them. People are not as stupid as they believe us to be.”

Mary Ammirati

Palm Coast, FL

“Church attendance has indeed diminished and social ills have plagued the Catholic Church. But it has encountered adversity throughout history and always prevailed.”

John D’Amico

Murfreesboro, TN

Viewer Mail for Thursday, March 7

2013-03-08T02:30:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“As a school psychologist, I believe the role of the individual has to be factored in. The teen beauty pageant contestant chose to do the porn video. People are not just puppets of their circumstance.”

Viviane Napoleon, Ph.D.

San Diego, CA

ANTI-AMERICAN HONOREE

An Egyptian woman named Samira Ibrahim was slated to receive the International Women of Courage Award from the State Department, despite her past anti-Semitic and anti-American statements.

“It would have been a slam dunk instead of a clunk if the State Department had honored the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating education for girls rather than honoring Samira Ibrahim.”

Tommy O’Brien

Los Angeles, CA

“The reason the State Department didn’t know the Egyptian woman was anti-Semitic is because the State Department itself is historically anti-Semitic. They are so accustomed to the small, and therefore never detected the whiff of it.”

Ed Laskin

East Northport, NY

“Our State Department is pro-Arab and anti-Israel and always has been. To be on Israel’s side, you have to be honorable and self-sufficient.”

Len Lamensdorf

Westlake Village, CA

“The lack of vetting by the Obama administration regarding Samira Ibrahim is just par for the course. I’m glad the State Department opted to defer presentation of the award.”

David Crissman

Virginia Beach, VA

“Do you really think she wasn’t checked out by the State Department? They know about her past statements, but they didn’t think anyone in the press would vet her.”

Ken Vance

Mesquite, TX

“Samira Ibrahim is about as qualified for State Department recognition as Barack Obama was for the Nobel Peace Prize.”

David Paul Goldsmith

Las Vegas, NV

“The State Department’s Women of Courage Award going to Samira Ibrahim was only partly due to incompetence. The other part of this much-ballyhooed decision was the simple fact that the Obama administration is overtly anti-American.”

Jack Carter

Troy, OH

“You are wrong to suggest the Egyptian activist’s nomination was a mistake. It’s totally in line with the other Obama administration friends like Van Jones and Anita Dunn.”

Michael Zilkowsky

Saskatoon, Canada

“Why is this a surprise? The past four years under President Obama speaks to the chaos that is the U.S. government.”

Tom Mulligan

Chatham, NJ

ABSTINENCE AD?

New York City has a new ad campaign discouraging pregnancy – and single motherhood – among teenage girls. Planned Parenthood thinks the ads send the wrong message.

“Follow the money! If teen pregnancy drops, Planned Parenthood performs fewer abortions, and therefore gets less money.”

Jim Sobek

McCordsville, IN

“As a white physician, I’m neither a minority nor a welfare recipient. But as the father of son who had a child out-of-wedlock before graduating high school, I can assure you that these ads don’t go far enough.”

John Schulz, M.D.

Wenatchee, WA

“Teen pregnancy is no joke and the NYC ad states true facts. If a teen gets pregnant, adoption should be given honest consideration. Abortion and single parenthood aren’t the only two choices.”

Susan Allen

White House, TN

“The intent of the ads is good, but the focus should not be on the effects on the baby, but rather the effects on the teen mother.”

Dr. Robert Lovett

Naples, FL

“I think the whole point of the ads is to encourage abortion, not promote abstinence or birth control.”

Paula Novak

Ellicott City, MD

“If you get pregnant as a teenager and don’t marry the daddy, you get free WIC for supplemental food, free medical care and hospital care, free utilities, free formula…The list goes on and on.”

Joan Leonardi

Easley, SC

BLAME SOCIETY?

Some mental health experts are claiming that society is partly responsible for an 18-year-old Miss Teen USA contestant making a pornographic video.

“Doesn’t the Miss Teen USA pageant bear at least some responsibility for not properly vetting this woman prior to the start of the pageant?”

Ken W.

Weatherford, TX

“What’s wrong with Melissa King making a porn movie? She’s 18-years-old and presumed old enough to know her own mind.”

George Ellis

Fremont, CA

“If Miss Teen Delaware couldn’t make a reasoned decision about appearing in porn because she’s 18-years-old, as your guests suggested, then why are we allowing 18-year-olds to vote?”

David Skiles

Portland, OR

“If the beauty pageant teen thought appearing in a porn was acceptable behavior, she would have included it in her resume for the contest.”

Don Christensen

West Covina, CA

“Millions of children come from hard circumstances, and many turn out to be remarkable, successful, brilliant people. Just because we have it rough doesn’t give us the excuse to make poor decisions.”

Yvonne Robinson

Kerrville, TX

“Being raised in the foster care system is not a reason to excuse moral responsibility. Trust me – every girl that is over 14 years of age knows it’s wrong to make a porn movie.”

Jordan Kopecek

College Station, TX

“Like many in today’s society, the young lady has a diminished capacity to recognize and define the word shame.”

Ron Sistare

Wilmington, NC

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, March 6

2013-03-07T05:57:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I know that God who created everything can do anything, including allow a whale to swallow a man and then spit him out and allow a man to part the Red Sea. The power of faith is believing without fact.”

Chris Frost

Nashville, TN

ALL TALK, NO ACTION?

President Obama says he’s serious about solving the fiscal crisis, but when he refuses to make any significant spending cuts, how can we take him at his word?

“When our government prints money, it devalues the dollar and is equivalent to confiscating wealth. Our government is being sneaky about its intent.”

Joe Papas

Concord, NC

“It’s not the lack of specific proposals that’s the problem. Obama hasn’t introduced a single piece of legislation that would reduce the limitless spending in Washington.”

Webb Bassick

Lake Forest, IL

“Obama, at no point in his term, has advanced beyond the outline stage of problem solving. I guess the President is too busy to get involved in the details.”

Greg Varoff

Lubbock, TX

“I have studied the White House’s fiscal plan at length on their website. It is nothing more than a rehash of Obama’s campaign talking points. Long on rhetoric, short on specifics.”

Darrell Griffin

Powhatan, VA

“Obama’s idea to negotiate with drug companies as a budget reduction in Medicare is like me wanting to negotiate with local gas stations on the price of a gallon of gas. There’s no substance shown in his willingness to reduce spending.”

Cathy Blackmon

Hillsborough, NC

“Giving more money to this government is the same as giving crack to a crack addict.”

Paul Amedee

Kenner, LA

TEED OFF!

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) proposed legislation to prevent the President from playing golf on the government’s dime.

“You were wrong when you told the Congressman introducing petty bills would cause more Americans to favor the President. They’re going to support him no matter what. You can see it in the polls.”

Mark Krawczyk

Blue Springs, MO

“If they cut Obama’s golfing, he may be forced to play hoops with Rodman. Need I say more?”

Jerry Pond

Hermiston, OR

“Many Americans are having a hard time of it, and the President is floating from golf course to golf course. We resent it.”

Dick Jordan

St. Joseph, MO

“Congressman Gohmert was right on with his idea to defund President Obama’s golf sessions. Sometimes I think you argue just for the sake of arguing.”

Annette Hausinger

Madras, OR

“Louie Gohmert did not say Obama can’t play golf. He said we shouldn’t fund his trips, specifically on Air Force One.”

Audrey Barberi

Sebastian, FL

“The cost of local police protection for the President’s recent three day golf outing in Palm City, Florida was $78,000 according to the local news channel.”

Rick Bernier

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

“I have no problem with President Obama golfing. He should spend all of his time on the golf course and take Congress with him.”

Mike Taylor

Kennesaw, GA

THE GOOD BOOK

The History Channel is breaking records with its series based on the literal interpretation of the Bible. But should it be taken literally?

“I resent you trying to paint Christians who take the Bible literally as stupid. If God is big enough to be God, why don’t you believe He is big enough to bring forth the human race from Adam and Eve?”

Lori Jeffries

El Paso, TX

“The allegorical essence of the Bible is absolutely about the message, not the magic. I’m a spiritual agnostic and continue to believe the Bible is the good book.”

Jerry Mowery

Palo Alto, CA

“You are out of your mind to marginalize those who interpret the Bible differently than you. If you did some research, you would discover that creation scientists are brilliant, not quacks.”

Bill Hancock

Edmonton, Canada

“We can’t pick and choose which parts of the Bible we want to believe in like an a la carte menu. Either we choose to accept the Bible as completely true or as a collection of interesting stories.”

Steve Sepowski

Chester, CT

“I tend to think of the Bible as literal and wonder which parts are allegories. You seem to think the Bible is allegory and wonder which parts are true.”

Kevin Mayfield

Florissant, CO

“Science does not take my faith away from the Bible. Science is what tells me how God did it.”

Shannon Littlefield

Port Orchard, WA

“You can’t say the stories in the Bible are allegorical just because you don’t understand them. If God can create the entire world, do you really believe he can’t create a giant fish to carry Jonah?”

Tom DePew

Lewisville, TX

“The Bible was written mainly as a book of moral and spiritual lessons rather than one of accurate history. St. Paul even points this out in his letter to the Galatians.”

Jeff Kuntz

Turbotville, PA

“Like you, I went to Catholic school on Long Island. Anyone who believes the Bible stories literally is exceedingly ignorant.”

Tim LaRocco

Lindenhurst, NY

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, March 5

2013-03-06T01:46:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The Harvard Crimson president forgot that a quality education is supposed to produce graduates who think, not who only think the same things of the professors who taught them.”

Michael McClintock

Austerlitz, NY

FISCAL FRUSTRATION

The Factor expresses anger when liberal commentator Alan Colmes defends President Obama’s handling of America’s spending crisis.

“Your interview with Colmes was not informative, nor was it a reasoned discussion. It was the prelude to a fistfight. Your passion about the issue is not a justification for boorish behavior.”

Bart Meehan

Canberra, Australia

“I admire your restraint. I would have reached across the table and wrung his lying, left-wing neck.”

Fred King

Port Ludlow, WA

“I can’t blame you for losing it. I’m tired of hearing Colmes’ tales of the earth being flat.”

Mike Demers

Ocala, FL

“Please don’t apologize for being passionate. It’s about time you start calling out these Obama zombies. It’s just too bad you waited until after the election to get fired up.”

Mark Monroe

San Diego, CA

“Our President is doing nothing to stop the uncontrolled spending and no one is holding him accountable. He is destroying us for his own agenda. Thank you for speaking for us.”

Diane Titone

Holbrook, NY

“You were completely on target asking Colmes to name one specific program that President Obama says he will cut. This President is not interested in cutting anything.”

Pat King

Weddington, NC

“Last night you did to Colmes what Republicans need to do at all levels – angrily tell the truth that we will no longer tolerate baseless, bold-faced lies.”

George Rozalowski

Alexandria, VA

“It’s about time you show a little emotion over the spending problem with Colmes instead of your normal humdrum delivery.”

Don Teetz

Bangkok, Thailand

“You were right to bring down the hammer on the mealy-mouthed ideological drivel espoused by Colmes and his party. He never answers the questions; he just babbles.”

Mike Viersen

Delafield, WI

“Alan Colmes pitches the same line on every show on which he appears – he will defend Obama, even if he has to lie. His credibility is in question.”

Bob Hiller

Dimondale, MI

“Alan Colmes has his head stuck in the sand under the ivory tower where he lives in the Land of Oz Thanks for being passionate about our troubles.”

Lisa Thompson

Flippin, AR

“It was refreshing last night to see you apologize to Colmes for calling him a liar and recognizing that you went overboard. Political commentators often shout down and become aggressive with those who disagree with them and they do so unapologetically.”

Craig Smith

Dublin, Ireland

“It pains me to agree with Alan Colmes. Obama may not want the American people to suffer, but it is also pretty obvious that he doesn’t care if we do.”

Dave Bushlow

Banning, CA

“Thank you for representing our anger and frustration with President Obama and those who blindly support him. I wish our President cared as much about those who are struggling as you do.”

Laurie Riley

Keene, NH

“It’s about time someone stood up to liberals. If Romney would have showed half the passion you did, he would be president. I’m proud of you.”

Richard Deskovitz

Alden, MI

“Alan Colmes is a committed progressive who will defend Barack Obama until the end of time.”

Alan Skorski

West Hempstead, NY

HARVARD INFIGHTING

O’Reilly, who earned a master’s degree at Harvard University, has criticized the school’s sharp shift to the left. The president of the Crimson newspaper responded to his publication’s denunciation of O’Reilly’s comments.

“I believe Bobby Samuels would be better educated if he went to O’Reilly University.”

David Morales

Waterloo, IA

“As my dad always said: send an idiot to college and you end up with an educated idiot. That certainly seems to apply to this Harvard guy.”

Ed Delph

Brush Prairie, WA

“You shredded the president of the Harvard Crimson. He was a case study of how things have changed at Harvard.”

David Chamberlain

Clemmons, NC

“You gave Bobby Samuels a great journalism lesson. He didn’t have the facts, he was not prepared, and he bloviated his way through the discussion.”
Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“How in the world did Bobby Samuels get into Harvard? Doesn’t it bother anyone that he is a presentation of the future of our country? He couldn’t answer one of your questions and looked like a dunce.”

Denise Strong

Bel Air, MD

“It’s obvious the educational attributes of Harvard have diminished over the years since you graduated. Your guest couldn’t put together a coherent thought.”

Chris Meadows

Greensboro, NC

“The Harvard kid is a prime example of the education he’s receiving. There is no diversity of thought or opinion, and anyone who criticizes the institution is a traitor.”

Francine Prater

La Feria, TX

“You gave a Harvard student an education in journalism more valuable than the one he gets there. It’s a travesty that these students are being taught to present only the liberal point of view.”

Jairo Puentes

Corpus Christi, TX

“If Bobby Samuels is the best they have at Harvard, that school is in trouble.”

Robert Ralls

Sterling, AK

Viewer Mail for Monday, March 4

2013-03-05T04:29:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“There may be some alternatives that can replace fossil fuels to heat a home or run a car, but you should have asked Daryl Hannah about the feasibility of these alternatives being available en masse for more than 300 million Americans.”

Ron Bella

Centennial, CO

CALLING ALL LEADERS!

President Obama is resisting cutting federal spending with fiscal chaos looming. Is that true leadership?

“Everyone says the President is campaigning by blaming everything on Republicans. This is part of his ground game; he was so good at it during the presidential campaign. He doesn’t care how much the folks suffer.”

Sue Beckendorf

Menifee, CA

“The lies, scare tactics, over-the-top class warfare, and total lack of effective leadership coming from this administration are mind-boggling, but not as mind-boggling as those who repeatedly defend it in spite of the evidence.”

Mary Deets

Lawrenceville, GA

“Obama is a community organizer and leading the only way he knows how – organizing one group of Americans against another to accomplish his agenda.”

Don Weaver

Enterprise, AL

“The voters re-elected Obama, a man with no history of managing anything, not even a candy store.”

George Lericos

Smithville, NJ

“You nailed it – most Americans have no idea who John Boehner is, and an ignorant population plus a biased mainstream media is mostly responsible for the mess American is now facing.”

Bill Ramsey

South Australia

“We’ve elected a rock star who surrounds himself with smiling sycophants and who has yet to act presidential. If he’d spend as much time with Boehner as he does with Tiger Woods, he might gain some respect.”

John Stires

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

“The House Speaker has a trite saying for everything. How many times are we going to hear him accuse Democrats of kicking the can?”

Michael Finigan

Santa Rosa Beach, FL

“As much as I’d like to blame President Obama for not showing leadership in our country’s financial mess, the blame lies more with the 51% who voted for him. He never should have been put in this position to begin with.”

Tom Peterman

Clyman, WI

“I hate to say it, but we deserve what we get.”

Michael Balance

Sacramento, CA

“No leader of a free democracy should ever want to inflict pain on its citizens. It scares me to think of what this country is becoming.”

Stephenie Locker

Anaheim Hills, CA

“Most of us in this country can’t believe we have a president who isn’t worried about saving America. Things are going exactly the way Obama wants them to go. We are in serious trouble.”

Trudy Searle

Newburyport, MA

MEDICAL MELTDOWN

An 87-year-old woman collapsed and died at her California retirement home after a nurse at the facility refused to administer CPR.

“I am an emergency medicine physician, but it doesn’t take a doctor to know that DNR declarations are specifically designed for the exact situation you just described.”

Andrew Barnett

Omaha, NE

“When I obtained a license to perform CPR, I was also warned there is a liability attached, both civil and criminal. Resuscitation involves certain risks that cause some people to insist upon DNR.”

Jim Reid

San Diego, CA

“As an RN, I’m appalled that a nurse wouldn’t perform CPR. There is nothing that would stop all but a few of us from performing life-saving CPR. Her license should be suspended.”

Karen Weiss

Leucadia, CA

“You need to wise up. If a patient requests not to be resuscitated, it is against the law for a nurse to perform CPR. It’s easy for you to say you’d perform CPR because you wouldn’t get fired.”

Garth Mortensen

Everett, WA

“The nursing home in question was a DNR facility, which means that all residents live there because they have do-not-resuscitate orders on file and know their wishes will be respected.”

Tereen Hough

Joondalup, Australia

“This is not unusual. Most facilities only have one RN on duty. Their undertrained assistants can’t perform life-saving skills.”

Bob Stephens

Destin, FL

“I’m not sure why everyone is complaining about the 87-year-old woman who died in an assisted living center. The lady lived a long life. If CPR had been performed on her, she would have been intubated, spent several weeks in the ICU, and then died anyway.”

Melanie Magnusson

Norman, OK

“Lawyers have gotten us to the point where we would rather let a human die than help her for fear of being the target of a lawsuit.”

WR Jones

New Port Richey, FL

“I’m a nurse and I support the nurse’s decision not to perform CPR on the collapsed elderly woman. End-of-life care is a huge drain on the system. Grandparents should be dying in senior living centers, not in hospitals.”

Nick Robert

Kansas City, MO

ENERGY ADVICE

Actress Daryl Hannah enters the no spin zone to encourage viewers to embrace solar and wind power instead of oil and gas.

“How many days of sunshine does New York City get every year? Enough to make solar power economical? I think Daryl Hannah is out of her mind.”

Lance Homann

Evans, CO

“Rather than discuss her ideas in a journalistically curious manner, you deliberately tried to diminish Ms. Hannah on a subject about which she was obviously well-versed.”

Ken Henry

Owosso, MI

“Daryl Hannah is a good actress, but she doesn’t know an iota about engineering, chemistry, or practical energy usage. No car can run on 100% alcohol; they can use only a small percentage mixed with gasoline.”

Ivar Rodriguez

Seymour, IN

“Ordinary people will embrace a disruptive technology like green energy only when the price point is within 10% of the traditional method and provides the additional assurances of availability, quality, and dependability.”

Jamie Walker

Kirkland, WA

“Daryl Hannah bamboozled you. The only way solar panels are remotely affordable is for them to be paid for via taxpayer subsidies.”

David Holtkamp

Los Alamos, NM

“Corn ethanol is not environmentally sound in that it takes more energy to grown the corn, transport it, process it, and ship it to customers.”

Mark Madden

Dover, MA

“It is a pity that Ms. Hannah overlooked the problem of mining the rare earth minerals and other less environmentally-friendly things involved in her pet projects of solar and wind.”

RJ Spencer

Greeley, CO

“You should have asked Ms. Hannah how many trips she takes a year in a big, old jet airplane just to promote her message. I bet she uses more energy in four plane trips than I use all year.”

Alan Delk

Coalinga, CA

“Why you give Daryl Hannah any credibility on energy policy is beyond me. Solar and wind energy sound nice, but it takes up far more land.”

Tim Wigley

Denver, CO

“Daryl Hannah knows her stuff, she backs it up, and she isn’t fake. That’s more than I can say for someone like Al Gore. She seems well-intentioned to me.”

Michael Sullivan

Pittsburgh, PA

Viewer Mail for Friday, March 1

2013-03-01T19:04:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Dennis Rodman aside, the likelihood of Kim Jong Un and President Obama meeting is about as likely as a beach party in Antarctica.”

Matt Curd

Jakarta, Indonesia

BUDGET MADNESS

President Obama and his acolytes are trying to scare the American people into pressuring Republicans to allow him to continue the insane federal spending.

“While the President was blasting Republicans for the sequester, he said he already cut the deficit by 2.5 trillion. When exactly did he do this? Our government should be working together to solve problems.”

Vicky Starr

Mission Viejo, CA

“How can they cut the budget when there hasn’t really been a budget since Obama took office? I think Obama and his cronies have been behaving like little kids throwing temper tantrums when they don’t get their way.”

G.A. Johnson

Indianapolis, IN

“Why don’t the powers that be stop sending U.S. dollars, tanks, jets, and who knows what else overseas to our enemies? It seems to me that would certainly help solve the budget crisis.”

Molly Hamilton

Joplin, MO

“The President is using the sequester budget cuts in his perpetual campaign, backed by liberal lemmings in the media, to scare the American people by manufacturing a crisis to blame on Republicans.”

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

“The best way to get folks to understand our federal budget is to put it in terms of their own household budgets. Fiscally responsible conservative Republicans need to get on this wagon and drive it all the way to 2016.”

Todd Keeley

Springfield, MO

“You claimed that Obama doesn’t realize how serious this fiscal mess is. You are mistaken; he knows, but he doesn’t care.”

Tommy Walsh

Durham, NC

“If $85 billion in reduced growth of spending can cause as much havoc as the President says, this must be the most fiscally efficient government in history.”

Steve Hanson

Omaha, NE

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING

Mitt Romney sits for an interview with Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace to discuss why he fell short in his quest for the presidency.

“Mr. Romney could have been the right man at the right time. He was not supported by his own party. The Republican Party ultimately led to his loss.”

Jack Mielarczyk

Macon, GA

“What makes you think that Mitt Romney would have been so much better at running the country when he couldn’t even run an effective campaign?”

Ray Hathaway

Mohave Valley, AZ

“Romney lost because more than 50% of voters are on the dole and our dumbed down electorate has no clue what a mess this country is in, morally and fiscally.”

Martha Tekula

Wenatchee, WA

“Obama received 93% of the black vote. No matter what Romney did, he couldn’t change that.”

David Chairamonte

Covina, CA

“You are wrong when you said Obama didn’t use social media enough in his campaign. He was all over Facebook. He just didn’t have the same following the President had.”

Mark Holderman

Idabel, OK

“The three million anti-Mormon, evangelical Republicans who refused to vote certainly didn’t help Mr. Romney’s bid for the presidency.”

Alan Carabine

Kaysville, UT

“You said that Romney lost the election because he wasn’t tough on Benghazi. That would have been a losing battle, as there’s no explanation of what happened.”

Kelly Morrow

Aromas, CA

“When you blame Romney for his loss last November, remember that Barack Obama was not held accountable by the media for one single issue.”

Barb Roberts

Lynchburg, VA

“Mitt Romney lost by fewer than 5 million votes out of almost 125 million cast. That is not a crushing defeat. The Democrats just spin it that way.”

Charles Knapp

Maple City, MI

“Sometimes you are not so nice. It is not Romney’s fault that he lost. It’s the fault of those millions of Republicans who didn’t bother to vote.”

Shirley Lindsey

Valdota, GA

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

Former NBA great Dennis Rodman visits Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, promising to bring peace between his country and the USA.

“I hope Rodman took his wedding dress with him to North Korea. It sounds like they will make a lovely, loving couple.”

Fred Borman

Pattaya, Thailand

“You love Dennis Rodman? Your taste in men is awful.”

Jay McArthur

Calgary, Canada

“I would suggest that Rodman is using North Korea, not the reverse. He has always had a desperate need for attention. Even as a great NBA player, he needed his bizarre appearance to gain even more of it.”

Don Grgurich

Acapulco, Mexico

“Seeing Dennis Rodman fawning over Kim Jong Un made me think no one could be that dumb. Perhaps he’s working for the CIA to obtain a DNA sample for future identification purposes.”

Jeff Brandwein

Toronto, Canada

“If Dennis Rodman can bring Barack Obama and Kim Jong Un together for a peace treaty, he should be Secretary of State.”

Martin Newbrief

Howard Beach, NY

“Is Dennis Rodman for real? If he likes it so much in Korea, maybe he should move there. It’s a disgrace that he is even legitimizing them.”

Jason DiSalvo

Congers, NY

“Where is the outrage about Dennis Rodman cuddling up to a Communist leader? Do we forget Jane Fonda’s actions favoring North Vietnam?”

BR Rhodes, M.D.

Wilmington, DE

“Ping pong diplomacy worked with the Red Chinese in 1972 when they behaved like the North Koreans do now. So maybe basketball diplomacy could actually facilitate a rapprochement with North Korea.”

Jim Quinn

Harrison, AR

“Why is Dennis Rodman’s trip to North Korea even newsworthy? He is nothing more than a celebrity and that’s because you folks in the news business made him one.”

Rex Routt

Fullerton, CA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, February 28

2013-03-01T06:27:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Miss Teen Delaware is 18-years-old and thus clearly responsible for her decisions and actions. But very few people her age are mature, wise, or capable of making good decisions consistently.”

Jim Radziun

Cambridge, MN

PRESS PRESSURE

Veteran reporter Bob Woodward claims someone in the Obama administration told him “you will regret doing this” after he wrote a piece criticizing the President’s handling of the budget issue.

“You are wrong if you think the White House was only threatening to cut off access. There’s now character assassination of Mr. Woodward taking place, where he’s being painted as senile and irrelevant.”

Cesar Chen

Boston, MA

“You wondered why David Plouffe would demean Woodward? Obama and his lieutenants have from day one discredited, maligned, and attacked anyone critical of him.”

James VanTrees

Indianapolis, IN

“Obama’s gang of bullies and thugs can’t handle criticism. Like most bullies, when exposed, they show they are cowards and liars at heart.”

Bill Forrest

Woodbridge, VA

“If the White House is inclined to threaten a liberal journalist like Bob Woodward, you must be #1 on the FBI’s most wanted list. Watch out for drones!”

Bob Sherman

Daytona Beach, FL

“I think the so-called threat made to Bob Woodward was more of a warning – a warning that his credibility would be attacked by the liberal media, which is exactly what happened.”

David Rollins

Baltimore, MD

“The American media should learn from Bob Woodward’s integrity and professionalism. He was intent on investigating and reporting the facts and would not be intimidated by this administration.”

Ryan Koolick

East Meadow, NY

“I hope that Bob Woodward has led an exemplary life because he is about to experience the kind of witch hunt few of us could withstand. God bless him.”

Patrick MacKinnon

Victoria, Canada

PAGEANT PORN

Delaware’s 18-year-old representative in the Miss Teen USA pageant had to give up her title when it was discovered that she appeared in a porn video.

“We start out as amoral beings, not moral ones who lose their way. The beauty queen is a prime example.”

Barry Lorenzo

Santa Cruz, CA

“Young people today are most concerned about hedonistic satisfaction. Morality is irrelevant. Narcissism reigns supreme.”

Richard Reay

Bronx, NY

“Your guest was desperate to excuse Miss Teen Delaware’s behavior, stating that popular culture made her do it. We are each personally responsible for our own actions.”

Doug Anderson

Vernon, UT

“The reason the porn situation has gotten worse is technology – iPhones and the internet make porn more accessible to the average teenager.”

Bryan Smith

Cortaro, AZ

“Society made her do a porn movie? If that is the case, then these sickos who commit mass murders must also not be responsible for their actions.”

Mike Hartman

Lewistown, PA

“As a former high school teacher, I know firsthand that the majority of 18-year-olds know the difference between right and wrong and can understand the long-term consequences of their actions.”

Scott Beckler

Omaha, NE

“It is not really surprising that a person who enters beauty pageants would do something like the young lady from Delaware did. They are exhibitionists.”

Larry Kearney

Lakewood, WA

NANNY STATE?

As NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ban on extra large sodas is about to go into effect, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly analyzes where his health crusade will stop.

“Since Mayor Bloomberg is such a control freak, how long before he takes on controlling the amount of food sold in delis in the city? How healthy is pastrami and corned beef?”

Patricia Cosgrove

Thousand Oaks, CA

“Bloomberg’s health jihad is just another reason a growing number of countries think of us and treat us as a silly, stupid little people.”

Rev. Bill Sladek

Windsor, CO

“Let’s face it – Bloomberg wants a cap on soda size because he’s too little to finish a Big Gulp.”

Jim Hughes

Aiken, SC

“Bloomberg’s insanity will continue until the people of NYC decide to ban him.”

Michael Redding

Taylor, TX

“Watch out, Bill – the next thing Bloomberg will determine is bad for people and ban is Fox News.”

Warren Bartholomew

Lanse, PA

“Bloomberg is wrong for outlawing jumbo sodas thinking he can make people lose weight. Most people can just get free refills in a small cup.”

Tom Chastain

Tampa, FL

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, February 27

2013-02-28T06:01:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The reason the Oscars banned the PETA ad is simple: if you ban fishing, how will those jerks get their caviar?”

Cliff Holland

Lone Butte, Canada

KEEPING SECRETS

President Obama promised he would be a leader we could trust, but now his former press secretary, Robert Gibbs, is claiming he was told not to acknowledge the drone program while he worked for the administration.

“So according to Bob Beckel, President Obama keeps the drone program secret because it’s a secret operation. Yet he disclosed the entire operation to kill bin Laden to Hollywood.”

Regine MacKenzie

Mountlake Terrace, WA

“The real story here is that Robert Gibbs leaked this anecdote about the drones and threw the White House under the bus.”

Roger Sause

Los Angeles, CA

“Mr. Gibbs did what he was hired to do, except he didn’t lie as far as I can tell. The fault lies with the press, which didn’t bother to challenge or investigate further.”

John Kirschman

Albuquerque, NM

“I just watched your Talking Points on the former secretary not acknowledging drone attacks. You are dead wrong; the drone program is a classified operation. The American public does not have the right to this information.”

Michael Betzer

Lancaster, CA

“Your Talking Points about the President and transparency were spot on. Telling Gibbs not to acknowledge the drone program was deceptive.”

Cory Willard

Smyrna, TN

“So Beckel has no problem with the drone program or Obama telling Gibbs not to discuss it? I seem to remember he was ready to destroy President Bush over phone taps.”

Tim Hodsdon

El Paso, TX

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The animal rights group PETA was denied a spot for its anti-fishing advertisement during the Academy Awards, despite the fact that Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix made an appearance in the ad.

“I know PETA doesn’t want us to eat or own any living creature on the planet, but somehow I don’t think there’s enough vegetation to provide the protein, vitamins, and minerals we need for the 7 billion people alive today to survive.”

Larry Schmidt

Tobaccoville, NC

“If vegetarians love animals so much, why do they eat all of their food?”

Daren Benson

Ridgefield, WA

“I have to agree with PETA – it is inhumane to watch a fish flop around on your boat while it drowns. Any decent fisherman knows a single precise blow to the back of the head is the way to go.”

Karl Youngbar

San Juan Bautista, CA

“PETA wants us all to become vegans. Do they realize that vegetables are part of living plants? I refuse to support this cruel and insensitive practice.”

Peter Thomas

Dundee, IL

“We need to start an organization called PETV: People for the Ethical Treatment of Vegetables. Don’t they say that plants scream when they’re pulled out of the ground?”

W.J. Oakley

Tulsa, OK

“The reason the Academy did not allow PETA to run ad is that vegan sushi is not chic yet.”

Natalie Olivier

Whyalla, Australia

FOOD STAMP FRAUD

A local news station in Texas has reported on widespread food stamp abuse, where some recipients are even driving to the grocery store in luxury Mercedes.

“I live in South Texas and receive food stamps. We barely get enough to live on. How on earth are these people getting so much?”

Vanessa Tower

Los Fresnos, TX

“Officials running the food stamp program need to check the recipients out. Some who abused the handout were able to buy Valentine’s Day baskets because there was fruit in them.”

Laura Martinez

Brownsville, TX

“Food stamp fraud is just an indicator of the massive fraud in the welfare system. Every honest blue collar worker in America will tell you that they know at least two people gaming the system.”

Dan Gorenflo

Moorefield, WV

“You could do a food stamp fraud segment every night of the year and not run out of material.”

Al Roeder

The Woodlands, TX

“The whole problem with food stamps is that they’re not stamps anymore. The shame factor has disappeared with the advent of the EBT card.”

Mike Landry

Honolulu, HI

“A woman at the grocery store was checking out in front of me. She separated food items from liquor, and paid for the food with food stamps and the liquor with cash.”

Jean Soule

Bradbury, CA

“This is a federal program. The only way the states can do anything about it is to defy the feds and doing that would cost them money.”

Phil Getchell

Corinth, ME

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, February 26

2013-02-27T06:17:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“If the Republican Party is so petty to not include Gov. Christie as a speaker at CPAC because he hugged the President when our state was in disaster, it’s time for me to change my party affiliation after 44 years.”

Jerri Stewart

Morganville, NJ

PLAYING POLITICS?

President Obama may be perpetuating massive federal spending because he knows committed liberals and minority voters will support his philosophy and overwhelm the Republican Party.

“Everything the President has done since taking office is designed to increase the Democratic voting base, which is why I don’t believe I’ll see another Republican president in my lifetime.”

Richard Zepp

McCormick, SC

“I do not agree that the President will be blamed for bankrupting America. The media will find ways to make Republicans appear responsible for the debacle.”

Jim Kelly

Wall, NJ

“You’re criticizing President Obama for structuring his efforts to pander to a coalition of young voting Americans sufficient enough to get him elected, but isn’t that what one of our Founding Fathers called tyranny of the majority?”

Michael Szkaradek

Santa Ana, CA

“On the sequester cuts, Obama’s strategy seems to be maximum pain for political gain.”

Bill Forrest

Woodbridge, VA

GOP SNUB?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has not been invited to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

“Chris Christie wasn’t invited because he isn’t a conservative and it’s that simple.”

Joel Harvey

Memphis, TN

“As usual, Republicans are way off base. Christie may have brown-nosed Obama, but he got the money to help the people he represents. The rest of his party should learn to do the same.”

Michael Diebler

Vallejo, CA

“Do we really have to go through this again? We don’t want another liberal Republican running in 2016. Christie’s popularity is high because he slants left.”

Mona Capone

Prospect, CT

“Dr. Krauthammer referred to Gov. Christie as a moderate, so why vilify the conservative wing of the Republican Party for not inviting him to their convention?”

Susan Nelson

Manassas, VA

“The Christie snub shows how far the GOP has come from the party of Reagan. He preached a big tent, while today’s GOP wants an ideological purity test.”

Lilli Sanders

Ashburn, VA

“I believe CPAC did not invite Gov. Christie because he is now perceived as a turncoat who was instrumental in tilting the presidential election in favor of Barack Obama.”

Kathie Dior

West Lafayette, IN

“The C in CPAC stands for conservative. Gov. Christie is not a conservative, so that explains why he wasn’t invited. Conservative voters want to hear from conservative leaders, not liberal Republicans.”

Jim Williams

Shawnee, OK

“I’m disappointed in Charles Krauthammer’s position on Chris Christie’s interaction with the President during the Sandy aftermath. It’s the kind of behavior I expect from a leader in the face of crisis.”

Johan Christiaanse

San Jose, CA

DRIVING WHILE HIGH

With marijuana now legal in Colorado and Washington, researchers have been studying how pot affects driving.

“As a person who works in law enforcement, there are numerous tests an officer can perform to determine if someone is under the influence of marijuana. There’s a DUI charge we can use for drugs as well as alcohol.”

Nathan Rico

Lompoc, CA

“In Colorado as in most states, driving impaired under any mind-altering drug is illegal. If drugs are suspected, a blood test is required.”

Jim Raue

Grand Rapids, MI

“Driving is a privilege. If you don’t submit to a breath test or a blood test, you automatically lose your license.”

Larry Kearney

Lakewood, WA

“Smoking pot and driving is going on in the other 48 states that haven’t legalized marijuana yet. Exactly what new problem has been created in Colorado and Washington?”

Scott Burns

High Point, NC

“Caffeine and nicotine are both legal drugs and there is no law that prohibits operating a vehicle under the influence of those drugs. Why do you assume THC, now legal in Colorado and Washington, should be treated differently?”

Cregg Lund

Seattle, WA

“People have been smoking pot since before I was born, and I don’t remember seeing or hearing about massive car wrecks blamed on marijuana. What’s changed?”

Michelle Bryant

Cabot, AR

“People driving on marijuana are already prosecuted for driving under the influence, just like drug drivers using legal alcohol. Legal pot won’t make it any more difficult to convict.”

Gary Beatty

Sharpes, FL

Viewer Mail for Monday, February 25

2013-02-26T03:07:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Michelle Obama gives the best picture award to a film about saving U.S. Embassy staffers. The irony!”

Duane Dubay

Plano, TX

LIBERALISM’S REIGN

Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh declares that liberalism has won the ideological struggle in America. Is he right?

“The real clue that liberalism is winning in America is the overwhelming media coverage of Rush Limbaugh’s comment about being ashamed of his country. When Michelle Obama expressed similar sentiments in 2008, there was very little coverage.”

Tina Watson

Greensboro, GA

“It’s not liberal thought that holds sway, but rather liberal attitudes. Their reign over academia, pop culture, and the media seeps into the general public.”

James Truncale

Orange, TX

“Liberalism is certainly winning in America, especially because it controls most of the government, the education system, entertainment, and the media.”

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

“Young Americans are not more liberal; they’re more libertarian. They embrace the conservative ideas of less spending and smaller government, but also want a socially liberal government.”

Helen Sanders

Chevy Chase, MD

“I agree with Rush Limbaugh. The liberals have won and it will stay that way as long as the media controls politics in this country. Nothing will bring our country back faster than a neutral media.”

Bill Goldsmith

Warrensburg, MO

“I don’t think America is listening to reason. We are hopelessly and desperately lost and I’m afraid we won’t come back. Keep fighting the good fight, but I am close to giving up.”

Daniel Swanson

Northfield, MN

“Many people say the Republicans haven’t articulated their arguments well enough to win over the American public. I disagree. When you have a liberal media that’s in the tank for the left, the majority of Americans will only hear one side of the argument.”

Andrew Falcone

Bethesda, MD

OSCAR CAMEO

First Lady Michelle Obama appeared via satellite at the Academy Awards to announce the best picture. Should politics overlap with entertainment?

“The First Lady’s Oscar stunt was aimed at increasing the positive image of the Obamas and the USA on the world stage.”

Michael Long

Lebanon, NH

“Politics do not belong at the Academy Awards. Michelle Obama already spends millions and millions of our tax dollars on extravagant trips. Enough is enough!”

Jim Vagenas

Indiana

“I think Michelle Obama doing the Oscar thing was in poor taste and diminishes the office of the presidency. I would like to think my First Lady has the dignity to stay above the mucky trenches of Hollywood.”

Phyllis Mulkey

Iowa

“Perhaps the First Lady should have taken the opportunity to scold Hollywood regarding violence in films, especially Quentin Tarantino.”
Dar Draper

Davidson, NC

“I found it indecorous of the First Lady to use military personnel as background props while making no mention of the military in her remarks.”

Sgt. John Whitcomb

Grand Junction, CO

“You could have been gracious and congratulated Michelle Obama for being the first First Lady to present an Oscar instead of chastising the Academy for not inviting Laura Bush.”

Grant Samuel

Pattaya, Thailand

“The inclusion of Michelle Obama during the Oscars is just one more example of Hollywood flipping off conservatives, who make up a significant portion of the audience.”

Joe Allen

O’Fallon, MO

“I say if the Obamas want to be Hollywood celebrities, get out of the White House and move to California.”

Denise Waldman

Williamsport, PA

“Michelle Obama looked gorgeous and young when she announced Argo as the best picture. Imagine Barbara Bush doing something like this?”

Logan Sweeney

Westminster, MA

“How much did it cost the American taxpayer for Michelle Obama to show up at the Academy Awards? Doesn’t she know we have an economic crisis on our hands?”

Alma Perricone

Land O Lakes, FL

“One can’t help but wonder if she would have passed on the opportunity had Zero Dark Thirty won.”

Karl Jenkins

Phoenix, AZ

SELECTIVE EDITING

The liberal cable network MSNBC edited video of Senator John McCain to make him appear insensitive to a woman asking about gun control.

“MSNBC should be held liable for punitive damages for slander that was deliberate and calculated.”

Jim Pacocha

Hudson, NH

“It’s unfortunate that people who don’t follow the news will only see the McCain story as reported on NBC. This type of media misrepresentation disgusts me.”

Jim Marquez

Las Vegas, NV

“It’s time to hold MSNBC and other liberal media accountable for their biased reporting by boycotting their sponsors and advertisers.”

Rebecca Baynes

Lancaster, NY

“Why isn’t the FCC doing something about MSNBC skewing the news? It is just wrong that the news isn’t being presented in a factual and fair way.”

Tamara McLaren

East Wenatchee, WA

“If Bernie wouldn’t report the Menendez prostitution story because he doesn’t care about it, he is no different than Rachel Maddow who didn’t care to report the full McCain remark.”

Robert Young

Springfield, VA

“Why is MSNBC not being held liable for slander for falsely portraying McCain? Strike three, they’re out!”

Mitch Rezac

Aiken, SC

Viewer Mail for Friday, February 22

2013-02-22T22:19:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I’m appalled by the actions of our House Speaker in the handling of Jessica’s Law. It is a sad day when our government officials are spending more time legalizing marijuana than protecting our children.”

Laura Holton

Olathe, CO

CHAOS IN COLORADO

Colorado is one of the last states in the country holding out on passing Jessica’s Law, which mandates harsh sentences for child molesters. Why isn’t the state’s Speaker of the House, Mark Ferrandino, looking out for the kids?

“My guess is that Colorado’s Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino will use Jessica’s Law as a bargaining chip to get legislation he fervently wants passed, probably something related to gay rights.”

George Del Monte

Bradenton, FL

“The Colorado legislature didn’t respond to Mark Lunsford’s testimony because they were all high on marijuana.”

Bonnie Webb

Loveland, CO

“I know your work on behalf of Jessica’s Law has been a blessing to Mark Lunsford. I can’t imagine his pain, and having the backing of a prominent figure like you is likely what keeps him going.”

Elaine Lewellyn

California, MD

“I would rather you challenge the integrity and decisions of a few in order to protect the lives of children everywhere in our nation. Thanks for shedding light on such a dark topic.”

Paul Gremillion

Baton Rouge, LA

“I find it extremely disturbing that any elected official would oppose tougher punishments for child rapists. Keep the pressure on Ferrandino, and let him know the American people will not tolerate child abuse.”

Jake Butchli

Boston, MA

“Far-left politicians like Ferrandino are unmoved about pleas to adopt Jessica’s Law because children are not a special interest group.”

Linda Cebrian

Rhinebeck, NY

“Anyone who refuses to protect children has a problem. There is no rational thinking individual who wouldn’t pass Jessica’s Law. This politician needs to be investigated to see if he has any skeletons in his closet.”

Claude Mitchell

Courtenay, Canada

HEAT OF PASSION CRIME?

South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend.

“It’s rather humorous that you and Geraldo would be bashing the South African judicial system, anticipating a light sentence for Oscar Pistorius. Remember O.J. Simpson?”

J.C. Lunt

Coronado, CA

“I’m not sticking up for Oscar Pistorius, but who died and made you judge, jury, and executioner? Aren’t you always claiming that your job is simply to report the facts?”

Shari Cartee

Monroe, NC

“I take issue with saying Oscar Pistorius is accused of killing his girlfriend when he’s admitted killing her. Unfortunately, he’ll probably get away with murder.”

Julie Archer

Columbus, OH

“As an expat South African, I know the violence and fear we live in daily. I don’t think it’s fair to convict Oscar Pistorius on your show. I’m proud of him for all of his achievements.”

Natalie Olivier

Whyalla, Australia

“Anyone watching the Pistorius story unfold can’t help but think the blade runner doesn’t have a leg to stand on! Before shooting through a locked bathroom door, would you not think he would have called out to ask who was in there?”

Chuck Mueller

Sun Prairie, WI

“You opined that Oscar Pistorius should be charged with a heat-of-passion homicide and not premeditated murder. To prove that, however, the killer will have to show facts that would drive most people to lose control of themselves.”

Alan Denis

Tallahassee, FL

PERMISSIVE PARENTING

Are parents today worse than they were 25 years ago?

“Parents today have been marginalized by society as a result of the crisis of authority that began in the 1960s. It flourished with the narcissism and liberalism of the 1970s.”

Sanford Bloom, Ph.D.

Appleton, WI

“As long as the government, institutes of learning, and select organizations continue to convince folks they are victims, more and more parents will fail.”

Ray Kennedy

Tallahassee, FL

“Most parents today aren’t married, and a lack of parental unity is needed to raise kids, especially when you consider the lack of morals pervading our society via TV, movies, and videogames.”

Kara Vines

Yucaipa, CA

“Parenting has changed because of all the split families. One parent cannot discipline anymore or the other parent will call them on it. We are losing our morals and respect for adults by the younger generation.”

Carolyn Byard

Salem, OR

“Parenting today can be attributed to the 1960s’ down with establishment mentality. There are no parameters to the world in which we raise our children.”

Ron Zemites

Cincinnati, OH

“The problem with many parents today is that they simply don’t have each other’s backs and are more concerned with being their kid’s best friend.”

Patrick O’Malley

Clearwater, FL

“Parents today want to be friends first and parents second. Wise up, mom and dad!”

Vinnie Hudson

Clearwater, FL

Viewer Mail for Thursday, February 21

2013-02-22T00:00:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!
“The Watters World segment was beneath you. The President’s uncle has been here illegally for 43 years. How is that favoritism when Obama was only 9-years-old? This is a common occurrence due to our toothless immigration policy.”

Peter Zacharias

Brooklyn, NY

YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK

The Department of Agriculture has hired a man named Samuel Betances to conduct sensitivity training for USDA employees. The only problem is he’s using his position to demean the U.S. and indoctrinate his audience.

“I called Secretary Vilsack’s office to ask about this so-called sensitivity training, and the woman answering the phone told me she didn’t have time for me and hung up. Outrageous!”

Dwight Arrington

West Columbia, SC

“I worked for a top American company for 37 years, and we had diversity awareness classes. What we learned is that all people deserve respect, regardless of their race, religion, shape, or size. It was nothing like the nonsense Mr. Betances was talking about.”

Bill Smitty

Placentia, CA

“Your guest may be right that all minorities have been discriminated against by the federal government, but so has the majority. It’s called affirmative action.”

Ed Forman

Rayville, LA

“All the taxes I pay my entire life won’t cover Samuel Betances’ federal wages. That’s depressing.”

Bryan Smith

Cortaro, AZ

“With the cultural sensitivity training at the USDA, your objection is that taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill. I’m also offended by the indoctrination of an anti-American far-left political agenda.”

Bunny Herschensohn

Washington, D.C.

“This diversity trainer hired by the government is doing the exact opposite of what diversity is all about. You are supposed to appreciate all cultures and viewpoints.”

Melvin Bendele

Castroville, TX

SEX EPIDEMIC

Why are so many female teachers in America seducing their male students?

“The shrinks are way off – it’s about power. The teachers having sex with students are moral nitwits. It’s as simple as that.”

Arnold Cusmariu

Seminole, FL

“Since twenty-somethings are taking longer to mature, maybe they shouldn’t be teaching high school. It’s hard to tell the students from the teachers sometimes since the teachers have never really left high school.”

Sharon Bengel

Springboro, OH

“Shenanigans by teachers in the 50s and 60s weren’t really discussed, just as abuse by priests wasn’t talked about.”

Jo Ann Soden

Pahrump, NV

“Sexual relationships between teachers and students are definitely on the rise. The caliber of individuals entering the teaching professor has declined greatly in the last 20 years.”

Stacy Weller

McKinney, TX

“Many young female teachers have not grown up. They were confused in high school and college, and they view their young male students as peers.”

George Dimoff

Camp Hill, PA

“There’s a simple solution for female teachers seducing students: sentence them the same way as male teachers would be sentenced.”

Jason Roach

Denver, CO

“I think many young, female teachers today are still quite immature themselves and are very needy emotionally. They develop an emotional connection first, unlike their male counterparts.”

Debbie Brown

North Richland Hills, TX

SPECIAL TREATMENT?

Factor producer Jesse Watters paid a visit to President Obama’s uncle in Massachusetts. Apparently the man has been living here illegally for 43 years and operates a liquor store without fear of deportation.

“An illegal immigrant threatening to call the police on a U.S. citizen? Only in America.”

Neal Dillon

New Hope, PA

“I was so disappointed in the Watters piece on Obama’s uncle. Shame on you for using a family member of the President’s to humiliate him like that. It was tabloid television.”

John Crespo

Kearny, NJ

“I couldn’t stand to look at Watters’ smirk after pestering the President’s uncle. If you have a problem with the uncle not being deported, take it up with the President.”

Drew Vinson

Novato, CA

“Thank you for exposing the President’s uncle living here illegally. It’s too bad this information wasn’t out there during the campaign. This is grounds for impeachment.”

Lois Bliss

Greeley, CO

“I want to thank you for having the backbone to send Watters to interview Obama’s illegal uncle. The elite liberals will probably choke on their arugula and gasp with indignation when they see the clip.”

Steve Cleveland

Winnipeg, Canada

“I think Obama’s uncle should be treated as any other illegal immigrant. He should not be allowed to be in America or run a business here.”

Eliana Nolan

Sachse, TX

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, February 20

2013-02-20T18:58:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Every child has a God-given right to an abstinent pregnancy and childhood. Every adult has a right to use addictive substances, but they must face the subsequent consequences.”

Wendy Herbert

Perth, Australia

INSANE RULING

A New Jersey court rules that a woman who ingested crack two days before giving birth did not abuse or neglect the baby she was carrying. Is this indicative of a larger moral shift in this country?

“The biggest problem in this country is secularism. No belief in a higher power allows people to do anything that gratifies them without considering others.”

Mark Constantian

Hollis, NH

“Abortion ends a life. When are people going to remember that all humans live inside their mother’s womb for the first nine months of life?”

Marybeth Chaney

Allport, PA

“I believe the greatest threat to our society today is the change in our basis for determining right from wrong. We have moved from the Judeo-Christian basis to a relative moralism.”

Craig Lewis

Danville, CA

“You are preaching to the choir. I suspect neither the cocaine mother nor the New Jersey judges who ruled in her favor watch your show.”

Dr. Steve Albert

Scottsdale, AZ

“The NJ Supreme Court has ruled that the unborn child is not entitled to constitutional protections because it’s not a person. But now that the child is born, it should have a legal advocate.”

Doug Merkler

Balirstown, NJ

“I can’t believe Bob Beckel was OK with a woman taking crack cocaine two days before the birth of her child. It should be a crime to do this to her child.”

Kevin Bornbach

Stratford, WI

“The woman who took cocaine just before her birth is disgusting. She does not want or care about the baby. Abortion solves this problem.”

Wayne

Marlton, NJ

“I have four precious children, each one of them adopted through the foster care system and born with cocaine in their systems. My 15-year-old has so many issues, he can barely function. The problems caused by cocaine use in utero do not all show up immediately.”

Dianne Melucci

Patchogue, NY

“If a woman is taking cocaine during pregnancy, chances are she will take it after the child is born and continue to expose it via breastfeeding. Many states are moving to check babies’ urine.”

Aline Roberts

Dothan, AL

“If the court doesn’t consider cocaine use while pregnant to be unborn abuse, how about contributing to the delinquency of a minor?”

Michael Valaika

Glen Allen, VA

“Will a woman who is nine months pregnant in New York City be able to stop and get a 32-ounce soft drink on the way to get an abortion? Her body, her choice.”

Ralph Lee

Corpus Christi, TX

“Regarding babies born to illegal drug users, when the child has special needs, will those who see nothing wrong with its mom’s behavior be financially responsible for the child’s needs?”

Jim Galpin

Chandler, AZ

ARIZONA ANGER

Sen. John McCain faced some heat from constituents at a town hall meeting over the porous border with Mexico.

“If John McCain thinks we need 2 million soldiers to secure the border, he needs to lose his job. What is he going to do? Stand them in line like dominos every ten feet?”

Bob Grund

Boise, ID

“A lot of the anger Arizonans have towards John McCain is because he campaigned on no amnesty. As soon as he got elected, he pulls a 180 and starts with the comprehensive talk.”

Bryan Smith

Cortaro, AZ

“We all know it’s impossible to corral and instantly send back 12 million illegals. If we really make the border tight and deport even some illegals, the population here will start to drop drastically.”

Charles Thompson

La Mesa, CA

“The folks in Arizona are frustrated with the illegal immigrant problem. We try to solve it and we get sued by the federal government. No one is listening to the people here.”

Gayle Jones

Chandler, AZ

“McCain said it would take 2 million troops to protect our borders. Well, he is full of baloney.”

Mike Cuggino, Sr.

New York, NY

“We should ask McCain how we can secure the North-South Korea border for nearly 60 years, but not our own southern border.”

Scott Stanton

Fort Worth, TX

“You said the people at McCain’s town meeting didn’t want immigration reform, but rather wanted illegals deported. Deportation is reform! It’s the best kind of reform there is.”

Fred Davis

Mansfield, PA

COMEDIC CAUSE

Actor Matt Damon releases a humorous PSA to bring serious attention to the cause of providing clean drinking water to parts of the third world.

“I’m tired of 1%-er celebrities like Matt Damon using guilt to try to get the working folks to give their hard-earned money to the liberal cause du jour. He should write one big check.”

Elaine Wheeler

Central Point, OR

“As a staunch conservative, I’m surprisingly taking Matt Damon’s side regarding his mission to supply potable water to the world. Your suggestion of supplying bottled water is counter to teaching a man to fish.”

Patty Coughlin

Fremont, NH

“I’m tired of liberal millionaires whining about problems. Why don’t they just step up and spend their own money to fix the problem instead of trying to get us to part with ours?”

Carolyn Darne

Gaithersburg, MD

“Matt Damon is right about clean water. A friend in Haiti has drilled over 200 water wells. Thousands get clean water using hand-operated pumps at these wells.”

Andy Richardson

Russellville, AL

“When one of these Hollywood wing-nuts like Matt Damon actually does something good, we should encourage them, not question how they are going to do it.”

Jack MacGiffert

Tampa, FL

“It doesn’t require a huge infrastructure for most people to have clean drinking water. What’s needed is access to a well-built water well, which is exactly how much of the drinking water in rural America is supplied.”

Michael Kahn

Oklahoma City, OK

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, February 19

2013-02-19T15:15:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Scott Brown’s inability to explain why people want irresponsible government spending is typical of today’s inept Republican Party. Young Americans have no faith in themselves to achieve anything after decades of liberal giveaways.”

F. Stephen Henslee

Overland Park, KS

OUSTED IN MASS

The Factor asks former Senator Scott Brown to explain the mentality that leads to Massachusetts voters backing big spending liberals.

“The baby boomer generation grew up feeling entitled to everything because the greatest generation overindulged them. They continue to demand everything even at the expense of their children and grandchildren.”

John Gex

Henderson, NV

“Scott Brown demonstrates a keen knowledge of what’s going wrong in Massachusetts and our nation. He knows what’s needed to fix the problems. Hopefully, Massachusetts voters will one day wise up and re-elect him to office.”

Jim Douglas

Universal City, TX

“Liberalism is an incurable disease where you are always on the take. That’s why Massachusetts voters continue to elect big spenders in the Democratic Party.”

Albert Bushey

East Longmeadow, MA

“I’m a Republican from Massachusetts, and I can’t figure out why a state that is known for its academic and medical achievements is so in the dark and ignorant when it comes to politics.”

Renee Heff

Dover, MA

“The liberal media controls the uninformed electorate. This explains both why Massachusetts always votes for Democrats and why President Obama got re-elected after four disastrous years.”

Richard Tormey

Ringoes, NJ

“The educated people of Massachusetts are concerned about the welfare of the impoverished people they see the state as the way to solve the problem.”

Greg Wetzel

Coopersburg, PA

AMERICA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM?

Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate, says the country is facing a quandary over its lack of leadership.

“Herman Cain is right – America will experience four more years of suffering under the Obama administration.”

Tom McAllister

Atlanta, GA

“I’m 23 and most people my age follow Barack Obama blindly because celebrities, comedians, musicians, and TV personalities tell them he’s great. The masses are gullible.”

Anthony Steele

Cincinnati, OH

“Herman Cain completely understands that Obama won the PR campaign in November. Unless the public studies issues thoroughly, it will be misled again and again by the media.”

Kristin Decker

Palmdale, CA

“The biggest problem facing America today is ignorance. Mr. Cain hit the nail on the head – without a sound mind, you can throw effective decision making out the window.”

Tyler Goswick

Tucson, AZ

“America has been so dumbed down that there’s no logic in how people make their voting decisions. They have no discernment of the truth.”

Ginny Murray

Simi Valley, CA

“While I like Herman Cain, he got it wrong. The majority of people who voted for Obama did so because Republicans scared them into believing they’d take their entitlements away.”

Larry Jacobskind

Dallas, TX

SECOND CHANCE?

Mark Sanford, the disgraced former governor of South Carolina, has announced that he’s running for U.S. Congress. Will voters give him political redemption?

“I wouldn’t vote for former Governor Mark Sanford for the U.S. Congress. If he couldn’t be faithful when he governed South Carolina, I can only imagine what he’d do in Washington, with every available temptation.”

Susan McKelvey

Camden, AL

“If Mark Sanford were elected, it would be another example of a lack of honesty, integrity, and morality infiltrating our government. He has already proven himself and deserves no second chance.”

LeAnn Nelson

Kooskia, ID

“Am I the only South Carolinian who cares that as governor, Mark Sanford went AWOL? He lied to his staff about his location and chose not to leave contact information with anyone. What if there had been a state crisis?”

Billie Jean Highsmith

Seneca, SC

“Forgiveness and compassion do not preclude justice, nor does it suspend judgment about whether it is prudent to entrust someone who has otherwise shown moral turpitude with greater responsibilities.”

Jerry Paresa

Highland, CA

“Mark Sanford is an embarrassment to our state. He wants a second chance? Move to Argentina!”

Patrick Campbell

Anderson, SC

“Mark Sanford has the experience we need in Congress, especially at this troubled point in our nation’s history.”

Paula Brown

Bluffton, SC

“If his wife can’t trust him, why should I?”

Steve Horn

White Stone, VA

“God forgives a truly repentant sinner, but He doesn’t remove consequences. If a person compromises in his personal life, he will most certainly do the same in his professional life.”

Pam Whitcomb

Katy, TX

Viewer Mail for Monday, February 18

2013-02-19T01:35:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Golfing is one of the very few things I’m glad to hear that the President is doing. The more time he spends on the golf course, the less time he has to wreck this country.”

Will Berkley

Edmonds, WA

OBAMA’S MULLIGAN

There is some controversy surrounding President Obama’s golf outing in Florida with Tiger Woods, an event that was off-limits to the media.

“Are there no golf courses in Washington, D.C.?”

Kathy Pearce

Gillette, WY

“Who cares if he plays golf with Tiger Woods? He’s not a leper just because he had an extramarital affair. This is not a newsworthy event.”

Kathy Zurbrigen

Greeley, CO

“If people are surprised President Obama was playing golf with Tiger Woods, at least he wasn’t playing with Phil Mickelson, that rich guy from California who doesn’t want to pay his fair share.”

Sarah Kirksey

Westminster, CO

“The press was upset the President wouldn’t allow them access to a weekend golf outing with Tiger Woods, but showed no interest in the President’s lack of action during the Benghazi attack.”

Dennis Clay

Lenoir, NC

“This sends the message that the President condones adultery, which adds momentum to the moral backslide in our country.”

Jason Lustig

Seal Beach, CA

“People shouldn’t be upset that President Obama is playing golf with a known philanderer like Tiger Woods. After all, President Clinton is one of his biggest political supporters.”

Steve Roylett

Canberra, Australia

“Regarding golfing with Tiger Woods, President Obama spends unacceptable amounts of taxpayer money for his own personal pursuits like Rome burns.”

Kathy Novelli

Independence, KS

“President Eisenhower played golf during good economic times. Obama is playing golf during the worst depression that I have experienced in my life. He is blowing through money like it’s water.”

Bubba Ray

Miles, TX

RACIAL BLAME GAME

Radical liberal Harry Belafonte is injecting race into the gun control debate, blaming “white America” for urban gun violence.

“Harry Belafonte is an extraordinary entertainer, but the trail was already blazed by people before him like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. I’m thankful that the music industry has always been color blind.”

Michael Appell

New York, NY

“I attended the same school as Mr. Belafonte so I’ve always respected his achievements, but he doesn’t understand that the high homicide rate in the black community is because of the breakdown of the family unit.”

Rob McGhie

Lone Tree, CO

“Why is it that Belafonte and others in the black community always have to blame white people for all of their problems? Do they think African-Americans aren’t smart enough to handle their own problems?”

Dan Galvin

Port St. Lucie, FL

“Belafonte needs to read up on gun history. The Black Panthers were one of the first groups to exercise the 2^nd Amendment by patrolling black neighborhoods to protect against the KKK.”

Arnab Das

Queens, NY

“Belafonte obviously has a racist bias. He doesn’t want black accountability for anything.”

Melvin Bendele

Castroville, TX

“It’s not that white America doesn’t care about black-on-black crime, it’s that white America can’t talk about it honestly without being branded racist.”

Macrena Sailor

Prescott, AZ

“Black leaders are blind to the root causes of violence in the inner city. I was born and raised in North Philly, and I know that folks live in terror there after sundown. Go after the gangs.”

Jim Rush, Sr.

Salado, TX

“White people care about murder wherever it occurs and to whomever it occurs. Every time I hear that another life is senselessly lost, I’m saddened and frustrated.”

Chris Doane

Chesapeake, VA

“The reason the black community doesn’t speak out about black-on-black crime is because they think the reason for it is white oppression.”

Chris Thompson

Kansas City, MO

WORKING WAGE

President Obama wants to raise the minimum wage to $9, a move that many critics are calling another ill-advised social safety net.

“A minimum wage of $9 an hour is still below the poverty line. That makes as much sense as taxing the rich to settle the debt and deficit.”

David Earle

Springfield, MA

“The social justice agenda in this administration is apparent, but now with the raise in minimum wage, it’s also obvious that the President wants inflation.”

Anthony Marino

Moorestown, NJ

“Good grief! Minimum wage is entry level, not a career. I am going to run straight into a brick wall.”

Dr. David Berman

Swanzey, NH

“The President is missing the point. The minimum wage is only intended to provide supplemental income; it’s not a supporting wage.”

Warren George

Auburn, WA

“Why are people working for minimum wage having children? I don’t care how many children people have as long as they can support them.”

Steve Stockton

Lafayette, LA

“I’m a 20-year licensed cosmetologist who, after a divorce, found it necessary to work full-time. I have an extensive resume but can’t find a job offering more than minimum wage. It’s very hard to raise two kids on that salary.”

Carole Hoover

Viera, FL

“As a teenager, I worked full-time at night for minimum wage to support my mother and siblings. It can be done, but it isn’t easy. Raising the minimum wage would have made me lazy and probably forced my family onto social services.”

John Najera

Relay, MD

“I guarantee you the real reason President Obama is proposing a $9 minimum wage is payback to the unions. They are famous for using the minimum wage when they go in to negotiate new contracts.”

Bobby Minton

Kiln, MS

Viewer Mail for Thursday, February 14

2013-02-15T00:53:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I shake my head in amazement that a court rules it’s OK to use cocaine two days before giving birth, but God help you if your child drinks too much soda or gets a sunburn.”

Carly Scott

Chicago, IL

CULT HERO?

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, while maintaining that he doesn’t condone the violent actions of rogue cop Chris Dorner, explained why the man has garnered so much on-line support.

“Dr. Hill used the murder of four innocent people as an opportunity to express his disdain for the LAPD. Pathetic.”

Scott Kelly

Brandywine, MD

“I was stunned to hear Marc Lamont Hill suggest that, despite the heinous result of Chris Dorner’s thinking, one might be able to look beyond it and appreciate his rationale.”

Marla Parry

Wellsboro, PA

“As the daughter of a fallen officer, I found Dr. Hill’s comments disgusting. Thank you for your defense of these families. My heart goes out to them.”

Kristy Mercer

Murray, UT

“People are wronged and fired every day. They pick themselves up and move on. It never justifies the murder of other human beings.”

Kristina Palombo

New Baltimore, MI

“The people who are supporting a re-opening of the Dorner investigation are the same people who probably still don’t believe the LAPD investigation into O.J. Simpson was thorough.”

Jay

Atlanta, GA

“If Dorner was white, you wouldn’t be hearing a peep from Professor Hill. He’s always playing the race card. The LAPD has a civilian review board to oversee any police brutality charge because most of them are bogus.”

Neal Clacher

Cape Coral, FL

“Dr. Hill is obsessed with a culture that believes if an African-American is fired, there is no question that it was a result of racial bias.”

Nancy Piotrowski

Yonkers, NY

“Dr. Hill is myopic and unfortunately views the world in black and white.”

Bill Forrest

Woodbridge, VA

“For the first time ever, I actually agree with Dr. Hill regarding Dorner’s manifesto. I don’t endorse his crime spree, but the manifesto is written in the tone of a man who wants to make a wrong right.”

Paul Amedee

Kenner, LA

“If Dorner had been a white policeman who had killed several black people, I don’t believe Marc Lamont Hill would be lauding his manifesto as he is now.”

Toby Wolfe

Scottsbluff, NE

COKEHEAD MOM

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled that a pregnant woman who used cocaine just two days before giving birth was not neglectful to her baby. Does the mother have a right to raise the child?

“Your guest says there is no medical evidence to show the cocaine this mother ingested was passed to the baby. How does she explain babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome or crack babies?”
Susan Graff

Hawley, PA

“Your guest says taking drugs does not make one a bad parent. I beg to differ in the strongest terms possible. My father was a drug addict, and not only was he a bad parent, he was the worst monster imaginable.”

Dr. James Belcher

Wilmore, KY

“Drug abuse in pregnancy is not a parental right. I’m an obstetrician and can tell you that cocaine use in pregnancy increases the risk of placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, and withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.”

Kevin McIntosh, M.D.

Brandon, MS

“As a criminal investigator of child abuse, I have arrested and had numerous convictions in cases where a mother used drugs while pregnant. Any doctor who maintains this doesn’t harm a child needs to have their license taken away.”

Alan Laney

West Chester, OH

“You are incorrect about all items ingested by a pregnant woman reaching and affecting the fetus. Conclusions from early crack baby studies have long since been proven invalid.”

Russell Pruitt

Newport Beach, CA

“Cocaine is rapidly passed through the placenta and into the fetus’ circulatory system. This leads to the direct effect of blocking neurotransmitter reuptake, hypertension, and tachycardia.”

Joey Entrekin, Pharm.D.

Bremen, GA

“I gave birth to my premature daughter at 32 weeks and witnessed other NICU babies having seizures from drug withdrawal. It still traumatizes me 16 years later.”

Natalie Olivier

Whyalla, Australia

FACTOR EVENT

The National Geographic Channel airs an adaptation of your humble correspondent’s bestselling book, Killing Lincoln.

“Killing Lincoln was truly gripping last night. The story lies in the details.”

Joshua Davidson

Muncie, IN

“Although the Killing Lincoln movie was good, Tom Hanks is not you and therefore the audio book is much better than the movie. You should have been the narrator.”

Bob Stevens

Redlands, CA

“I completed the Killing Lincoln trilogy over the weekend: read the book, listened to the audio, and watched the movie twice. It was so riveting that I wept with Mary as Lincoln went to be with the angels.”

Ronn Abernathy

Maiden, NC

“I love history. I love Lincoln. I loved your book. I loved the movie.”

Bonnie Kruspe

“I just finished watching Killing Lincoln, which was a powerful learning experience. If the book is half as good as the last two hours, I’m in for a treat.”

Henry Gutierrez

Stockton, GA

“I watched Killing Lincoln, but the book was much better. They didn’t do it justice.”

Mary Infuso

Northvale, NJ

“The Killing Lincoln movie was right up there with ‘The Godfather.’ Any plans to sell the DVD?”
Chris Giglio

Staten Island, NY

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, February 13

2013-02-13T23:41:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I believe any baptized male Catholic can be elected Pope, including you and Dennis Miller.”

Tom Kosmoski

Reading, PA

“WATER”-GATE

In a confusing turn of events, the liberal media is mocking Senator Marco Rubio for pausing to take a drink of water during his response to the State of the Union.

“What Marco Rubio should have said is that there were a lot of things in Obama’s speech that were hard to swallow.”

Buddy Wilkinson

Menard, TX

“NBC needs to take a look at the substance of Marco Rubio’s ideas, rather than the need for his drink of water. These are the same people who remained silent when President Obama got confused without his TelePrompTer.”

Lloyd Smith

Oklahoma City, OK

“The media’s predictable attempt to vilify and embarrass Marco Rubio over his sip from the water bottle will backfire. The look on his face was downright adorable and made him seem quintessentially human.”

Ranhy Bang

Phoenix, AZ

“As Oscar Wilde said: ‘There’s nothing more profound than the superficial.’ Rubio effectively ended whatever national political career people like you predicated for him.”

David Swyer

Sarasota, FL

“Rubio takes a sip of water! Gasp! Shocking! Can you believe it?”

Bob Skinner

Buffalo, NY

“The media has reminded me of my days reaching primary education. The little bullies would have made fun of a classmate drinking water too and totally ignored his intelligence.”

Terecia Robey Helm

Louisville, KY

“The left-wing media finally proved that Marco Rubio is not qualified to be President.”

Bruce Eisen

Los Angeles, CA

“Amazing. Our federal government is drowning in debt and the mainstream media focuses on Sen. Rubio taking a drink during his response to the State of the Union.”

Ross Schriftman

Horsham, PA

“It’s obvious to me that Rubio simply didn’t want to lose his place on the TelePrompTer. I wouldn’t either.”

Eddy Quicksall

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

“Yes, that was an awkward moment, but some people do learn from their mistakes. I’ll bet he never gives another speech without a glass of water handy.”

Ron Reeves

St. Paul, KS

“The important thing was not that Marco Rubio reached for water, but that he reached for Poland Springs water, a product of Maine!”

Tom McClelland

Woodland, ME

“The reason the drive-by media is making a big deal out of Senator Rubio drinking water is that that’s all they can find to criticize.”

James Tagliarini

Dover, FL

“The press made such a to-do over Rubio drinking water, but I don’t recall them saying anything about President Obama chewing gum on Inauguration Day.”

Vivian Bearden

Atlanta, GA

SELECTIVE REPORTING?

CNN media analyst Howard Kurtz is accusing the Factor of intentionally failing to report that NBC News is responsible for breaking the drone story that kick-started the debate over the controversial anti-terror program.

“Howard Kurtz still doesn’t know the difference between hard news and news analysis. He obfuscated the drone conversation by getting personal. And the liberal media wonders why it’s losing viewers.”

Tom Quigan

Oxnard, CA

“You were so prepared to attack Howard Kurtz that you didn’t even hear his agreement with you on the left-wing media. You definitely lost the argument.”

Lynn Helmers

Colorado Springs, CO

“How very kind of you to give Howard Kurtz more viewers in one night than he gets all year on CNN!”

Tom Bradburn

Metamora, MI

“When you got Howard Kurtz to concede the media is in the tank for Obama, it was a slam dunk!”

Pete Bruno

Arvada, CO

“Your interview with Kurtz was like watching Zorro slice and dice someone’s clothes off without drawing blood. Bravo.”

Bill Collins

Richland, WA

CALLING ALL CATHOLICS!

Dennis Miller gives his tongue-in-cheek picks for Pope Benedict’s successor.

“You mentioned to Miller that if you’re born Catholic or Jewish, that’s what you are for life and there’s no escaping. It sounds a lot like the mafia.”

Dick Sumner

Spotsylvania, VA

“According to my father who is a byzantine historian, you were wrong when you said the Pope has to be a priest or a bishop. The Pope only has to be a baptized male.”

Heather Miller

Clarksville, TN

“Please tell Dennis Miller that the Catholic Church is like the Hotel California. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.”

Adrienne Licavoli

Macomb Township, MI

“They say that laughter is good for your overall health. Every time I watch you and Dennis Miller together, I feel a whole lot healthier.”

Allene Schnittger

Corvallis, OR

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, February 12

2013-02-12T23:42:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I equate watching the applause at the State of the Union to watching a dolphin or sea lion performance at Sea World.”

Dee Hannum

Dunedin, FL

STATE OF THE UNION

Factor viewers weigh in on the President’s address, as well as the rebuttal by upcoming GOP star, Senator Marco Rubio.

“This was not a State of the Union address; it was just another big campaign speech.”

Ivar Weierholt

Bremerton, WA

“Last night’s State of the Union address was the best sermon President Obama has ever preached. Too bad it presented a false gospel that more spending will save us.”
Mark Lamar

Burleson, TX

“I just don’t believe what he says in his speeches. It doesn’t ring true to me. There have been too many campaign promises undelivered.”

Steve Brown

Seattle, WA

“President Obama wants to raise the minimum wage, but I don’t believe that will encourage people to go back to work. It will also raise their unemployment checks.”

Chris Pearl

Rochester, NY

“The President said he has saved over $2 trillion by cutting the deficit. How is that possible since we’ve had a 50% increase in our debt in the last four years?”

Andy Rogers

Stafford, VA

“President Obama said in his speech that he wants to grow the middle class. What he didn’t say is that he wants to do it by bringing upper class people down.”

Robert Donaldson

Statesville, NC

“My wife and I watched the State of the Union on mute. Without any sound, Biden and Pelosi jumping up and down was the most impressive part.”

James Usselman, M.D.

La Jolla, CA

“We are in a baron time, with no courage of leadership. This country is at the brink under the tyranny of executive orders and the sidestepping of checks and balances.”

Jim Thielen

Tallahassee, FL

“I completely agree that the State of the Union address is a bunch of propaganda. I love watching the news, but I refuse to sit through a leftist speech.”

Jenna Lee Moore

Bethlehem, PA

“That was not a State of the Union address; it was just another speech by King Obama.”

H.B. Ballou

Cebu City, Philippines

“I know over the past two decades the State of the Union has become a show, but I was very embarrassed tonight. The whole world was watching and President Obama gave a partisan campaign speech.”

Anthony Spano

Old Forge, PA

“The State of the Union was a big snooze fest. Our President is still living in a fantasy land and seems unwilling to do what it takes to turn this nation around.”

Dustin Paraspolo

Covina, CA

“Much has been made of Sen. Rubio drinking water during the Republican response to President Obama’s speech. Petty minds dwell on petty happenings.”

Tom Arbogast

Lakeview, OH

“Rubio gave a strong response to the State of the Union. He is young, full of great ideas, and up against a President who thinks executive orders are the best way to get things done.”

Paula Cornell

New Braunfels, TX

“I wish Marco Rubio’s speech was what I heard in the State of the Union address given by the President.”

Gina Cesin

Oakton, VA

“Tuesday’s State of the Union address and Senator Rubio’s rebuttal can best be described as style versus substance. The President was just another empty suit, while Marco Rubio actually had compelling things to say.”

Paul Toth

Seminole, FL

“Nervous or not, Marco Rubio gave an exceptional speech. As a young Republican woman, I would vote for him if he runs in 2016.”

Christa Marquis

Honolulu, HI

“Senator Rubio displayed true leadership with the GOP response. This is the character trait our country deserves.”

John White

Phoenix, AZ

Viewer Mail for Monday, February 11

2013-02-11T21:47:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“You were great on Letterman! It was like watching a tennis match between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. He kept trying to get one over on you, but you kept hitting ‘em back.”

Barbara Stonnell

Marlboro, NJ

LIBERAL HYPOCRISY?

How have Obama supporters, the same people who were opposed to waterboarding during the Bush administration, convinced themselves that the drone program is acceptable in the war on terror?

“The same brainiacs who say waterboarding is torture must also believe all drone strikes are 100% effective, so no terrorist is ever wounded and left to die a slow and painful death.”

Eric Kinder

Richmond, VA

“Many conservatives like me condemn the use of drone strikes the way our current President is using them. There needs to be more evidence in order to kill someone without proper charges being brought against them.”

Mohammed Afzal

Cheshire, CT

“It is not hypocritical to oppose waterboarding, while supporting the use of drone strikes to kill our enemies. Waterboarding was a punishable offense in the war crime tribunals of WWII.”

Jack Waldhelm

Houston, TX

“Waterboarding is an ancient Chinese torture method. Drones can usually be classed as a legitimate method of warfare against enemy combatants.”

Lee Parks

Decatur, IL

“The mainstream media made more out of Abu Ghraib than they have out of excessive use of drones.”

Ed Patton

Abilene, TX

“If we use drones to kill enemies and some collateral damage is acceptable, what will we say to the world when Muslims who have declared war on us use them with the same justification?”

Dan Spokas

Cincinnati, OH

“Many times in Pakistan when a drone strikes a terrorist’s house, his family and neighbors are also killed or injured. Nobody is keeping count on this.”

Edward Leh

Mohrsville, PA

“If an American goes to a Muslim country and associates himself with terrorists, kill him with drones. They are more accurate, less dangerous, and less expensive.”

Roy Brown

Henderson, TX

“As a conservative, I find other conservatives’ sudden righteous indignation over drone attacks almost as hypocritical as liberals ignoring them.”

Larry Russell

Atlantic Highlands, NJ

“To be fair to those who condemned waterboarding but not drone killings, there is a big difference: those who were waterboarded were already in custody.”

Eric Bram

Poughkeepsie, NY

“Please call 911 for me because I fell off my chair when far-left zealot Marc Lamont Hill actually agreed that the left is being hypocritical remaining silent on Obama’s drone policy.”

Gary Alan Kauffman

Studio City, CA

CAVING TO A KILLER?

The Los Angeles Police Department announces that it will review its decision to fire Christopher Dorner, an ex-cop who is now the subject of a massive manhunt after allegedly killing three people in retribution for a wrongful termination.

“I’m a retired special ops police officer, and I believe the LAPD offering any kind of appeasement is contrary to the honor for which police officers stand.”

Jim Raue

Grand Rapids, MI

“As a retired sheriff’s sergeant with 41 years of law enforcement experience, it seems to me that Dorner may not have been properly screened.”

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

“The announcement of the re-opening of Christopher Dorner’s grievance case is tantamount to negotiating with terrorists. As long as he feels he has options, he’s likely to remain armed and dangerous.”

Jonathan Duke

Louisville, KY

“If Dorner’s dismissal is subsequently confirmed to have been legitimate, nothing changes. If his dismissal is shown to have been somehow unfair, his killing of three people will have been no more justified.”

Rich McMahon

South Salem, NY

“Los Angeles cops have long been known for their brutality and corruption. Of course, this still would not justify Dorner murdering three innocent people.”

George Ellis

Fremont, CA

“If the LAPD wants to please anyone with a review of its investigation into Dorner, they should have the review done by a reputable independent outside entity.”

Burr Allegaert

Warrenton, OR

“If you had spent your life in Los Angeles, you would understand why some people think Christopher Dorner is a hero. We’ve been putting up with LAPD corruption for years.”

John Dutcher

Los Angeles, CA

“It appears to me the LAPD is employing reverse psychology trying to lure their former officer out of hiding with the pretense of an error in his favor.”

Ryan Williamson

Whitesboro, NY

COMMON GROUND?

Your humble correspondent makes an appearance on David Letterman’s program, but the usual animosity was missing.

“This was the first time I’ve watched you on Letterman. I thought the two of you should go on the road together. It was an insightful exchange with humorous banter.”

Arley Ellingson

Libertyville, IA

“You need to go on liberal shows more often to make your points. It’s the only way to reach that audience.”

David Kelley

Sonora, CA

“Did my eyes deceive me? Bill O’Reilly and David Letterman getting along and having a substantive discussion on today’s important issues?”

Mark Schmitz, Ph.D.

Rush City, MN

“Is it possible that you’re getting through to David Letterman? He acted like he had some common sense in your latest appearance.”

Mike De Shong

Lexington, IN

Viewer Mail for Friday, February 8

2013-02-08T17:57:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“People should be more interested in the content of Chris Christie’s speeches than in the content of his stomach.”

Michael James

Madison, TN

EPIDEMIC OF DISRESPECT

After 18-year-old Penelope Soto apologized to the Florida judge she cursed out, her contempt sentence was rescinded.

“The judge’s reversal of Ms. Soto’s fortune won’t change her demeanor. The only lesson she learned by feigning sorrow was that she can manipulate the justice system.”

Richard Kwiecienski

Sugarmill Woods, FL

“The judge erred in dropping the 30 day contempt sentence. Doing so was tantamount to judicially sanctioning the politically incorrect lessons all of our children are taught.”

Nicole Fortune

New Hampshire

“I’m tired of the media blaming my generation for a lack of moral character. Ms. Soto’s disrespect to the judge might reflect poorly on my generation, but her parents are the ones to blame.”

Jessica Bocchi

Klamath Falls, OR

“So the judge forgives the sentence because Ms. Soto apologized and said she was still under the influence? That’s unforgiveable. It was her choice to be under the influence so she should still pay the price for her actions.”

Lana Bento

California

“When the judge sent Ms. Soto to county jail for 30 days, he obviously had an ulterior motive. He had to know her lawyer would make her apologize, thus teaching her the meaning of respect.”

Rich Barry

Bayside, NY

“The judge was wrong to excuse Ms. Soto. He did the right thing when he held her in contempt; she disrespected the court and her display has gone viral.”

Meg S.

Santa Cruz, CA

“The fact that Penelope Soto had no prior criminal record doesn’t excuse the fact that she was disrespectful to the judge in this case. She definitely should have been held in contempt.”

Sue Price

Norman, OK

“Did Ms. Soto not make a digital gesture in addition to using profanity? How can the judge simply issue a warning?”

Jim Freeman

Kasson, MN

“I can’t believe you concur that the judge should have showed this young woman leniency. What she did was repulsive and she deserved her original sentencing.”

Gary Tyler

Millbrook, NY

“The disrespect problem in the U.S. is directly related to the reporting you do on young Americans who feel their country owes them. Kids today are raised to be self-centered and uncaring about consequences.”

Andy Mitchell

Statesboro, GA

INDUSTRY INSIDER

Music tycoon Tommy Mottola entered the no spin zone to discuss why some of the industry’s greatest acts have been overtly liberal.

“In the history of popular music, Bob Dylan has been a bigger influence than Elvis, Bruce, Stevie, Jimi, or Michael.”

Eddie Sanders

Birmingham, England

“Elvis? The Beatles? How about the Rolling Stones, the world’s greatest rock and roll band? They are still playing; the other guys are all dead.”

Marty Meaney

Kingsland, GA

“Everything Elvis did was a form of plagiarism copied from African-American artists like Little Richard and others.”

Reginald Greer

Ladue, MO

“In my opinion, there were far better performers than Elvis, but I was glad to see you veer away from politics for once.”

Joyce Panzer

New City, NY

“Do you think the Beatles were conservatives but didn’t realize it? The song ‘Taxman’ mocked the Queen of England for imposing a tax code where the highest earners paid 95%.”

Daniel Adler

Fort Myers, TX

“That segment was supposed to be about why so many musicians are liberal. But you and Tommy Mottola started reminiscing about the Beatles, Elvis, and Michael Jackson and got off topic.”

Pete Brittain

Tubac, AZ

“While Tommy Mottola acknowledged how liberal pop music has become, it might have been interesting to get his take on why country music is still so traditional.”

Tom McAlevey

Tulsa, OK

“I like the music of Bruce Springsteen, but I consider him a hypocrite for embracing partisan politics when he so vehemently disapproved of that sort of thing during the height of his popularity in the 80s.”

Douglas Hoover

Navarre Beach, FL

“I don’t think Democrats know what Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born in the USA’ is even about. After all, its lyrics are critical of the government.”

Michael Lucas

Mesa, AZ

“I grew up in New Jersey and have been a Springsteen fan since the beginning. I was saddened and disappointed when he came out in support of Obama because, coming from a blue collar family, I identified with him.”

Frank Donaldson

Waipahu, HI

HEAVYWEIGHT BRAWL

Former White House doctor Connie Mariano warned that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s weight puts him at risk to die in office if he were win the presidency.

“Our two heaviest presidents – Taft and Cleveland – were both over 300 pounds and both outlived their two successors.”

Jean Leon

Phuket, Thailand

“There is no doubt about it – the doctor who criticized Chris Christie’s weight was strictly doing it for political reasons. She is a Clinton supporter and wanted to get the wheels of doubt turning in the public’s mind.”

Charles Giarraputo

North Patchogue, NY

“I don’t mean to sound gauche, but how is it that Chris Christie, who likes to call it as he sees it, doesn’t see that he is morbidly obese? That doctor was right on.”

Susan Hargrave

Montgomery, AL

“Too many people are self-righteous and rude. I was brought up to treat people with respect, and criticizing somebody’s weight publicly is not respectful.”

Hubert Brazzell, Jr.

West Columbia, SC

“If he’s already fed up with comments about his personal habits, Chris Christie has no business running for president of the United States.”

Barb Harrington

Beaverton, OR

“Gov. Christie has certainly convinced me he doesn’t need to be our president. The lady doctor gave him good medical advice. He needs to grow a longer fuse.”

Chuck Leslie

Dallas, TX

Viewer Mail for Thursday, February 7

2013-02-07T22:10:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Chris Rock and Tony Bennett on gun control: dumb and dumber.”

Fred Mark

Cincinnati, OH

CAUSE CELEB

Comedian Chris Rock says the President is our boss, which means he supports gun control. Crooner Tony Bennett, who also wants stricter gun laws, compared gun ownership to Nazi Germany.

“Hitler also came up with gun registration, claiming that knowing who had guns would make people safer. This made it easy for him to confiscate the guns when he banned them.”

Kim Koch

Aiea, HI

“Gun confiscation has followed in every country where gun registration was initiated, without exception. This is why Second Amendment supporters resist registration.”

Chuck Oualline

San Antonio, TX

“Chris Rock and Tony Bennett are good spokespeople for Obama’s gun control, not because they have credible arguments, but because they are celebrities with large followings. Not acknowledging this reality displays a lack of understanding about America’s abysmal condition.”

Rich McMahon

South Salem, NY

“Why in the world do we give any credence to celebrities like Chris Rock and Tony Bennett when they take political positions? They have nothing to offer our society but entertainment.”

Joseph Fraher

Gold Canyon, AZ

“Memo to Chris Rock: no President of the United States is our boss. We, as Americans, are his boss.”

Cliff Richards

Vero Beach, FL

“So now we know why Chris Rock is a comedian and not a brain surgeon. No mind of his own!”

Ginny Frazzitta

Manalapan, NJ

“Tony Bennett is senile and Chris Rock is off his rocker.”

Claudette Bleidner

Southbury, CT

“Chris Rock and others simply don’t believe that an unarmed American would ever face a tyrannical government. But just look at what the government has done with income taxes.”

Don Guilbault

Lewisville, NC

“Most celebrities can’t articulate their points on complex issues like gun control, but you should give Tony Bennett a break since he did, in fact, fight the Nazis in WWII. Chris Rock, on the other hand, is wide open for political punches.”

Rino Fazio

Arlington, VA

SENATOR JUDD?

A-list actress Ashley Judd is reportedly considering challenging Mitch McConnell for his Senate seat in Kentucky.

“Ashley Judd is an attractive, talented actress, and a Big Blue University of Kentucky fan. Other than that, she is way too liberal for most Kentuckians.”

Ronnie Long

Elizabethtown, KY

“I hate to say this, but people here in Kentucky are dumb enough to vote for Ms. Judd simply because she’s a fan of Kentucky basketball.”

Bobby Stinnett

Mount Sterling, KY

“I think Ashley Judd is far too liberal for Kentucky. We are a conservative state and she supports Obama’s policies, which have really hurt the coal industry.”

Jennifer Overbee

Hazard, KY

“Ashley Judd is a far-left loon with absolutely no qualifications for the U.S. Senate. But she is the #1 UK basketball fan, and that trumps everything in Kentucky.”

Doug Abrams

Louisville, KY

“As a Kentuckian, I have always been an Ashley Judd fan, but I am outraged by her political views. She has spent too much time on the left coast and has forgotten where she came from.”

Jason Byrd

Louisville, KY

“Republicans should be worried about Ashley Judd unseating Mitch McConnell. We even elected a former UK basketball player State Agricultural Commissioner solely because of his celebrity.”

Dr. Eric Ruby

Somerset, KY

“Don’t discount Kentucky residents as ignorant and shallow. Judd will have to prove she is the best candidate before she’ll get the vote here.”

Terecia Robey Helm

Louisville, KY

UNCOVERING THE TRUTH

Factor producer Jesse Watters traveled to a Florida nudist resort to talk politics.

“Watters’ sojourn in Florida was a naked attempt to titillate viewers. Still, the segment had its revealing moments for those looking to stay abreast of the news on the nudist front.”

Carol Kanar

Mt. Dora, FL

“Watters interviewed a bunch of uninformed boobs. I expect his segments to keep me abreast, so I didn’t find that report the least bit titillating.”

Jack Setterlund

Yarmouth, MA

“I thought it revealing that Jesse Watters attempted to bare the souls of those he interviewed and expose the naked truth about various issues at the resort he visited which were hitherto concealed.”

Keenan Warner

Big Bear, CA

“I found Jesse’s Florida segment last night very revealing.”

Mike Lindeman

Springdale, AR

“What made you think we’d want to see Jesse Watters interview a bunch of naked people? If I wanted to see nudity, there are plenty of other channels I could watch.”

Molly Wilson

Wichita, KS

“Glad to see that Jesse Watters was able to get the bare facts!”

Sharon Badey

Fallsington, PA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, February 6

2013-02-06T21:44:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I take great exception to you blaming the public school system for a rude and disrespectful person in a Florida courtroom. I’m a high school principal, and I understand that schools aren’t perfect, but America’s trend towards incivility has many root causes.”

Mike Poulin

Turner, ME

SHOW OF DISRESPECT

An 18-year-old girl arrested in Florida for narcotics possession makes a courtroom scene when she cursed out the judge she appeared before. Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat held her in contempt.

“The display of rudeness was not the fault of the young woman’s parents, teachers, or society. She is responsible for her own behavior.”

Kate Patton

Cincinnati, OH

“The judge is absolutely within his rights to hold the disrespectful young woman in contempt. This was a total lack of respect for authority.”

Kitt Richmond

Odessa, TX

“Penelope Soto’s penalty for being disrespectful will be a lifetime of government support. If the future of America is young people like her, God help us all.”

Jan Hedlund

Broomfield, CO

“That girl didn’t flip off just the judge; she flipped off the entire judicial system.”

Dave Bushlow

Banning, CA

“Los Angeles schools have also adopted the New York policy of no-consequences for unruly students. We are racing down the road to mediocrity.”

Bob Munson

Newbury Park, CA

“The self-esteem movement has fueled a generation of parenting that is indulgent. This has produced a generation of youth who are entitled and narcissistic.”

G. Beaver

Cranberry Township, PA

“If I were the judge, I would have given Ms. Soto a good old-fashioned public whipping. I do applaud what the judge did in citing her in contempt.”

Austin Premo

Atlanta, GA

“In addition to poorly run public schools, lack of traditional family values, the ‘me’ generation, and the increasing number of single parents who are ineffective disciplinarians are to blame.”

Andy Mitchell

Statesboro, GA

“Although I only have ten years of experience in public education, I have seen a drastic change in the type of student entering today’s schools. I think it’s a result of parents now trying to be their kids’ friends, instead of their mentors and role models.”

Rich Crisci

Lewes, DE

“Parents today can’t be good role models for their kids because our society no longer believes families are the primary educators of children.”

Mary Helen

Smithfield, NC

“I am a senior in high school and see teachers being disrespected every day. It’s frustrating to spend 95% of my time in school listening to teachers being demeaned and ridiculed by my peers.”

Stephanie Raines

Simpsonville, SC

“Her action was blatantly contemptuous. If that’s not a contempt of court violation, then what is?”

Darrel Hager

Thailand

“I have been a teacher for many years. The lack of respect, and thus lack of learning, in the classroom is the main reason people have the good sense not to become teachers anymore.”

Kathy Celestine

Houston, TX

“I’m really irked by your conclusion that this young woman’s rude behavior is the fault of the public school system. Teaching and learning respect starts at home.”

Carl Clark

Thief River Falls, MN

“Criminal contempt is generally defined as conduct that is disrespectful or insulting to the court. Judges have wide discretion in deciding who should be held in contempt.”

Joe Tessari

Berwyn, PA

“I work in a college environment, and every year, the incoming class of freshmen exhibit more and more of an entitlement mentality. The problem stems first and foremost from indulgent parenting.”

Leah Gingery

Honolulu, HI

SMALL BUSINESS MECCA?

Texas Governor Rick Perry has made a radio ad attempting to lure businesses to his state from high-tax California.

“Your guest from California is kidding himself if he thinks his state is still the land of milk and honey. If we could uproot and move our business to Texas, we would.”

Robert Riley

Bakersfield, CA

“I live in California and have no problem with Texas trying to poach. Our politicians need a lesson in free market capitalism.”

Barry King

Fresno, CA

“We’re long-time residents of California. It’s a beautiful state, but it does overregulate business and its residents pay some of the highest taxes in the nation.”

Larry & Maria Balich

Menifee, CA

“As a former Californian who moved to Texas, I can tell you that many of my fellow Californians all regret that we didn’t move our businesses to the Lone Star State sooner.”

Anna Fijewski

Austin, TX

“As a Californian, I applaud Ricky Perry’s efforts to help businesses relocate to a state that will help them. California continues to raise fees for small businesses at every turn.”

Barbara Williams

Lancaster, CA

“Texas has so much more to offer Americans – we protect our children, we honor the flag, we pray to God, and our business-friendly environment curbs regulations imposed by the federal government.”

Miriam Walker

Carrollton, TX

“Please promote the states of Texas and California as much as possible. Montana is full, but I hear South Dakota is nice!”

Harold Gibbs

Townsend, MT

“I would never think of starting another business in California because of the taxes and other related fees. I have often thought of moving to Texas simply because of its smaller government footprint.”

Gary Cicotte

San Francisco, CA

“It’s not just high taxes and fees in California; it’s the huge number of regulations on everything. You can’t do anything without the government holding you up.”

Mel & Helen Flint

Yucca Valley, CA

“Governor Perry better be careful what he wishes for. Bringing a bunch of people from California to Texas might very well change the political dynamics of his state.”

Larry Schwarz

Jomtien, Thailand

“Your guest says Texas can’t compete with Silicon Valley. Apple, a California corporation, is building a $300 million campus to house 3,600 new employees in Austin.”

James Andrews

Sacramento, CA

“States competing for business is exactly what is required for a healthy, representative democracy. Healthy competition provides needed incentive to change.”

Joe Allen

St. Joseph, MI

“Texas had 260,000 new jobs in 2012; California had 225,000. Texas is smaller in population, so the job growth is even more impressive.”

Jeff Bender

Lancaster, OH

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, February 5

2013-02-05T16:29:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Where, pray tell, was Sen. Robert Menendez’s indignation when Harry Reid used anonymous sources to accuse Mitt Romney of cheating on his taxes? I have no pity for a man who demonstrated silent consent back then, but is singing a different tune now that he’s the one in the hot seat.”

Joe Viera

Glendale, AZ

CHECKMATE!

Sen. Rand Paul enters the no spin zone to explain what Republicans need to do to counter the President’s attacks against the GOP on the issues of gun control and immigration.

“For whatever reason, the GOP doesn’t have the ability to relate conversationally to its base. If Republicans don’t get into attack mode, traditional America is gone forever.”

Paul Johnson

Morrison, TN

“The GOP needs a dynamic, well-versed front man to counter Obama and his likeability. This person needs to be able to command the media, articulate conservative positions, and answer the President move-for-move. Marco Rubio would be perfect.”

Brad Bullock

Tupelo, MS

“You say Obama is trying to checkmate the Republicans. This isn’t a game! His tactics are dividing the country more and more every day and people are suffering because of it.”

Rick Ruple

Penfield, NY

“The reason Republicans are losing is because they’re trying to solve problems instead of play politics. The President is killing them with politics.”

Scott Voshel

Holland, MI

“You are right that President Obama is demonizing the Republican Party. It has to regroup and reorganize. It’s doing a horrific job of communicating the conservative message to the American people.”

David Lee

Philadelphia, PA

“A few years ago, my daughter and I were fortunate enough to meet Rand Paul. He was so kind and down to earth. He’d make a great president.”

Todd Pollock

Bedrock, NY

“I think Rand Paul was correct when he said Republicans don’t have to change their principles and goals, but rather need to start speaking with one voice. The party needs to find one succinct, courageous, and charismatic voice.”

Linda Wulf

Pensacola, FL

“You keep saying President Obama doesn’t want to secure the border, but he’s added more border patrol agents than any other time in history during his tenure.”

Michael Stapleton

Minneapolis, MN

“When it doesn’t make sense, check the real motive. Does Obama want a solution or does he want greater domestic control so he’s shopping for new voters?”

Ron Bella

Centennial, CO

POLITICAL SCANDAL

Sen. Robert Menendez is denying allegations that he solicited underage prostitutes during trips to the Dominican Republic. What potential damage could this situation inflict on the Democratic Party?

“You are right – Menendez is innocent until proven guilty, but have you noticed he never said he was innocent? He attacked his accusers and said there is no proof.”

Greg Kurth

Phoenix, AZ

“I’ve heard it reported that prior to the November 2012 election, it was discovered that Sen. Menendez had an illegal immigrant/sex offender on his staff, but he asked law enforcement to postpone the arrest until after the election.”

Bob & Georgian Ferrante

Scottsdale, AZ

“Are you kidding saying Menendez’s case could hurt the Democrats? They give medals in that party for corruption, illicit sex, murder, and myriad other crimes.”

Susan Guin

Granbury, TX

“Senator Menendez claims the right-wing is out to get him. The press would be ready to hang any Republican they even thought might have gone within five miles of an underage prostitute.”

Tim Hodsdon

El Paso, TX

“Since Menendez has already established himself as a liar by saying the payment for these plane trips fell through the cracks, he has little chance of anyone believing him on the more tawdry allegations.”

Ed Anderson

Kirkland, WA

“Didn’t you hear him? He didn’t commit fraud on these two trips; they just fell through the cracks. Our nation’s politicians all feel invincible, and it’s destroying our country.”

Bill Infield

Sioux Falls, SD

“It should be noted that Senator Menendez’s response to accusations of felony violations of our laws against cavorting with minors was that the charges are unsubstantiated. He didn’t say the accusations were untrue.”

James Pawlak

West Allis, WI

“It’s amazing that Sen. Menendez came up with $60,000 at the spur of the moment. That’s not a drop in the bucket!”

Dan Nelis

Sinking Spring, PA

“Washington is way too corrupt to allow any repercussions to befall Sen. Menendez as a result of his behavior.”

Louis Duquette

Tooele, UT

“I don’t see how the Democrats will be hurt if Menendez happens to be guilty. They live in the gutter with the high percentage of people who voted for President Obama. Scandals don’t hurt them.”

George Naniche

Moraga, CA

“If Robert Menendez were a Republican he would already have been driven out of Congress by the press and indignant liberals, without waiting for proof.”

Phil Way

Vancouver, WA

“Evidence may or may not be found to substantiate the charges against Senator Menendez, but even if the FBI thinks it has enough evidence to make the case, does anyone seriously think a Democrat will be prosecuted by this Justice Department?”

Jim Asberry

Mt. Carmel, IL

“The Senator doesn’t deny the charges, but only says he is surprised by how far the smears had gotten with only an anonymous source.”

Rich Bachmann

West Milford, NJ

“As long as Eric Holder is Attorney General, there is no chance whatsoever of Robert Menendez being charged, even if he did commit heinous crimes in the Dominican Republic.”

Peter Jessiman

Winnipeg, Canada

Viewer Mail for Monday, February 4

2013-02-04T15:58:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Keeping criminals locked up where they can’t fire guns works better than gun control and conceal and carry laws. The key to lower murder rates is better law enforcement and stiffer mandatory sentencing.”

Richard Reay

Bronx, NY

MOCKING THE ELDERLY?

A Taco Bell ad that ran during the Super Bowl shows senior citizens acting goofy and eating tacos. Was it demeaning to the elderly or good, clean fun?

“Our senior citizens are our most valuable people in preserving what makes America great. I cherish any opportunity to spend time and talk with them. I didn’t appreciate the Taco Bell ad.”

Cindy Newman

Butler, PA

“The Taco Bell ad with seniors was never meant to be a documentary of life in America. It was good, clean fun – this senior enjoyed it!”

Arlene McCoy

Ligonier, PA

“Did you not see the movie Cocoon? This ad was a direct descendant of that movie, but instead of the pool, tacos were meant to be the fountain of youth.”

Sandy Barton

Columbus, OH

“The ad was demeaning and just plain stupid. Just more of the same ‘let’s ridicule people instead of appreciating their contributions’ nonsense that is prevalent in our society.”

Patricia Blankenship

Denison, TX

“Loosen up! Age is not a handicap; senior citizens still know how to have fun. The Taco Bell commercial demonstrates this perfectly.”

Cecelia Weiss

Sun Valley, NV

“I’m 74-years-old. My friends dress well, behave respectfully, don’t take drugs or smoke, and have class. The Taco Bell commercial was disgustingly insulting and not funny at all.”

Jack Fields

New York, NY

“Thank you! There is so little respect for elders nowadays that it is appreciated when you encourage the notion that elders are wise, not buffoons.”

Maggie Allen

Downey, CA

“I’m 80 and I think the Taco Bell ad was very funny. Do you think it would have sold more tacos to see old people in wheel chairs and hospital beds?”

Peggy Augustus

Keswick, VA

“The senior ad was rather amusing in its own right, but more importantly, it was a perfect parody on some of the excesses of our younger set.”

Tom Linning

Penticton, Canada

“It would be very sad if elderly people approaching the end of their lives would choose to be involved in such unseemly and juvenile pursuits. The Taco Bell ad depicting seniors involved in bad behavior was pointless.”

Rob McGhie

Lone Tree, CO

“Sorry, but you’re completely clueless about the Taco Bell ad. It celebrated that the elderly can party all night and end up scarfing down Taco Bell, like they used to at burger joints when they were younger. It was clever, not clownish.”

Wilburn Smith

Laguna Niguel, CA

BIG CITY VIOLENCE

Chicago’s murder rate is on the rise, and residents who are fed up have resorted to demonstrating in the streets.

“The reason there’s no centralized control of gun distribution in Chicago is mostly due to the breakdown of the family unit. Gangsters were never afraid of what would happen to them, but rather of what might happen to their families. Without that threat, these guys can’t be restrained.”

Phil Cenci

Staten Island, NY

“No one is addressing the nearly complete absence of fathers in Chicago’s African-American community. This is what Jesse Jackson and others need to focus on.”

Sean Harris

Fayetteville, NC

“Why doesn’t President Obama go to his hometown and discuss gun control? Is he trying to separate himself from the violence there?”

Rochelle Baker Hughes

West Palm Beach, FL

“Is it a statistical fact that the overwhelming majority of gun deaths in Chicago occur in the black communities? And if so, are we such a cowardly nation that we’re going to cower from cries of racism if we state this fact?”

Bob McAdams

Coeur d’Alene, ID

“The rate of misuse of guns appears to be inversely proportional to the ease at which law-abiding citizens can obtain and carry firearms.”

James Pawlak

West Allis, WI

“If the Chicago drug gangs can import and traffic illegal drugs, then they can also import and traffic illegal guns. Drug dealers are usually in the de facto import and distribution business.”

Joel Burton

Fairfax, VA

“You have to wonder how much of Chicago’s gun issues are a result of it being a sanctuary city.”

Phil Reilly

Knoxville, TN

“Believing criminals will obey gun laws any more than they comply with drug laws is intellectually corrupt.”

Alan Brown

Cedaredge, CO

AMERICAN HERO

Chris Kyle, one of the most efficient sharpshooters in military history, was murdered at a firing range by a former Marine who was allegedly suffering from PTSD.

“Chris Kyle’s murder was a positive: now vets like Chris who are helping other vets with PTSD will be even more watchful around them. Chris will go on saving lives, just like he did as a sniper in Iraq.”

John Owen

Newton, IA

“Super-sniper Chris Kyle was killed by an ex-Marine who had a history of mental illness but was still allowed to purchase 15 weapons. How many more of these scenarios must we witness? Enough is enough.”

Ernie Esposito

Narragansett, RI

“Chris Kyle being killed helping another veteran suffered a warrior’s death. There is no better way for a man to die.”

Zephaniah Stein

Chicago, IL

“Once again, a mentally unstable person kills. When will we start dealing with the person, instead of creating new gun laws to keep average citizens from accessing guns for protection?”

Miriam Walker

Carrollton, TX

“I am greatly distressed over the death of this American hero. He served our country well, and I feel our country should show him honor in his passing. If we can lower flags to half-mast for Whitney Houston, surely we can do the same for him.”

Heather Addison

“Chris Kyle’s tragic shooting is a prime example of the fact that guns don’t shoot people, people shoot people. The shooter obviously had mental problems which should have been addressed by the military.”

Bill Stacey

Wilmington, DE

Viewer Mail for Thursday, January 31

2013-01-31T21:35:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“It looks like Senator Menendez, head of the Foreign Relations Committee, may himself have had some foreign relations in the Dominican Republic.”

Grant Giles

Cranbrook, Canada

SENATE SCANDAL

An anonymous source is accusing Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) of taking private trips to the Dominican Republican, which he did not disclose as required by Senate rules, and hiring underage Dominican prostitutes.

“In the court of public opinion, Senator Menendez does not deserve innocence until proven guilt. The Democrats are playing a rigged game and know when they can get away with lying.”

Scott Voshel

Holland, MI

“Menendez broke Senate rules? The Senate has rules?”

Jay Dowling

Port Angeles, WA

“If Sen. Menendez was a Republican, the media would have already convicted him. Because he’s a Democrat, they’re basically avoiding the story.”

John Thompson

Spring, TX

“What are the consequences of breaking Senate rules? If it is the humiliation of the admission and then paying back the value of the violation, the rules must be broken all the time.”

Barry Boothe

Columbia, VA

“Get real! Nothing will happen to the Senator even if the charges are proven true. Does the name Charlie Rangel sound familiar?”

Bill Baer

Stamford, CT

“I’ll be interested to see how Sen. Menendez blames Bush for this one.”

Barry Oswalt

Texas

“It is almost comical to hear Harry Reid say he looks at the source of charges towards Sen. Menendez after the charges he made about Mitt Romney and his taxes with no evidence whatsoever.”

John Griffith

Virginia Beach, VA

“Consider me shocked! A Democrat found with underage hookers and then denying the act? Perhaps he’s just following President Clinton’s example.”

Randy Brubaker

Traer, IA

SUPER OFFENSIVE?

Some Arab groups are outraged over a Coca-Cola ad that aired during the Super Bowl featuring a man with camels in the desert.

“In response to the Coke ad, your guest stated that he realized that everyone knows Arabs drive cars. He failed to mention that it’s actually everyone except Saudi Arabian women, who are banned from driving fearing terrible consequences.”

Judith Fenton

Chester, NJ

“You say the Council on American-Islamic Relations is offended by a silly commercial, but it never seems offended by beheadings.”

Steve Stephens

Allyn, WA

“If Arab organizations are offended by this silly Coke commercial, their heads should explode into a thousand pieces when watching the news coverage of rioting in Egypt.”

Gary Ramsey

Kemah, TX

“All of these groups being offended are exhausting me. I’m Dutch and couldn’t care less if we’re associated with wind mills and wooden shoes in popular culture.”

Ramy Hardwick

Mill Creek, WA

“Coke is not a popular drink in the Arab world because the company sells its products in Israel. Some of the Arab countries sell Pepsi products only.”

Clark Gay

Coral Springs, FL

“The charge of racism in the Coca-Cola commercial was rather comical. It looked more like the company was parodying movies with desert themes like Lawrence of Arabia.”

John Andre

Woodbridge, VA

“If anyone should be offended by their depiction in the Coca-Cola ad, it should be women. They only appear as a giggling, synchronized bus full of showgirls.”

Sierra Seiver

Seattle, WA

“What little I’ve seen of the Coke commercial, it appears everyone was knocking themselves out to try to get to the giant Coke mirage, while the Arab was the only one smart enough to realize it was a mirage. People need to get over themselves.”

Eric Creed

Lafayette, LA

“It’s offensive to show an Arab riding a camel? What about all the Texans depicting riding horses? Maybe there would be more peace if we could all just laugh a little.”

Rosalyn O’Dell

San Antonio, TX

“It’s silly for Arabs to be offended by the Coke commercial. It merely depicts all walks of life wanting a soda – nothing more, nothing less.”

Jim Galpin

Chandler, AZ

“The easiest way for Arabs to show their opposition to the Coke ad is by drinking Pepsi.”

Paul Kushner

Indianapolis, IN

TWEETING TEACHER

A 23-year-old Colorado math teacher is under investigation after posting salacious photos of herself on her Twitter account.

“Any teacher with a Facebook page or Twitter account is putting their career at risk. It only takes one misstep or small indiscretion and they’re selling pencils on the sidewalk.”

John Manley

Cheyenne, WY

“We are protected by the First Amendment from prosecution if we put something offensive on display. But that protection does not extend to social or professional consequences.”

Jacob Smith

Kingsville, TX

“As a high school teacher of 21 years, I totally agree that the Tweeting teacher should be fired. Personal integrity is important for all, but integrity for our nation’s teachers is imperative.”

Ed Bender

Auburn, WA

“Why would someone go through higher education, get a teaching certificate, and then throw it away like this? She has put her teaching career in jeopardy forever.”

Barry Boothe

Columbia, VA

“That teacher in Colorado should be fired. If she was stupid enough to do something like this, you don’t want her teaching.”

David Chiaramonte

Covina, CA

“I’m surprised you didn’t defend Colorado when discussing the Aurora teacher who posted obscene pictures. Just like any other state, there are areas of liberalism and areas of conservatism. Aurora is one of the former.”

Daniel Waldron

Colorado Springs, CO

“I was really disappointed by Megyn Kelly’s numerous disparaging remarks about Colorado. There are many good, conservative patriots living here.”

R.A. Costello

Colorado Springs, CO

“Please tell Megyn Kelly that even though Colorado has moved left in the last few years, we are not a rogue state.”

Doug Rudolph

Littleton, CO

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, January 30

2013-01-30T21:01:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The reason the President is still liked is because for the first time in history the economy has minimal effect on most people due to all the social safety nets.”

Steven Hanson

Omaha, NE

SURPRISINGLY POPULAR

Despite the fact that the economy continues to falter while the President is pouring trillions of taxpayer dollars into stimulating it, Mr. Obama has clocked a 60% approval rating. How is that possible?

“The U.S. economy would have recovered about the same if my cat was in the White House over the past four years.”

Larry Hauck

Bethel, OH

“A lot of voters who cast their ballots for Obama are not intelligent enough to understand what is happening with our economy. They will understand when it hits their pocketbooks.”

Jim Williams

Salem, VA

“History repeats itself. FDR was popular with a bad economy and kept getting re-elected.”

Bill Hamm

Strongsville, OH

“Obama and the liberal press are snake oil salesmen. What they’re selling is bogus and will only serve to further hurt the economy.”

John Rastas

New Berlin, WI

“The majority of U.S. voters couldn’t pass a competency test when it comes to the economy. That’s why Obama has a 60% approval rating.”

Kerry Yencer

Albertville, AL

“The President’s popularity remains high because the folks are hearing only positive things about him and the economy from the entire media other than Fox News.”

Chris Doane

Chesapeake, VA

“For me, the economy is better. I made 13.5% on my investments last year; the stock market is about to hit an all-time high; gas prices are down; my house is worth almost as much as it was before Bush tanked the economy. You just won’t admit it because it goes against your doomsday scenario.”

Terry Hause

San Jose, CA

“I fear for our kids with this economy. Our federal government is currently being run by liberal ideologues and academics with very little business experience.”

Eric Guttag

West Chester, OH

“You claim not to be able to understand President Obama’s high approval ratings with the bad economy and high taxes. But as Benjamin Franklin said ‘the masses are asses!’”

Kathryn McCracken

Sedalia, CO

“The reason the President’s approval rating remains high despite a bad economy is all the free stuff. America is becoming Greece and apparently the voters are OK with that.”

Stephen Thompson

Yarmouth Port, MA

BACKFIRING?

The city of Chicago has very tough gun laws, yet the murder rate is sky high in the Windy City. What gives?

“When I hear that one gun store outside Chicago sold 1,300 guns used in crimes, it tells me law enforcement isn’t doing its part to prevent illegal sales by illegitimate outlets.”

Don Guilbault

Lewisville, NC

“It appears that Chicago’s hoodlums are more effective than Afghan terrorists. Here’s the solution: after American troops withdraw from Afghanistan, draft the hoodlums and send them there. The terrorists will surrender before the hoodlums finish with them.”

Doug Mele

Collierville, TN

“Gov. George Ryan tried to pass legislation to make it a felony to be caught with an unregistered gun in Illinois. Anyone want to speculate what the murder rate would be in Chicago if he had succeeded?”

Jack Darby

Chicago, IL

“This Chicago story illustrates that gun control laws will not work. Criminals will purchase guns at the easiest point of purchase, whether it’s from a legal or illegal supplier.”

Joel Dickson

Pleasant View, UT

“You need to clarify that most of the shootings in Chicago are gang violence. This isn’t something the general population is plagued by.”

John Oberhellman

Fountain Hills, AZ

“I live just outside of Chicago and it took two months to get a permit to enter a gun store. Let Chicago be the case study proving that allowing legal gun owners the right to carry firearms will cause the crime rate to plummet.”

Bo Carriker

Round Lake, IL

“I would rather live in Afghanistan than Chicago.”

Chuck Waldron

Lakeland, FL

“Guns don’t stalk people down the street. We don’t need gun control here; we need gang control.”

Demos Manos

Chicago, IL

“Chicago has the same population as the state of Utah. Chicago has strict gun laws that restrict ownership, while Utah has one of the highest levels of gun ownership in the country. Strangely, the city of Chicago’s murder rate is ten times that of the state of Utah.”

Ryan Carter

Hurricane, UT

“Have you ever heard of anything as dumb as the theory that Chicago gun deaths are caused by the cold weather? If that’s true, why aren’t murder rates high in Canada?”

Jerry Rambin

Hueytown, AL

BESTSELLER?

While discussing Al Gore’s recent sale of his Current TV network to al Jazeera, the Factor bet that the former veep’s new book wouldn’t even sell 20,000 copies.

“Al Gore is on his way to buy 20,000 copies of his book right now, just to prove you wrong.”

Patty McDonald

Philipsburg, MT

“Al Gore has every right to sell his company to whoever he chooses – it’s called freedom. But he’s a hypocrite because he wants us all to drive fuel-efficient cars and live in small houses while he does the opposite.”

Lea Bush

Brentwood, TN

“Al Gore isn’t a hypocrite for selling to al Jazeera; he’s a fraud who doesn’t really believe in the global warming nonsense he cashed in on. How much electricity does his mansion use?”

Rondy Reeves

Bel Air, MD

“I think you’re going to lose your bet with Leslie Marshall about Al Gore’s book. Two-thousand isn’t very many books to sell, considering there are so many clueless people in this country.”

Nick Mascari

Columbus, OH

“Al Gore is obviously more interested in his financial footprint than he is in his carbon footprint.”

Bruce Durkee

Tidewater, OR

“What a dangerous bet! Environmental groups and labor unions may buy 20,000 copies of Gore’s book just to see you lose.”

Sherry Webster

Memphis, TN

“You may want to rethink your bet. Al Gore has sold out his event at the Carter Center here in Atlanta to talk about his book.”

Susan Ziegler

Marietta, GA

“How classy of you to make a joke about Al Gore’s weight. Grow up!”

Helen Rodenberg

Cedar Rapids, IA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, January 29

2013-01-29T20:31:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I think the GOP would be wise to heed Colin Powell. If they want to win the next election, without some inroads to the Latino and African-American communities, there is no hope.”

Paddy Reynolds

Australia

NO SPIN INTERVIEW

Gen. Colin Powell, a lifelong Republican, supports the Democratic stance on voter ID laws. Coupled with his endorsements of Barack Obama, this has led many to question whether the General is truly a Republican.

“Colin Powell is wrong on the voter ID issue. Try cashing a check at a bank or store without photo ID. Try checking in at an airline counter without photo ID. Try applying for a library card without showing photo ID.”

Tom Walsh

Swan Valley, ID

“Colin Powell is an artist of doublespeak. If he really wants to help minorities, he needs to push for fathers to stay with their families.”

Mike Arehart

Boise, ID

“I guess Colin Powell didn’t hear that the United Nations people who were here to monitor our presidential vote said they were shocked that people could vote without showing identification.”

Chris Walters

Weston, WV

“You don’t need to show ID to register to vote. That’s how we had Mickey Mouse trying to register with ACORN. I didn’t have to show ID when I registered either.”

Maria Fattahi

Dacula, GA

“Mr. Powell says you should have an ID to register, but not to vote. If you had an ID to register, why would it be so hard to bring that ID to vote?”

Kory Leininger

Flaxville, MT

“Colin Powell has changed. The Republican Party may look to him like they’ve moved further right, but it’s because he’s comparing it to the Democratic Party, which has moved further left.”

Curt Cooper

Scotia, NY

“Colin Powell has never been a true conservative; he’s only acted the part for political gain. His true ideology is now being showcased.”

Rob Sizemore

Morgantown, WV

“People need to be reminded from time to time that Colin Powell first made it onto Washington’s radar screen by trying to kick the My Lai massacre under the carpet.”

Don Anderson

Jomtien, Thailand

“Gen. Powell is a racist, a coward, and a tool. It’s obvious that he’s in Obama’s corner solely because of skin color. He ought to just have the guts to say it.”

Gary Kimball

Dayton, OH

“Colin Powell is an old guard Rockefeller liberal who is disenchanted with conservatives who have taken over the party and pushed the old guard out. This makes it easier for him to support Obama.”

Louis Bowerman

Gresham, OR

“The takeaway I got from your interview with Colin Powell is that he, like many, believes that the only reason Republicans oppose President Obama is because of r ace.”

Sandi Pitkin

Gulf Breeze, FL

“How different might our lives be if General Powell had become our first black president?”

Marilyn Correia

New Market, AL

“Politicians switch parties all the time. The problem with the General is that he continues to claim he’s a Republican while voting for President Obama. That makes him a hypocrite.”

Dave Kennett

Dayton, OH

PAIN MANAGEMENT

Fox Business anchor John Stossel speaks out in favor of a proposal in Vermont to legalize assisted suicide.

“Stossel and others don’t want the stigma attached to committing suicide, so they want a doctor to do it for them. I don’t think this argument will fly with God.”

Larry Kearney

Lakewood, WA

“Mr. Stossel doesn’t own his own body. His life is a gift from God and only He can take it.”

Sharon Young

Vero Beach, FL

“Stossel is dead wrong. Doctors shouldn’t be in the death business. We don’t want them confused about what they’re supposed to be doing, and that is saving lives and only saving lives.”

Kevin Smead

Daisy, AR

“Everyone should have the right to choose to end their life if they are in pain and there is no other choice. My 29-year-old son chose to end his life after fighting an incurable disease with intolerable pain for years.”

Patricia Shennum

Tarzana, CA

“Why is it that women have the right to terminate a life growing inside of them, but it’s so difficult to end your own life under horrible conditions? I’m not really in favor of either, but it seems like a double standard.”

Debbie Haralson
Elberton, GA

“In Oregon, when we voted in favor of assisted suicide, I believe people thought the doctor would give the patient a shot, like euthanizing a pet, but that’s not what it is at all. The patient is prescribed a legal overdose of medication and takes it, without a physician present, in his own home.”

Mary Elle

Oregon City, OR

“If enlisting a physician to kill you falls under John Stossel’s definition of liberty, then libertarianism is not for me. Liberty involves more courage than that.”

Stephanie Nolan

Nashville, TN

Viewer Mail for Monday, January 28

2013-01-28T20:09:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Since when has shaming anyone helped them improve their lives? Most obese Americans are already struggling with self-esteem. Piling on will only humiliate them and cause them to eat more.”

Dr. Virginia Wray

Lewistown, PA

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER?

President Obama and Hillary Clinton looked like lifelong friends during their joint 60 Minutes interview. Is there a political agenda here?

“The reason President Obama and Secretary Clinton seem to be so cozy and friendly towards one another is that they are covering each other’s respective backs. Both are guilty of extreme negligence of duty.”

John Peacock

Gulf Breeze, FL

“My guess is that Steve Kroft felt no obligation to ask the tough Libya questions Republican Congresspeople had failed to ask Hillary last week. If we never know the truth, we never have anyone to blame.”

Tom Sullivan

Lake George, NY

“It’s not rocket science. The reason Steve Kroft didn’t ask any tough questions is because any mainstream media journalist who asks the Obama administration challenging questions is putting their career in jeopardy.”

Jeff Hudson

Mansfield, TX

“I started watching the 60 Minutes interview, but rather than bashing my head in frustration, I changed the channel to mixed martial arts and felt so much better.”

Janie Hansen

Bellevue, WA

“Hillary plans to run in 2016, and I believe Obama will support her campaign. If she had been asked and answered certain questions, Republicans could use it against her.”

Tony Keefer

Wakefield, MA

“The 60 Minutes interview with Obama and Clinton wasn’t softball. It was Nerf ball.”

George Lericos

Smithville, NJ

“The tragedy of Benghazi remains a non-issue because President Obama gets a pass from the mainstream media. If this had happened under a Republican administration’s watch, the press would be outraged.”

Mike Pogojeff

Rohnert Park, CA

“Secretary Clinton can never be seen as a great Secretary of State because a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed on her watch.”

Mark Oldenburg

Burlington, CT

TIME FOR REFORM?

Immigration reform is at the top of President Obama’s second term agenda, but do Americans support the changes the administration envisions enacting?

“The bottom line is that we have changed from the land of the free to the land of free.”

Rev. Bill Sladek

Windsor, CO

“I’d like to ask Juan Williams how exactly he’d t rack the millions who overstay their visas. We need a moratorium to give law enforcement a time to catch up and try to locate the missing illegals who are already here.”

J.T. Shealy

Titusville, FL

“The solution to the immigration problem is simple: seal the border with Mexico (with the Washington politicos on the south side).”

Glenn Cooke

Franklin, TN

“The new immigration bill is ridiculous. I absolutely do not believe that 66% of the American people want a pathway to citizenship.”

Larry Cantrell

Lake Worth, FL

“Please require liberals like Juan Williams to differentiate between immigrants and illegal immigrants. Immigrants are good for the country; illegal immigrants are not.”

Chris Davis

Sandy Springs, GA

“Illegal immigrants broke the law in order to get to this country. In a perfect world, we should never allow them to become citizens, but may be able to become permanent residents.”

Rebecca Gendron

Placerville, CA

“The truth on immigration is the pinheads in Washington don’t care about what is best for this country. They only care about what will get them votes in the next election.”

Bill Schroeder

Delphi, IN

“My wife, a legal resident alien, and I invested almost three years of our time and money in obtaining her legal resident status. Where do I go for my refund?”

Jerald Kaney

Milwaukee, WI

“The new immigration bill encourages professionally skilled people to come to the U.S. We already have millions of skilled workers here who can’t find jobs.”

Milt Cooper

Lakeland, FL

“Why would any illegal immigrant want a path to citizenship when they don’t have to pay taxes now and get benefits?”

To Lee

Los Angeles, CA

“If the illegal aliens are going to get to stay in the U.S., do they need to purchase health insurance or get fined like the rest of the country? I’m tired of the American people getting dumped on.”

Tina Khera

Alpharetta, GA

THE SHAME GAME

A bioethicist is making headlines by suggesting Americans use shame to pressure obese folks into dropping some weight.

“I’m 6’3” and 360 pounds and anyone who publicly shames me for being fat will get their butt kicked.”

Mark Doolen

Edmond, OK

“If we are going to shun people for being fat, then we also have to shun emaciated actresses and models who are causing young women and girls to starve themselves to death.”

Karen Miner

San Diego, CA

“The obesity problem turns on several points. If doctors want to use shame in dealing with the parents of overweight children, they would be equally wise to supply the parents with the fact that sedentary inactivity is hazardous to everyone’s health.”

John Gibson

Haldimand County, Canada

“Speaking as a person who is overweight due to health problems, I get enough scorn and discrimination because of my weight. What’s next, the scarlet letter F?”

Suzanne Ahlvin

Kosciusko, MS

“We need to curb obesity with incentive and expense. Airlines should charge passengers by weight, the same as freight.”

Hugo Keller

Wampsville, NY

“We’re now going to shame chubby people? I thought we were a nicer, anti-bullying sort of society. Stop with the social experiments!”

Laura Barnett

Roswell, GA

“You are right – chubby people do have health problems. I swore I’d write you after I finished my Twinkies, Cheetos, and 2 liter bottle of soda.”

Karen Wilson

Charlotte, NC

“How is shaming heavy people any different than the bullying everyone is so opposed to these days? If you’re against bullying, you should be against all bullying.”

Mary Kleinsmith

West Falls, NY

“Obese folks are akin to smokers in that their poor lifestyle choices and increased medical visits drive up the cost of health care for everyone, including people who practice wellness.”

J. Muscarella

Baguio City, Philippines

Viewer Mail for Friday, January 25

2013-01-25T23:18:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Steve Kroft not only insulted my intelligence, but he wasted 30 minutes of my valuable time with President Obama and Hillary Clinton slobbering all over each other. People magazine should have done that interview.”

Orrin Turbow

Oxnard, CA

IMPARTIAL MEDIA?

Hosts on CNN have taken up gun control as an issue, badgering gun advocates and drawing criticism from some who claim the network is approaching the topic from only one side.

“The reason CNN is against guns is because Jeff Zucker gets his talking points from the White House. Dictatorship is knocking on our door.”

Jim Budde

Bellevue, IA

“Isn’t it obvious? CNN is being financed by Obama. What a corrupt administration!”

Rick Morrow

Phoenix, AZ

“On CNN’s anti-gun coverage, one of its anchors called for getting automatic weapons off the streets. Last time I checked automatic weapons have been off the streets since the National Firearms Act of 1934.”

Nate Lamond

Somerset, MA

“The folks at CNN don’t think law enforcement officers should pick and choose the gun laws they choose to enforce, based on their own interpretation of the Constitution. The same people see nothing wrong with Eric Holder picking and choosing which immigration laws he’ll enforce.”

Charles Lopresto

Phoenix, AZ

“How can you sit there and say CNN has no host with an opposing view on gun control when Fox News has the same problem?”

Garry Dingman

Canada

ROYAL GAFFE?

Britain’s Prince Harry, who has been serving in Afghanistan with his Army unit, compared war to playing video games.

“Was Harry clumsy with his choice of words? Probably. But why should we care? The same media expressing concern over his video game reference is completely ignoring the video game element in school violence.”

Chandler Stewart

Pismo Beach, CA

“You may not agree with his opinion, but Prince Harry has served in combat in Afghanistan and has stated that he played video games. Therefore, he’s perfectly qualified to make the comparison.”

Jim Conklin

Oroville, CA

“Prince Harry was happy because the video games helped make him good at his job. Is it wrong for a soldier to take pride in his work because he kills people for a living?”

John Noel

Shickley, NE

“Although I agree the young prince could have found a better way to articulate his comments, he was not comparing the act of engaging the enemy in combat to playing a video game. He was saying he benefited from the similarities.”

Jonathan Clemente

Henderson, NV

“Harry is not the only brave member of the royal family. During the war in the Falklands, Prince Andrew used his helicopter skills as a decoy to protect the carriers from missiles.”

W.P. Dailey III

Fillmore, CA

“Maybe comparing war to video games is his coping mechanism. I haven’t been in combat, so I have no idea how hard it is to deal with killing your fellow man.”

Judy Flynn

Allentown, PA

“Prince Harry probably defined, refined, and enhanced his hand-eye coordination via video games. It seems like an asset that would be beneficial when training to be an Apache attack pilot and gunner.”

Barbara Baker

Malvern, AR

“Lighten up on Prince Harry! If he chooses to equate the killing of Taliban fighters to a video game, so what? If it helps get him past the thought of taking a life, who are we to chastise him?”

Henry Kjentvet

Traverse City, MI

“Prince Harry was crasser in answering the question than the reporter was for asking it. As a former Marine, I know you never gloat over your accomplishments in war.”

Dana Silvey

Colonia, NJ

“Prince Harry was merely pointing out that the weapons system has been made to compare to video games. Since the operators of this equipment are 19-22 years-old on average, the kids can easily transition.”

Dave Atkinson

Bartlett, IL

“As a veteran and current military contractor, I can tell you that war is very much like video games. I’m willing to bet 80% of soldiers would tell you the same exact thing.”

Walter Lloyd

Killeen, TX

“The military has for years been training with video game technology. The younger generation has lost a lot of hand-eye coordination and dimensional multitasking skills from playing video games.”

Richard Adams

Gladstone, MI

60 MINUTES PREVIEW

CBS will air an interview, conducted by Steve Kroft, of President Obama and Hillary Clinton. Will he challenge the duo?

“If the CBS interviewer couldn’t keep control of the interview, the President and Secretary of State were obviously going to talk around his questions and waste time. That’s exactly what happened.”

Jeff Habermehl

Grants Pass, OR

“Watching Steve Kroft’s puffball interview was a complete waste of my time. Expecting tough questions to be asked of those two by a member of the lapdog media was a fool’s game.”

Larry Ciolorito

Darnestown, MD

“You put far too much trust in Steve Kroft’s investigative reporting. CBS News should be ashamed of all the softball questions he asked.”

Jack Laub

Paradise Valley, AZ

“That wasn’t your daddy’s 60 Minutes! Mike Wallace would be embarrassed. Kroft just moderated a Hillary in 2016 infomercial.”

Rick Wammack

La Canada, CA

“The first half of Steve Kroft’s interview was insipid questions about the relationship between Obama and Clinton. The second half contained no tough questions about Benghazi or the debt. What a huge disappointment.”

Leslie Stavrowsky

Austin, TX

“You and Bernie Goldberg were probably the only two dunderheads who thought Steve Kroft was fair. That was a puff piece. Hillary was asked no tough questions about Benghazi so that her chances in 2016 would be intact.”

Dominick Scarfone

Bedford, IN

Viewer Mail for Thursday, January 24

2013-01-24T21:38:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I believe that women should have a very wide range of choices when it comes to governing their own bodies. They just shouldn’t be allowed to kill their guests.”

Shelby Drake

Tyrone, GA

BATTLE READY?

The Obama administration has lifted a ban that prevented women from serving in direct combat roles in the military. Will this make the U.S. military weaker or stronger?

“If women are allowed in the same combat positions as men, then we also need to change the selective service rules to allow women to be subject to the draft, if one is ever re-instated. We can’t overlook this issue.”

Jim Brown

Okanogan, WA

“Don’t you think female POWs would be more susceptible to being targeted for rape and torture than their male peers?”

Darryl Vidal

Murrieta, CA

“I’m an ex-Vietnam combat veteran, and I don’t think women have the emotional ability to kill without thought in an instant. You don’t have time to think about it: it’s react or die.”

Bill Combs

Brookville, OH

“I think women should be in combat only if they pass the same exact qualifications as men and are treated equally with no special considerations. If they want to be equal, they have to follow the same rules as men.”

Cam Toyoda

Kenmore, WA

“Being a frontline combat veteran, I agree that women should be afforded every opportunity to succeed in any field if they have the mettle. Combat requires physical strength, stamina, and focus.”

Marty Miata

Savannah, GA

“I’m an Air Force retiree who was combat trained in the 80s. I saw quite a few men who were physically unable to do my job but remained in the field, while women were shoved into an office job or support role.”

Deborah Risner

Goldsboro, NC

“While we applaud and respect any woman serving her country as a soldier, women just don’t have the same physical strength as men.”

Bob & Carin Martin

Victoria, TX

“When female cadets in the military academy are able to play on their football teams, then they should also be in combat arms. We should be playing both football and war to win.”

Joe Furman

Manila, Philippines

“I have no problem giving women the opportunity to serve on the frontlines, but there must be a higher standard for them to do so.”

Chris Carter

New Orleans, LA

“My daughter graduated 15^th in her officer candidate school using the same physical requirements as the men. She’s served in forward operating posts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tell her she’s incapable, and she’ll set you straight.”

Dan Smith

Ahwahnee, CA

AD NAUSEAM

The pro-abortion group, Center for Reproductive Rights, has put out a disturbing Internet ad celebrating 40 years of legalized abortions.

“I’m not anti-abortion, but pro-adoption. Bill Clinton was right: abortion should be legal, safe, but rare. Why on earth would anyone celebrate the anniversary of something so horrific?”

Jerry Mowery

Palo Alto, CA

“Does the guy in that abortion celebration spot realize that one-third of abortions performed in the U.S. are on black mothers?”

John Spencer

Del Mar, CA

“The ad is totally disgusting, racist, and goes against anyone who values life. Everyone that is in favor of abortion has already been born.”

Paul Taylor, Jr.

Nutley, NJ

“The birth of babies and human life should be celebrated, not the murder of millions of innocent babies. This is the 21^st century. There are plenty of birth control options available to prevent unwanted pregnancies.”

Sandy Jacobs

Glen Carbon, IL

“The video celebrating Roe v. Wade is incredibly disturbing. I know of no one who honors the anniversary of their abortion.”

Ruthanne Huffman

Laurel, MD

“Why doesn’t the President form a committee to see what legislation can be enacted to decrease the number of innocent children killed by abortion? There are way more deaths from abortions than there are from guns.”

William Walls

Cincinnati, OH

“The Center for Reproductive Rights has no shame! Celebrating the destruction of 55 million fetuses (the equivalent of a 9/11 every day for the past 40 years) is reprehensible.”

Greg Webster

Spring, TX

“President Obama spends a lot of time bloviating about social justice and fairness for all. But what about the millions who never even got a chance at life because of abortion?”

Frank Rose

Lake Forest, CA

“Instead of ‘happy anniversary, baby,’ I think ‘rest in peace, babies’ would have been more appropriate.”

Frank Principato

Pikesville, MD

“I disagree with Laura Ingraham when she said 55 million Americans were not here because of abortion. A fertilized egg is not an American. It would eventually grow into one, but when?”

Wayne Hirst

Libby, MT

TAX CONTROVERSY

Phil Mickelson, the pro golfer who earns tens of millions of dollars a year, suggested that he might leave California because of its high taxes. He was then forced to apologize.

“Hollywood stars are very vocal in their political views, and they speak their minds without consequences. Yet when golf pro Mickelson criticized California’s high taxes, he was vilified.”

Dr. Arthur Tiedemann

Greeley, CO

“Phil Mickelson is a very generous guy with his charitable works, so every extra dollar in taxes is one less dollar he can put to good use helping others.”

Mark Taylor

Colorado Springs, CO

“Why should Mickelson apologize to the very people who bought into class warfare and voted for a tax hike on him and other wealthy Americans?”

Jim Jennings

Mt. Sterling, IL

“I wonder if those who disparage Phil Mickelson for considering moving to a place where taxes are lower fill out their own tax returns at the minimum rate for income level. Or do they seek to flee from the standard rate by taking shelter behind every deduction they may qualify for?”

James Bonser

Marshalltown, IA

“Few people actually care whether Mickelson stays in California. People were outraged listening to a man with a blessed life whine about money.”

John Ross

Stuart, FL

“I couldn’t tell if you were trying to be funny when you said Phil Mickelson was teed off. I’m probably one of the few people who laughed at the pun.”

Jon Snyder

Zionsville, IN

“I’m not upset about what Phil Mickelson said about taxes in California. I’m upset he didn’t stick to his guns and leave the state as promised.”

Carol Stanton

Payson, AZ

“All of Phil’s fans are not in the clubhouse. Phil is my favorite! Give him a break and get off his back.”

Juanita Miller

Huntsville, AR

“As a California native, I understand Phil’s tax complaint, but his apology is probably only the result of sponsor pressure. No sponsor wants a boycott driven by citizens.”

Howard Denton

Sun City, CA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, January 23

2013-01-24T01:47:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The inauguration is not a concert, but rather a historic event. We are swearing in the President of the United States. Getting hysterical over Beyonce’s performance is another example of the dumbing down of our culture.”

Charla Devine

Hebron, OH

HEARING DAY

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton finally appears before Congressional committees to testify about the Benghazi attack that claimed the lives of four Americans, including our Ambassador to Libya.

“Is it just me or did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have a chip on her shoulder when she spoke with the committee today? She acted like she was a Clinton and beyond reproach.”

Tim Hodsdon

El Paso, TX

“Anyone who’s not blind, deaf, or dumb could conclude that Secretary Clinton was in charge of the Benghazi hearings, while the Congress was intimidated by her and got nowhere.”

Richard Kwiecienski

Sugarmill Woods, FL

“What a farce! Praise of Clinton had no place on the agenda and only a few select bold politicians pursued the goal of the inquiry.”

Jim Parker

McMillan, MI

“What happened in Benghazi? Why won’t this administration tell the American people? Mrs. Clinton has a responsibility to reveal the truth.”

Virginia Sblendorio

Toms River, NJ

“The reason Hillary Clinton was not asked tough questions at the hearing was because Congress doesn’t really want to know the answers. The entire thing was only for show and not for substance.”

Ellen Aikman

Ramona, CA

“Shame on Hillary Clinton for her appalling behavior at the hearing! Any parent deserves to know why his or her child died in the service of this country.”

Diane Diana

Greeley, PA

“With a 59% approval rating, Hillary Clinton may not be held accountable for Benghazi by the American people, but she’ll definitely be held accountable by God.”

Jim Belcher

Wilmore, KY

“Remember Hillary Clinton’s campaign ad which asked who you’d want answering the phone at 2am during a crisis? I think the four dead Americans would answer anyone but Hillary.”

John Sandt

Ridgecrest, CA

“You were not as harsh on Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, or President Bush during the Iraq War where more than 3,000 Americans lost their lives and WMDs did not exist.”

Josh Hicks

McLean, VA

“Hillary Clinton fabricated the story about bullets whizzing over her head in Bosnia. Perhaps she’s having a similar distortion of memory with Benghazi.”

James Inskeep

Subic Bay, Philippines

“It’s not the fact that Hillary Clinton and the State Department are withholding the facts from the American people; it’s that the administration fabricated a story to avoid jeopardizing the election.”

Roger French

Irvine, CA

ANTHEM DECEIT

The singer Beyonce is under fire for lip synching her rendition of the National Anthem at President Obama’s inauguration.

“Beyonce sang beautifully on the recording. No one was defrauded. People need to get over it and worry about real issues that actually matter.”

Robert Stover

Arcadia, CA

“The shame is not in the fact that Beyonce lip synched; it’s that she made the Marine Corps band complicit in her deception.”

Margaret Brent

Sugar Land, TX

“Why were the weather conditions good enough for Kelly Clarkson to sing live, but not good enough for Beyonce?”

Alice Yount

Savannah, GA

“Beyonce was performing in Washington, D.C. where deceit is the norm these days. She just wanted to fit in with the crowd.”

Ralph Ravey

Oconomowoc, WI

“As a former singer and band member, I will say that with cold, dry weather and the difficulty of singing the National Anthem, it is very challenging to keep your voice in tune.”

Steven Powers

Columbus, OH

“It is so unfair to those of us who would love to sing the National Anthem at a major event because we consider it an honor and a privilege. Beyonce apparently considers it her right as a professor performer.”

Mary Geis

Amherst, NH

“I don’t think it matters that Beyonce lip synched the National Anthem. She was not being paid to perform, and she wasn’t the first to lip synch the National Anthem.”

David Owen

Longmont, CO

“The cold weather might have damaged Beyonce’s voice if she actually sang. The problem many people are having is with the deception.”

Jim Belcher

Wilmore, KY

“With the myriad problems facing this country, it’s ironic that we pay so much attention to whether a singer actually sang the National Anthem. Give me a break.”

Doug Cooper

Lincoln, CA

TOO RACY?

Pop star Katy Perry was the featured performer at an inauguration concert for kids, but did she cross a line by dressing too provocatively?

“Katy Perry and her outfit were not appropriate for a children’s concert. Can’t we just let kids be kids? Must we sex them up at age 6?”

Stephanie Ross

Chicago, IL

“I thought Katy Perry looked like she should be painted on the nose of a B-17 bomber in 1943. She was not offensive or inappropriate.”

Bill Ransom

Newburgh, NY

“As the mother as a teenage girl, I find it disappointing that you laughed off the choice of Katy Perry for the Kids’ Inauguration Party. She’s known for her outrageous sexual lyrics.”

Wendy George

Fountain Valley, CA

“So it’s okay to sing to kids wearing lingerie as long as it’s patriotic lingerie? When a woman takes her clothes off to be successful, it’s not talent or style.”

Mary Moreck

South Gibson, PA

“The vote is in – more of Katy Perry, less of O’Reilly! No recount needed.”

Doug Carr

Santa Barbara, CA

“I’m not a Katy Perry fan, but she just looks like an updated version of Wonder Woman. We watched Lynda Carter as kids and turned out fine.”

Susan Hylton

Meadow Vista, CA

“Forget that Katy Perry was dressed inappropriately, did you hear what she sang? Teenage Dream is a song that promotes teen sex.”

Ezra Tawil

Brooklyn, NY

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, January 22

2013-01-23T00:37:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“George Stephanopoulos parrots the liberal argument that national gun control laws are essential to prevent the flow of firearms across state lines. We have national laws against cocaine and heroin. How’s that working out for us?”

Lee Verret

Lafayette, LA

BITING THE BULLET

ABC News host George Stephanopoulos calls himself a supporter of the Second Amendment, but believes the key to reducing gun violence is to limit the number of bullets that can be in a magazine.

“You don’t need a jet or a 400hp car, but like guns, you have the right to own one if you want one and can afford it. The problem is our society, not guns.”

George Kowalczuk

St. Francisville, LA

“On the one hand, George Stephanopoulos argues that expanded gun laws are in accord with the 2^nd Amendment, yet on the other hand, he opposes voter ID laws, which ensure the fair election of those who will ultimately make gun laws. He can’t have it both ways.”

Greg Webster

Spring, TX

“Mr. Stephanopoulos asked if a person needs a clip that holds 30 bullets. Please ask what right he has to determine what I need.”

Michael Coltharp

Grand Junction, CO

“You are mistaken regarding high-capacity magazines. There’s a reason police carry them and are taught to keep shooting until the target stops moving. People can and do survive multiple hits by firearms.”

Jesse Slabchuck

Watertown, NY

“Until the assault from which you must defend yourself is underway, how do you know how many bullets you’ll need? How big is the gang invading my home? Will I miss some shots?”

Bill Berndt

Hazelwood, MO

“It is already against the law to kill someone. You would think that would be enough to stop people from shooting each other. How on earth is passing another unenforceable law going to fix the problem?”

Jim Kindred

Corinth, MS

“The capacity of a magazine makes no difference. Any person that is even someone familiar with any gun can cycle through four magazines of seven rounds almost as quickly as one magazine of 30 rounds.”

Kevin Bland

Santa Rita, Guam

SLIPPERY SLOPE?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a practicing Catholic, supports a new law that would allow women to abort their pregnancies in the third trimester if their health is in danger.

“Women justify having abortions by saying that they have a right to do whatever they want with their own bodies. In fact, they are not dealing with their own bodies, but someone else’s body – their baby.”

Michele Schuhmann

Maryville, TN

“You men have no business telling any woman that she can or cannot have an abortion. Mind your own business.”

Cindy O’Neill

Orange, CT

“Abortion is a state issue. We have pro-choice states like New York and pro-life states like Mississippi. We are once again becoming a house divided.”

Danny Low

Suisun City, CA

“Why don’t voters crack down on politicians like Andrew Cuomo who want to let women kill their unborn babies regardless of how far into the pregnancy they are? These babies are people just like you and me.”

Andrew Miller

North Wilkesboro, NC

“I’m a neonatal intensive care nurse. Infants born at 24 weeks have a good chance of survival. If an unborn baby is threatening the life of the mother, the baby can be born via C-section.”

Pam Pressney

Fallbrook, CA

“My daughter was born at 30 weeks and my son at 35 weeks. Both are now in their 30s with families of their own. Late-term abortion is murder.”

Marsha Pasaniello

Forked River, NJ

“If we value every single child and are willing to pass gun control measures to prove it, why shouldn’t we also ban late-term abortion?”

John Delaloye

Asheville, NC

“You can’t be a practicing Catholic and support abortion. I don’t care how often you go to confession, if you are pro-choice, you can’t call yourself a good Catholic.”

Dan Callahan

St. Louis, MO

NEWFOUND LIBERAL?

Colin Powell, a long-time leader in the Republican Party, has now endorsed President Obama twice and backs his stance on voter ID laws.

“How can Colin Powell accuse the GOP of racism? He was a White House fellow, a four-star General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State under four different Republican administrations.”

Tom Baker

Waitsburg, WA

“Colin Powell is a hypocrite. He used the Bushes to promote himself and now he’s showing his true colors.”

Jackie Harrison

Daytona Beach Shores, FL

“It seems obvious to me that Colin Powell is looking for a job in the Obama administration.”

Paul Lindburg

Longmont, CO

“Asking Colin Powell to come on the Factor is like asking him to go on the Jerry Springer show. He’s too smart to be disrespected, shouted at, and constantly interrupted.”

J. Pogoda

Stanwood, WA

“Colin Powell said he voted for seven Republican presidents, but now is in agreement with President Obama’s views. Something tells me it isn’t the politics he likes about Obama.”

Mary Dickman

Mentor, OH

“Stop tearing out your hair trying to figure out Colin Powell. The reason he’s such an enigma is because he’s a RINO (Republican in name only).”

David Cooper

Riverbank, CA

“Colin Powell does little if anything to support the Republican Party because the Bush administration hung him out to dry on the Iraq WMD debacle.”

Randy Stapleton

Belcamp, MD

“General Powell doesn’t care about the party; he’s getting even with Republicans for not supporting him during the United Nations-WMD fiasco that ruined his reputation.”

Elmo Sherman

Reynoldsburg, OH

“The older Powell gets, the more liberal he becomes. He should give up the pretense and just switch parties.”

Bill Baker

Vallejo, CA

“Look for Colin Powell to become a Democrat and run for president in 2016. He’s getting further and further left and is very chummy with President Obama.”

Sylvia Izon

Las Cruces, NM

Viewer Mail for Monday, January 21

2013-01-22T00:08:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“President Obama has forgotten that capitalism is a contact sport. There must be winners and losers. To make everyone a winner amounts to socialism.”

Mike McAlister

Purcellville, VA

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

The Factor analyzes President Obama’s speech, which focused more on the principles of social justice rather than our weak economy and mounting debt.

“President Obama sounded like an angry man today. Am I being scolded for working my tail off for 40 years? I’m now being asked to help fellow Americans who won’t help themselves.”

John Parente

Locust Grove, GA

“Like a true leftist, Obama harbors a deep antipathy towards those he perceives as ‘robber barons’ and acts as if incentives to stimulate economic growth are payoffs to the rich rather than opportunities to help create jobs for working people.”

Richard Reay

Bronx, NY

“Obama is intelligent, but he lacks understanding and is blinded by his ignorance. All who believe in social justice lack a true understanding of business, economics, and the role of government.”

Dan Spokas

Cincinnati, OH

“President Obama’s arrogance makes him dangerous. America is the demonic colonial power his father despised, and it’s through this prism that he approaches his policies.”

Vickie Riggins

Anderson, IN

“You hit the nail on the head. Four more years of the Obama administration’s fiscal irresponsibility and we might has well join the European Union.”

Eric Guttag

West Chester, OH

“I believe you hit a nerve with the assertion that Obama can’t abide the notion that wealth is associated with older, white men. He feels it’s his duty to tear this system down.”

Joanna Rodriguez

Riverside, CA

“Apparently President Obama has never heard the proverb: ‘Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.’ People need opportunities, not handouts.”

Karen Stinson

Menifee, CA

“Bob Woodward is still trying to view President Obama through the glasses of normal politics. We have never had someone so ideologically far from the center running this country.”

Jeff Rowan

Connellsville, PA

“Bob Woodward has it wrong. President Obama was raised as a community organizer. Viewed through this lens, all is clear.”

Peter Wangsness

Benson, AZ

“President Obama’s speech was confrontational, advancing the liberal creed of social justice, rather than addressing our real problems of spending, debt, and the economy.”

Dan Jeffs

Apple Valley, CA

“President Obama has somehow made his image into that of a hero despite his mediocre performance in his first term. Overall, he has made our country much weaker and he has divided it along partisan lines more than any other time in my life.”

Greg Beckner

Walnut Creek, CA

“President Obama has a very long history of saying one thing and doing another. He spent four years saying he was going to create jobs and reduce the deficit. He’s done neither.”

Mary McLemore

Pike Road, AL

“What Obama is and always has been is a man who seeks to transfer wealth. It will only work as long as free money lasts, but that’s good enough for him.”

Jay Spencer

Tehachapi, CA

“Isn’t it interesting that Obama so hates rich, white people whom he sees as oppressors, yet these are the exact people with whom he surrounds himself? The height of hypocrisy!”

Paula Doss

Roanoke, VA

“Popularity wins elections; facts and statistics be damned! You don’t seem willing to accept this, but it’s our political reality these days.”

Mike Hicks

Ashland, VA

TIMES ARE A-CHANGING

Why has the nation taken such a dramatic shift to the left since the heyday of Republican President Ronald Reagan?

“Since Reagan, Hollywood and the media elite have constantly denigrated anything conservative, especially within the past ten years.”

Chris Spiridon

Arlington, VA

“I’ll tell you exactly what happened between Reagan and Obama – a new generation, a new demographic, a new sense of entitlement.”

Mike Feehan

West Hartford, CT

“There are far more government entitlement programs now than there were then. The majority of people want them, feel they need them, and won’t give them up.”

Vicky Steele

Napavine, WA

“When Reagan was in office, Americans had a sense of pride and a will to work in order to achieve the so-called American dream. Today, we don’t seem to want to do anything to achieve prosperity because Obama will just take care of us.”

Jason Wydra

Chicago, IL

“Growing up in a liberal household, educated at a liberal university, I was raised to believe Reagan was pure evil. It’s the unionized education system that has brainwashed the electorate to vote for politicians who give us free stuff.”

Mark Ibrahim

Madera, CA

“You asked how the country has turned 180 degrees since the days of Reagan. Try 30 years of liberal indoctrination in our schools, along with a corrupt press. It’s finally bearing fruit.”

Terry McCluer

Henderson, TX

“The reason we’ve changed so much since the Reagan era is because as a society we have learned to tolerate what used to cause us shame.”

Ron Bella

Centennial, CO

“Thirty years ago, Reagan didn’t have to deal with Americans living longer on Medicare and Social Security.”

Johnny Blaca

Burbank, CA

“Reagan appealed to a nation that experienced the Great Depression and the Second World War. Obama would gladly see the world go down around him ashes rather than change his hard-wired ideology.”

Max Reeves

Columbia, SC

“The nation that elected Reagan has now twice elected a progressive, social justice president. Mass immigration is behind the change because these new arrivals don’t believe in a small, unobtrusive government.”

Malena Mueller

Tucson, AZ

“President Reagan was able to succeed because, in addition to his soaring rhetoric, he worked with his opposition for the betterment of this country. President Obama is unwilling to do that.”

Michelle Woodward

Reno, NV

Viewer Mail for Friday, January 18

2013-01-18T18:10:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Why are atheists so threatened by something they claim not to believe in? To an atheist, the Bible should be no different than any other fictional book.”

Greg Hrivnak

Nanticoke, PA

POLITICIZING CHILDREN?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lashes out at the National Rifle Association for mentioning President Obama’s children in a TV ad.

“Governor Christie is upset about the NRA ad mentioning the President’s children, but the President surrounding himself with children as he signs gun control laws is acceptable?”

William Harris

Colorado Springs, CO

“President Obama was quick to use his daughters as leverage just hours after the Sandy Hook incident. He brought them into the conversation, not the NRA.”

Sgt. Warren Hagan

San Diego, CA

“Chris Christie is the next Charlie Crist.”

Ron Regley

Yelm, WA

“Chris Christie’s criticism of the NRA for exposing the hypocrisy of the President was fatal to his future in leading the Republican Party. He was already on shaky ground for helping Obama after Hurricane Sandy.”

Alan Murray

Ventura, CA

“I guess Gov. Christie didn’t see the children on stage with Obama while he spoke about gun control. The NRA was just making the point that every child has a right to be safe and protected.”

Jacki Locke

Waxahachie, TX

“You’re missing the story – Chris Christie is going to run for president in 2016 as a Democrat.”

Larry Woodburn

Arvada, CO

“If Chris Christie was so incensed about the NRA ad, I wonder what he thought of President Obama having children behind him as he signed executive orders. If anyone is politicizing this gun issue with children, it’s the Democrats.”

Patricia Bryan

Charlotte, NC

“We the people have as much of a right to protect our children as politicians do their own. Had the principal at Sandy Hook had a gun, the shooter would have been killed and 25 children would still be alive.”

Marynelle Vickers

Bartlett, TN

BAN THE BIBLE?

An atheist organization wants to end the tradition of having presidents sworn in at their inaugurations with one hand placed on the Bible.

“I want the President-elect to swear his oath with his hand on whatever document he holds most dear – be it the Bible, the Koran, or the Constitution.”

Ed Kocialski

Azle, TX

“The people who want to do away with the Bible and take God out of everything ought to reconsider. Without God, we have no country.”

Glynnis Hey

Walden, NY

“You should have told the atheist who came on your program that if he doesn’t believe in God, he better pray that he is right.”

Joe Elkins

Cheyenne, WY

“It should be up to President Obama to choose whether or not he wants to swear his oath of office on the Bible.”

Gracie Pappas

Skokie, IL

“Mr. Obama made his choice to place his hand on two very special Bibles. It’s his inauguration after all, so it should be his decision. Mind your own business, atheists!”

Barbara Williams

Lancaster, CA

“We get our morality from God and the Bible, not the other way around. By taking God out of society, morality will cease to exist. We’re already seeing the effects of this.”

Greg Henson

San Jacinto, CA

“We take oaths with our right hand on the Bible because that is the only book that defines right from wrong. Any other book would be meaningless.”

Donna Bleiler

Salem, OR

“Your interview with the young man who wants to ban the Bible is a prime example of how 30 years of liberal conditioning produces an incredibly narcissistic generation of spoiled, desensitized Americans who value nothing but their own opinions.”

Jeanette Rogers

Jamestown, CA

“Swearing on the Bible is a meaningless exercise anyway. Criminals and witnesses lie after doing it every day. As a matter of fact, our President seems to forget that he swore on the Bible to uphold the Constitution.”

Bob DeFilippo

Easton, PA

“The use of the Bible in the president’s swearing-in ceremony is symbolic. America is at a point where God may no longer be interested in our splintered, dysfunctional nation.”

John Clark

Kerrville, TX

CONFESSING TO OPRAH

Cyclist Lance Armstrong faces enormous fallout after admitting in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his Tour de France reign.

“Lance Armstrong did the same thing many European cyclists did. He just got caught. Why not test them under the same guidelines used on him?”

David Adams

Carrollton, TX

“I’m not justifying Lance Armstrong’s behavior, but he didn’t think he was doing anything wrong because everyone else was doing it too. He thought he was simply leveling the playing field.”

Francine Prater

La Feria, TX

“Using the word doping to describe what Lance Armstrong did implies he used illicit drugs rather than performance-enhancing drugs. It was unethical, but not illegal.”

Dr. Raanan Gilboa

Pittsfield, MA

“Lance Armstrong may be an example that proves shame is dead, but so is President Bill Clinton. He shamed the office of the presidency and the American people, yet he’s still popular.”

Max Reed

Wabash, IN

“The only reason Armstrong is confessing is because he wants to be able to compete in triathlons. He cleverly said he stopped doping in 2005 to move back the statute of limitations on his ban.”

Lilli Sanders

Arlington, VA

“I still admire Lance Armstrong for his accomplishments, and unless you have never told a lie in your life, the finger pointing is unnecessary.”

Judy Hyde

Louisville, KY

Viewer Mail for Thursday, January 17

2013-01-17T17:45:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I agree with you that we can’t let the machines take over our lives. Evil flourishes in the shadows, and the internet is full of shadows.”

Pastor Michael Duncan

Darrington, WA

INTERNET HOAX?

21-year-old Manti Te’o, the captain of the Notre Dame football team, says he is the victim of an internet fraud called ‘catfishing,’ in which a person develops a romantic relationship with another person using fake credentials.

“I feel sorry for young male athletes. They are easy targets because they don’t think with their brains. But there’s something strange about this story – you can’t have a relationship with someone you’ve never met.”

Kathleen O’Gorman

Meriden, CT

“Call me jaded, but it looks like Manti Te’o played a part in this massive hoax in order to gain sympathy and improve his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.”

Mike Lyman

Lihue, HI

“Manti Te’o will still get his shot at the NFL, salary, and endorsements. The Roman citizens in the arena will demand the entertainment.”

George Mitchell

Blairsville, GA

“Manti should forget the NFL and become a psychic if, in fact, he did plan this hoax well in advance to get Heisman consideration. He did the best job of fortune telling ever.”

Kevin Walsh

Rockford, MI

“The tragic story of Manti Te’o is being way too exploited for entertainment and ratings by all the media. This man is unstable. Everyone should back off.”

Tony Lucero

White Lake, MI

“Manti Te’o now becomes aware of the fact that it’s easy to tell a lie; however, it’s difficult to tell only one.”

Som Bilotti

Ray City, GA

“Why does the public need to know about this footballer’s love life, real or imagined? Whatever the truth is, he’s being exploited by the news and sports media.”

James Hamilton

Sioux City, IA

“More media outlets are covering Manti Te’o’s fake girlfriend than they did the protesters outside the Benghazi consulate. This is shameful sensationalism!”

Joe Orozco

Tinley Park, IL

“Manti Te’o’s phony girlfriend is another sad example of how the media has been corrupted by lazy and unprofessional journalists.”

Kenneth Besig

Kiryat Arba, Israel

“Certainly Mr. Te’o could have validated his web romance by using any of the camera options available to him. The deception involved in this amazes me.”

Dominic Pasquarosa

Randolph, MA

“I can tell you from personal experience that catfishing is real and it can be devastating to its victims. It is more the rule rather than the exception that people misrepresent themselves on dating websites.”

Jay Wilfong

Mount Juliet, TN

“I think the bizarre case of the young football player will be found to involve Munchausen by proxy, which is a situation where sympathy is garnered by creating a story of sickness or death of a loved one.”

Mary Fetch

Bismarck, ND

“How is it possible that Manti Te’o supposedly loved someone he never met? I smell a rat!”

Ted Coulton

Cayucos, CA

CINEMA EDITION

Factor producer Jesse Watters took to the streets, asking people to name their favorite movie of all time. Some of the responses included Bridesmaids, Anchorman, and The Fight Club. The Factor lamented that respondents seemed to forget about the classics.

“I’m 23 and my favorite movie of all time is Casablanca. I adore Bogart. Not all hope is lost on youth.”

Katie Valentine

Belmont, NC

“Today’s generation has lost all sense of history. Jimmy Stewart worked his way up, put his acting career on hold to fight in two wars, made wholesome movies, and was married to the same woman until death. Hollywood should take note.”

Scott Harrison

Senatobia, MS

“I’m 18-years-old and my favorite movie of all time is ‘It’s A Wonderful Life.’ The young people of this generation don’t realize what they’re missing by shunning the classics.”

Charlene Spicer

North Bend, NE

“The two best movies are ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ with Sir Alec Guiness and ‘Dr. Zhivago’ with Omar Sharif. You’re old enough to remember these two greats!”

John Ross

Colorado Springs, CO

“I’d have to say John Wayne was not only a great actor but also a great American. I love his movies.”

Melissa Blacksmith

Valley Springs, CA

“I watched Watters World and patiently waited for some mention of Marlon Brando as the greatest actor. He was the most amazing character actor we’ve ever seen.”

Francine Lombardo Loan

Wasilla, AK

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, January 15

2013-01-16T00:33:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“When France accused Lance Armstrong of using performance enhancing drugs, I was incensed. I thought they were insinuating that an American couldn’t be that good of an athlete. I was duped by a doper.”

David Carrico

Havelock, NC

CULTURAL CLASH

A group of gay activists in Rome shouted down the Pope’s public prayer, trying to bring attention to the issue of same-sex marriage. Here in America, are traditional forces being overwhelmed by committed liberals?

“Granting all marital rights to the gay community, but under a different name, should resolve the issue completely unless the pro-gay marriage folks have a hidden agenda.”

Dick Stevens

San Francisco, CA

“The reason there’s no national conservative leader in America today is because the liberal media shreds every conservative on the national stage. Gov. Romney was portrayed as an uncaring, ruthless business man, while he is a genuinely good person with traditional values.”

George Kunzweiler

Mechanicsburg, PA

“The country is only doomed if conservatives don’t let go of their hatred for all things homosexual. The right loses focus every time the issue of gay marriage is brought up.”

Ed Duffy

Colorado Springs, CO

“I’m a conservative libertarian who couldn’t care less whether gays are allowed to marry. When they act like the activists in Rome, however, I’m disgusted by their behavior.”

Erik Frette

New Braunfels, TX

“Alan Colmes is completely wrong about the younger generation approving of gay marriage. I’m 15-years-old and I don’t support gay marriage.”

Kolby Hunter

Prescott, AZ

“It’s amazing to me that the Republican Party considers itself small government, yet it wants to ban social practices it deems immoral like gay marriage.”

Jeff Lewis

Ames, IA

“You can’t take a small minority of angry people to represent a whole group who just wants equality. You treated the gay community very unfairly on your show tonight.”

Elise Grenier

Sherborn, MA

“The protesters who showed up at the Vatican displayed an almost demonic rage. For people who claim to be all about tolerance, their naked hate was evidence that all hell has broken loose.”

Jerry Cunningham

Stratford, CT

DOPING ADMISSION

Tour de France juggernaut Lance Armstrong admits that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Will this cloud the cyclist’s future?

“Lance Armstrong now wants to rehabilitate his image. I suggest a cross-country forgiveness tour on a bicycle built for two with Roger Clemens.”

Ron Siwiec

Binghamton, NY

“Forgive him? No way! Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

Pamela Wertman

Emmaus, PA

“I will forgive Lance Armstrong if he’s asking for forgiveness. If he feels remorse for what he did, he should be forgiven. Only God knows what’s in his heart.”

Joel Hartman

Smithville, MO

“I feel that if Lance Armstrong is to be forgiven, Pete Rose should be forgiven also and be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Scott Powers

Selmer, TN

“He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He doped and lied about it; therefore, he’s a doping liar.”

Timothy Bennett

White Lake, MI

“For seven years, Lance Armstrong went to France and outcheated he cheaters. The best man still won.”

Mike Callanan

Phoenix, AZ

“There’s no way this weasel can undo seven years of lies and treachery by apologizing on a half hour talk show.”

Mike Cuggino, Sr.

New York, NY

RIFLE DATABASE

The Factor favors some gun control measures, including background checks and a database of owners of semi-automatic weapons with high-capacity clips.

“You said you believe the government should know the names of everyone who has a semi-automatic weapon with a high-capacity magazine. That flies in the face of the Second Amendment, and it wouldn’t make us safer.”

Kathy Oristaglio

Crewe, VA

“Congratulations to New York for solving its gun violence problem via legislation. I hope other states follow suit.”

Jay Hill

Denver, CO

“The NRA stands for Not Right for America.”

Steve Gaydos

Randolph, NJ

“You admit gun bans don’t work, but you say we have to do something to prevent another Newtown. What a pinheaded thing to say!”

Jim Johnson

Orem, UT

“Guns are flying off the shelves, NRA memberships are increasing, and classes for conceal/carry are popping up everywhere along with license applications. President Obama’s gun control agenda seems to be backfiring.”

Andrew Cash

Springfield, MO

“Gun registration is the first step towards gun confiscation. History is filled with examples. You should know this as a history buff.”

David Autry

Strongsville, OH

“I couldn’t disagree more about the government registering and keeping track of who owns automatic weapons. What good could possibly come of them having this information?”

David Kelsey

Salida, CO

“The government needs to stop making laws that don’t work and can’t be enforced. With our country’s deficit as high as it is, how are we planning to pay for all these FBI agents conducting background checks?”

Chip Dalton

Foley, AL

“We shouldn’t be required to register any semi-automatic weapon no matter how many rounds its magazine will hold. You are either playing into the hands of those who want this country disarmed or you’re one of them.”

Mike Compton

Gainesville, TX

“I have no problem with background checks, but you’re dead wrong about creating a database of automatic weapon owners. Your attitude on the 2^nd Amendment makes you a poltroon.”

James Greer

Bella Vista, AR

Viewer Mail for Monday, January 14

2013-01-14T20:01:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The U.S. is bleeding to death. Raising the debt ceiling without huge spending cuts is like giving a bleeding person a pint of blood without closing the wound.”

Don Stuteville

Concord, NC

NO COMPROMISE

President Obama holds a press conference to stand his ground on the issue of the debt ceiling. Is he playing politics with our economic stability?

“While Senator, Barack Obama said that increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Today, President Obama called Republican talk of not raising the debt limit irresponsible and absurd.”

Chip McGee

Nashville, TN

“Obama’s strategy to blame Republicans for the debt ceiling issue is smart as long as the corrupt mainstream media covers for him.”

Dr. Jerry Anderson

Winchester, TN

“The President said the GOP is putting a gun to the head of the American people when referring to the debt ceiling coinciding with debt reduction. Is he stooping so low as to exploit current gun control discussions?”

Robert Lynn

Albany, NY

“President Obama doesn’t seem to understand that borrowing money to pay a bill doesn’t pay the bill. It simply transfers the debt from one creditor to another.”

Bob Crawford

Brunswick, OH

“Obama is in the catbird seat. If I were Boehner, I’d deny him a victory by having Congress pass a week’s worth of funding and having them continue to gather weekly until the President agrees to spending cuts.”

Keith Wood

Washington, D.C.

“President Obama wants Republicans to do the ‘responsible’ thing and pay our bills by raising the debt ceiling. Doesn’t he see it’s even more responsible to stop spending money we don’t have?”

Sharon Williams

Austin, TX

“Put it on the President: the debt ceiling will be raised only if he passes a budget. How can anyone authorize spending that isn’t budgeted?”

Mark Wilson

Concord, CA

“I agree with President Obama when he says we should pay our bills. But raising the debt ceiling only substitutes one bill for another, plus added interest.”

Domenic Caloia

Palm Beach, FL

“As a banker of 20 years, we do not encourage people to pay their bills with debt.”

Bruce Sheridan

St. Louis, MO

SNUBBED

The director of “Zero Dark Thirty” did not get nominated for an Academy Award. Is Kathryn Bigelow paying a price for making a movie that implies waterboarding helped lead to Osama bin Laden?

“Zero Dark Thirty made the Hollywood elite cringe with its depiction of enhanced interrogation, but their champion ran his campaign based on bin Laden’s death. What’s a good liberal to do?”

Diane Poch

Fond du Lac, WI

“The Oscar vote probably split between Kathryn Bigelow and Ben Affleck. If you think her lack of a nomination was a snub, Mr. Affleck actually won the Golden Globe for best director!”

Nancy Guastaferro

Las Vegas, NV

“Ms. Bigelow was snubbed by a Hollywood that wants to punish her for choosing to make a pro-torture film. The director didn’t have much of a choice if she wanted to make a film people would believe.”

Steve Klayman

Hollywood, CA

“While the movie was probably true to life, it wasn’t very entertaining. It dragged on to a known conclusion. Argo was much better.”

Ian Grant

Chicago, IL

WINNING WITH GRACE

The Factor thinks actress Julianne Moore should have acknowledged Sarah Palin during her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, after winning an award for playing the Governor in an HBO movie.

“I thought Ms. Moore should have included a thank you to Sarah Palin as there would not have been a movie without her. Without a movie, Ms. Moore wouldn’t have been onstage receiving her award.”

Ann

Richmond, VA

“Sarah Palin is one of the most divisive people in the country. She is personally responsible for much of the hatred on both sides of the aisle. Why exactly should Julianne Moore have thanked her?”

Richard Doyle

Clayton, MO

“Magnanimous wouldn’t work for Ms. Moore. It’s a more natural fit for a Hollywood liberal to be malevolent towards Sarah Palin.”

Kendall Gilmer

Houma, LA

“Sarah Palin is a gutsy and gracious woman. I too am disappointed that Julianne Moore didn’t acknowledge her in her acceptance speech.”

Bonnie Fangmann

Lilburn, GA

“It was tacky of Julianne Moore to avoid even mentioning Sarah Palin’s name in her acceptance speech. I believe her snide remark was her way of making sure her Hollywood peers knew she didn’t share the Governor’s politics.”

Leslie Stavrowsky

Austin, TX

“In this currently tough economy, Julianne Moore is looking for job security. Hollywood will reward her with whatever job she wants for her comments against Palin.”

Colin Stiles

Tempe, AZ

“I knew Julianne Moore and others would spot nonsense and be disrespectful towards Sarah Palin. I enlisted the help of my mute button.”

Christina Gilmore

Atlanta, GA

“If Ms. Moore had said anything positive about Sarah Palin with the Hollywood crowd, she would have been booed off the stage and never offered a job again.”

Nikki Oldaker

Clearwater, FL

“Julianne Moore almost certainly secured her next job by taking a shot at Sarah Palin on the Golden Globes stage.”

Bob Lamothe

Hampton, NH

Viewer Mail for Friday, January 11

2013-01-11T19:21:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Your guest is right – the patrons who leave his pot club are no more dangerous than patrons of a tavern who leave drunk. Both are impaired and need to have designated drivers.”

Jonathan Lauer

Woodinville, WA

ALOHA LIBERALISM!

The tropical paradise of Hawaii may now rank as America’s most liberal state, with high taxation, unsustainable debt, declining religious influence, and widespread drug use.

“I lived in Hawaii for 17 years, and there is a huge crystal meth problem. As for Jessica’s Law, my daughter was abused by her stepfather and the legal system in the state didn’t care.”

Claude Mitchell

Courtney, Canada

“It’s scary that the Congresswoman from Hawaii, Colleen Hanabusa, thinks the entire country should be more like her state with its high homeless rate, high food stamp use, and large deficit.”

Roy Pack

Cheyenne, WY

“The Hawaiian Congresswoman was right that Asians respect and honor their senior citizens. She was wrong to imply that Asians rely on government services and agencies to provide for their seniors, however.”

Rich Parks

Las Vegas, NV

“After seeing your report on the problems in Hawaii, we’ll reconsider going there for vacation.”

Lori DeSchryver

McCall, ID

“You just experienced first-hand the Hanabusa Hula – she’s famous for dancing around the subject, never answering a direct question, and making up facts to fit her footwork.”

Joy Webster

Makawao, HI

“What an embarrassment to the Aloha State! The Congresswoman’s ignorance was totally exposed on national television.”

Dave Kennett

Dayton, OH

“After watching the segment, I still don’t understand the Congresswoman’s beef with you. She talked without really saying anything.”

Ron Nygaard

Zumbrota, MN

“I’ve lived in Hawaii for the past six years. The liberal judges and politicians in this state are a disgrace to all Americans because they fail to keep criminals off the streets.”

Mike Becker

Ewa Beach, HI

CLUB CANNIBAS

After Colorado residents voted to legalize marijuana, a bunch of pot clubs are opening around the state. The owner of one of the largest, Robert Corry, entered the no spin zone.

“One point left out of the marijuana club debate was the secondhand smoke or contact high affecting the designated driver.”

Winston McKeel

Frisco, NC

“Your analogy comparing one beer to one blunt is nonsensical for two reasons. First, it is not normal to drink just one beer at a bar; and two, you claim to have never tried pot so you can’t debate on experience.”

Cregg Lund

Shoreline, WA

“The issue of marijuana is for states to decide. Nowhere in the Constitution does the federal government have the authority to decide what we put in our bodies.”

Jonathan Boatwright

Columbia, SC

“While my son was in high school, he fell in with the wrong group, started smoking marijuana, and dropped out of school. You are right about the dangers of pot becoming acceptable in this country.”

Ray Harrington

Tampa, FL

“Your guest claims a designated driver can be used to get people home safely from pot clubs, but when you use pot in front of the designated driver, they too will be impaired.”

Lee Silva

Garden Grove, FL

“America is indeed a free country, but when these pot club patrons develop an addiction, suddenly they are sick and entitled to welfare, Medicaid, and food stamps.”

Philip Cenci

Staten Island, NY

“Wait until someone leaves Mr. Corry’s pot club, has an accident, someone is killed, and he is sued. We’ll see if he’s still defending his crazy idea then.”

Clyde Smith

Visalia, CA

“If Mr. Corry had been through what my family has been through with drugs, he would never allow pot to be smoked at his establishment. We nearly lost our son to drug addiction.”

Carole Kesler

New Castle, VA

“I kept looking into Robert Corry’s eyes for redness or any munchies crumbs on his shirt. One beer is the same as one joint? He is high!”

Terry Orr

Oklahoma City, OK

“Your guest denied responsibility because he is profiting from the sale of pot. These drugs lead to other drugs. Our country will literally go to pot if we allow people like him to take advantage of the situation.”

Ed Egger

Corpus Christi, TX

MENACING PHOTO

Did Time magazine intentionally portray New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as a mobster-type character on its cover?

“I think the cover of Time magazine makes Chris Christie look like Luca Brasi rather than Tony Soprano.”

Patrick Ford

Tehachapi, CA

“Had Time depicted New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in an anti-Semitic light, the outrage would have been seismic. Yet the same publication can defame 18 million Italian-Americans with impunity by portraying Gov. Christie as Tony Soprano’s doppelganger.”

Rosario Iaconis

Mineola, NY

“Time has begun dismantling conservative Chris Christie as a future candidate for president in 2016 by publishing this unflattering picture of him.”

Dave Fadoul

Ranson, WV

“Frankly, I was surprised and disappointed that Time magazine would utilize such an offensive, unflattering cultural stereotype in their story about Gov. Christie. You’d think we were back in the early 1900s when Italian-Americans were being persecuted.”

Elaine Miraglia

Old Bridge, NJ

“I remember when Time ran a similar cover with O.J. Simpson’s photo on it. It was called racist by every media source; these same media sources are now pretty silent.”

Bromley Billmeyer

Shamong, NJ

Viewer Mail for Thursday, January 10

2013-01-10T17:42:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I don’t understand how anyone can be shocked by the government spending a million dollars on a sex change operation for a convict, compared with what they routinely spend money on, which also doesn’t make sense.”

Steve Hanson

Omaha, NE

EXECUTIVE FORCE?

Vice President Biden, leading the task force on gun control reform, says the President is willing to use an executive order on the issue.

“Joe Biden is an excellent choice to oversee new gun control laws because he understands the problem. Every time he opens his mouth, he shoots himself in the foot.”

Barbara Richards

Troy, MI

“The bottom line on Biden’s recommendations to the President will be the registration of all guns, which will inevitably mean a tax on all guns.”

J.T. Beard

Lakeland, FL

“Vice President Biden says we can use executive orders to place ‘reasonable restrictions’ on the Second Amendment. What about also imposing restrictions on the First Amendment to limit media coverage and glamorization of mass killings?”

Roger Harbin

Seeley Lake, MT

“The Founding Fathers fiercely debated the existence of a standing army, and the 2^nd Amendment’s intention was to allow people to protect themselves against a totalitarian takeover.”

Dennis Haugh

Colorado Springs, CO

“Obama and his socialist government want to prevent law-abiding gun holders in the U.S. from owning guns, but his administration doesn’t hesitate to give assault weapons to Egypt.”

David Kennedy

Vancouver, Canada

OUTED!

FNC host Jeanine Pirro reacts to being on the Journal News’ published list of gun owners in Westchester County.

“The Journal News should publish a list of non-registered gun owners. That would be real investigative journalism.”

Gene Jardel

Pine Beach, NJ

“I recommend the folks who subscribe to the Journal News cancel their subscriptions. It’s the only power they have.”

Michael Padilla

Aztec, NM

“I would rather be one of the red dots in the Journal News’ article than in an area with no red dot. The people that should be really upset are the non-gun owners.”

Joe Wohlwend

Pueblo West, CO

“If you want to find out if the Journal News knew that what they were doing would endanger people, look into the names they didn’t make public. What they didn’t publish might very well be a bigger story than what they did publish.”

Mark Von Fossen

Cameron, NC

“A thief’s biggest concern when breaking into a house has to be whether or not the owner of the home possesses a gun. This paper gave a map to potential thieves of houses they should break into.”

Karl Mone

Basking Ridge, NJ

“I’m curious as to whether the Journal News verified the accuracy of the information they released regarding addresses of gun permit holders. These permits have been issued over a period of several years.”

Phil McManus

Fallon, NV

“Since the Journal News outed legal gun owners, why not insist in all fairness that they also publish the names of those who illegally own guns?”

Drexel Scott

Round Rock, TX

TAXPAYER DIME

A judge in Massachusetts has ordered the state to pay legal fees for a convicted murderer who has demanded a sex change operation in prison.

“If Massachusetts doesn’t want to abide by the court decision for the murderer’s sex change, parole him. If he’s not in prison, the state is not responsible for the expense.”

Gary Hayes

Ooltewah, TN

“I was born and raised in Massachusetts, but it appears the state has lost its dignified, respectable, moderate reputation. I have seen changes over the years that lead me to believe the state has run amuck.”

Liz Ross

Albuquerque, NM

“Why is a convicted murderer being given a sex change operation at taxpayer expense? Give him a knife and a bottle of whiskey.”

Bruce Foster

Perrysburg, OH

“Massachusetts taxpayers deserve what they voted for. Let them pay for this guy’s sex change operation plus legal fees. Then they’ll start screaming when their taxes go up.”

Mark Levine

Philadelphia, PA

“There are prisoners who are denied medication because of lack of funding, but they’re going to spend a million dollars on a sex change operation? I wish I could say that I’m truly shocked, but this is America today.”

Art Porrello

Las Vegas, NV

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, January 9

2013-01-09T19:48:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Isn’t Al Gore guilty of the same things for which liberals attacked Mitt Romney? He’s a rich capitalist, selling off companies at the peril of the employees, and taking full advantage of tax codes with outsourcing jobs.”

Paul Fisher

Aurora, NC

LIBERAL HYPOCRISY?

Al Gore has made a fortune selling his little-watched cable network to the oil sultans behind the pro-terror network, al Jazeera. Is there anything wrong with this?

“Al Gore has been the beneficiary of oil for years. His family owned stock in Occidental Petroleum, but the mainstream media chose only to focus on the Bush-Cheney oil ties in the 2000 election.”

Don Haberer

Russell, KS

“Al Gore’s real nature was evident in the way he tried to manipulate the Florida recount, disenfranchising a whole lot of voters. He hasn’t changed at all.”

Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“The new al Jazeera network in the U.S. should be renamed al-Gore-zeera in honor of our esteemed American.”

Dennis Schwendimann

Jacksonville, FL

“I watched your segment about Al Gore making hundreds of millions in his dealings with the pro-terrorist network al Jazeera. During the commercial break, there was an ad for the Wounded Warrior Project, featuring maimed soldiers. This story should make everyone’s blood boil.”

Dwight Arrington

West Columbia, SC

“Why can’t the FCC step in and stop the sale between Gore and al Jazeera? I can’t believe the First Amendment allows the enemy to have a voice on our airways.”

Bill Pompili

Austin, TX

“Al Gore, plain and simple, has no shame, but then again, evil people never feel remorse for the sinister actions.”

Jim Nice

Palmyra, PA

OFFENSIVE COMMENT?

ESPN has apologized after its announcer Brent Musburger gushed over the beautiful girlfriend of Alabama’s quarterback during the BCS Championship game.

“Did you watch the Alabama-Notre Dame game? The game itself was so uninteresting that the announcers were forced to fawn over beautiful women in the stands to keep viewers entertained.”

Valerie McGarity

Charlotte, NC

“Katherine Webb made a statement saying she took it as a compliment that the announcer called her beautiful. I doubt you’d find a southern belle who would be offended by such remarks.”

Margaret Hewlett

Montgomery, AL

“Brent Musburger paid compliments to the Alabama quarterback’s girlfriend and mother. No apology necessary.”

George Lericos

Smithville, NJ

“I’m not a feminist, but I think the comments made by Mr. Musburger were totally inappropriate. It was tawdry and overly sexual for a football game.”

Lauren Rhodes

Colorado Springs, CO

“Why is there such a fuss being made about an apology from ESPN for calling a woman beautiful? David Letterman called Sarah Palin some very bad things, and these same people certainly didn’t stand up for her.”

Sheila Butler

Mount Vernon, WA

“As an Alabama fan, we are now madder than hell that you would give so much attention to an Auburn fan instead of giving the kudos to our deserving team. Enough is enough!”

Dawn Thornton

Indian Springs, AL

DINNER DATE?

The Factor asked viewers to write in and tell us the one person – living or dead – they’d choose to have dinner with if afforded the opportunity.

“My dinner choice would be the Alabama quarterback’s girlfriend. Do I really have to explain why?”

Dan Galvin

Congers, NY

“Who would I want to have dinner with? Easy choice – Ronald Reagan. He changed the country and the world for the better more than any other man in my lifetime.”

David Mansfield

Chicago, IL

“I would have to choose John F. Kennedy as my dinner companion. I would love to know what he thinks about today’s Democratic Party.”

Tom Stenglein

Pittsburgh, PA

“If I could have dinner with any living person, it would be Paul McCartney. How cool would it be to break bread with a Beatle? If you could arrange it, I’d gladly let you join us for dessert.”

Judy Parrino

Carmel, NY

“My choice would be Bob Hope. I think he is one of the most talented, compassionate, and decent men who has ever lived. I would love to have met him.”

Lisa Cour

Elkhart, IN

“Oddly enough, it would be singer/songwriter James Taylor. His lyrical genius and his ability to put together amazing musical compositions is something into which I would love some insight.”

William Brown

San Diego, CA

“My dinner choice would be Trace Adkins. His support for our troops makes him an example to all Americans. After reading his book, I have the utmost respect for him.”

Jeremy Young

Toledo, OH

“Although he and I have contrasting ideologies, I would most want to have dinner with President Obama because I just know he’d pick up the tab.”

Eric Kos

Drayton Valley, Canada

“I’d choose to dine with Winston Churchill to ask him if he really believed Britain would defeat Hitler before the U.S. entered WWII.”

John Spence

Belfast, Ireland

“My choice of a person to have dinner with would be the late Jackie Kennedy Onassis. No matter the hand she was dealt in life, she handled it with dignity and grace. The lady was a lady.”

Julie Hall

Martinsburg, WV

“My choice of a person to sit and speak with at dinner would have to be Thomas Jefferson. I’d like to find out his real intent on the separation of church and state.”

Jim Gebhardt

Stockbridge, GA

“I’d most love to have dinner with Rosa Parks. To understand her bravery on that bus nearly a half century ago would really be something.”

Eric Lazear

Carlsbad, CA

“I’d love to dine with Abraham Lincoln. I’d ask him, as one of the great politicians of our time, how he’d break through all the divisiveness in America today.”

Geoff Hodge

Rock Hill, SC

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, January 8

2013-01-08T19:20:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Putting the names and addresses of gun permit owners in the public domain in the name of free speech is as stupid as shouting fire in a crowded theater. It’s a cheap stunt that risks lives.”

John Bacon

Richmond, England

TAX LOOPHOLE?

Has Planned Parenthood found a way to get around a law that forbids them from using federal tax dollars to perform abortions?

“Your views on Planned Parenthood are wrong and offensive. The organization does so much more for women than provide abortions.”

Josh Hicks

McLean, VA

“It is a matter of fiscal responsibility to welcome an audit. It has absolutely nothing to do with politics, just as balancing one’s checkbook has only to do with making sure no mistakes are made.”

Jayne Tichenor

Murphy, NC

“I’m pro-life, but don’t push my opinion down others’ throats. However, as a taxpayer, I don’t want my money going towards abortions. Planned Parenthood shouldn’t be afraid to account for their funding unless they’re hiding something.”

Pamela Butler

Charlotte, NC

“Nearly all public and private businesses perform at least one audit per year. It should be no different for Planned Parenthood or any other business receiving money from the government.”

Vicky Goosey

Bloomfield, NM

“Your guest claimed that tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood don’t pay for abortions because the procedure is billed to Medicaid. How does she think Medicaid is funded?”

Janie Alley

Huffman, TX

“Planned Parenthood can’t be audited because that would create jobs and the liberals don’t want that.”

Derek Cantrell

Grand Terrace, CA

“The only reason Planned Parenthood fears an audit is because they’re using tax dollars to perform abortions.”

Loran Hancock

Tucson, AZ

“If Planned Parenthood uses government funds to pay for the stationery, light bills, and paper clips, how much money do they have left from other sources to fund their abortions?”

Judy Walker

Tabor City, NC

TARGET JOURNALISM?

How do progressives feel about the controversy surrounding a Westchester County newspaper publishing the names and addresses of legal gun owners in the area?

“The Journal News is trying to demonize American citizens who legally own and register their firearms, yet they didn’t bother to publish the names of criminals who might have guns illegally.”

Terry Wisdom

Livermore, CO

“Can you find out if the Journal News printed any of the names of their own employees that have gun permits?”

David Baehr

Tucson, AZ

“The Freedom of Information Act failed to protect the folks when it made available the information published in the Journal News.”

Dan Tape

Grand Rapids, MI

“Congratulations to the Journal News. In just one move, they managed to tell all the bad guys where to both steal guns and rob with impunity.”

Noel Jeffrey

Pasadena, CA

“This is an act intended to create fear. The Journal News has demonized and jeopardized half their customers; that is a huge business failure.”

Ryan Stranacher

Waco, TX

“Everyone seems to be missing the most important point: by posting the names and addresses of legal gun owners, the Journal News has endangered the citizens who do not own guns.”

Kevin Drummond

Oceanside, CA

“A newspaper is supposed to report news, not make it. If the Journal News reported the number and concentration of gun owners in the area, that’s news. The names and addresses of gun owners is not news.”

Bromley Billmeyer

Shamong, NJ

“What the newspaper really did was tell all the criminals which houses are not protected by guns. It’s now essentially a database for criminals to pre-qualify potential victims. Good job, liberal media!”

Greg Howard

Peoria, AZ

“If the Journal News was really serious about public safety, they would have published the names and addresses of the people who are forbidden by law from owning or possessing firearms.”

Larry Meeks

Yakima, WA

DADDY DRAMA

A sperm donor in Kansas is being forced to make child support payments after the lesbian couple he helped splits and can no longer provide for the child he fathered.

“It wasn’t fair to cast doubt on the proper motives of the sperm donor without any indication about said motives. Should we question everyone who tries to do a good deed?”

Jack Koplowitz

Potsdam, NY

“Maybe the man in Kansas who made the donation to the lesbian couple should ask for joint custody since he has to foot the bill.”

Dave Wartelsky

Grand Junction, CO

“The sperm donor was unjustly treated. Why should he have to pay support for a child the lesbian couple raised? He is being punished for not knowing the intricacies of the law.”

Paul Vakselis

Las Cruces, NM

“I was saddened to see the lesbian couple cash in on child support from that sperm donor. This particular couple will apparently abandon the principle of equality when being different allows them to cash in on a legal loophole.”

Sean Romney

Cedar City, UT

“The sperm donor had signed a legal contract with the lesbian couple saying he would not be responsible for child support. He did not seek compensation for his act of kindness and thought the contract afforded him protection, which it evidently did not.”

Mark Baird

Monroe, CT

Viewer Mail for Monday, January 7

2013-01-08T00:51:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“As a long-time resident of New Jersey, I can assure you I would much rather have an oversized Governor than an oversized government.”

Barry Mendelsohn

Rockaway, NJ

PRESS ANTICS

Has the Journal News of Westchester County endangered the lives of some Americans by printing the names and addresses of those who legally own firearms?

“The Journal News definitely has a liberal anti-gun agenda and is places its interests ahead of any privacy or safety concerns of other Americans. They’ve done their reputation a great disservice.”

Ohi Ayeni

Kilcullen, Ireland

“After outing all those gun owners, the Journal News should identify those on worker’s comp and welfare. Neighbors could then turn them in if they’re overspending or engaging in a lifestyle unbecoming of someone on the public dole.”

Pete Holden

Aurora, CO

“Isn’t it the non-gun owners who have been the most harmed by the Journal News?”

Rick Hervey

Box Elder, SD

“The publication of gun owners’ names and addresses in a newspaper is obviously a cynical and purposeful play since they know not one gun would be taken out of circulation because of this act.”

Jeff Brandwein

Toronto, Canada

“The newspaper inadvertently just printed the addresses of homes not to rob. If the address is not listed in the paper, the robbers know they won’t be shot there.”

Bruce Bonyun

Stowe, VT

“Everyone in White Plains, New York, who subscribes to the Journal News should cancel their subscription and put the newspaper out of business.”

Ann Ferrante

Spruce Pine, NC

“I’m willing to bet that your journalism professor guest would be apoplectic if you were to suggest the public would be better served by knowing the names and addresses of all people infected with the AIDS virus.”

Steve Benson

Indian Trail, NC

“If a gun is stolen from a home on the list and then used in a crime or a murder, I think the reporter and the newspaper should be charged as accessories to the crime.”

Richard Kannarr

Calgary, Canada

“I think it’s apropos for you to make the personal information of the Journal News staff public. I would never condone threats, but fair is fair.”

Trey O’Banion

Nashville, TN

“Why are you so shocked about the Journal News’ recent publication of gun owners’ residences? They have been invading people’s privacy for years. They have repeatedly published the salaries of government employees in an effort to enrage taxpayers.”

Nancy Potthast

East Fishkill, NY

“I don’t know if the publisher of the Journal News prays, but she better start. If anyone gets harmed as a result of her irresponsible actions, she’ll regret it.”

Richard Jones

Vestal, NY

AMERICA’S ADDICTION

Two members of the Kennedy clan – Christopher Lawford and Patrick Kennedy – candidly discuss their years of substance abuse.

“Mr. Lawford and Mr. Kennedy deserve a lot of credit. May they stay sober because it’s a day to day fight.”

Sean Crose

Cheshire, CT

“Your interview with Mr. Lawford and Mr. Kennedy on the realities of addiction was powerful. Thank you for underscoring the key components for achieving successful drug abstinence: personal acceptance, access to treatment, and meaningful relationships for support.”

Telisa Clevenger-Smith

Austin, TX

“God bless you, Christopher Lawford, and Patrick Kennedy for having the guts to tackle a controversial subject that is ordinarily ignored.”

Ruth & Gene Bushnell

Troy, MT

“In all likelihood, I don’t agree with Mr. Lawford and Mr. Kennedy on anything politically, but I truly appreciate their willingness to speak out on addiction and how to overcome it.”

Bradley Howe

Rochester, MN

“I’ve been addicted to painkillers for almost 10 years and applaud anyone who can successfully stay clean. It’s only possible with a very strong support system.”

Daniel Mackintosh

Morrison, Canada

“I’m an addict in recovery. This disease can only be arrested through honesty, humility, and open-mindedness.”

Robert Tross

Jacksonville Beach, FL

“No more powerful statement on the hope for recovery from paralyzing alcohol and drug addiction will be heard in the media than your segment with Christopher Lawford and Patrick Kennedy. Many thousands of your viewers have had a flicker of hope instilled in them now.”

Karl Niederer

Wrightstown, PA

“Please tell Mr. Lawford and Mr. Kennedy that addiction is not an illness; it’s a lifestyle choice.”

Jean Thompson

Thousand Oaks, CA

“Your message about alcoholism merely scratches the surface of issues associated with the disease. There are demons that torture the souls of those afflicted that we can never understand.”

Ron Anari

Pearl River, NY

LARGER THAN LIFE?

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a man considered to be a frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2016, is frequently asked if his obesity will prevent him from getting elected.

“Pound for pound, Chris Christie is more of a leader than President Obama ever will be.”

Martha Darling

Ann Arbor, MI

“For anyone who thinks Chris Christie is too fat to be president, I have two words: Winston Churchill.”

Terry Tannehill

North Canton, OH

“It isn’t Chris Christie’s stature that is too large; it’s his ego.”

Charles Salemi

Largo, FL

“If Gov. Christie isn’t electable as president, it’s not because of his weight. It’s because he embraced President Obama to the extreme. I will never vote for him.”

Jim Belcher

Wilmore, KY

“Saying that Chris Christie’s weight problem demonstrates a lack of control and disqualifies him to be president is the same as saying Barack Obama should be disqualified because he’s a smoker. One has an addiction to food, and the other has an addiction to nicotine.”

Phyllis Labedis

Lewisville, TX

“I would not encourage Chris Christie’s presidential candidacy because as it is, Obama’s travels are expensive enough. With Christie’s extra weight, Air Force One would burn more fuel.”

Charles Bern

Canada

“People who think Christie shouldn’t run for president because of his weight are uninformed. Our 27^th president, William Howard Taft, weighed more than 300 pounds.”

Karen Picoult

Sagamore Hills, OH

“The measure of a man is not based on his trouser size!”

Tom Hart

Lakeland, FL

“Chris Christie’s problem isn’t his weight; it’s his personality. He’s a mean-spirited bully and that’s why he’ll never be president.”

Mark Erickson

El Paso, TX

Viewer Mail for Friday, January 4

2013-01-05T00:12:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Would the newspaper print the location of all illegal aliens living in its jurisdiction? What about divorcees? Printing the names of gun owners is an invasion of privacy and should be condemned as such.”

Thomas Murphy

Roseville, CA

PERSONAL STORY

Former Marine Jon Hammar is released from a Mexican prison after serving four months on a trumped-up gun charge.

“Besides failing to protect our ambassador in Libya, the State Department failed to get Jon Hammar out of a brutally corrupt Mexican prison. I’m disgusted that my tax dollars fund these incompetent bureaucrats.”

Leslie Stavrowsky

Austin, TX

“Everyone knows you can’t take firearms into Mexico! Jon and his friend probably wanted to chance it and take the gun for protection, but they got caught and paid a price.”

Janine

Placerville, CA

“Any American who chooses to vacation in Mexico after what happened to Jon Hammar is a fool. And any American who would put their family in such a precarious position should hang their head in shame.”

Kathleen Kenny

Middletown, NJ

“Jon Hammar was treated far worse in a Mexican prison than terrorists are treated at Guantanamo.”

Dan Reigada

Orlando, FL

“We need to send a powerful message to Mexico that we will not tolerate the kind of barbaric treatment received by Jon Hammar. Let’s boycott!”

Dr. Arthur Tiedemann

Greeley, CO

“As Commander in Chief, President Obama should have made Marine Jon Hammar a personal matter, yet he didn’t. It’s time for you to take the President to the woodshed.”

James Donna

Brewerton, NY

“Why did he take a gun into a foreign country? This was a stupid act by an American that highlighted the abhorrent conditions of foreign imprisonment.”

Jim Rumen

Califon, NJ

PRIVACY VIOLATION?

Geraldo Rivera supports the decision by a New York newspaper to print the names and addresses of registered gun owners in its area.

“Maybe Geraldo should know more about his 7-year-old son’s friends and feel comfortable enough to ask the parents if they have guns in the house. Relying on the press for this information is dangerous.”

Richard Miller

Hermosa, SD

“I strongly disagree with Geraldo regarding the Journal News publishing legal gun owners’ names and addresses. This was done solely to spotlight and marginalize them in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy.”

John Bilello

Fresno, CA

“Geraldo is right: let’s put a sign in front of every gun owner’s house. While we’re at it, let’s put a sign in front of every welfare recipient’s house.”

Joe Frey

Cleveland, OH

“Most guns used by criminals are stolen from law-abiding gun owners. All this newspaper is doing is showing the bad guys where to get their next tool to commit a crime.”

Michael Kundinger

Sandy, UT

“Geraldo is insane to say that publishing the names and addresses of gun-owners is a good thing. Criminals see this and know which homes to hit and which not to hit.”

Henry Zecher

Waukesha, WI

“I have a rifle and two handguns in my home. I have a sign outside my home that says ‘nothing inside worth dying for.’ I think this is a serious deterrent for anyone who is thinking about breaking in.”

Denny Lensegrav

Surprise, AZ

“A parent does not need a published list of legal gun owners to protect their children when they go on a play date. Just ask before allowing your child to go to someone’s home!”

Debbie Lawson

Middletown, OH

“Geraldo wants the names of gun owners published to protect his children? Does he also want the names of pool owners published since the risk of death to a child under 10 is 100 times greater with a pool than a firearm?”

Blain Sanford

Odessa, FL

“If Geraldo wants to know if a home has gun before allowing his son to play there, I suggest he go meet the parents and talk to them about his concerns. It doesn’t need to be published in a newspaper.”

Sue Scherzinger

Lake Forest, CA

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK?

Fox Business guy Lou Dobbs predicts that we’re going to start to see some economic improvements in 2013.

“Lou Dobbs’ punch must have been spiked if he thinks the economy can grow in 2013 with the implementation of Obama-care, the EPA’s war on energy, and thousands of new regulations coming out of Washington.”
Steve Wiemeyer

LaVista, NE

“What is the difference between paying higher income taxes or higher social security taxes? The bottom line is that more of what people make is taken by the government.”

Joe Sharp

Bensalem, PA

“Lou Dobbs has to be smoking weed if he thinks things will get better under this administration. With all the taxes that are coming down the pike, we are doomed.”

Colleen Bystrak

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

“I can’t believe Dobbs’ economic forecast. A friend of mine is a small business owner, and he’s so concerned about the effect regulations and Obama-care will have on him, he plans on making no new hires and even downsizing if necessary.”

Bill Pugelli

Prescott, AZ

“Lou Dobbs is generally a level-headed business guru, but he seems to have lost it. He sounds like Obama with his pie-in-the-sky new green jobs.”

Walt Weiss

Sea Bright, NJ

“There doesn’t appear to be anything we, as individuals, can do to stop Obama from his madness. He’s going to shove his agenda down our throats until he is out of office.”

David Schuler

Mansfield, OH

“Dobbs is correct because in 2013 people will know the rules. As long as businesses know the ground rules, they’ll figure out a way to be successful. The uncertainly of the last four years is what slowed us down.”

Antonio Mazzarelli

Poughkeepsie, NY

Viewer Mail for Thursday, January 3

2013-01-03T22:00:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Armed guards at schools are not the answer. They may potentially frighten the children, and they’ll have targets on their backs. The bad guys will know exactly who they have to take out to proceed in inflicting mass damage.”

Jeremiah Cronberger

Detroit, MI

TREACHEROUS SALE?

Former Vice President Al Gore sells his far-left cable network to al Jazeera, the anti-American network based in the Middle East.

“As an ardent free market supporter, I would ordinarily never begrudge someone for making a buck off their business, but I was dismayed by your report about Al Gore’s antics with al Jazeera.”

Scott Sweetow

Atlanta, GA

“Al Gore will make more oil money on the sale of his TV station to al Jazeera than George Bush or Dick Cheney.”

Jim Donovan

Braintree, MA

“Al Gore proves once again that the left are without any real principles. That is why elections are filled with feel-good words like hope, change, and fairness.”

Chuck Hill

Portland, OR

“A former Vice President of the United States sells his company to al Jazeera? I guess he has the right to do that, but it isn’t right. It’s unsettling.”

Cate Schmeisser

Mason City, IA

“The rich paying a higher tax percentage does not mean they abandon good business sense. Al Gore exercised good business sense selling his network at a favorable time.”

Maurice Person

San Jose, CA

“Al Gore is not a hypocrite. He is an entitled narcissist who has shown his true colors. He’s only interested in himself, not the greater good.”

David Jackson

Canfield, OH

“Just months after Al Gore released his documentary on global warming, he bought an oceanfront house in Malibu even though the movie claimed there’d be no more coast due to melting ice caps.”

Kevin Drummond

Oceanside, CA

“Al Gore is not only a hypocrite; he’s a traitor. It’s hard to believe this man was a heartbeat away from the presidency.”

Richard Coda

Scottsdale, AZ

“Given your report on Al Gore, all I can say is can you imagine if he was elected in 2000? Thank God for hanging chads.”

Daniel Keenan

Los Angeles, CA

PROTECTING OUR SCHOOLS

Following the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, some have suggested that armed guards are the key to preventing school violence.

“Couldn’t we give teachers emergency access to non-lethal weapons? Perhaps shooting stun guns, tear gas, or rubber bullets is the solution to keeping our classrooms safe.”

Gary Huber

Mesquite, TX

“Having armed guards in schools is a band-aid solution. Should we have armed guards in every theater, shopping mall, and wherever else crowds gather? The only real solution is to keep these weapons off the streets.”

John Pearson

Goodyear, AZ

“I’m a high school teacher, and we have a county police officer in every high school and middle school. Local jurisdictions need to make these measures happen.”

Mark Forgash

Alexandria, VA

“If teachers are to be armed in schools, how likely is it that some school-age malcontent will disarm them and proceed to accomplish their evil? Teachers don’t have the proper training to have this responsibility.”

Joe Vagnone

Fort Lee, NJ

“If armed school security is good enough for President Obama’s children, it should be implemented in all schools. Case closed!”

Richard Kwiecienski

Sugarmill Woods, FL

“Why not have teacher unions pay for armed security at the schools that want to have this kind of protection? This would save taxpayers from having another expense thrust upon them.”

Bob Bellas

Glen Burnie, MD

“If teachers are armed, it will only be a matter of time before we will be covering a mass shooting by a deranged teacher.”

Joe Hernandez

Hillsborough, NJ

“I used to work in administration at a large security company, and I honestly would not want some of these men armed in schools. The safest solution is to have active or retired police officers on campus.”

Sharon Strasbaugh

San Diego, CA

“You are right that schools should have armed guards, but teachers should be armed as well as backup. They should be trained in Tasers, which will drop the bad guy like a box of rocks.”

Raymond Benne

Hudson, OH

“Training and arming a few select teachers in each school is the cheapest and most logical way to protect students in schools.”

Dan Galvin

Port St. Lucie, FL

“The obvious question that none of the media are asking is why our society has deteriorated to the point where we must have armed guards patrolling our schools.”

Dwight Arrington

West Columbia, SC

“We live in Sandy Hook and our son is a first grader at a private school. There are now two armed officers at the school, and I have to say it feels right.”

John Popowich

Sandy Hook, CT

“We’ve had a city cop in our high school for years. It should be a local decision at local expense. Keep the feds out of it.”

Tim Zank

Angola, IN

ALOHA!!

Factor producer Jesse Watters travels to Hawaii, where the President is vacationing, to find out why the state’s residents are so ultra-liberal.

“I’m wondering how I can get Jesse Watters’ job? He has the best job in the world!”

Michele Berg

Surprise, AZ

“People in this state voted for President Obama because he’s from Hawaii, not so much for his ideology.”

Kalehua Perry

Kona, HI

“Why is Hawaii so liberal? Too much sun. It fries the brain.”

Douglas Solomon

Elmwood Park, NJ

“You should do a deeper investigation regarding liberal Hawaii. You will find some truly nutty stuff going on here. Sadly, this state almost feels like a lost cause.”

Joe Ohnheiser

Pearl Harbor, HI

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, January 2

2013-01-03T04:29:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I agree that people have a right to create work that doesn’t necessarily reflect their own personal beliefs, but if they have a strong enough opinion on an issue to go public about it, they should walk the walk.”

Guy Higgins

Lafayette, CO

LEGAL SHENANIGANS

Attorney Irving Pinsky has threatened to sue the state of Connecticut, accusing officials there of neglecting their duty to protect students at Sandy Hook Elementary.

“Massing killings have been going on in schools for 15 years. Don’t you think education bureaucrats and liberal politicians are responsible for killing various initiatives to protect schools?”

Al McConachie

Concord, CA

“Don’t call Irving Pinsky an attorney just because he has a law degree. An attorney represents another; this clown only represents himself.”

Paul Greisen

Sacramento, CA

“The attorney suing the state for $100 million for the Newtown tragedy has both a formal reprimand and a 3-year suspension from the state bar for misconduct in separate incidents.”

Margaret Hardin

West Sacramento, CA

“Irving Pinhead-sky would be a more appropriate name.”

Jeff Phillips

Lexington, KY

“In the wake of the horrible national tragedy, this idiot comes out and all he does is increase the suffering of the families who lost loved ones.”

Mark Levine

Philadelphia, PA

“The only surprise in the lawsuit Irving Pinsky filed against the state of Connecticut is that he beat Gloria Allred to it.”

Bill Daly

Argyle, TX

CURSES!

Speaker of the House John Boehner reportedly told Democratic Senator Harry Reid to go f*ck himself during fiscal cliff debates. Plus, why can’t Congress pass a relief package for the victims of Hurricane Sandy?

“I don’t blame John Boehner. Whenever Harry Reid comes on TV, I shout pretty much the same things at him.”

Richard Winter

Janesville, MN

“Because of political cowardice, Harry Reid has defied our laws and refused to pass a budget in the Senate for three years. He’s a power-hungry political hack and unscrupulous liar.”

Leslie Starvrowsky

Austin, TX

“Bravo to Speaker Boehner for his bold and fresh talk to Harry Reid. I actually say the same thing to Reid, Pelosi, and Obama when I’m yelling at the TV on a daily basis.”

John Reddington

Indianapolis, IN

“Between the fiscal cliff and the run-around over Hurricane Sandy aid, this situation in Washington is getting unthinkable.”

John Gaccione

Henderson, NV

“I can’t believe that a bill has to be established to help American citizens rebuild. Where is the American spirit to help those in need?”

Sandy

Ivanhoe, CA

“If Obama wanted to cut the red tape as he promised for those impacted by Sandy, why doesn’t he just come forward and demand an up or down vote with no pork attached?”

Ron Baer, Sr.

Allegany, NY

“The bill consists of more futile spending: salmon relief in Alaska, a new roof for the Smithsonian, etc.”

Jacky Hawthorne

Dallas, TX

“Politicians loaded the bill with tens of millions of dollars in pork. I think the Speaker should be given credit for taking the heat and doing the right thing.”

Dr. Gene DiMarco

Egg Harbor Township, NJ

“It appears our fine legislators have padded this bill with a bunch of pork unrelated to Sandy relief, so I’m sure that’s why the House failed to act.”

Jim Molesky

Cleveland, OH

HOLLYWOOD GUN CONTROL

A PSA featuring celebrities demanding action on gun control has some crying foul: if they really oppose guns, why are they still acting in violent movies?

“I totally agree with your take on actors against guns being hypocritical for using guns in movies. I’m anti-abortion, and if I were an actress, I’d never portray a woman who terminated her pregnancy.”

Laura Williams

Novi, MI

“They claim they’re only playing a role, which has no impact on people’s actions. But if that were true, why the enormous campaign to eradicate smoking from movies?”

Tim Zank

Angola, IN

“Who cares what the Hollywood elites have to say? They’re hypocrites for advocating gun control, then having their own armed bodyguards.”

Debbie Kaylor

Lakewood, CO

“The NRA is demonized for advocating safety and responsible gun ownership, and these pinhead actors are praised for promoting ultra-violent films.”

Mike Storm

Plains, MT

“Violence in movies does not make celebrities hypocrites when they promote gun control. However, when their bodyguards pack heat, they’re definitely being hypocritical.”

Mar-Sue Ratzke

Bellingham, WA

“Did somebody put a gun to the actors’ heads and force them to take these roles? If they are against guns, they should practice what they preach.”

David Garrett

Houston, TX

“Your description of the celebrities in the anti-gun spot was inaccurate and offensive. They were saying the exact same thing as most of my friends say.”

Thomas Tauchert

Hawthorne, NJ

“Many actors, directors, and producers who make their living from violent movies are expressing outrage against recent gun violence. Why not levy a huge excise tax on movies and video games?”

Michael McGee

Bangkok, Thailand

Viewer Mail for Thursday, December 20

2012-12-20T20:05:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Your not-so-subtle threat to launch a boycott of Mexico made the difference in this situation. The power of the purse is often the only thing that can truly make a difference in today’s world.”

Randy Rossi

Cook County, IL

WELCOME HOME!

Cpl. Jon Hammar, a former Marine who was being held in Mexico on weapons charges, is freed and sent home in time for Christmas.

“I applaud you taking a leadership position in getting Cpl. Hammar released. You stepped up to the plate when others would not. We all owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Terry Henkel

Decatur, IL

“Jon Hammar would still be in a Mexican prison if you hadn’t gotten involved. I hope his family is very grateful to you.”

Candy Anderson

DeKalb, IL

“As a former Marine, my blood boiled when I heard about Jon Hammar being held in a Mexican prison and restrained to his bunk bed by leg chains. Where in the world were Mexican authorities on this outrageous and bogus charge?”

Mike Redwine

Arlington, VA

“I think your efforts, along with viewer support, were instrumental in making this happen. President Obama shamefully dropped the ball on this one by remaining silent, but I’m not surprised one bit.”

Donald Wright

Sacto, CA

“The release of Jon Hammar from an obviously illegitimate incarceration in Mexico speaks volumes about your ongoing commitment towards safeguarding our individual rights. Without your dedication of valuable air time, he would likely still be there.”

Frank Harrison

Cranberry Township, PA

“The release of Jon Hammar was an early Christmas present to our whole country. Thank you for leading the charge on this. Semper Fi.”

Ed Stelzer

New Hartford, NY

“Thank you for helping get Marine veteran Jon Hammar released from the sham charges and inhumane prison in Mexico. Exposing the game of corruption is half the battle.”

Demaris Marsoli

Concord, NH

“As an American, I would rather have you working on my release than our own State Department. Thanks for truly looking out for us!”

Ray Terry

Chattanooga, TN

“Kudos, Bill! I hold you directly responsible for this young man’s release. The State Department was dragging its collective feet on this until you got involved.”

Richard Hood

Buford, GA

“I am the proud father of a Marine and I can’t imagine the hell his parents have been through during these past four months.”

David Padfield

Zion, IL

“Not only will Jon Hammar sleep in peace tonight, but all Americans can feel a little safer because you are definitely looking out for us.”

John Kline

Wolcottville, IN

“Thank you for your vocal support of this young veteran. You truly gave his family a Merry Christmas indeed.”

Tim Taylor

Safford, AZ

MIXED MAILBAG

A sampling of emails on a variety of topics from viewers at home and abroad….

“After watching my mom die from cancer, I can assure you the federal government doesn’t control health care in this country. Insurance companies do.”

Jim Mancuso

Subic Bay, Philippines

“Franklin Roosevelt greatly expanded the size of government and made it a threat to our personal freedom. President Obama, however, is taking it to new levels.”

Chris Topple

Oshawa, Canada

“My observation in watching your show, particularly after the recent shooting in Newtown, is that the quest for individual freedom is often at the cost of national well-being.”

Ken Thornton

Newcastle, Australia

“I finished both Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln. What excellent reads! May I suggest that your next book be Killing Jesus?”

Paul Butko

Sarasota, FL

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, December 19

2012-12-19T17:28:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“It’s very sad that as the politicians debate and propose gun control legislation, their #1 concern is not saving lives, but how their vote may impact their re-election chances.”

Nancy Brown

Kansas City, MO

FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP?

Are President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton getting involved enough in working for the release of Cpl. Jon Hammar from a Mexican prison?

“Maybe we should get Jesse Jackson involved in the release of Cpl. Jon Hammar from a Mexican prison. He has a great track record of negotiating with foreign prisons.”

Denise Spencer
Bayonne, NJ

“My family has cancelled a cruise to Mexico for next spring and we’re boycotting all travel to that country until former Marine Jon Hammar is released with an apology from the Mexican government.”

Gary Warren

Crosby, TX

“President Obama is able to find plenty of time to attend fundraisers in Hollywood, so there’s no excuse for not acting swiftly to get Mr. Hammar released from that Mexican jail.”

Brent Olson

Chicago, IL

“Cpl. Hammar is to be released from his wrongful imprisonment immediately or Mexico should be made to realize that if they thought the Mexican-American War was bad, wait until the next crap storm that we’ll rain down on them.”

Ken Irvin

Branson, MO

“You can bet if Sandra Fluke was down in a Mexican jail, President Obama would be right there to help. Jon Hammar only served our country, so he must not deserve the President’s attention.”

Terry Summers

Tok, AK

“I have not cried since my father died ten years ago, but the incarceration of Cpl. Hammar in Mexico and our government’s lack of response have made me cry. This is an American hero, who deserves to be released after being arrested for no discernible reason.”

Ruth Genuth

Brooklyn, NY

“How did he think he was going to get through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and into Costa Rico to hunt with that firearm? He was quite naïve for a Marine.”

Wilfred Johnson

El Tejar, Guatemala

“Let’s do Mexico a favor: we will trade them one-third of the illegal aliens in our prisons for this one America. Sounds fair to me!”

John Boers

Wildomar, CA

“If I was President, I would tell Mexico that every day Cpl. Hammar is in prison, we will hold back one million dollars in aid.”

Camden Coughran

Jacksonville, AR

“We have 13 million illegal Mexicans in the United States. The Mexican president and Democrats want us to grant full rights to these people, yet their silencing is deafening while an American Marine is being unjustly held in a Mexican prison.”

Alan Skorski

West Hempstead, NY

“If Alan Colmes is right and the President has too much on his plate to speak out for a Marine being wrongly imprisoned in Mexico, that is a travesty.”

Kevin Crawford

Blue Springs, MS

“It is illegal to take guns into Mexico. The U.S. government tells its citizens the risk – up to 30 years in jail.”

Grahame Walton

New Zealand

GUN ACTION

President Obama announces that VP Joe Biden will lead a commission tasked with finding solutions to the gun violence problem in America.

“Can you point to one significant thing Biden has accomplished in four years that would indicate he’s qualified to handle the gun issue?”

Karl Jenkins

Phoenix, AZ

“Please tell Alan Colmes that the background check he suggested as a new law would not have prevented the shooting in Newtown. The guns were purchased by Ms. Lanza.”

Randy Mattingley

Kingwood, TX

“Explain to me how the government will control guns. They couldn’t control booze from 1920 to 1933; they can’t control illegal drugs today. The crooks would end up with guns while law-abiding citizens paid the price.”

Bob Amstutz

Bluffton, OH

“Putting Vice President Biden in charge of a gun control panel makes perfect sense to me. He’s been a loose cannon around Washington for years, so he should know lots about guns.”

Anthony Hills

Jamestown, NY

“Legislating more restrictive gun laws is treating only the symptoms of the problem. The real cause is the continuing decline of moral attitudes, which started more than 40 years ago.”

Gene Mrava

Midlothian, VA

“Biden in charge of gun control? He’ll shoot his own eye out!”

Stan Crump

Amarillo, TX

“As a gun owner and NRA member, I’m glad the President’s efforts to restrict our freedoms have been placed in the Vice President’s capable hands.”

Frank Laureano

Plano, TX

“You made a snide remark about the NRA’s decision not to speak about Newtown for a week after the tragedy, but they indicated the decision was based on respect for the families and community. Why can’t you accept that decision?”

Jim Shively

Belleville, IL

“The media is protecting Hillary from any negativity on the Benghazi story. She conveniently had a cold, then a concussion, and her subordinates took the blame for her in her absence.”

Lenny Dziekowicz

New Hartford, NY

“Susan Rice took a lot of justified heat over her insistence that the Benghazi attack was the result of a Muslim hate video. But Hillary Clinton made those same claims, and she seems to get a free pass.”

Alan Murray

Ventura, CA

“When athletes suffer concussions, they return to contact sports in a shorter period of time than Hillary Clinton has returned to her duties at the State Department. Why isn’t anyone asking when she’ll be available to testify about Benghazi?”

Jim Nebel

Yorba Linda, CA

“Unfortunately, Mrs. Clinton suffered a concussion that will surely leave her with amnesia about the Benghazi incident.”

Tim Sullivan

Warwick, RI

Viewer Mail for Monday, December 17

2012-12-17T16:47:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Knowing that her child was unstable, why did Adam Lanza’s mother introduce him to guns, teach him how to shoot, and give him access to her collection? New gun laws won’t prevent bad judgment.”

Roger Wood

Ocala, FL

GET CONTROL!

Will gun control measures like banning assault weapons or expanding background checks for gun ownership help curb the gun violence we’re seeing in America?

“Juan Williams’ assertion that we should do background checks on entire families for the purchase of firearms is evidence that the left wants to confiscate all our guns. I would give up some freedom if it would prevent a child’s death, but this is not the way to go about it.”

Roger Miller

Elbert, CO

“You seem to think the federal government is the answer to everything. States have the right to decide gun laws for their citizens.”

LaJuana Gillette

Lake Havasu City, AZ

“The solution to the school shooting problem is not to attempt to ban guns. We should equip teachers with stun guns, which wouldn’t kill the perp but would disable them until authorities could arrive.”

Hugh McLean

Berkley, MI

“Juan Williams is wrong when he says firearms can change hands legally between private persons. Federal law mandates all firearms must be registered through a licensed dealer.”

Bill Davis

Mission Hills, CA

“Seriously Juan Williams? A full family background check? My cousin Vinny is a creep, so I can’t own a firearm and protect my family?”

Gene Costanza

Eugene, OR

“You say the shooter did nothing that would have called for him to be locked up. The great majority of gun owners have done nothing that calls for them to surrender their guns.”

R.G. Yoho

Little Hocking, OH

“Nobody needs assault weapons, period. It will take years to get them off the streets, but we also need to make it more difficult to get any sort of gun.”

Dick Meyer

Charlotte, NC

“If England had gun control in 1776, we’d still be subjects of the Queen.”

Godfrey Anderson

Youngstown, OH

“You’re mimicking anti-gun politicians when you fail to tell us how you will remove guns from the criminals who illegally use them. Law-abiding gun owners are not the culprits of most gun crimes.”

Rev. Bill Sladek

Windsor, CO

“I support our right to bear arms, but stricter laws are indeed needed. However, unless we change our culture of violence, all the gun laws in the world will be useless.”

Regina Leadem

Madison, CT

“Here’s a simple solution: get two teachers in every school who are willing to be weapon-trained and have handguns securely locked in their classrooms.”

Leonard Buchner

Elverta, CA

“As a police officer, I must take issue with your gun control views. The Second Amendment is not about hunting or target practice. It’s a check on the government.”

Brian Groves

Long Island, NY

“Lots of celebrities have called on me to turn in my gun collection. I will do that as soon as their bodyguards do as well.”

Earl Tenney

Orem, UT

“Why do the President and Mayor Bloomberg surround themselves with armed guards? Are our children any less important?”

Rob Baxter

Grand Forks, Canada

CULTURE OF VIOLENCE

America suffers from more gun violence than other advanced nations. Should part of the blame be assigned to ultra-violent video games and movies?

“While I’m in favor of banning assault weapons, we can’t look at the violence in America as a one-issue problem. Mental health programs need to be improved, and violent video games and movies need to be gone.”

Jen Eubanks

Hoover, AL

“My heart is heavy for the people of Newtown. I blame the media and an inattentive, permissive society for the violence we see too often now.”

Lisa Thompson

Flippin, AR

“Violent video games and movies are just as dangerous as guns. Until Americans understand this and refuse to support the companies that put this junk out, the violence will continue.”

Becky Hamman

Stamford, CT

“Growing up in the 50s and 60s, the most violent video game we had was Pac Man. There were no school shootings. The more violent the video games get, the more shootings we seem to have.”

Roger Pederson

Lake Havasu, AZ

“Video games are played by kids all across the world, and they’re not driving everyone to commit violent acts. If you want to lay blame somewhere, it’s the media giving these sick people notoriety for their crimes.”

Shane Schmitt

Creve Coeur, IL

“The reason America is the most violent nation in the world is because of the movies and video games to which our children are exposed. It is really a no-brainer.”

Clyde Kemp

Ardmore, OK

“The most murderous period in this country was the 20s and 30s. Violent movies and video games didn’t exist back then, so to imply they are responsible for the killings now is idiocy.”

Kyle Miller

Indianapolis, IN

Viewer Mail for Friday, December 14

2012-12-14T16:21:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Although Adam Lanza is completely responsible for his senseless crime, this is just another example of what secularism and moral relativism have brought. We’ve lost respect for life.”

Joseph Matarazzo

Tobyhanna, PA

BOGUS GUN CHARGES?

A former Marine has been holed up in a Mexican prison for four months on gun possession charges. Why won’t the U.S. State Department intervene?

“In the case of Jon Hammar being held in a Mexican prison, I suggest a boycott of cruise lines that travel to Mexico from U.S. ports. This commercial entity could have him released very quickly.”

Milt Burford

Bakersfield, CA

“The Florida Congressman on your program suggested the drug cartels control this prison more than the Mexican government. Could they be trying to force the release of one of their own?”

Glen Mead

Philippines

“A true leader would do what is right and make sure Jon Hammar is home in time for Christmas. This will be a test for President Obama.”

Dale Milander

Reno, NV

“Why not send a couple of SEAL teams into Mexico to get Hammar back? If they can invade us, we can invade them.”

Ronald Shipe

Penns Creek, PA

“I have wanted to visit Mexico for a long time, but have been delaying my trip because of fear of corruption by the Mexican government. The President of Mexico needs to make a personal commitment that visitors to his country will be protected before I reconsider.”

Thomas Sullivan, Jr.

Richmond, MO

“Mr. Obama took the time to call Sandra Fluke, yet he’s ignoring the American war veteran Jon Hammar. It should not take a petition to force the White House to respond appropriately.”

Jeanne Roberts

Livermore, CA

“My wife and I have a vacation planned to Mexico in February, but after hearing this appalling travesty, we have cancelled our trip. We’re also encouraging all of our friends to boycott travel to Mexico.”

Michael Samaniego

Atascadero, CA

EVIL EMPIRE

Has our culture become so coarsened that massacres like the one in Newtown, Connecticut, are now inevitable?

“As our society slowly escorts out any public expression of faith, the other door is opening wider for evil to come in. Our faith is our moral compass.”

Dolores Gantt

Murray, KY

“We can’t stop evil, but we could quit feeding it with violent movies, TV programs, and video games.”

Richard Danielson

West Jordan, UT

“The left will blame guns, but I blame the left. For more than 40 years, they’ve done all they can to remove any mention of God, morality, or judgment in favor of tolerance for everything. Why should we be surprised when senseless acts of evil are committed?”

Robert Cooper

Breckenridge, CO

“I don’t like the word evil – it trivializes and sweeps into the corner violent behavior which we should seek to understand.”

Alice Hickethier

Belfair, WA

“Evil abounds when good men do nothing. Good men are becoming remiss in teaching their children about God, so they’ve instilled no reference between good and evil.”

J. Harper

Decatur, TX

“Increasingly, we live in a culture of violence where life is cheapened and killings are glamorized in pop culture. Tragedies like the one in Newtown should not surprise us.”

Gary Haertel

Sussex, WI

“Evil is something we can escape, but not without help. That’s where faith in each other and God comes into the equation. My thoughts and prayers are with the Newtown families.”

Zachary Bryant

Pueblo, CO

“Part of the underlying equation of evil is that we are becoming so focused on technology that we’re no longer bonding as human beings.”

Beth Carbonaro

Charleston, IL

“It’s ironic that we’ll pay money to see violence depicted on a movie screen and call it entertainment. When we experience the exact same thing in real life like at Sandy Hook Elementary, we get all upset.”

Sym Terhune

The Villages, FL

“We need more mental health education. People act out because they are angry, and their anger usually stems from hurt that they can’t express.”

Jane McCarty

Harrison, NY

“We have kicked God out of our society and we wonder why evil is on the increase? How clueless!”

Sharon Lewis

Hemet, CA

“I don’t think Americans realize how stupid and insane their passionate support of the Second Amendment appears to reasonable and civilized people around the world.”

Steve

Australia

“Could the shooter have been on Prozac? Suicidal tendencies are one of the side effects of this drug and other anti-depressants. This aspect of the story needs to be investigated.”

Julie Culshaw

Halifax, Canada

“I have argued for years that society’s growing ‘anything goes’ mentality has desensitized our youth to death. These mass killings never seem to be carried out by middle aged or elderly people.”

Hal Shuster

Mornington, Australia

Viewer Mail for Thursday, December 13

2012-12-13T15:56:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Ex-Marine Jon Hammar was arrested in Mexico and is being held for trial. Maybe we can negotiate his release by offering to return the 12 million illegal Mexicans in our country.”

Albert Bianchini

Pittsburgh, PA

SECULARISM ON THE RISE

Talking Points believes pro-gay marriage and anti-Christmas advocates are now out in force because they’ve been emboldened by President Obama’s re-election.

“My belief is that, according to both the Old and New Testaments, same-sex relationships are not approved by God. God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”

Greg Miller

Johnson City, TN

“I’m positive Thomas Jefferson would agree that the baby Jesus does not belong in the town square. His image represents religion.”

Sherry Rosen

Canoga Park, CA

“Last time I checked, Christmas was not a Judeo-Christian celebration. That’s a mistake you keep repeating.”

Eric Zimmerman, M.D.

Dearborn Heights, MI

“Your Talking Points on Christmas was spectacular, even though I think your definition of Christianity is a little broad. Regardless, you are never ineloquent.”

Jonathan Shilts

Westminster, MD

STATE DEPARTMENT SHAKEUP

In the wake of the Libya controversy, Susan Rice has removed herself from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

“The administration trotted out someone who they admit knew nothing. Hillary Clinton should have faced the American people because it was her employees who were killed.”

Louise O’Reilly

Port Angeles, WA

“Susan Rice did not remove herself from Secretary of State consideration to prevent a battle in Congress. She didn’t want to be put under oath and forced to answer questions about her Benghazi misrepresentations.”

Robert Castleberry

Pasco, WA

ANTI-FEMINIST?

Feminist scholar Camille Paglia is accusing pop stars like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry of setting back the cause of feminism with their “insipid” music.

“I find it ironic that your Culture Warriors were discussing the lack of modesty by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry while exposing décolleté themselves. Cover up!”

Fay Phillips

Lubbock, TX

“Every parent of a daughter just shuddered at your contention that Katy Perry is a role model for young girls. Her lyrics about having a ménage a trois ought to remove her from this category.”

Scott Schaffer

Pensacola, FL

“I may not agree with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry completely, but they are two very talented, attractive young women. Does Ms. Paglia consider Madonna to be a good role model? Yikes!”

Jeff Rowan

Connellsville, PA

“Why do feminists criticize someone like Taylor Swift who is young, smart, talented, beautiful, and actually seems to have morals? Is it jealousy?”

Barbara Freezer

Kitty Hawk, NC

“Camille Paglia’s feigned disdain for pop icons like Taylor Swift reflects the fading face of militant feminism, which has become counter-productive for women in the 21^st century.”

Dave Stang

Jacksonville, FL

BORDER WARS

27-year-old former Marine Jon Hammar has been in a Mexican prison for four months after taking a shotgun across the border to hunt.

“I have a timeshare in Mexico, but will not spend my money there until Mr. Hammar comes home.”

Susan Hayes

Kent, WA

“This bogus arrest infuriates me. My family has vacationed in Cancun three times, but never again unless this Marine is returned home immediately.”

Stephen Williams

Summerside, OH

“Jon Hammar obviously does not meet President Obama’s threshold to warrant swift and decisive intervention. If only Mr. Hammar had been detained by the Cambridge police, a beer summit certainly would resolve the dilemma.”

Mark Adams

Marshall, TX

“I am an American of Mexican descent and the father of an Iraq war vet. With the extensive aid we provide Mexico, it’s appalling that Cpl. Hammar is still being held in jail there for committing no crime.”

Dan Sandoval

New Berlin, WI

“Mexico and the U.S. should both be ashamed of themselves. They can’t get the cartels or their weapons, but they can arrest an innocent American citizen? Hillary Clinton and President Obama need to make this a priority.”

Barbara Freezer

Kitty Hawk, NC

“You can get Jon Hammar released quickly if you just suggest a boycott of travel to Mexico. It would be even better if our government withheld some aid money, but that will never happen.”

Pedro Giralt

Miami, FL

“If Cpl. Hammar spends Christmas in a Mexican jail, I will be cancelling my planned trip to Cancun. I strongly encourage you to suggest the same to the rest of your viewers.”

Patrick Grainger

Cottage Grove, WI

“I live in San Diego and go into Mexico often. There are signs on the freeway before you get to the border stating that no guns, ammo, or weapons are allowed into Mexico. If we want Mexicans to come here and obey our laws, we have to do the same.”

David Curran

San Diego, CA

“Apparently the Mexican government cannot arrest violent cartel murderers, but they jumped all over Jon Hammar when he tried to do the right thing by declaring his grandfather’s firearm.”

Bill Davis

Mission Hills, CA

“Why is Jon Hammar still in a Mexican prison? This is a travesty. It would only take one phone call by President Obama to get him released.”

Greg Kurth

Phoenix, AZ

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, December 12

2012-12-12T15:31:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Barbara Walters qualified her acceptance of higher taxes saying she doesn’t mind paying more ‘if it helps this country.’ That’s a pretty big ‘if’ if you ask me.”

Brian Stonis

Orlando, FL

UNION WOES

A new state law in Michigan that allows workers to legally opt out of joining a union has incited some violent incidents.

“What is happening in Michigan is very similar to the riots we’re seeing in Greece. It has begun here in the states.”

Mark Shaw, M.D.

Brentwood, TN

“With the re-election of Obama and the union violence that followed, we are not well into the Obamafication of America.”

Richard Kwiecienski

Sugarmill Woods, FL

“Please tell your guest to stop acting like an ostrich and admit that the union members in Michigan are a bunch of hooligans.”

Christine Lisiecki

Macungie, PA

“I am a proud union member, but what I witnessed in Michigan was appalling. I guess they resorted to violence because they feel their monopoly on labor is crumbling.”

Frank Jaworski

Northern Mariana Islands

“I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that President Obama will not host a White House beer summit between Steven Crowder and the union thug who attacked him.”

Gary Walker

Bakersfield, CA

“I experienced union violence. It is particularly prominent in the auto industry, but you won’t hear about it in the left-wing media.”

Steve Stephens

Allyn, WA

“You pointed out the elephant in the room: ABC, NBC, and CBS didn’t show the beating of Steven Crowder because these networks refuse to portray unions in a negative light.”

Pat Tames

Milleville, NJ

“Union claims that non-members would be getting a free ride are BS. There are many other organizations that work for the good of all people, not just a select few, without being mandated to join.”

Ron Geren

Scottsdale, AZ

FASCINATING POLITICS?

ABC’s Barbara Walters entered the no spin zone to promote her annual ‘most fascinating people’ special, and weighed in on taxes and President Obama’s job performance.

“When rich liberals like Barbara Walters say they don’t mind paying more taxes, you gotta start asking them why they don’t just make a voluntary contribution.”

John Metzger

Ontario, NY

“Barbara Walters called you blessed, which is the new liberal trope for redistribution. You didn’t earn success; it was apparently bestowed upon you.”

Jim Foster

Palisades Park, NJ

“You missed a golden opportunity when you asked Ms. Walters if she thought President Obama was a good president. It took her awhile to say yes…why?”

Allan Blanchard

Clever, MO

“When I was young, I admired Barbara Walters and watched her specials enthusiastically. Now that I’m older, I could care less what she has to say, especially about President Obama and the state of this country.”

Lynn Mogensen

Kansas City, MO

“You go easy on liberal celebrities who appear on the Factor, like Barbara Walters and Ben Affleck. I think you want to attract more of the same so you tread lightly.”

Darlene Coberly

Venice, FL

“After listening to Barbara Walters, I think she’s spent too long on the Upper East Side of Manhattan drinking the liberal Kool-Aid. She needs to spend more time with regular folks.”

Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“Barbara Walters is an Obama groupie. Asking her if Obama is a good president is like asking Santa if he likes Christmas.”

David VanVleet

Federal Way, WA

“You and Dennis Miller are the most unfascinating people in America.”

Alberto Ferrigno

Monterrey, Mexico

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON

The Factor recommends listening to the Carpenters Christmas album to get into the holiday spirit.

“The Carpenters Christmas album is a snooze fest, but Alvin and the Chipmunks are the absolute best! Listen to them for 30 seconds and you can’t help but smile.”

Tricia Seybold

Tafton, PA

“Karen Carpenter had a voice. However, the best Christmas album ever is Aaron Neville. Listen and you’ll agree.”

Rebecca Savu

Charlotte, NC

“Carpenters Christmas has been my favorite Christmas album for years. Karen Carpenter sings all of the classics beautifully.”

Nancy Swift

Santa Barbara, CA

“Karen sings beautifully, but there is also fabulous orchestration and arrangement. Every song on the album is a classic rendition.”

Sandra Waite

Salt Lake City, UT

“I’m a professional orchestra conductor and, in my opinion, there is no better holiday album than the Carpenters. Karen’s voice was angelic and the arrangements were masterful.”

Jeffrey Reed

Bowling Green, KY

“I cheered when you said the best Christmas album is by the Carpenters. I never get tired of hearing Karen Carpenter’s beautiful voice, especially singing ‘Merry Christmas Darling.’”

Cindy Shelley

Pasadena, MD

“I’ve played the Carpenter Christmas album every year for my two teenage stepsons, and they groan and make faces and tell me I’m lame. But I don’t care – I’ll keep playing it!”

Jan Brown

Livermore, CA

“The Carpenters has always been my favorite Christmas album. I sing the whole album every year while decorating the house.”

Julie Sessler

Arlington, TX

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, December 11

2012-12-11T21:35:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“When Mr. Stossel mentioned all the suffering in the world as proof there’s no God, you countered with the free will argument. But why would an omniscient, omnipotent, and loving God allow many of his people to suffer without intervening?”

Howard Powders

Sun City Center, FL

UNION SHOWDOWN

Michigan’s GOP-led legislature has passed laws enabling employees to work without being coerced to join a union.

“In California, my union compels me to pay dues, many of which go toward the advocacy of political parties. I only wish I had the choice that Michigan workers have now.”

Paul Roscelli

Redwood City, CA

“Union rank and file are angry about right-to-work laws because they’re afraid of competition. Union membership doesn’t make you more productive. Non-union workers are equally skilled as their union counterparts.”

Dan Gorenflo

Moorefield, WV

“I’ve heard Michigan union members complaining about non-union workers getting benefits they didn’t earn. Guess they were uninformed of the cornerstone of Obama’s platform while they were supporting his re-election.”

Mark Karnauch

Dripping Springs, TX

“The only reason Obama and other left-wing politicians hate right-to-work legislation is because unions are cash cows for them. Fewer members mean less campaign contributions.”

Rod Douglas

Milton, VT

“Why does President Obama have anything to say about Michigan’s law? It was a democratic vote, and the people spoke.”

Caroline Utley

Cortez, CO

“Don’t people remember that when unions were first formed every state was a right-to-work state? Is there still even a need for unions?”

Milan John Blazek

Chicago, IL

“If unions are a good thing, why would they need to force people to join? Given a choice, wouldn’t workers be lined up to become members?”

Eddie Owens

Clayton, OK

“You asked Gov. Snyder if right-to-work would help bring jobs and business to our great state, then ten minutes later talked about the Chrysler workers getting their jobs back after being caught smoking dope on the job. No wonder business is becoming increasingly sour on labor unions.”

Phil Pavona

Okemos, MI

SELF-PROFESSED HEATHEN

Fox Business guy John Stossel, a reluctant atheist, is hosting an upcoming special called “Science vs. God.”

“In John Stossel’s words, believers seem more at peace than others. By any chance, could this peace come from the grace of God?”

Gerald Gray

Fairland, IN

“If there was no more to us humans than pure physical matter, we would not have the capacity to question God and existence. Stossel will never believe in God until he truly wants to.”

Dan Hodges

St. Petersburg, FL

“John Stossel said he didn’t believe in God, and you took the low road. Grow a backbone and stand up for religion.”

Jan Stevens

Union, SC

“I appreciate you standing up for Christianity and morality. You don’t claim to be a theologian, and you need a little help in this area.”

Les Carl

Moorhead, MN

“John Stossel can’t know God no matter how much he tries. For that to happen, he’d need a spiritual birth, to which he is clearly resistant.”

Ed Reiss

Kutztown, PA

“Religion is only addressing the question of the supernatural, not the natural world in which we reside.”

Bob Meyer

Goldsboro, NC

“If you water down Scripture to placate someone who believes in the religion of science like you did with Stossel, how is that any different than trying to placate the secularists who wish to do away with Christmas?”

David Spangler

Ephrata, PA

“God did not give us cancer or homicide, but he did give us compassion, forgiveness, and empathy. Science cannot justify our emotions.”

Billy Potter

Apharetta, GA

“I am Christian and often find that most people who take issue with the Bible are interpreting it literally. It is a symbolic book.”

Andrew Beaman

Dacula, GA

TAXATION VEXATION

President Obama insists wealthy Americans must pay their “fair share” of taxes, but how much would that be exactly?

“You are right about taxes, but who cares? It is not the biggest challenge we face and I’m tired of hearing about it all the time. Spending is out of control; that’s where the focus should be.”

Jackie Taylor

Long Island, NY

“When I give money to someone, it is being benevolent. When the government taxes me to give my money to others, it is theft.”

Steve Hanson

Omaha, NE

“Mr. Krauthammer got it wrong when he said taxation is not a moral issue. Obligating our children with tax burdens through wild spending is immoral.”

Laurie Grubb

Dallas, TX

“Why can’t the useless Republican Party articulate the tax issue as well as Charles Krauthammer? He said more in five minutes than they did in two years of campaigning.”

Jim Hudock

Folsom, CA

“The philosophy of the Founders on taxes was not to seize personal income, nor was it authorized in the Constitution. The Wilson administration ratified the 16^th Amendment in order to give the federal government the power to levy an income tax.”

Alex Baker

Dearborn, MI

“Dr. Krauthammer articulated the principles upon which our taxation should be based, as it was when our nation was founded. The facts he presented should be repeated often because Americans today have no understanding of them.”

Howard Bennett

Tulsa, OK

“Under Krauthammer’s logic, the government can tax the rich 100% on their income. The government would then provide everything it deems necessary for the masses – housing, food, medical care, etc. This sounds a lot like Russia to me.”

Joe Viera

Glendale, AZ

Viewer Mail for Monday, December 10

2012-12-10T17:51:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Since Jason Whitlock thinks the NRA is racist because a higher percentage of blacks are killed by guns, does the think pro-choicers are also racist because a higher percentage of blacks have abortions?”

Ryan Searle

Newburyport, MA

RACIAL PROVOCATEUR

Sportswriter Jason Whitlock, the man quoted by Bob Costas, is now saying some forces in America want guns in black communities so they kill each other off. Mr. Whitlock declined the Factor’s invitation, accusing your humble correspondent of being a white man summonsing whomever he wanted to the big house.

“Jason Whitlock is a mental midget who knows he’d be outwitted, embarrassed, and humiliated should he choose to appear on your program.”

Garry Miller

Jackson, TN

“As you read Jason Whitlock’s response to your invitation to appear on the program, I couldn’t help but think that he attempted to demonize you and portray you as a racist because it’s easier than admitting he’s scared of facing you.”

Marlene Bensch, Ph.D.

Livonia, MI

“I live in Kansas City where Mr. Whitlock used to be a sports reporter. Because of his negative, anti-causation attitude, the liberal Kansas City Star fired him.”

Lee Valentine

Kansas City, MO

“Mr. Whitlock was wrong to equate you with a slave-holding plantation owner, but was absolutely correct in identifying you as a mere television entertainer.”

Jeremy Shouse

Littleton, CO

“In light of the automobile death of another football player, shouldn’t Jason Whitlock call for outlawing cars?”

Dale Laine, Sr.

Las Vegas, NV

“Jason Whitlock is a whining race-baiter. He needs to be censored and banned from Fox News for his comments.”

Glen Spicer

Union City, TN

“If Jason Whitlock owns a firearm, shouldn’t he be forced to surrender it because he is obviously irresponsible and racist?”

Sam Person

Papillon, NE

“By citing a radical columnist like Whitlock, Bob Costas lost credibility. I give him points for appearing on the Factor, but for the most part, he’s hiding behind the commentary of a racial huckster.”

Dan Paul

Jacksonville, FL

BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

The President is playing hardball with Republicans on the fiscal cliff situation. What is his end goal here?

“Brit Hume is right. The GOP will be blamed for going over the cliff because Obama and the Democrats own the media. The media no longer just tilts left; it has rolled over to the left.”

John White, Jr.

Edgewater, FL

“Brit Hume says polling shows Republicans will get blamed for the fiscal cliff debacle. Is this the same polling that said Romney would win the White House?”

LaVerne Hendrix

Laquey, MO

“The White House wants us to go over the fiscal cliff because then everyone’s taxes go up to pay for social spending and the defense budget gets whacked with an axe.”

Steve Mittelstaedt

Ferndale, WA

“I am a Tea Party citizen. Many of us are telling our representatives to walk away from the negotiating table on this. Let Obama own this economy.”

Gail Funderburk

Galena, IL

“Why are folks suggesting Republicans have more to lose if the fiscal cliff budget cuts lead to a weaker military? Last time I checked a Democrat was our Commander-in-Chief.”

John Harrington

Houston, TX

“Republicans consistently assume their position to be clear and think everyone must understand where they’re coming from, while Democrats spend money and hire great talent to promote their positions.”

Jim McGee

Centennial, CO

OUTRAGEOUS COMMENTS

Reality Check takes on both Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader who railed against the so-called white tradition of Santa, as well as South Korean rapper Psy, who has a song about killing American troops.

“Farrakhan has a point in a tangential way. Santa Claus, the bearer of good gifts, has been groomed and over-emphasized to become a full-blown substitute for Jesus Christ.”

Len Johnson

Moscow, ID

“Louis Farrakhan needs to get out more. I’m from Wisconsin, not exactly a heavily African-American state, and I’ve seen some fantastic black Santas at malls.”

Ed Combs

Waupaca, WI

“If you have any influence at all, ask Santa to send Mr. Farrakhan a truck load of coal.”

Ed Doepke

Las Vegas, NV

“Perhaps Psy would be more comfortable with the U.S. if the 48,000 serving in South Korea escort him north across the DMZ so he can do his dance for the new supreme leader. I’m sure North Korea would embrace his free expression.”

Harry Emerson

Cathedral City, CA

“If the South Korean rapper is actually sorry for his anti-American rants, he should do some charity concerts in honor of wounded American soldiers. Without the USA, Psy would not be living in Gangnam style.”

Will Ulmer

Woodstock, NY

“I can’t believe you would gloss over Psy’s song about slowly and painfully killing Americans soldiers and their families. As a service member myself, I take these comments seriously and hope people will stop supporting this guy.”

Matt Johnson

Las Vegas, NV

“Why does every Fox anchor who mentions Psy feel compelled to play that awful, awful clip of Gangnum style? We’re all familiar with it by now, and it’s downright annoying.”

Leslie Harris

Winnipeg, Canada

Viewer Mail for Thursday, December 6

2012-12-06T17:22:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“You suggested government employees are on the dole. I’m a federal employee and can assure you I pay taxes at the same rate as someone in the private sector at my income level.”

Phil Formichella

Laurel, MD

DOING THE MATH

Right now, an estimated 66 million Americans are receiving food stamps and/or Medicare, with 21 million more working for the government. That means 87 million people are being subsidized by the taxpayers, but there are only 109 million Americans working in the private sector.

“I’ve been a NYC firefighter for more than 26 years, and in that time, I’ve saved countless lives. How dare you equate me with people on welfare. I work hard, pay my bills, and pay my taxes. How can I possibly be a freeloader?”

John Sullivan

Pearl River, NY

“Our entitlement mentality has to stop. I’m a small business owner. The government can’t keep taxing productive people like me just to help those who aren’t as productive.”

Jason Scheel

Watertown, WI

“I’m a federal employee who takes great offense at your implication that I’m on the public dole. You showed glaring ignorance of what federal civil servants do.”

John Drombowsky

Manassas, VA

“You’re just another multi-millionaire bashing the poor about receiving government assistance. I guess your moral compass changes once you become rich.”

Michael Stapleton

Minneapolis, MN

“When Lou Dobbs mentioned the amount of funds that can be received by a single mother and her two children, I wondered why we wouldn’t just cap the amount of assistance at some percentage above the poverty line.”

John Kohls

Cincinnati, OH

“In a Ronald Reagan stump speech for Barry Goldwater in 1965, he pointed out that a woman was better off to divorce her husband because of all the perks the state of California would give her. We’re still talking about it 47 years later.”

Jeff Nelson

San Diego, CA

“I resent the frequent use of the word ‘entitlements’ when talking about welfare recipients. While it is right and proper to help people truly in need, no one is entitled to be lazy.”

Will Kirste

Jonesboro, LA

“Americans need to realize that entitlements are not taxed; they are gifts. And here I thought Clinton’s welfare reform act put strong restrictions on it.”

Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“You are naïve to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt on out of control spending and his desire to raise taxes. It has never been about helping the less fortunate. It’s about creating permanent government dependency.”

D.A. Terry

Austin, TX

“You include 21.2 million government employees along with welfare recipients as those who must be supported by the tax dollars of privately employed persons. But government employees like me pay taxes just like private citizens!”

Tom Lalor

Virginia Beach, VA

“Depending on who you listen to, as many as 48 million of the 109 million working Americans pay no federal income tax so the entitlements are being funded by even fewer taxpayers.”

Rich David

Piscataway, NJ

GUNS & FOOTBALL

Laura Ingraham weighs in on whether it was appropriate for legendary sportscaster Bob Costas to opine on gun control during an NFL halftime report.

“No one wanted to hear that gun discussion during a football game. Sports announcers are free to have their opinions on other matters heard, but it should be in the proper forum.”

Frank Allen

Aurora, CO

“You claimed Bob Costas would prefer to be unarmed while sitting in the Aurora movie theater shooting. But he rightly indicated that returning fire in a dark and crowded theater would inevitably add more victims and lead to additional chaos.”

Albert Alexander

Killingworth, CT

“Bob Costas used an NFL halftime to campaign against our gun culture. Will he also use halftime to express disapproval of our entitlement culture? Not on NBC!”

Chris Kasting

Johnson City, TN

“Your friend Bob Costas has made several media appearances since his gun rant, which leads me to believe he was craving the spotlight and looking for some publicity.”

Terence Libro

Sea Isle City, NJ

CHRISTMAS KNOWLEDGE

Factor producer Jesse Watters took to the streets of New York City to find out how much Americans know about the birth of Jesus.

“A spice is used to flavor food. Myrrh is a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain trees and used in perfumery, medicine, and incense.”

Bubba Edwards

Centerville, GA

“When myrrh was presented to the baby Jesus as a gift, it was given as embalming oil. It was meant to acknowledge the human suffering Jesus would experience as a man.”

Christine Arnold

Arvada, CO

“The Bible says ‘wise men’ came from the East, but no number was given. Furthermore, it says there was a great disturbance caused by the wise men, but only three men would not have created much of a disturbance.”

Jim Edgington

Post Falls, ID

“The most common belief is that the three kings were from Persia, India, and Arabia, but the Chinese believe they were Chinese, and the Jews believe they were Jewish.”

Jane Gallagher

Bear, DE

“According to Wikipedia, the three wise men were from Persia, Arabia, and India. I guess we now know where Jesse Watters does his research.”

Austin Olson

Chandler, AZ

“Contrary to modern Christmas-card theory, the wise men actually did not visit Jesus in the stable at his birth. They came to his house a few years later.”

Donna Green

Lakeland, FL

“The Bible only states that wise men came from the East bearing three gifts; there may not have been three wise men. Maybe six guys doubled up on gifts.”

Robert Patrick

Denton, TX

“The three wise men, in their journey to find the newborn savior, did not use astrology, the study of the relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world, as you said. They used astronomy, which is the scientific study of celestial objects.”

Mike Currieri

Lake Stevens, WA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, December 5

2012-12-05T18:34:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I would argue that the current gun culture isn’t a ‘wild west cowboy’ culture as Bob Costas describes it, but rather a gratuitously violent gangsta culture.”

Mike Hansen

Omaha, NE

GUN CULTURE COMMENTS

Sportscaster Bob Costas enters the no spin zone to clarify his controversial remarks about America’s gun laws following the murder-suicide involving an armed NFL player.

“Your interview with Bob Costas was masterful. Guns are not the issue; lack of education and self-control are the issues.”

John DeRosa

Las Vegas, NV

“I know a lot of people are upset with Bob Costas, but I give him credit for coming on your show and answering the tough questions.”

Matt Hollis

Houston, TX

“Since statistics show alcohol is responsible for more deaths than guns, maybe Bob Costas should chastise the NFL for selling alcohol during games.”

Salvatore Lanara

Broadview Heights, OH

“The last time I saw someone backpedal that quickly was in a canoe going downriver towards a waterfall. I own guns. Thank you for standing up for our rights.”

Harvey Makos

Wisconsin

“Please inform Mr. Costas that thugs in the NFL’s ghetto culture are not a part of America’s rich gun tradition. A trip to the local gun range would do him well.”

Geoff McNew

Novato, CA

“You and Bob Costas don’t understand the Second Amendment. As long as the police and government have semi-automatic weapons, the citizens also have the option, as the founders intended it.”

Greg Gilman

Adams, TN

“A local NFL player was asked by a rookie what kind of gun he should get. The player responded that if there’s some place he felt he needed a gun, he shouldn’t go there.”

Marc Taylor

Overland Park, KS

“You should have asked Mr. Costas if he was in a theater with his wife, would he want to be able to protect himself instead of huddling on the floor hoping the police show up to save them?”

Diane Cook

Ellisville, MS

“Costas and the rest of the liberal media don’t report the times that someone with a gun saved their own or another person’s life.”

Ken Sparrow

Conway, AR

“Why didn’t you point out to Bob Costas that more guns equal less crime in most empirical studies involving conceal carry laws? He based his argument on false information that guns always have a negative impact on society.”

Jesse Bailey

Quincy, MA

“We don’t have a gun culture in America. We have a coddling of criminals culture. Our legal system does nothing to neither punish criminals nor protect the public from them.”
Paul Amedee

Kenner, LA

“Gun grabbers like Costas are far more dangerous to survival in life threatening situations than the imagined gun culture.”

Mary Jo Hearn

Albuquerque, NM

“Costas is wrong. All handguns require a background check, and few guns are sold person-to-person.”

Chuck Benesch

Sherman Oaks, CA

“Has Bob Costas never heard of the Brady Bill, which requires a 10-day waiting period to purchase a gun? He should shut up about important issues and stick to sports.”

Bill Davis

Mission Hills, CA

GOP’S RISING STAR

Senator Marco Rubio, a rising star in the Republican Party, explains why his state – Florida – went for President Obama on Election Day.

“You asked Marco Rubio why Florida went for Obama. I think because a good percentage of the state is senior citizens, who were scared by Paul Ryan’s speeches on Medicare.”

Virginia Boykin

Farmingdale, NY

“Republicans did not effectively inform the voters on the economy, Obama-care, the debt, and immigration. I hope they figure out how to do that in four years.”

Jim Swenson

Goodyear, AZ

“The reason Obama won Florida is because more people are getting stuff from the government than are paying for it.”

Chuck Waldron

Lakeland, FL

“My husband and I are convinced that if Gov. Romney had named Sen. Rubio as his running mate, he more than likely would have won the election.”

Sandi Zeller

Portland, OR

“The best line from Marco Rubio was when he said we don’t need new taxes, we need new taxpayers. The only way out of this mess is to create more jobs so more people are paying taxes.”

Patty Romano

Austin, TX

“As a Floridian and registered Republican, I feel fortunate to have such an articulate conservative representing my state. I’m still quite despondent over Mitt Romney’s loss.”

Mike Florio

Port St. Lucie, FL

“In the late 70s when conservatives needed someone who could clearly articulate their point of view to the American people, Ronald Reagan came forward. Today that voice may be Marco Rubio.”

Alan Brown

Anchorage, AK

“Sen. Rubio’s comment about people coming here from all over the world to escape big government was one of the most insightful comments I’ve heard in a long time. It really puts into perspective the focus our country should have.”

Matt Hoffmann

Annapolis, MD

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, December 4

2012-12-04T16:31:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“When all these people were teaching Jovan Belcher how to play football from Pop Warner to the NFL, who was teaching him to respect life, his body, and his family?”

Bill Isereau

Tomball, TX

DIVERTING BLAME

NFL player Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself. Then the excuses began: guns are at fault, violence in the NFL is to blame, etc. Whatever happened to personal responsibility in America?

“Mr. Belcher was a known villain. Let’s enforce the laws we have on the books and keep firearms out of the hands of folks prone to violence.”

Dennis Sutliff

Minneapolis, MN

“Blaming guns for Jovan Belcher’s actions is like blaming automobiles for drunk driving deaths.”

Bill Bagley

North Canton, OH

“Before you blame guns, let’s not forget that football is a violent sport that breeds violence. It is the modern-day remnants of medieval jousting.”

Joe Franklin

Goshen, AL

“The NFL has a lot to answer for in the recent rash of player suicides. I suspect Belcher was suffering from repeated concussions, steroid abuse, and painkiller abuse.”

Donna Green

Sandown, NH

“Maybe Jovan Belcher’s girlfriend should have had a handgun.”

Mike Storm

Plains, MT

“If society, and the NFL in particular, adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drug and alcohol abuse, and other criminal behavior, we would have fewer Jovan Belchers on our hands.”

Joe Stella

Friday Harbor, WA

“Adding painkillers and alcohol to bad behavior just pours gasoline on the fire. But the old saying still holds true: guns don’t kill people, people do.”

Dan Vinson

Scottsdale, AZ

“The best thing about Jovan Belcher having a gun in his possession is that he probably would not have been able to strangle himself in an act of suicide after having strangled the mother of his child.”

Joe Pace

Dallas, TX

“Dr. Keith Ablow criticized many of Jovan Belcher’s anti-social behaviors, but none of them were serious enough to result in his arrest or incarceration. Hindsight is 20/20.”

Rich McMahon

South Salem, NY

“Although drugs and painkillers may have contributed to the violent actions taken by Jovan Belcher, he could have made other choices. You cannot save people from themselves.”

Carol Grabowski

Gore, VA

“Psychiatrists are the biggest excuse-makers around. They don’t think anybody is responsible for their own behavior.”

Mike Manoogian

Los Angeles, CA

“Jovan Belcher had real issues and they will all come to light. Those making excuses for him seem to think the situation is made easier by placing blame elsewhere.”

Bill Radanof

Redmond, OR

“Pampered since high school by parents, fans, coaches, teachers, and wannabe girlfriends, young athletes can’t handle the pedestals they are placed upon. Belcher felt entitled to mistreat women. The gun was not responsible.”

Sandy Neely

Tucson, AZ

“When did Americans stop taking personal responsibility for their actions? The gun didn’t pull the trigger; Jovan Belcher did. End of story.”

Jason DiSalvo

Congers, NY

“This country has had an entire generation of children grow up seeing celebrities and politicians getting away with whatever they want without consequence. People need to be held accountable for their actions in order for society to thrive.”

Chris Arnold

Blue Springs, MO

“The excuse culture is alive and well in America. Just look at how President Obama blames others for every negative issue that comes up in his presidency.”

Jesse Oelbaum

Syosset, NY

LIBERAL DOMINATION

Fox Business guy (and Princeton grad) John Stossel analyzed why higher institutions of learning have become such a haven for far-left professors.

“How can you tell a Princeton professor is spouting liberal gibberish? His lips are moving.”

Marc Golaszewski

Phoenixville, PA

“The fact that most college professors have never been in the private industry world makes it no wonder that their politics are progressive. They have no knowledge of the real world impact of their proposed policies.”

John Bohing

Modesto, CA

“The liberal bias being presented throughout our education system today is astonishing. One of the required readings for my daughter’s education at college was a book by Bill Ayers.”

Beth Martin

Eagan, MN

“We are almost at the end of paying for seven years of higher education for our son, all from liberal educators. Our only recourse has been to offset his education with our own conservative beliefs.”

Maryann Eardley

Pompton Plains, NJ

“My son is studying to become a professor in ancient history. He is a conservative and I fear he has a long road ahead of him.”

Abye Scott

Highlands Ranch, CO

“I think conservative alumni of left-wing universities need to stop making contributions until they start hiring conservative professors. This is a much simpler solution than government-mandated hiring practices.”

Yoga Raval

Piqua, OH

“Isn’t it ironic that the same liberal professors who hail diversity as the justification for affirmative action demand conformity in political thought on campus?”

Paul Walorski

Columbus, IN

“Your affirmative action plan will not work! The lefty professors are all tenured.”

Thomas Peterson

Bay City, MI

Viewer Mail for Monday, December 3

2012-12-03T16:45:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Bob Costas picked a perfectly good football game to get all political on us. Is nothing sacred anymore?”

Roy Patrick

Bakersfield, CA

GUNS & FOOTBALL

NBC sportscaster Bob Costas is under fire for editorializing in favor of gun control during Sunday Night Football, following the murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chief football player Jovan Belcher.

“I guess it’s OK for Bob Costas to use NBC’s left-wing talking points on gun control, but he would have been fired if he came out against something like abortion.”

Ellen Donna

Brewerton, NY

“Bob Costas never said himself that he thought handguns should be outlawed. He was just quoting sports columnist Jason Whitlock.”

Aaron Gallaway

Topeka, KS

“You’re a problem solver. Mr. Goldberg said football players have a shorter life expectancy. So should professional football be banned?”

Pam Ashworth

Greenbrier, AR

“Bob Costas never should have editorialized on gun control during half-time of Sunday night football. He’s smart enough to know that such a comment would cause an uproar.”

Tom Hart

Sacramento, CA

“Bob Costas has had a long and illustrious career as a sportscaster and has reached the status of elder statesman. He is someone we trust to report objectively, so he should have been a bit more thoughtful Sunday night.”

Gail Ellingwood

Loyalton, CA

“If football is as dangerous as Bernie Goldberg claims, maybe football, and not guns, should be outlawed.”

Kenneth Besig

Kiryat Arba, Israel

“I’ve been around guns my entire life, and I’ve never robbed anyone, shot anyone, or committed a crime with my gun. I trust myself to protect my family over the police.”

Phil Sherriff

Novato, CA

“What has happened to this world that a person feels they need a gun to feel safe living in their own home? God help us.”

Eunice Hone

Dania Beach, FL

“The Founders were very wise. We own several guns. A well-armed population is a free population.”

Scott & Karen Goebel

Twain Harte, CA

“Guns aren’t the only way to commit a crime. If Belcher didn’t have a gun, he would have used knife, or even his fists, to commit murder.”

Chris York

Alexandria, VA

“The Constitutional right to bear arms has nothing to do with protection from crime and everything to do with a free citizenry being capable of defending itself from government tyranny.”

Michael Miller

Anderson, IN

“You were wrong when you said it’s a privilege for an American to own a gun, when in fact it’s our constitutional right and responsibility.”

John Jaco

Hartford, WI

“Please no more federal gun laws. These are local/state issues. The federal courts are already overrun.”

James Bland

Mendon, IL

“I completely agree with you that we need stiffer penalties for those who commit crimes using guns. I also support stiffer penalties for those who drive intoxicated and kill people in car accidents.”

Bob Greene

Paw Paw, MI

“There are far more gun injuries and killings resulting from trying to intimidate, settle neighbor disputes, bravado while under the influence, children gaining access, or accidental discharge than from an actual intruder threatening you, your family, or your property.”

Steve Leuniz

Phoenix, AZ

“O.J. Simpson didn’t need a gun. People were committing murder long before firearms were invented.”

Don Anderson

Jomtien, Thailand

“You are making excuses for your crazy gun laws. Stop being a slave to an outdated Constitution.”

Noel Blight

Paraparaumu, New Zealand

BOOK WARS

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert released a book the same day as “Killing Kennedy,” but so far, his sales are falling far behind. So the funny guy is launching a campaign to get his viewers to buy more books so he can overtake “Killing Kennedy.”

“Tell Colbert that I’ll buy his audio book if he gets you to do the narration.”

David Dye

Long Beach, CA

“Challenge Mr. Colbert to donate as much of his book sales to charity as you do and then maybe I’ll buy one of his books.”

Mike O’Suna

Janesville, CA

“People would be smart to wait. Mr. Colbert’s book will be in 99 cent stores soon; yours will never be.”

Robert Dresser

Monrovia, CA

“Stephen Colbert’s low sales numbers show that he doesn’t know his audience demographics or how to market to them. Had he taken the time to include some illustrations and a box of crayons, he could have easily sold more books.”

Davis Buescher

Frisco, TX

“How is Mr. Colbert even on the same New York Times list as you, when most of the things he says are fiction?”

Eric Anderson

Mesa, AZ

“You have an unfair advantage over Colbert. Most of your fans can read.”

Glenn Temos

Statesville, NC

Viewer Mail for Friday, November 30

2012-11-30T16:59:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Bondage at Harvard? Why is it liberals feel a need to trumpet their private bedroom activities to the very society they insist stay out of their bedroom?”

Jim Davidson

Honolulu, HI

OVER THE CLIFF?

Is President Obama intentionally avoiding solutions to the budget problem so Republicans will take the fall when we go over the fiscal cliff?

“Lou Dobbs is no different than our Washington politicians. You asked him what spending cuts he’d propose and all he said was he would raise Medicare eligibility to age 67. Where are the rest of his cuts?”

Roy Kimbal

Cleveland, TX

“It angers me that President Obama’s strategy is to let the country go over the fiscal cliff. Regardless of who is at fault, Republicans will lose the majority in Congress in 2014.”

Doug Knowlton

Tullahoma, TN

“As long as members of Congress are not affected by the very laws they pass, they will have no interest in compromise. They’ll continue to use all these issues as political footballs.”

Warner Smith

San Marcos, CA

“President Obama knows exactly what he’s doing and has no plans to reach across the aisle and work with Republicans to avoid the fiscal cliff. He has the upper hand.”

Greg Charles

Lorton, VA

“The GOP should call Obama’s bluff and commit to specific revenue increases. Since he will never hold up his end of the bargain with spending cuts, the GOP won’t be blamed when we go over the cliff.”

Helen Sanders

Chevy Chase, MD

“The President knows a recession is unavoidable. By refusing to compromise on spending, he hopes to blame Republicans for his recession.”

David Sternlight, Ph.D.

Los Angeles, CA

“If the fiscal cliff happens, it will be blamed on Republicans. The only way Republicans can win is to say they will accept the Simpson-Bowles recommendations. The Democrats will have no answers, and thus be exposed.”

Misac Nabighian

Highlands Ranch, CO

“Obama’s budget proposals are exactly what he and the Democrats believe in terms of economic policy. The people who voted for him don’t realize he would bankrupt the U.S. with those policies.”

Tony Giuliano

Montreal, Canada

“In these tough times, is it reasonable that President Obama needs another 20-day vacation? Nancy Pelosi also needs to reconsider her extravagant taxpayer spending as well.”

Frank Fowler

Phoenix, AZ

“Republicans are to blame as well for failing to negotiate in 2010 to have the alternative minimum tax run concurrent with the Bush tax cuts expiring.”

Joe Stewart

Northport, NY

PARENTAL CRIME?

A Long Island couple is facing charges that their 17-year-old son crashed his car and killed four of his friends. Kathleen Rice, the prosecutor in the case, said the parents are liable because they bought their son a car even though he was unlicensed.

“Schools, social workers, and the courts have made it increasingly difficult for parents to set firm boundaries for their children by threatening to take action to remove them from custody.”

Brad Radke

Vancouver, WA

“If you want to hold parents responsible for their children’s actions, you must empower them with their right to discipline their kids as they see fit. Discipline in many jurisdictions is too closely scrutinized, giving parents no recourse.”

Gene Costanza

Eugene, OR

“We have a culture that has taught our kids they have rights. We arrest parents for disciplining their kids, and then punish parents when their kids commit a crime.”

Everett Witt

Bakersfield, CA

“The prosecutor’s overzealousness is only exceeded by her arrogance. While I agree a lawbreaker should be subject to punishment, the punishment should fit the crime.”

Janet Farrell

Wantagh, NY

“Kathleen Rice exemplifies the police state more than the nanny state. If the parents didn’t permit illegal behavior, then they shouldn’t be charged with a crime.”

Paul Haley

Sewickley, PA

“I have a major problem with Ms. Rice’s assertion that the parents handed their kid the keys. People will take her literally, while the truth is that their son snuck the keys and vehicle on the night of the accident without his parents’ knowledge.”

Chris Johnson

Green Bay, WI

“It is frustrating having the state dictating to us how we can discipline our children. It makes it very difficult to teach good morals and work ethics.”

Rob & Teri Hansen

Pioche, NV

“The biggest tragedy in this story is that his parents weren’t in the car too. I have no compassion for such a lack of parental responsibility and accountability.”

Larry Veasman

Ann Arbor, MI

CRIMSON CLUB

Some students at Harvard have formed a club devoted to bondage and other kinky sex activities. Why would the prestigious university sanction this garbage?

“I was an undergraduate at Harvard back in the late 70s, and after seeing your segment about the college granting official recognition to a student organization devoted to kinky sex, I think I speak for thousands of alumni in saying I’m utterly appalled.”

Ray Bertolino

Long Island, NY

“If the students at Harvard want to learn to tie knots and get punished, let them join the Navy.”

W.R. Jones

New Port Richey, FL

“I didn’t realize Harvard recruited so heavily from San Francisco.”

David Sawyer

Aliso Viejo, CA

“Forty years ago, it took me exactly two years to get distracted enough to flunk out of college. With all the distractions in higher learning today, it would probably take me two weeks.”

Ronald Kowalewski

Sellersville, PA

“The fact is the Harvard administrators are way too lenient. Mature educators include personal discipline in their curriculum.”

Robert Kaiser

Antioch, CA

“If Harvard were to recognize and fund this bondage club as a sanctioned university activity, what would its liability be if a student got injured while engaged in the activity?”

Gary Geahos

Pingree Grove, IL

“I watched your segment with the two Harvard students concerning funding of the bondage club and was absolutely astounded that they took themselves seriously.”

Phil Sherriff

Mill Valley, CA

“My husband is a Harvard grad, and the first thing that came out of his mouth was ‘good luck getting people to donate to the school now!’ With stupid things like this, Harvard is shooting itself in the foot.”

Lucrecia Scheverin

Bremerton, WA

“I just got accepted to Harvard and I’m packing my things. Let’s see…my pens, pencils, computer, handcuffs, rope, leather face hood, chains. I’m ready!”

Richard Sward

McMuray, PA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, November 29

2012-11-29T16:07:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Boys and girls are different from each other and want to play with different types of toys. When Gretchen Carlson mentioned reading Trixie Belden as a little girl, I hadn’t thought of Trixie since I used my sister’s copy for BB gun target practice!”

Chris Stangland

Lake Oswego, OR

SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS?

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee entered the no spin zone to explain why he’s attempting to have the Christmas tree in the state house called a holiday tree instead.

“Gov. Chafee said we need to change with the times. If the tree in his state house was previously called a holiday tree, he needs to change with the times and call it was it is: a Christmas tree.”

Jasmine Hatzopoulos

Boston, MA

“If Gov. Chafee favors calling a Christmas tree a holiday tree because times are changing, why did he end your interview by wishing you a Merry Christmas?”

Lisa Giglione-Roberts

Lake Mary, FL

“Christmas is not weak in the minds and hearts of most of the people of Rhode Island. It is only weak in the faith of politicians who need to be replaced.”

Candy Reed

Lake Panasoffkee, FL

“Lincoln Chafee is a good example of a politician who can’t understand the simple concept of a philosophy being different than an organized religion. Christmas trees did not begin with Christ.”

Lisa Castel

Milford, OH

“There would be no celebration, period, if Christians didn’t choose this time to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Get over it, progressives.”

Gail Morrison

Surprise, AZ

“Regardless of what you call it, it’s a Christmas tree. If Gov. Chafee wants to be sensitive to people’s feelings, he shouldn’t display a tree on state property at all.”

Judy Karonika

Sugar Land, TX

“It all boils down to people not understanding that ‘separation of church and state’ and ‘separation of religion and state’ are not the same thing.”

Betsy Woodruff

Blacksburg, VA

“With all due respect to Gov. Chafee, the nativity is the religious symbol associated with Christmas, not the Christmas tree.”

Catherine Caponi

Pittsburgh, PA

“Lincoln Chafee: not exactly the Lincoln we’re looking for.”

Chuck Neeley

Richmond, KY

“The only reason you are giving the Governor such a hard time is that he looks like Steve Doocey.”

Greg Anderson

Fort Collins, CO

POLITICALLY CORRECT TOYS

Sweden’s leading toy company has a new catalog pushing gender-neutral toys, which shows little girls playing with toy guns and little boys playing with toy vacuum cleaners.

“I don’t understand your aversion to the Swedes inculcating their kids into accepting that boys and girls should enjoy playing with toy guns and dolls equally.”

Ed Page

Exeter, CA

“I can say with absolute certainty that my Viking ancestors would not at all be pleased about the neutral gender toy catalog. Our world is going to hell in a hand basket!”

Adam Granholm

Conway, AR

“The Swedish toy people are trying to increase their sales by appealing to the masses. Marketing gender neutral toys is their sales tactic of choice.”

Steve Israelson

San Diego, CA

“Back in the day, I played army with my three brothers and little green plastic toys, but my Barbie always wiped out their troops. We need to let kids be kids.”

Joan Sena

Charlotte, NC

“Brain pathways are mostly set between the ages of 5 and 7. If they are mixed up with gender neutral propaganda, when hormones kick in, we’ll have some very confused kids.”

Rex Wootan

Llano, TX

“Kids play with the toys to which they are drawn. When little, my daughter used the toy drill as a hairdryer and my son used the toy hairdryer as a hammer.”

Marc Massoglia

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

“Our feminist friend gave her son a Barbie, which he carried everywhere. Much to the horror of our friend, he used that Barbie as a toy gun when he was playing cops and robbers with the other kids.”

Tom Quigan

Oxnard, CA

“By advertising the toys in a manner that shows boys and girls enjoying each toy equally, it makes children of each gender want that toy, thus increasing revenue.”

Randy DaRos

Coventry, CT

“The point of the catalog is to sell more toys. If you get parents to buy off-gender toys, they just might sell more toys in total.”

Bob Butsch

Fairfield, OH

LOTTERY’S DOWNSIDE

Two people will share the $587 million Powerball jackpot. The Factor explored how the lucky winners can expect their lives to change by speaking with previous lottery winners.

“Your interview with the Powerball winners was enlightening. The discussion of envy sounded a lot like our current entitlement mentality.”

Paul Roscelli

Redwood City, CA

“Don’t tell anybody, but I won the Powerball. I play on buying Rhode Island and making it Christmas there 24/7.”

Gary Zink

Las Vegas, NV

“I can’t believe you categorized a $6 million lottery winning as NOT a fortune. Your 1%er status is showing.”

Dana Ingram

Urla, Turkey

“Your guest seemed surprised that old friends and neighbors made him a pariah after winning all that money. Like so many folks today, they wanted free stuff and he wasn’t falling into their trap.”

George Kawchak, Jr.

Phoenixville, PA

“Your guest seemed annoyed that strangers would ask her for money after she won the lottery. I wonder if she voted for Obama since he likes handing out everyone else’s money to strangers.”

Marianne Lippmann

Palm City, FL

“Let me get this straight: if I win hundreds of millions of dollars and don’t share, my old friends won’t talk to me anymore? I’ll just buy new ones!”

Michelle Ready

Little Rock, AR

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, November 28

2012-11-28T22:03:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“I wish you would have told David Silverman that atheists already have their holiday. It’s called April 1^st.”

Barbara Rhoads

Klamath Falls, OR

PERSON OF THE YEAR

Time magazine reveals its nominees for ‘person of the year’: President Obama, Sandra Fluke, Jay-Z, and Jon Stewart are on the list.

“You’ve got to admit that Obama is amazing. He has the chance to be ‘person of the year’ for both Time magazine and Golf Digest.”

Phil Caffarelli

Buffalo, NY

“I can’t believe that Time would even consider Sandra Fluke or Jay-Z for ‘person of the year.’ I feel like they’ll pick anyone who will just buy their magazine!”

Michael Kasten

West Palm Beach, FL

“My vote for Time ‘person of the year’ is Hurricane Sandy. If you want impact, think of what it did for the President and to the poor souls in the northeast.”

Ken Moser

Tampa, FL

“Time magazine awards the person who is both revered and reviled by the loudest assortment of ideologues. It’s just a publicity stunt used to make profits.”

Mark Chesteen

Nashville, TN

“Benjamin Netanyahu is my choice for Time magazine ‘person of the year.’ He’s fighting for the survival of tiny Israel when countries all around him – Syria to the north, Iran to the east, Egypt to the south – are experiencing unrest.”

Dave Fogel

Roseville, CA

“Time magazine should stop the nonsense with their current list of nominees. The only persons deserving of this recognition are the four Americans who were murdered in Libya.”

Soraya Akhavan-Lane

El Paso, TX

“The person of the year should be Mitt Romney. He took great pain to run for office, not because of the money or perks, but because he wanted to help the country get out of its current downward spiral.”

Sara Topple

Oshawa, Canada

“The people at Time magazine are pinheads. Obama is going to win this prestige the same way he won the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Hunter Schumann

Georgetown, TX

“Time magazine is irrelevant. It is yesterday’s news source. Nobody reads Time or cares who is named their person of the year.”

Charles Thomas

West Pittston, PA

“Sandra Fluke is the best representative of what is going on in our country and should be Time’s ‘person of the year.’ Come to think of it, she should probably get the Nobel Peace Prize as well.”

Chris Spingola

Glenview, IL

“I think Chief Justice Roberts should be the person of the year because his decision about Obama-care will have the biggest impact on our lives.”

Wayne Sullivan

Louisville, KY

“We enjoy Jesse Watters’ weekly feature on the Factor and believe he should be Time’s ‘person of the year’ simply because he’s Jesse!”

Doug & Ilene Haavisto

Pine City, MN

ATHEISTS AGAINST CHRISTMAS

David Silverman, who heads an organization devoted to promoting atheism, explains why he wants the government to exhibit “religious neutrality” around the holidays.

“It seems obvious that Mr. Silverman, who worships nothing, would like his belief in nothing to be honored exclusively during the Christmas holiday. What a selfish guy.”

Clinton Davis

Wylie, TX

“Christianity is a religion and a relationship, not a philosophy. Jesus was not just a man; he is the Lord.”

Bill Anderson

Airdrie, Canada

“It is just me or has most of American forgotten this country was founded because our forefathers wanted religious freedom? I should be able to say Merry Christmas without feeling persecuted by the likes of Mr. Silverman.”

Tracey Villani

Rock Hill, SC

“Thank you for your forceful defense of Christmas. Mr. Silverman wants his message to be the only message.”

Mary Jo Napolet

Warren, OH

“Mr. Silverman was complaining about Christmas being a mandatory federal holiday. Isn’t the New Year holiday the same?”

Nancy Grames

Brecksville, OH

“I found your behavior abhorrent during this interview. You clearly have a bias against atheists. Right now, I’m ashamed to say I’m a regular viewer of your program.”

Mike Johnson

Wauconda, IL

“In Australia, we have fewer Christians than you do in America, but we don’t have the issues with Christmas that you do. Why do so many Americans get offended by inconsequential things?”

Sam Mudge

Sydney, Australia

“I’m an atheist and David Silverman doesn’t speak for me. I love Christmas because it fosters peace on earth and good will towards all.”

Richard LoConto

Palmdale, CA

“You need to have a real atheist on and not a faux one like David Silverman. A real atheist understands that true freedom means having the character and integrity to allow others the same thing they argue for: the right to think and live as they want.”

Mark Bare

Butler, PA

FILTH FACTOR

The 19-year-old star of the sitcom “Two & a Half Men” goes on a video rant against his show after apparently finding religion.

“To say that ‘Two & a Half Men’ isn’t that bad is the misstatement of the century. Calling it filth is putting it mildly. The show promotes drug use and promiscuous sex.”

Joseph Hume

Prescott, AZ

“I think Angus T. Jones’ statement reveals the zeal of the newly converted. Personally, as a Seventh Day Adventist myself, I admire his enthusiasm and spirit. However, I believe he should have found a more diplomatic way of being true to his faith.”

Edna Barrett

Loma Linda, CA

“Angus T. Jones’ is a 19-year-old making millions. My wife and I thought his salary reflected an acting skill portraying a dumb kid. We were shocked to learn he’s paid so much money to act naturally.”

Bill Gentner

Livonia, MI

“I’ve only watched ‘Two & a Half Men’ a few times over the years, but I’ve often wondered why Angus T. Jones’ parents and CBS are not guilty of child endangerment. That kid has been exposed to so much garbage.”

Peggy Stefano

Garden City, NY

“If Angus is so concerned, why doesn’t he donate his salary to his church or a charity? How much does a 19-year-old really need to live on?”

Alan Blythe

Binghamton, NY

“You are a pinhead for saying Angus T. Jones should quit his show if he thinks it is filth. He’s trying to honor his contract.”

Carol Rampino

Loveland, CO

“If I was his age and making $300,000 a week to do some dopey TV show, I’d know enough to keep my mouth shut.”

Dan Galvin

Congers, NY

Viewer Mail for Monday, November 26

2012-11-26T21:30:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Injecting race into the conversation about Susan Rice’s qualifications for Secretary of State persuades people faster than any other robust debate could. It’s that simple.”

Aaron Morgan

Clover, SC

A TALE OF TWO AMERICAS

In Texas, a state that voted overwhelmingly for Mitt Romney, self-reliance rules. California, the most liberal state in the nation, paints a very different picture.

“I’m a conservative living in California, and I’ve watched this special place deteriorate year after year since moving here in 1981. Texas is ranked #1 in terms of friendliness to business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; California is ranked last.”

Tim Farley

Oceanside, CA

“California has been my home for 55 years, but now at every election cycle, I try to figure out where to relocate. Leaving this socialist state has become inevitable.”

Jeff Arnold

Irvine, CA

“It really grates on my nerves that you lump all Californians together. Few counties here voted for Obama, but unfortunately, those counties are highly populated with liberals from Hollywood and San Francisco.”

Debbie Hamblin

Modesto, CA

“I really don’t like the idea of Californians moving to Texas en masse. Keep them out!”

Maria Acosta

San Antonio, TX

“I escaped from the high-tax, anti-business, left-wing People’s Republic of Rhode Island in 1996 and feel blessed to have found sanctuary in the Lone Star State.”

Mike Pearce

Harker Heights, TX

“The reason California taxpayers stay in California is the weather. The Sacramento progressives haven’t figured out how to tax that yet, but they’re working on it.”

Mike Luwe

Yorba Linda, CA

“I live in California and have friends who left to live in Texas a couple of years ago. They tell me they finally feel like a free American at last.”

Marc Minich

Folsom, CA

“California is the poster boy for liberal America. With $167 billion in debt, it’s clearly failed, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the far-left to acknowledge it.”

Ian Hall

Adelaide, Australia

“Personally, I think Juan Williams would look right at home with a ten gallon hat on.”

Mike Steck

Lincoln, NE

“Have you ever wondered why the left can’t accept the truth when it hits them in the face? California is a disaster. The social experiment was a failure.”

Gene Siburn

Stony Point, NY

“With all due respect, unless you live here and see the mess that is the Republic of California, keep your mouth shut. This place will never get any better.”

Nick Edwards

Watsonville, CA

“Juan is far too wishy-washy to be a Texan. California is the state for him!”

Florence Bennett

Spartanburg, SC

“Nobody in Waco, Texas cares about outlawing a 32 ounce soda. We’re happy to keep big government in places like California, New York, and D.C.”

Tom Robb

Waco, TX

“Juan claims he doesn’t want to pay someone’s medical expenses when they don’t wear a motorcycle helmet in Texas. But he has no problem paying the medical bills of smokers and drinkers across America via Obama-care.”

Andy Froiland

Eureka, CA

RACIAL OBJECTIONS?

The Washington Post editorialized that many of Susan Rice’s critics are white men, suggesting that racism plays a role in any opposition to her taking over as Secretary of State.

“Susan Rice may not have lied, but she had no idea if she was relaying the truth. And that disqualifies her from being Secretary of State.”

Len Goldberg

New York, NY

“I wonder where the Washington Post was when Condoleezza Rice faced, with dignity, vile and personal attacks.”

Anthony Mazzurco

Prescott, AZ

“The Washington Post’s insinuation of racism was little more than smarmy sophistry.”

Robert Starcher

Ronkonkoma, NY

“Most white liberals are not motivated by racial guilt – they are motivated by lust for power. Accusing others of racism is a way to achieve power.”

Bob Kantor

Palo Alto, CA

“Where were the complaints about Condoleezza Rice’s qualifications? Both she and Susan Rice are African-American women vying for the top State Department job.”

Mala Rogers

North Little Rock, AR

“Bernie Goldberg ought to be among the first to recognize that bigots pile onto a legitimate issue like Susan Rice’s qualifications because it gives them cover for their racism.”

Richard Steckler

San Francisco, CA

CURB YOUR APPETITE

The Factor Tip of the Day: drink a glass of water with lemon juice before a meal and you’ll get full faster.

“I gave your tip of the day a try while I was on vacation. While others had their pre-dinner cocktail, I had refreshing lemon water. I lost ten pounds!”

Betsy Bisecco

West Haven, CT

“Drinking a mixture of lukewarm water and lemon juice on an empty stomach reduced by waist by two full sizes.”

Eddie Preijers

Tustin, CA

“Lemon juice and water? Isn’t that lemonade?”

Michael Smith

Norton, MA

“This is how I make my own lemon juice: fresh lemon squeezed in a glass with water. Sometimes I even stir in a bit of sugar.”

Adriana Frangu

Dayton, OH

“I’ve been using your tip of the day about lemon water for years. I just substitute lime for lemon, and add some gin and tonic.”

Sharon May

Arlington, WA

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, November 20

2012-11-20T16:05:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“The Department of Agriculture is proud to be distributing food stamps to a record of number of Americans. The Department of Interior, however, warns visitors to our national parks not to feed the animals and make them dependent on handouts. Thus ends today’s lesson in irony.”

Frank Allen

Puyallup, WA

ENTITLEMENT ELECTION

The left-wing media is furious at the Factor for reporting the truth: America has become an entitlement society and that is why President Obama was re-elected.

“The Democratic Party and its allies will continue to come after you hard for using your platform to expose the truth about our entitlement culture.”

Dann Runik

Vero Beach, FL

“I loved your very clear and reasonable Talking Points Memo about how government assistance aided Obama’s re-election. Unfortunately, this will become the blueprint for future elections.”

Chris Ullmeyer

Myrtle Beach, SC

“You stated that over 100 million Americans are receiving free stuff outside of Medicare and Social Security. As a veteran of the Iraq War, I receive a monthly housing allotment. How would you classify me?”

Ian Howarth

Tucson, AZ

“Why did Republicans win big in 2010 and lose in 2012? Answer: the Tea Party. Why were they invisible in 2012?”

Roger Webster, Ph.D.

Millersville, PA

“Depending on government has historically destroyed incentive and therefore lives. I see it every day in my classroom as I work to motivate students from poverty to be their best.”

Kristin Decker

Palmdale, CA

“To quote one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson: ‘The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.’”

Rick Vincunas

Granville, MA

“Entitlements have increased over the last 10 years because capitalism and the Bush tax cuts failed our country. America woke up after the 2008 economic crash and has elected a Democrat twice.”

Steve Perry

San Antonio, TX

“I have not been as excited about watching your show since the election. America is never going to be the same.”

Kathryn McCracken

Sedalia, CO

SANDY BUREAUCRACY

Americans have donated a quarter of a billion dollars to help the victims of Superstorm Sandy, but where is that money going?

“My small business was literally wiped off the map by Sandy. For the first time in my life, I had to ask the government for help. I was denied. The lesson is that government is never the answer.”

Terence Libro

Sea Isle City, NJ

“John Stossel talked about the money given by Americans to help Sandy victims. There are zero countries on the list of those who sent aid to us as we do to them following any natural disaster.”

Lindsay Damskov

Crystal Lake, PA

“Friends of mine from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas traveled to New York and New Jersey to lend a hand after Sandy, but were turned away because they were from ‘right-to-work’ states.”

Sue Whitehorn

Carmichael, CA

“I donated to Hurricane Sandy through the Red Cross. I just found that it didn’t go to victims, but was instead cashed at Red Cross training. I’ll never donate again.”

Mikey Vaughan

Kokomo, IN

“The Red Cross took so long to get Sandy storm relief funds out to the folks because they had to first decide how much of it would go to organizations like Planned Parenthood.”

Joe Usher

St. Marys, GA

“Have there been many charitable contributions to Sandy victims from other countries? I just ask because the U.S. is so good about stepping in to help others, but I wonder if we’re getting the same help after our crisis.”

Trish Panico

Madison, CT

WAR ON CHRISTMAS

Atheists in California are trying to kill a nativity scene in Santa Monica that has a 60-year history.

“How can residents of Santa Monica be so against any religious displays when their town is named after a religious figure? Those who object should leave.”

Bill Suskevich

Toms River, NJ

“If Santa Monica is going to ban all expressions of religion, they’ll have to start with the city’s name.”

Frank Parrish

Volant, PA

“Christmas is a federal holiday. Banning nativity scenes is like not allowing fireworks on the Fourth of July.”

Lorraine Mintun

Las Vegas, NV

“As someone who was born and raised in Santa Monica, one of my fondest memories was viewing the annual nativity scene in Palisades Park with my family. The tradition enriched by life and our family.”

Linda Orcutt

Montrose, CO

“Nativity scene out? What else would you expect from California?”

Ron Haake

Grapeland, TX

“When did it become OK to mock others’ religious beliefs? I can’t imagine someone hasn’t pointed out atheists’ total disregard for the spirit of the holidays.”

Richard Loftus

Del Mar, CA

“Fight back, Santa Monica! The courts may be able to ban fixed displays on public grounds, but citizens can protest by erecting living nativity scenes that are removed once the people leave.”

Jarod Bearinger

Clearwater, NE

“I was born and raised in Santa Monica, and it was our family tradition to drive by the nativity scene. Happy memories are now being replaced by sadness.”

Susanne Casillas Steffen

Amelia Island, FL

“If Americans can’t have a nativity scene in a public park, why should federal, state, or city workers be given the Christmas holiday off?”

Kathy Fuhs

Colorado Springs, CO

“The nativity ban is ridiculous and should be lifted. I don’t object to atheism, but freedom of speech is a two-way street.”

William Wright

Surry Hills, Australia

Viewer Mail for Monday, November 19

2012-11-19T15:39:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Bob Woodward is no longer the young, risk-taker, thirsty for the truth. He is now the establishment and has become complacent, which is why he’ll never investigate Benghazi the way he did Watergate.”

Liz Thoresen

Portland, OR

ROMNEY CRITICISM

Post-election coverage of the defeated Republican nominee has been harsh. But did Gov. Romney play it too safe in the final days of the election, virtually handing victory to the President?

“The key states of Virginia, Ohio, Florida, and even Michigan and Wisconsin, all have Republican governors. However, when federal programs are on the line, voters come out in greater numbers to support the President’s party.”

Mike Abbey

Carmel, IN

“The election was mostly about free stuff. However, there was also the race issue and multitudes of rich liberal voters who are borderline socialist.”

Ken Dean

Austin, TX

“If Romney would have shown half the backbone you have when confronting the left-wing media, he might have been elected president.”

Karen Fiedor

Brandon, FL

“You showed chutzpah in telling the truth about why lower income people voted for Obama.”

Pete Brown

Abilene, TX

“People voted for Obama because they think he’s cool and our electorate is horribly shallow.”

Doug Williams

Williamsport, PA

“If conservatives had gone to the polls as they did in 2010, Romney would have easily won the election. I firmly believe the right didn’t show up because they assumed President Obama would lose.”

Gary Holland

The Woodlands, TX

“I was in the group of poor Americans who voted for Romney. I still believe character matters, and I thought he was the best man for the job.”

D. Baker

Arkansas

“You say Romney wasn’t aggressive enough, but if the candidate had been Santorum, for example, you’d be saying he wasn’t moderate enough. The reason Romney lost is because Americans have an issue prioritizing.”

Elizabeth Marcello

Richmond, VA

“President Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ The election clearly demonstrates that this great American tradition has been lost.”

Don Wind

Soda Springs, ID

“You are right to be angry. In my opinion, this country is headed for another Great Depression. The far-left will be sure to blame President Bush.”

Rachel Apicelli

Fayetteville, NY

“Buying elections is costly. Telling the truth shouldn’t be. The best man didn’t win and our country is worse off for it.”

Kathleen Karau

Alexandria, VA

“Hard work is not honored as it once was, and people are no longer ashamed or too proud to accept charity or welfare. Millions of Americans have become comfortable being supported by the government.”

Jack Dos Santos

Nanuet, NY

ANOTHER WATERGATE?

Reporter Bob Woodward says he doesn’t see any parallels between the Benghazi scandal and the Watergate scandal he was instrumental in breaking.

“The difference between Watergate and Benghazi is that there’s no Deep Throat. All it takes is one insider with a conscious and integrity to bring the facts to light.”

Uno Bloom

Eagle River, WI

“Bob Woodward can only go after Republican presidents. He’s clearly refusing to call out the Obama administration on this cover-up.”

Kathy Hood

Milledgeville, IL

“Someone remind Bob Woodward that the facts about Obama’s stonewalling on Libya are sticking out like a sore thumb. Could it be that Mr. Woodward is afraid this scandal might eclipse his work on Watergate?”

Richard Reay

Bronx, NY

“Bob Woodward not seeing Watergate-like mischief in the Benghazi incident is simply because he doesn’t want to see it. With Watergate, he zealously pursued the truth because he wanted to find answers.”

Ron Muzechuk

Vandalia, OH

END OF AN ERA

Hostess declares bankruptcy, putting the future of some of America’s most iconic junk foods like Twinkies and HoHo’s in peril.

“How ironic – Twinkies are gone and marijuana is legal. Those who are going to smoke pot are sure going to be sad they can’t eat Twinkies when the munchies kick in!”

Holly McKinney

Bend, OR

“Twinkie lovers are coming out en masse to declare they want to keep junk food around despite politicians like Rahm Emanuel and Mayor Bloomberg trying to take it away from us.”

Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“Being a health teacher, I’m not sorry to see Twinkies disappear. However, we know longer have bread in our grocery store as Hostess was our only supplier in the area.”

Tina Baker

Dubois, WY

“Mitt Romney should buy Hostess and turn the company around to save Twinkies for the next generation. He would be a hero!”

Hayward Dunkin

Pleasant Grove, AL

Viewer Mail for Thursday, November 15

2012-11-15T15:16:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“While talking with Gutfeld and McGuirk, you opined that if we stopped controlling the animal population like PETA wants, turkeys would end up running the world. Take a look around, Bill, the world is already run by turkeys.”

Bill Mitchell

Boracay Island, Philippines

LIBYA INVESTIGATION

The Senate Intelligence Committee has begun hearings about the murder of the Ambassador to Libya, as the Obama administration refuses to define exactly what happened.

“I think Susan Rice should be the next Ambassador to Libya.”

Roger Hamilton

Medford, OR

“I don’t remember much outrage from you when Bush, Cheney, Powell, and Rice lied to us about WMDs in Iraq, and that was much more serious than this little Libyan soap opera.”

Clayton Saunders

Cat Spring, TX

“President Obama can spin the Libya situation any way he chooses. He knows that the liberal media will cover for him.”

Sy Bensky

Las Vegas, NV

“President Obama seemed more upset over the Susan Rice deal than he did over four dead Americans in Libya.”

Raymond Ackerman

Riverside, CA

“Fox News has created a big controversy when most folks don’t really care whether the Libya attack was planned or not. We only care that people are dead.”

Lucy Anderson

Wichita, KS

“I think you have false anger over Libya. I might believe it if you showed have the anger with President Bush over misleading America into the Iraq war.”

Chris Brede

Edmonds, WA

“You said the Libya fiasco is now getting serious because administration officials are testifying under oath. When does ‘under oath’ mean anything when it comes to politicians?”

Andy Cox

Pensacola, FL

“It’s pretty clear from Obama’s failure to answer any questions about Libya that he has taken the following position: ‘tell me what you know and I will tell you what I did.’”

Mark Pettine

San Diego, CA

WHY HE LOST

Mitt Romney tells some of his donors that President Obama defeated him in the election because he gives away free stuff to his constituents.

“It’s said that a political gaffe is when politicians accidentally tell the truth. Mitt Romney lost the election because of his 47% comment, and now he’ll never run for office again.”

John Trickett

Charleston, AR

“President Obama’s overarching strategy for re-election was ward politics writ large. Romney simply didn’t counter the effects.”

John Zeppa

Port Angeles, WA

“If the 2-3 million Republicans who stayed home because Romney wasn’t conservative enough for them had voted, Romney would be president today. Now they have to pay the piper like the rest of us.”

Linda Kleinschmidt

Cincinnati, OH

“Romney got 2 million fewer votes than McCain. He failed to motivate his base and failed to sway independent voters.”

William Barnes

Baton Rouge, LA

“The principles and morals of the Republican Party will never trump the bird in the hand of ‘free stuff’ offered by Democrats.”

Ed Parker

Houston, TX

“If Republicans have to change their views about abortion just to secure the vote of women, then we should all just join the Democratic Party.”

Mary Geis

Amherst, NH

“Republicans don’t know how to market themselves. The brand is fine, but nobody wants to buy it.”

Clayton Loveland

Kuna, ID

“Governor Romney won the first debate because President Obama didn’t show up. After that, Romney didn’t show up and it cost him the election.”

Roger Purcell

Weetangera, Australia

“Romney blew it by wanting to give free stuff to the rich and not caring about the 47%. I didn’t vote for President Obama, but I understand why he won.”

Ann Robinette

Roanoke, VA

TARGET: THANKSGIVING

The animal rights people at PETA are urging Americans to give up their Thanksgiving turkeys.

“Turkey talk was the most entertaining part of my entire week! What can I say? I am a simple woman.”

Cindy Marks

Hemlock, MI

“All life preys on other life for survival. It’s called the food chain. PETA is desperately trying to end this chain.”

John Vossos

Vancouver Island, Canada

“Turkeys are already ruling America, so they have a good start on their quest for world domination.”

William Harris

Colorado Springs, CO

“McGuirk and Gutfeld are the new Abbott and Costello. Keep ‘em coming!”

Bob Jarvis

Canton, GA

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, November 14

2012-11-14T17:55:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Regarding the boring presidential press conference, where is Helen Thomas when we need her?”

Paul Nugent

Angeles City, Philippines

MEETING THE PRESS

With nothing of note coming out of the President’s press conference, is it fair to chastise the national press corps for failing to get answers on the convoluted Benghazi situation?

“Actually, we did learn one thing during the press conference. The President stepped in mud when he admitted he sent Ms. Rice out to tell everyone the video had caused the Benghazi problem. He’ll be held accountable for that statement.”

Marilyn Wilkinson

Berkeley Springs, WV

“Your talking points memo about President Obama’s press conference was condescending, flippant, and showed your disdain for the President.”

Jack Waldhelm

Houston, TX

“The President danced around earnest questions and joked with the folks. What a sorry state of affairs our country is in.”

Maureen Herman

Sacramento, CA

“Your talking points memo hit the nail on the head. President Obama is the master of obfuscation – his press conferences should be called the full spin zone.”

Howard Gibeling

Williamsburg, VA

“I watched the President’s press conference and as soon as I heard the phrase ‘ongoing investigation,’ I felt a need to heave. His entire presidency is one big investigation.”

Kevin Tester

Lexington, NC

“This was nothing more than a dog and pony show. Obama knows nothing, does nothing, and has no idea what anyone in his administration is doing.”

George Wunderlin

Inver Grove Heights, MN

“The fantasy Obama spewed at the press conference was staggering, but it’s just a little bit less BS than the fantasy being spewed by Republicans. The U.S. is in deep, and these fools in Washington have no idea how to fix it.”

William Schwind

Manizales, Colombia

“The diaphanous charlatan displayed yet again his powers of political prestidigitation during his press conference.”

Jim McCaffrey

Yonkers, NY

“No matter how the questions were phrased, the answer was going to be the same: canned, long-winded, and evasive.”

Roxie Blair

Midland, TX

“President Obama’s defense of Susan Rice was a classic example of guilt over sending her out to represent the White House in the Benghazi tragedy. But it is revealing that she got her talking points directly from the White House.”

Carol Jean Ray

Spring Hill, TX

MILITARY SOAP OPERA

What kind of security clearance did Gen. Petraeus’ biographer Paula Broadwell receive?

“If the second general sitting in Afghanistan managed to find time to send 30,000 lengthy emails to his lady friend over two years, when did he find time to sort out the Taliban?”

Peter Dorney

Singapore

“We recently had a commander-in-chief who continued his presidency after lying about an affair with an intern. It’s puzzling that the public would stand for the annihilation of Gen. Petraeus after his humble confession of an extra-marital affair.”

J. Ubel

Manhattan, KS

“This whole Petraeus-Broadwell mess has taught me one thing and one thing only: we are now a nation run by over-the-hill teenagers.”

Sean Crose

Cheshire, CT

“The extra-marital activities of Gen. Petraeus pale in comparison to President Kennedy, President Clinton, and Gen. Eisenhower. Why did he have to resign?”

John Matthews

Melbourne, Australia

THE LATINO VOTE

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) enters the no spin zone to analyze whether Hispanics can ever been won over by the Republican Party.

“I’m a fourth generation Texan of Hispanic descent and entirely disagree with Rep. Gutierrez’s idea of immigration. Illegal immigrants do not belong in this country.”

John Tijerina

Cypress, TX

“You failed to ask Luis Gutierrez what exactly he thinks is broken about our immigration system that needs fixing.”

Phil Lasky, M.D.

Chicago, IL

“Rep. Gutierrez stated that Republicans want to control illegals like cattle, with electricity. That was an outrageous accusation, and you should have called him on it.”

Gerry Bassen

Spokane Valley, WA

“Rep. Gutierrez came on your show and proclaimed that if we could only come together and hammer out a comprehensive immigration policy, there would be harmony in the Latino community. But where’s his detailed plan?”

Steve Quartano

Baton Rouge, LA

“It was the Republicans’ patronizing and demeaning attitude towards Hispanics during the campaign that caused them to lose the election. Thank you for having Rep. Gutierrez on the show to represent the way Hispanics think and act.”

Alicia Smith

Miami Beach, FL

“If one listens to Rep. Gutierrez carefully, what he’s really saying is that Mexicans want to come to the U.S. and won’t stand being denied. Is the U.S. not a sovereign nation anymore?”

Dale Swanson

North Las Vegas, NV

“Anyone who believes Rep. Gutierrez and Democrats really want comprehensive immigration reform should go back to the political classroom. Keeping illegal immigration alive is the gift that keeps on giving for them.”

Larry Floyd

Oklahoma City, OK

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, November 13

2012-11-13T17:17:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Jesse Watters should have opened a Kool-Aid stand outside the Bill Maher show. He could have wiped out the federal debt from just one night’s receipts.”

Bruce Stephenson

Saratoga Springs, NY

SEX SCANDAL

The scandal surrounding Gen. David Petraeus, who resigned as head of the CIA following an extramarital affair, now extends to Gen. John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan.

“Could the Petraeus thing be about selling books? How many more Petraeus biographies are going to sell now that we know he had an affair with his biographer?”

Bob Schy

Apple Valley, UT

“I’m finding it ironic that people in high places are starting to get forced out of power. I fear this will distract us from Benghazi, and also that all the positions are going to be replaced with Obama yes-men to help push his far-left agenda.”

Dean Meyer

Round Lake Beach, IL

“Gen. Petraeus’ wife is the only one who should punish him.”

Anne Strope

McDonough, GA

“I don’t care one bit about Gen. Petraeus’ relationship with his biographer, but I do care that the innocent victims in Libya are getting screwed because of it.”

Molly Hoover

Pittsburgh, PA

“It’s a sad day when our military officers are held to a higher standard than our president. Illicit affairs are apparently acceptable for the likes of Bill Clinton, but not for Gen. Petraeus.”

David Olsen

Boise, ID

“How can they force Gen. Petraeus to resign when our former president got away with an extramarital affair with a White House intern?”

Kathleen Cesarone

Dennis, MA

“When you have a commander-in-chief who doesn’t take responsibility and lies without consequence, why should his commanders think it’s any different for them?”

Debi Davis

Nine Mile Falls, WA

FAR-LEFT VOTERS

Factor producer Jesse Watters elicited some post-election reaction from liberals waiting in line to see the Bill Maher show.

“The Watters segment confirmed my suspicions that President Obama was re-elected by ignorant voters who are driven by their own interests.”

Stan Harbour

Centennial, CO

“Jesse Watters is better than any late night comedian. I found his questioning of liberals who voted for Obama funnier than Letterman and Leno combined.”

Randy Brown

Warner Robins, GA

“The election results make me long for the days when I was blissfully ignorant like the people featured in Jesse Watters’ segment. I never thought the day would come when I wanted to be like them.”

Mary Higgins

Huntington Beach, CA

“Jesse Watters is great when he confronts people with a smile on his face. They don’t know how to take him and they always look perplexed.”

Dianna Bennett

Sheridan, WY

“I’m an old man now and I found the Watters World segment taped at the Bill Maher show very scary. I have to live in a world with these airheads!”

John Carroll

Buffalo, NY

“You seemed surprised that Jesse Watters found Obama supporters to be not too bright. Why else would they vote for him? We have the most uninformed electorate in history.”

John White, Jr.

Edgewater, FL

“My husband thinks the man laughing in the background at the end of your show is Jesse Watters. True?”

Lisa Thompson

Flippin, AR

TAKING POWER BACK?

The Long Island Power Authority is being sued by customers who claim the utility botched their response to Hurricane Sandy, still leaving some residents without power.

“Don’t go cheering for a class-action lawsuit. LIPA is a municipal utility. Shareholders don’t pay the refunds or foot the bill for lawyers’ fees; it’s only taxpayers and ratepayers who will lose.”

Larry Pearson

Bennington, NE

“If LIPA had spent the money necessary to be prepared for an emergency that happens once every 85 years, its customers would have castigated them for wasting ratepayers’ money.”

Edward Hass

Woodmere, NY

“I feel you left out a key bit of information concerning LIPA: it’s owned by New York State! No wonder they can’t get things fixed.”

Anthony Gillick

Omaha, NE

“Long Island residents suing LIPA for not adequately planning for Hurricane Sandy is like suing a weather bureau for letting it happen. It’s not unusual to be without power, gas, shelter, food, and water after a storm like this.”

Lucille Gallman

Katy, TX

“Long Island Power Association is a non-profit organization providing you with power. If they lose a lawsuit, they are done and you still won’t have power.”

James Andrews

Sacramento, CA

“While customers may end up getting a check from a lawsuit, who will end up paying the bill? The rates will go up to cover the loss and customers will end up paying for their own checks.”

Bud Droese

Big Bend, WI

“You need to get a clue. The only people who would benefit from a class action lawsuit against LIPA are the slime ball attorneys.”

George Anton

Mahopac, NY

“My heart goes out to those affected by Hurricane Sandy, but do New Yorkers realize that when storms hit other places, it takes just as long to get the power back on?”

Lisa Shumway

Houston, TX

Viewer Mail for Monday, November 12

2012-11-12T16:45:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Apparently Paul Broadwell spent several months ‘embedded’ with Gen. Petraeus’ forces in Afghanistan. I completely misunderstood the meaning of that word.”

Jeff Brandwein

Toronto, Canada

CIA RESIGNATION

Gen. David Petraeus resigns his post because of an extramarital affair. But some are questioning the timing of the resignation with the General’s upcoming testimony about Benghazi scheduled before Congress.

“Ralph Peters implies that because Petraeus was about to testify before Congress, Obama got rid of him. But that theory is flawed because if Petraeus wanted to, he could still testify even though he’s now a private citizen.”

Richard Doyle

Clayton, MO

“I’m convinced that if people knew the truth about Benghazi and Gen. Petraeus before the election, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome. People living off the government don’t care about this sort of thing.”

Sue Renard

Mill Creek, WA

“Honestly, who cares that Eric Holder knew about the Petraeus investigation for months. The election is over. Move on with your life.”

Tom Anderson

Bismarck, ND

“Colin Powell supported Obama a week before the election, which was surprising to me. However, he might get Petraeus’ CIA job now. How convenient.”

Bill Hampton

Parrish, FL

“General Petraeus has obviously forgotten the meaning of three words: duty, honor, country.”

Randy Gilmore

Missouri City, TX

“CIA director Petraeus has embarrassed our nation and should be treated no differently than Lance Armstrong. He should be stripped of all his medals and retirement because of his adulterous affair.”

Bobby Johnson

Cookville, TX

“How can a president have an affair and lie about it without punishment, but we’re making such a big deal about this? The Obama administration just doesn’t want Petraeus to testify. Our government is a disgrace.”

Koen Vermeylen

Dexter, MI

FOOD STAMP SURGE

More than 47 million Americans are now receiving food stamps. Did President Obama buy the election with welfare spending?

“Why is there a problem of obesity among the poor and an explosion in the number of people receiving food stamps? It’s not a coincidence.”

Robert Resnick

Farmington Hills, MI

“My local bakery accepts food stamps to pay for pastry and coffee. This became acceptable here about two years ago. Not exactly a fight on poverty or obesity.”

Roger Gorrin

Miami Lakes, FL

“The huge increase in food stamps demonstrates the unemployment level in the current economy. Many people have given up looking for work, and many more people are underemployed.”

Bob Kaschner

Hilliard, OH

“Why do you keep referring to welfare as entitlement spending? Nobody is entitled to these things. They are simply handouts for the poor and less fortunate.”

Michael Murphy

Pickerington, OH

NEW SENATOR

Massachusetts voted for Democrat Elizabeth Warren to replace Republican Scott Brown in the Senate, even though Ms. Warren had become a controversial figure during the election.

“It speaks volumes about the direction of this country when a so-called Native American like Elizabeth Warren is elected while a patriot like Col. Allen West does not win re-election.”

Rick Holmes

Tallahassee, FL

“As a student of the Little Big Horn battle, I about died laughing when you said Elizabeth Warren was a survivor of the same.”

Lynn Warrender

Stevenson Ranch, CA

“Elizabeth Warren said the system was rigged against her. This from a 100% Caucasian woman who claimed she was a Native American.”

Jerry Rambin

Hueytown, AL

“There has been no proof that Elizabeth Warren is Native American.”

Joan Hanlon

Colorado Springs, CO

“When Elizabeth Warren claimed the system is rigged, her point was that we need to make sure the system provides equal opportunity for hard-working, middle class folks.”

Kate Readio

Boulder, CO

“Elizabeth Warren did not make an issue at all out of the long-ago claim on some form that she had American Indian ancestry. The person who made it an issue was her opponent.”

Richard Doyle

Clayton, MO

“I started a group called ‘Native Americans for Elizabeth Warren,’ but there was only one member: some guy named Ward Churchill.”

David Gillie

San Jose, Costa Rica

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, November 7

2012-11-07T16:16:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Asking Bob Beckel why a 32-year-old single woman votes differently than a 32-year-old married woman is like asking a Democrat to explain the debt crisis coherently. Men just don’t understand women.”

David Dulaney

Springfield, VA

FEMALE SPLIT

Exit polling showed the single female voters preferred President Obama, while married female voters broke for Mitt Romney. Why the difference?

“On average, single women are younger than married women, and younger people tend to be more liberal. I think this is the driving force behind the voting gap between single and married women.”

Scott Ruesterholz

Basking Ridge, NJ

“The married female voter realizes the increasing cost of food, milk, gas, etc., whereas the single female voter has no responsibilities.”

Read Pennington

Northport, AL

“I’m a single woman who voted for Romney. Abortion wasn’t on my radar this election; the economy and its recovery were my main concerns.”

Rebecca Paul

Orange County, CA

“A high percentage of married 32-year-old women are likely to have children. Being responsible for the well-being of a child led me to be more conservative and traditional at the polls.”

Shannon Heffernon

Nixa, MO

“In my single years, I was a registered Democrat and voted as such. Once I became married and had a family, it was important that my tax dollars be spent responsibility, so I changed my party affiliation.”

Maxine P.

Plainville, CT

“Married women with children are concerned about the future of their children and grandchildren. Single women are concerned about free birth control and aborting unwanted pregnancies.”

Joyce Ketcher

Cheshire, CT

“Married women depend on their husbands, but single women defend on the government.”

James Tagliarini

Dover, FL

“So many single women have kids and want handouts from the government: food stamps, childcare help, housing, etc. They vote to not lose these entitlements.”

Kenneth Miller

Bozeman, MT

“A single woman views the government as her daddy, providing security for her. A married woman has her husband to provide that same security.”

Gary Helm

Burlington, WA

“Single women are easily seduced by celebrity and can spend irresponsibly without fear. Married women have to live in the real world and meet a strict family budget.”

Deric Davidson

Bunbury, Australia

FUTURE OF THE GOP

Fox News analyst Bernie Goldberg believes that until the Republicans nominate a charismatic candidate, they can’t compete in this media-driven age.

“According to Bernie Goldberg, if conservatives want to succeed in the political arena, they must stop thumping their Bibles about homosexuality. In other words, they must become secularists.”

Rufus Curtis

Sumerduck, VA

“If Republicans swing much further to the left, they’ll be Democrats. It’s time for the GOP to become a party of real conservatives again.”

Jeff Setzer

Hickory, NC

“The Republicans will never win unless they run a candidate who is charismatic, fiscally conservative, and socially moderate. Romney was not that guy.”

Mark Kuykendall

Tigard, OR

“No more old white guys. The Republicans need a charismatic candidate. Marco Rubio will win in 2016.”

John Ridgway

Burnsville, MN

“The Tea Party principles are fiscal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. Social issues are not a big part of their platform, and that could help a conservative get elected.”

Joseph Orsini, Ph.D.

Roseville, CA

“The reason only 35% of voters in exit polls identified themselves as conservative is because many conservatives stayed home. When a conservative with charisma is nominated, those numbers will go up.”

Craig Reynolds

Severn, MD

“The GOP is in real danger of nominating a very conservative, Tea Party candidate in the next election. To avoid this, I think we should be looking at Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio.”

Greg Frazer

Melbourne, Australia

“Regarding the woes of the GOP, they need to support turning over the social issues like abortion and gay marriage over to individual states.”

Dale Yant

Andover, MN

“Bernie Goldberg is absolutely correct about charisma. If you look at every presidential election since WWII, the less charismatic candidate has only won twice.”

Dr. Larry Pfaff

Portage, MI

“Bernie said we need a charismatic Republican candidate who can speak to all demographics. Maybe we should have taken Donald Trump’s bid a little more seriously.”

Holly Clouser

Warren, OH

“Conservatives have got to stop falling for the political trap of abortion and gay rights. No good can come from the discussion as both are highly personal and individual issues. They need to start courting the youth vote.”

Rich Jolliff

Leesville, LA

ELECTION REACTION

Dennis Miller concluded that the country has been so transformed that voters failed to see what a good man they had in Mitt Romney.

“This election is clearly proof positive that when the choice is between self-reliance and entitlements, entitlements will always win.”

Charles Molina

Las Vegas, NV

“Our society has gradually changed in the last 30 years and become socialist. So you can change the candidate all you want, but you will not beat the Democrat who is giving away free stuff.”

Rita Bentley

Carson City, NV

“Theocratic social issues are increasingly lose-lose situations for Republicans among the changing demographic of the electorate.”

E.J. Fancett

Tacoma, WA

“It doesn’t matter if Obama fails again. The only way Democrats will go down the tube is if the demographics change and that’ll never happen.”

Arlene McCoy

Ligonier, PA

“Listen to Dennis Miller – Obama won because he’s the new Santa Claus and the people who voted for him want free stuff. My prediction is that 60 million Americans will be on food stamps by 2016.”

Mike Weil

Virginia Beach, VA

“Dennis Miller’s thoughts and feelings about the election are very close to the way many Americans feel today. Mitt Romney and Dennis Miller are both true Americans!”

Carlotta Wheeler

Apache Junction, AZ

“Although Obama deserved to be soundly defeated, he won because a majority of Americans voted for a liberal icon over the economy. And they’ll probably vote for another liberal icon four years from now.”

Gerald Jacobs

Staten Island, NY

“I respect Dennis Miller, but disagree with his claim that Americans are now a bunch of takers. I make part-time and make very little money, but I will never become a burden on my country.”

Laura Lener

Brooklyn, NY

“A truly good man has been demonized by Hollywood and the mainstream media. I will continue to hold Mitt Romney up to my children as a man of great character and hard work.”

Ellen Adams

Beaufort, SC

“The self-sufficient American spirit has waned considerably. It’s doubtful that it will return in my lifetime. We only have ourselves to blame.”

Craig Lewis

Danville, CA

“I agree with Dennis Miller that America changed last night. It is not the same America my dad and others in the greatest generation fought for in WWII.”

Bob Peck

Chattanooga, TN

“Dennis Miller was spot on in his analysis. We missed out on a true patriot leading our nation when we failed to elect Mitt Romney.”

Curtis Diaz

Tallahassee, FL

“Miller is a drama queen. Our country isn’t going anywhere because old white conservative men aren’t running it!”

Lucy Anderson

Wichita, KS

“America is now a country of people who expect handouts. You are incorrect when you say Democrats will go away if the economy is still in shambles in four years. This is a sad day for America.”

Terry Dupler, Ph.D.

Houston, TX

Viewer Mail for Friday, November 2

2012-11-02T14:47:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Had the President and State Department done the right thing within a few days of the Libya tragedy, it would not have been a political issue. The bungling, amateurish handling of the spin after the fact made it a political issue.”

Greg Smith

Lacey, WA

REAL GROWTH?

The Obama administration is spinning new economic numbers favorably, claiming there were more jobs available in October and unemployment is on the decline.

“Five millions jobs created sounds like a lot, but it is not even enough to keep up with population growth. Statistically, Obama’s administration has not returned one unemployed person to work since taking office.”

Jeanne Kozlowski
Columbia, MD

“President Obama reports that more people found jobs in October than in the eight previous months, yet he’s constantly bashing House Republicans for refusing to pass his jobs bill. Maybe the GOP is the real hero here.”

Judy Holden

Los Osos, CA

“The growth in the number of people looking for work has more to do with Christmas coming than with more jobs being available. Plus, one-quarter of America’s workforce is only part-time.”

John White, Jr.

Edgewater, FL

“These new jobs will end come January. The company I work for always hires for the holidays in October.”

Melissa Williams

Brookings, OR

HARSH CRITICISM

Sen. John McCain calls the attack on our consulate in Libya “the most incompetently functioning national security of any administration in history.” But Geraldo Rivera continues to defend the President’s handling of the situation.

“The President’s job is to put the proper assets in place to protect the American people. If he fails or is unwilling to do that it is definitely a political issue, no matter what Geraldo says.”

Jeff Dickey

Fayette, MO

“Geraldo’s point is that the administration’s incompetence in failing to secure the consulate is acceptable to challenge, but their incompetent response to the attack is beyond reproach.”

Jeff Lee

Minneapolis, MN

“Geraldo thinks the President deserves an apology? For lying to the American people? For continuing to dodge the Benghazi issue when four Americans were murdered? And to think I used to have respect for his reporting.”

John Ruocco

Milton, FL

“Geraldo has lost all credibility as far as I’m concerned for trying to spin the murders in Benghazi. He is letting his emotions affect his reporting.”

Sheilah Taylor

Oklahoma City, OK

“Geraldo Rivera may be a war correspondent, but he’s still drinking the Kool-Aid if he believes Obama was innocent of knowledge about Benghazi before the raid. Get real!”

Ken Brown

Camarillo, CA

“I can’t believe Geraldo asked why the Ambassador was in Benghazi in the first place. Is he blaming a public servant for his own death?”

Cindy Keegan

St. George, UT

“You let Geraldo off the hook when he said Benghazi wasn’t a political issue. The President is the commander-in-chief, so of course it’s a political issue!”

Carol Mook

Plymouth, MI

S.O.S.!

Many New Yorkers are still being adversely impacted in the aftermath of the Superstorm that struck the region earlier this week.

“Why hasn’t the government deployed the Army and Marines to the Northeast to assist in the cleanup and recovery from Superstorm Sandy? Something needs to be done to clean up before the environment gets toxic.”

Robin Lesniak

Columbia, MD

“I feel guilty going about my day knowing that many people in this country are without food, shelter, clothes, and power. The people of the Northeast are in my thoughts.”

Nicole Templeton

Crossville, TN

“The lack of help to the residents of New York and New Jersey is a disgrace. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If vehicles can’t get through, use air and sea.”

Dee Hannum

Dunedin, FL

“Many Staten Islanders have no homes, no food, no electricity, no gas. That translates into no second term!”

David DeMartino

Staten Island, NY

“I have been to New York City and I can’t imagine how you are getting in to do your show every day with the subways closed, no power, and a gasoline shortage.”

Lynn Shepard

Raytown, MO

“Greg Gutfeld’s biggest hardship from Sandy was deciding what kind of take-out to order? I wonder how that joke went over with those who are dumpster-diving tonight because they are hungry and have no food.”

Cindye Valentine

Hixson, TN

“Sandy proved that New York is not as prepared for large-scale disasters as it professes to be. Many of the issues they are facing post-storm are familiar territory for us South Floridians.”

Richard Calderon

Pembroke Pines, FL

“Having lived in both Florida and New Orleans, I can tell you that no one can ever be fully prepared for what Mother Nature might throw our way. Sandy should be a wakeup call for the area that some preparedness is needed.”

James Lee, Jr.

Columbus, GA

“My family went through three hurricanes eight years ago. We lost power for extended periods each time. My heart goes out to the victims, but on a good note, the hardship really brought our neighborhood together.”

Sandra Vincur

Palm Bay, FL

“If Bush was still President, do you think the media would be blaming him for the disaster caused by a hurricane?”

Dan Smahol

Rochester, NY

“Can you imagine the outcry over Sandy and Libya if Bush was still president? This is Obama’s Katrina, but there will be no coverage and no blame.”

Pete Byam

Apache Junction, AZ

Viewer Mail for Thursday, November 1

2012-11-01T14:15:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“In my lifetime, my taxpayer dollars have probably rebuilt some of these homes on the New Jersey coastline several times. The real kicker is that I’m not able to use the beach they’ve built on because it’s private.”

Antonina Penna

Toms River, NJ

PLATFORM PARADOX

Bishop E.W. Jackson has come out condemning the Democratic platform, saying its abortion policies have “killed unborn black babies by the tens of millions.” So why are black Christians voting for Democrats in droves?

“It is frustrating to see African-Americans claim the Democratic Party is looking out for them when Lincoln was the one who aided in forming the Republican Party.”

Mitch Wall

Augusta, GA

“As an African-American who escaped the Democratic Party 12 years ago, I would have laughed if it was not for the tragedy of the spectacle of Revs. Jacques DeGraff and Michael Walrond defending the liberal platform.”

Marvin Harris

Burbank, CA

“Neither guest ever referenced God’s position on abortion and homosexuality in the Holy Bible. Instead they both gave the secular humanist positions. So much for being mighty men of God!”

William Jackson

Los Angeles, CA

“The Reverends’ support of the Democratic platform in spite of the church’s opposition to integral parts of the platform is a total paradox.”

Tyson Kisor

Pell City, AL

“Saying that you couldn’t imagine Jesus going into a Planned Parenthood painted a vivid picture that exposed your guests’ hypocrisy. May God soften their hardened hearts.”

Tess Westmoreland

Humble, TX

“I don’t know how any Christian can vote for the Democratic Party when the President himself supports both Planned Parenthood and gay marriage.”

Shirley Nuno

Hayden, ID

“Bishop Jackson is correct. A Christian cannot support any party that embraces abortion and same-sex marriage in its platform. I commend him for having the courage to speak out.”

John La Brasca

Racine, WI

WATER’S EDGE

Avowed libertarian John Stossel says the federal government should stop insuring people who knowingly build homes in high-risk areas.

“Subsidizing the wealthiest Americans’ second homes in a devastated region should be unacceptable. Let them take the risk on themselves and buy private insurance.”

Ric Hossack

Storrs, CT

“My heart goes out to the flood victims, but if the government didn’t subsidize disaster damage to those in high-risk areas, there would be less damage and less death in the future.”

David McFarland

Ben Wheeler, TX

“If you can afford oceanfront property, you can afford insurance. Why should the taxpayers foot the bill?”

Mary Crim

Springfield, MO

“Should the American taxpayer be forced to underwrite those who take risks or should the risk-takers be required to be responsible for the consequences of their decisions? That’s the question.”

Dennis Clay

Lenoir, NC

“Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome is a sign of mental illness…or a government flood insurance program.”

Bill Schepp

Philips, WI

“If you want to live on a river bank, at the shore or sea level, buy your own insurance. The taxpayers shouldn’t be responsible for your poor decisions.”

Skip Gouchee

Garfield, AR

“Citizens who choose to live in risky areas are obligated to rebuild their own areas. If I want to help out financially, I’ll donate to charity.”

Jeff Larson

Upland, CA

“John Stossel is right that the government shouldn’t rescue everyone. When one house burns down, is that disaster any less deserving than when 100 houses burn down?”

Stan Call

Cacahoatan, Mexico

“To build a home without securing adequate insurance is a choice the homeowner makes. If it’s the wrong choice, it’s not up to me to foot the bill on behalf of those who gamble on a free ride.”

Bob Kelly

La Quinta, CA

“The government should stay out of the way and allow the citizens involved in a natural disaster to clean up themselves. We shouldn’t be wasting our time or money on this.”

John Bartush

Muenster, TX

“While I tend to agree with Stossel, where do we draw the line? Every area of the country has its own severe weather problems.”

Dave Hall

Newark, DE

RINGING ENDORSEMENT

Gen. Colin Powell, a long-time Republican, has again thrown his support behind President Obama in the election.

“The fact is President Obama has done a horrible job, particularly with the economy, and yet Colin Powell still supports him.”

Steve Pugh

Houston, TX

“As a black American, let me be the first to say that Fox News correspondent Arthel Neville is 100% wrong about Colin Powell. I have a feeling he would not have endorsed Hillary.”

Allyse Wesolowski

Los Angeles, CA

“When Arthel protested your assertion that Colin Powell may be supporting Mr. Obama because of their kinship on affirmative action, you should have asked if Powell would be doing the same thing if the President was white. I think not.”

Mike Hammer

Palm Springs, CA

“Don’t ignore the fact that the ‘great’ Colin Powell brought reports of weapons of mass destruction to the UN in 2003, thus getting the U.S. into the Iraq war. Powell is a great failure.”

Jerry Schlotter

Pattaya, Thailand

“Arthel Neville may not be willing to admit it, but the obvious reason General Powell is endorsing President Obama is because he’s black first, and Republican second.”

Chad Phillips

Fort Worth, TX

“There are indeed strong parallels of affirmative action advantages for both Powell and Obama. Arthel Neville is overreacting by calling your question offensive.”

Timothy Votaw

Coos Bay, OR

“Arthel Neville stated that if President Obama’s first term had been a failure, Colin Powell would never have endorsed him. Where has she been for the past four years?”

Anne Broderick

Chatham, MA

“Powell is a four-star general who is retired from the military. Why would he vote for a commander-in-chief who covered up a botched response to a terrorist attack in Libya?”

Charles Talley

Hohenwald, TN

Viewer Mail for Tuesday, October 30

2012-10-30T13:39:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“We will bounce back from this storm. We are Americans, and those who doubt our resolve are wrong. But still, I’d like to see the rest of the world offer us assistance since we’re always there when disaster strikes them.”

Kit Murphy

Scranton, PA

COMING TOGETHER

Following the devastating storm that wreaked havoc on the New Jersey and New York areas, NJ Governor Chris Christie (R) applauded the Obama administration’s response to the situation.

“Chris Christie took the bull by the horns and acted presidential in his handling of the horrific storm situation. I think our President took notice and decided to act on it.”

Debbie Kuhman

Cocoa, FL

“Condolences to those affected, but from the overdramatic media coverage, you’d think Sandy was spewing radiation and had ties to al Qaeda.”

Bill D’Angelo

Pass Christian, MS

“Superstorm Sandy is a boon for the President, if re-elected. We will see limited government funds made available for any upgrade to the electric grid because his administration will be herding people into the cities to fulfill Obama’s urban program.”

Brenda Bloemer

Independence, KY

“They are estimating $20 billion from the storm. Isn’t that the amount taxpayers won’t be getting back from the GM bailout?”

Karl Herrmann

Conroe, TX

“Obama believes in doing whatever it takes to help people after a storm. Why didn’t he feel the same way about the American people in Libya?”

Deric Davidson

Bunbury, Australia

“I don’t care how much infrastructure improvements you make, there is no way you can protect such a massive area from a monster storm such as Sandy.”

Steve Agapis

York, PA

“You were spot on about America’s infrastructure being fragile. We need a President who will rebuild it.”

Dana Cappell

New York, NY

“Our condolences and prayers are with everyone affected by the storm. We know too well the pain. There are no political parties during times like this.”

Dawn Steinmetz

Pensacola, FL

“With all due respect to the people of the Northeast, Florida and the Gulf Coast live without power due to hurricanes many times a season.”

Mary Anne Delacenserie

Tallahassee, FL

FACTOR HOLDOUTS

The Factor is disappointed that both candidates have turned down repeated requests to enter the no spin zone in the run-up to the election.

“If you want a Romney interview, hold your show in Cleveland or Columbus in the final days before the election. You can’t expect him to come to New York just for you.”

Mike Christie

Dover, NH

“I would think it would do Gov. Romney a world of good to appear on the Factor. Americans are starving for politicians to be asked tough but fair questions.”

Joe Falvo

South Canaan, PA

“He won’t cultivate any new voters by appearing on your show. Nobody who watches your show can be considered an undecided voter at this point because they are well-informed.”

James Simmons

Fort Indiantown Gap, PA

“A Romney appearance on Fox News could be viewed as too partisan to sway the few remaining undecided voters in Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin at this stage. That’s the risk.”

John Winslow

Calabasas, CA

“Even though the Factor reaches a larger audience, I applaud the decision by Romney’s campaign that boots on the ground is the way to get votes in these waning days before the election.”

Diana Turnipseed

Birmingham, AL

“What’s the point of having Governor Romney appear on your show when all of us who watch you are already voting for him?”

Susan Bond

Palmetto, FL

“The candidates have already had three live sessions answering off-the-cuff questions. There is little to gain, and lots to lose, to sit for an interview with you.”

Bill Horton

Houston, TX

“I enjoy your show, but your discussion about Romney not appearing on the Factor is clearly all about your ego. You’d be the only one with anything to gain from a Romney interview. Get real.”

M. Free

Northbrook, IL

“Mitt Romney will be speaking directly to the people of Ohio and Wisconsin in the coming days with coverage locally and nationally. He doesn’t need to be interviewed by you.”

Theodore Salgado

Milwaukee, WI

“The presidential election does not run through the Factor. Get over yourself.”

Robert Anderson

Kenmore, WA

“The reason the President and Romney won’t agree to be interviewed by you is that they are both afraid of your bold, fresh questions.”

Gary Kiper

Odessa, TX

Viewer Mail for Friday, October 26

2012-10-26T21:58:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“As a college student, it baffles me when younger voters think President Obama is more in touch with their lives. If he really was, would he be doing an interview on MTV? Nobody has watched that channel since the 90s.”

Brandon Moll

Tallahassee, FL

LIBYA COVERUP?

The Obama administration continues to investigate the muddled situation in Libya. But why didn’t NBC News’ Brian Williams press the President on the matter during his recent interview with him?

“Libya won’t lose the election for Obama. If you go on the home pages of CNN and MSNBC’s websites, you can’t even find the word Libya.”

Renier Bester

Dallas, TX

“Brian Williams and his bosses at NBC News are confirmed liberals who are dedicated to seeing President Obama re-elected, regardless of the truth or consequences.”

Marc Arenstein

Boca Raton, FL

“Governor Romney tried to question Obama about Libya in the second debate and the media turned it around on him. He knew he couldn’t press the issue in the third debate without looking bad.”

Pam Meadows

West Jordan, UT

“This administration has hidden behind the mainstream media for four years. Whatever happened to the promise of transparency in government?”

Karen Chatfield

Attleboro, MA

“NBC News is so far in the tank, they will never see the light of day. I don’t know why you would expect Brian Williams to press President Obama on Libya.”

Ed Parker

Houston, TX

“Obama promising to get to the bottom of what happened in Libya is like O.J. Simpson looking for the real killers.”

Steve Ely

Virginia Beach, VA

“President Obama cannot come out and say who told Jay Carney and Susan Rice to make the statements they made on Libya because he is behind it.”

David Wallach

Raleigh, NC

“Our consulate had been attacked twice prior. Not only were they denied extra security, what little they had was taken away. It was a dereliction of duty.”

Robert Rey

Rutherford, NJ

“You can’t tell me there weren’t things the administration could have done during that attack that would have helped and potentially saved lives. This is unbelievable and sickening!”

Julie Songy

Keene, TX

“Geraldo says the President will tell the people what happened when he gets to the bottom of it. But for two weeks the administration claimed the attack was caused by an anti-Muslim video. I don’t expect much from them.”

Chris Torrice

Sterling Heights, MI

PAIN AT THE PUMP

With gas prices having doubled since President Obama took office, Factor producer Jesse Watters hit some gas stations to find out how that’s sitting with voters.

“I work in the oil service industry. I am here to tell you regulation by Obama has held up production. If we are let loose, we can drill the prices down.”

Steve Stockton

Lafayette, LA

“Everyone complains about the evil oil companies, but they make a mere pittance compared to the government taxes on a gallon of gas.”

Scott McLoughlin

Newberg, OR

“If you would check out how many refineries have been bought and closed down in the last 20 years, you would realize that big oil has lost complete control over refining.”

Paul Talley

Encinitas, CA

“When I was a kid, gas was 10 cents a gallon. $100 then is worth about $2.50 now, so gas should now be around $4 a gallon, adjusting for inflation. No more complaining.”

Arthur Skraboly

Oswego, IL

“Watters won’t find me at the gas station because I drive a Chevy Volt! If it’s energy independence you want, just don’t use gas. Without their oil power, the Middle East will go away unless they can suddenly find a market for sand.”

Michael Draelos

High Point, NC

“I noticed you didn’t deliver your usual rant against oil speculators. Did you finally realize the fallacy of your argument?”

Scott Schaffer

Pensacola, FL

“Neither side has made a big deal about gas prices? Romney points out at every opportunity that gas prices have doubled since Obama took office.”

Scott Chipman

San Diego, CA

SOFTBALL STUFF

President Obama won’t enter the no spin zone, but he did decide to sit for interviews with MTV, Leno, Letterman, and other soft media outlets.

“No wonder he won’t come on the Factor. The leader of our country can’t even answer questions from MTV. He just dodges.”

Ryan Wilt

Charlotte, NC

“Mr. Obama showed his lack of respect for the American people and the office of the presidency by allowing the MTV interviewer to wear a hat in the White House.”

Kristin Chanter

New Harmony, UT

“With such a close race, every vote counts. You should think twice about poking fun at the President for doing an interview with MTV. He may have been able to sway the opinions of its two viewers.”

Allen Clary

Broken Arrow, OK

“The Obama camp smells defeat in the air. What you’re really watching is his farewell tour, hosted by his media enablers.”

Jack Willy

Tucson, AZ

“The President is after the undecided voter. You said as much yourself the other night on Letterman.”

Ron Kowalewski

Sellersville, PA

Viewer Mail for Thursday, October 25

2012-10-25T21:08:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Even if the allegations against Lance Armstrong are true, I am still in awe of his accomplishments. You and I could take all the performance-enhancing drugs in the world, and we still couldn’t ride a bike like he did.”

Joe Baxter

Fort Mill, SC

GENDER GAP

Polls indicate that many women are starting to shift to Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, the President refers to his opponent as a “bullsh*tter.” Will this harsh remark hurt him among female voters?

“What’s so presidential about using profanity towards your opponent?”

Bobbie Russell

Olive Branch, MS

“The President has resorted to foul language while campaigning. It’s beneath the office and shows a lack of respect.”

GiGi Kubiak

Denver, CO

“Speaking as a middle class woman, I can tell you Obama is the guy you want to party with, but Romney is the guy you hope to marry.”

Leslie Harris

Winnipeg, Canada

“Women voters may be turning away from Obama because of his rude behavior during the last debate. Now he’s stooping to a new low using profanity in reference to Mitt Romney.”

Kyle Riley

Philadelphia, PA

“Most women have a BS detector where men are concerned. If a chunk of American women are waking up to the fact that the President’s walk doesn’t match his talk, it could restore my faith in my gender.”

Mary Ann Sturgeon

Scottsburg, IN

“The reason Mitt Romney has gained so much with women is because in the last debate he was downright likeable. President Obama, on the other hand, was an obnoxious bully.”

Doris Plungis

Cinnaminson, NJ

TOUR DE FARCE

Cyclist Lance Armstrong is stripped of his seven Tour de France titles because he has been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to achieve those wins.

“As a professional bodybuilder, I’m a strong supporter of drug-free athletes. But as long as sponsors continue to pay for superhuman performance, we will always have this type of fraud in sports.”

Katie Gallagher

Stafford, VA

“Remove Lance’s seven wins and most of the remaining contenders were also caught doping during their careers. The problem in professional cycling is bigger than Lance Armstrong.”

Bruce Harmon

Corvallis, OR

“If Lance Armstrong has to give back the money he made from his sponsors, do the sponsors have to give back the money they made off of Lance?”

Richard Earle

Salem, OR

“Mr. Armstrong has literally stolen millions of dollars from all those cyclists who finished in second place behind him. Those were their endorsements that he fraudulently claimed by cheating.”

Bob Bellinger

New Paltz, NY

“As I understand it, all the evidence against Armstrong is hearsay, so to strip him of his titles is absolutely wrong. For that, you need cold, hard facts.”

Marc DiRaimo

Erie, PA

“The Europeans are always screaming about doping, even when there is no evidence. When you compete at that level, you’re under a microscope all the time.”

John Delaney

Minden, NV

“Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to prosecute these cases. Money should be set aside by the sports affiliates involved.”

Larry Richard

Show Low, AZ

“You can’t call Lance a doper when he has never failed a drug test. You should be far more discerning when covering this story.”

Kiara Ashanti

Orlando, FL

“I don’t care how much dope you take, you have to be a real athlete to win seven Tour de France titles.”

Tony Bormes

Berea, KY

NOBODY CARES?

New State Department emails shed light on the situation in Libya, but are Americans as enraged as they should be about this controversy?

“As a military wife whose husband has been deployed several times, I can tell you there are some who are paying attention to Libya.”

Malaine Hamilton

Centerview, MO

“I hate to say it, but the majority of the Americans don’t even know where Libya is, so of course they don’t care what happens in Benghazi.”

Paul Butler

Spring, TX

“People are angry about what happened in Libya and they will show it in the voting booth on November 6^th.”

Treena Moreno

Penfield, NY

“People in leadership can delegate authority, but cannot delegate responsibility. The President needs to know this.”

Carl Pope

Plains, MT

“Most people don’t care because there are no hostages. The event is over; people died; it’s sad, but it happened.”

Steve Jones

Georgetown, TX

“Enough is enough. Hillary Clinton lied. Susan Rice lied. Jay Carney lied. The President lied. I demand the truth as every American should.”

Mike Cayton

Swansboro, NC

“As a president who has missed significant morning intelligence briefings, if Obama didn’t know about the attack before going to Nevada, that’s a big story.”

Don Stinson

Miami Springs, FL

“Even if you like President Obama, you have to condemn his secrecy on this Libya situation, and the false reporting by some in his administration.”

Charles DiFini

Henderson, NV

“You say you don’t believe Obama was engaged in all the explanations of Benghazi because he was too busy with the re-election campaign. If true, that’s deeply disturbing.”

Jim Tidwell

Montgomery, TX

“Most Americans don’t realize they’re being lied to about Libya. The mainstream media coverage is insufficient to generate public outcry.”

Hank O’Brien

Deephaven, MN

Viewer Mail for Wednesday, October 24

2012-10-24T16:45:00Z

LETTER OF THE DAY!

“Mr. Hughley misunderstands the function of the presidency. The president works for the people; we don’t work for him. We are obligated to ask tough questions.”

Rose Marie DeStefano

Myrtle Beach, SC

TEAM OBAMA

Comedian D.L. Hughley entered the no spin zone to explain why he’s not a fan of Mitt Romney.

“Your questioning of Obama was not disrespectful. He is the President of the United States, not the king.”

Ronald Kowalewski

Sellersville, PA

“You should have told D.L. Hughley that if you were disrespectful for interrupting Obama during your interview, then Obama was disrespectful for interrupting Romney during the last debate.”

Terri Culmone

Saratoga Springs, UT

“I’m a Romney supporter, but I loved the Hughley segment. He’s bright and made his case well. He’s probably mortified that an old white guy like me likes him.”

Mike Woodliff

Smyrna, GA

“I must have missed the part in the interview where D.L. Hughley said he is still supporting President Obama because he’s done such a great job for the last four years.”

Susan VanderSluis

Ogden, UT

“D.L. Hughley must be a great comedian because I couldn’t stop laughing during your interview with him.”

Scott Leonard

Spokane, WA

“It is evident that Mr. Hughley has disdain for Mitt Romney, yet he speculates the Governor has disdain for those to whom he can’t relate. I think Hughley has a psychological projection issue.”

Uno Bloom

Eagle River, WI

“Enough with these fringe celebrity interviews. I don’t care about their political views. Stop wasting my time!”

Ed Kasica, Jr.

Oldsmar, FL

“D.L. Hughley voiced his concern about President Obama being disrespected throughout the campaign. Was it not disrespectful for the President to constantly insinuate that Mitt Romney is a liar?”

Sandy Stefanik

Mission Viejo, CA

“Hughley’s analysis was totally based on emotional impressions and devoid of intelligence.”

Bill Mangan

Seattle, WA

“I was impressed by Mr. Hughley talking openly and not spouting the Democratic talking points of the moment. He is a patriot.”

Bob Reid

Stafford Springs, CT

“Why didn’t you ask D.L. Hughley why he shouldn’t be perceived as a racist for not liking Romney? After all, anyone in America who disagrees with Obama’s politics is automatically a racist.”

Chris Hendrick

Starkville, MS

“D.L. Hughley said he has never seen this level of disrespect for a president. Did he have his eyes closed from 2004 to 2008?”

Chris Moree

Taylors, SC

BAIN OF THEIR EXISTENCE?

Another pro-Obama ad features regular folks who blame Mitt Romney for killing their jobs while he worked at Bain Capital.

“I’m sick of the Obama campaign’s Bain ads. They leave out the fact that 44 other steel mills went out of business around the same time because of cheap foreign steel.”

John Stires

Rancho Santa Fe, CA

“How much did the people in the new Bain attack ads get paid for their statements? Money is the only motive that makes sense.”

Sherrie Stears

Juneau, AK

“If the Democrats think Bain Capital is a big deal, what about the hundreds of coal mines this administration has shut down in the Appalachians?”

Joe Justice

Pecks Mill, WV

“I missed the part of the ad when they all said they got new jobs when Obama became President.”

Stan Watkins

San Bernardino, CA

“What person is ignorant enough to believe that laying off workers and going bankrupt is the way businessmen get rich?”

Steven Mikulas

Lansing, IA

“Obama’s new ads interviewing people who lost their jobs through Bain Capital hold no water. How many jobs were lost with the wasted investments at Obama’s green jobs businesses?”

Chris Bruce

Valencia, CA

“When Mitt was at Bain, he made Bain money. If he were president, he’d do the same thing for the United States.”

Jade Chow

Hong Kong

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS

Once again, O’Reilly faced off with late night comedian David Letterman, an avowed liberal.

“Watching O’Reilly on Letterman last night made me realize the only time I watch that show anymore is when Bill is on. Mr. Letterman has become irrelevant because of his hard-core politics.”

Sonny Vasta

Baltimore, MD

“You were great on Letterman’s show. I’d love to know what you and Snooki talked about in the greenroom.”

Sharon Sobieski

Yorktown, VA

“Your performance on Letterman was really lively with your quick, informative, and entertaining responses. You earned all those balloons!”

Linda Park

Westborough, MA

“I never watch Letterman because he’s a liberal loon, but I tuned in tonight to see you. I thought you showed a lot of class.”

Shawn Coleman

Wadsworth, OH

“You must be growing on Dave. That was the fuzziest interview I’ve seen since you sat down with Obama.”

Julia Grothen

Hastings, NE

“My wife and I loved your appearance on Letterman. Who knew you had such a great sense of humor?”

Tommy Upshaw

Allen, TX

“I’m a big fan but disappointed in your Letterman appearance. You looked as lively as Obama in the first debate.”

Pete Skurla

Mendham, NJ

“I endured Letterman’s monologue and top ten list in order to watch you last night. Please don’t make me do that again.”

Linda Brendle

Emory, TX