"A recent New York Times poll asked, 'Do you think it is still possible to start out poor in this country, work hard, and become rich?' 64% of Americans say it is possible, 33% percent say it is not. As someone who started out with little, I know that the 33% are wrong. But there are things that you have to do to succeed. Number one, you must get educated, unless your athletic or music skills are so enormous that you can make a living that way. Number two, you must be willing to work hard and conform to levels of performance. You have to learn how to speak properly, how to groom yourself, and you can't have a face covered with tattoos unless you can punch like Mike Tyson. Here are some things you cannot do: First, if you feel America is an awful, rotten country, you will not succeed. Two, you cannot walk around with a sense of entitlement, feeling that people owe you things. Three, you cannot portray yourself as a victim of white privilege, of slavery, or of any other historical injustice. And finally, if you behave badly, if you are disrespectful, if you act foolishly, if you refuse to develop your talent, if you have three children by the time you are 20, if you abuse drugs and alcohol or do other self-destructive things, you will never succeed. Talking Points laments that our leaders will not tell you the things I am saying. Our political parties do not level with the folks, they pander to them. Capitalism is tough and very competitive, but the American dream is still achievable. And I know what I'm talking about."

Guests:Ed Henry
Notre Dame University will offer a course on "white privilege," to be taught by radical leftist Iris Outlaw. The Factor spoke about the bizarre course offering with Mark Gianfalla, president of the school's Republican Club. "Ms. Outlaw is not a professor," Gianfalla said, "she's the director of multicultural programs at Notre Dame. She was involved in planning a demonstration against college Republicans for hosting a talk by Ann Coulter, so she definitely steps into leftist activism. From what I've gathered, this course will explore 'white privilege' as if it's a historical fact. The students will have to be approved by Iris Outlaw and they will travel to Kentucky for a 'white privilege' conference." The Factor added, "We asked all kinds of people at Notre Dame to come on, but no one wants to talk about it."

Guests:Andrea Tantaros & Jennice Fuentes
Some left-wing Americans contend that coercive interrogation is always counterproductive. The Factor explored that argument with conservative Andrea Tantaros and liberal Jennice Fuentes. "I agree that these are agonizing choices," Fuentes began, "and we all have respect for the people in the CIA. I understand the dilemma, but I think that torture is wrong." Tantaros accused President Obama of playing politics with the issue. "If the left wants President Obama to do something about this, does he have the political stomach to prosecute people at the CIA? No, because that would reveal what CIA agents did. By water boarding the mastermind of 9/11 they would be heroes in the eyes of the American people. President Obama knows that." The Factor insisted that harsh interrogation has its place: "We don't want to be a nation of torturers, but in extraordinary situations you have to take actions that aren't strictly lawful."

Guests:Senator John McCain
The Factor welcomed Senator John McCain, a former victim of torture and the only Republican to endorse the Senate report. "That kind of treatment does not get accurate intelligence," McCain declared. "Water boarding began with the Spanish Inquisition and we sentenced Japanese to death who had water boarded our American prisoners. So have no doubt about the exquisite kind of torture it is, this is really wrong! If you inflict enough physical pain on someone, they will tell you anything they think you want to hear." The Factor pointed out the conflicting messages being promulgated by U.S. officials: "I have talked with three former CIA directors who told me that they did get intelligence through these techniques, but you say it doesn't work. It's impossible for the American people to know."

Guests:Mark Gianfalla
Notre Dame University will offer a course on "white privilege," to be taught by radical leftist Iris Outlaw. The Factor spoke about the bizarre course offering with Mark Gianfalla, president of the school's Republican Club. "Ms. Outlaw is not a professor," Gianfalla said, "she's the director of multicultural programs at Notre Dame. She was involved in planning a demonstration against college Republicans for hosting a talk by Ann Coulter, so she definitely steps into leftist activism. From what I've gathered, this course will explore 'white privilege' as if it's a historical fact. The students will have to be approved by Iris Outlaw and they will travel to Kentucky for a 'white privilege' conference." The Factor added, "We asked all kinds of people at Notre Dame to come on, but no one wants to talk about it."

Guests: Bernie Goldberg
Former ABC News correspondent Ann Compton says she personally witnessed President Obama engaging in off-the-record tirades against what he perceived as unfair treatment by the media. The Factor asked Bernie Goldberg to opine. "I think the president is right that the so-called mainstream media have mistreated him," Goldberg said, "but not in the way he thinks. They've mistreated him by not holding him accountable, by covering for him, and by covering stores as if they are really 'phony' scandals because the president says so. People in power need to be held accountable for their own good, otherwise they start to believe that everything they're doing is right. I think he is the most thin-skinned president we've ever elected."

Guests:Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer
Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, who was present in Afghanistan when a suspected terrorist was interrogated by the CIA, related his first-hand experience with enhanced interrogation. "This was an American and we had to break him," Shaffer recalled. "We took him to a remote base where he was completely isolated, which is an effective technique to break people. Sleep deprivation to make a person feel disoriented is necessary, and we hammered the heck out of his psychological fears. We coerced him psychologically, and in the end he was so broken that everything we needed to know came pouring out. He gave up the fact that his brother worked for the Iranian intelligence service and they were funding the very insurgency we were trying to fight. He broke completely."

Leslie Bowering, Exeter, NH: "O'Reilly, your interview with Professor Yoo was one of the most clarion exchanges I have heard. As one who wants to know the facts, I thank you."

Michael Vitullo, Richmond Hill, CA: "Bill, your debate with Mr. Simmons was illuminating. According to him, the problem is not young black males committing violent acts. The problem is they go to prison for them."

Jen Carlstedt, Tampa, FL: "I agree that Russell is a stand up guy for debating you, O'Reilly."

If you're having trouble sleeping some evening, try playing some soothing music. One possibility: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.