The Factor Rundown
Laura Ingraham fills in tonight.
Unresolved Problems Segment
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Tim Russert dies at age 58
Laura began with the stunning news of NBC's Tim Russert's sudden death Friday afternoon. Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, praised Russert as an institution in news and politics. "This was a man in full," Wallace said, "a man at the top of his game and the 'King of Washington.'" Wallace explained what set Russert apart from his peers. "He re-invented the Sunday morning talk show, which was down on its heels when he took over 'Meet the Press' in 1991. He said he would conduct the program like a cross-examination in a courtroom. He knew the Sunday morning audience cared about substance, and he gave them substance. We will never see someone like him again." Laura described Russert as a genuinely nice man. "He loved his Catholic faith, he loved the Buffalo Bills, he loved his family, he loved the Washington Nationals. And he was always a total gentleman." News Link: NBC's Tim Russert dies suddenly
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Gas prices emerge as key campaign issue
With gasoline selling for more than $4 a gallon, Barack Obama and John McCain have been sparring over their energy plans. Laura asked Obama supporter Mathew Littman why his candidate opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We wouldn't get that gasoline for ten years," Littman replied. "We need to have a comprehensive energy plan that begins right now. We haven't had an energy plan for the last eight years." Republican Nancy Pfotenhauer admitted that McCain agrees with Obama on ANWR, but wants to drill elsewhere. "Senator McCain is a very strong supporter of increasing domestic production. I'd contrast that with Senator Obama's plan - he wants to raise taxes on oil, natural gas and coal, which is a trifecta of bad policy. His policies are incoherent and they're going to hurt consumers." Laura criticized both candidates for opposing drilling in the remote and uninhabited ANWR. News Link: GOP pounces on Obama gas price remark
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Supreme Court rules on suspected terrorists' rights
One day after the Supreme Court ruled that suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their "enemy combatant" status in court, John McCain called the ruling one of the "worst decisions" in American history. Laura was joined by constitutional law expert Marjorie Cohn, who fully endorsed the Supreme Court's ruling. "Nobody is going to be released as a result of this decision," Cohn claimed, "they're just going to get a fair hearing. These men and boys are going to go before a neutral judge, why is everyone so afraid of that?" Laura agreed with Justice Scalia's contention that this decision will eventually cost lives. "Detainees can be released because of this, and when we released someone last month he went to Iraq, blew himself up, and killed people. Why should the court take the powers of defending America away from the legislature and the executive? Our founders would never in their wildest dreams believe that this could happen." News Link: Sparks fly after SCOTUS ruling on Gitmo
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Remembering Tim Russert
For more on Tim Russert and his enduring impact on television news, Laura welcomed Fox News VP John Stack, who previously worked with Russert at NBC. "He had disarming charm," Stack recalled. "And if he didn't know something, he'd work overtime to learn it. Tim outworked the people he interviewed - you just weren't going to beat him on substance." FNC media analyst Bernie Goldberg described Russert as an exceptionally principled reporter and interviewer. "He was one of the good guys," Goldberg said, "because he was fair. He was a blue-collar guy who understood America a lot better than many other people in journalism. I wish his colleagues understood that we need all kinds of people in journalism, and that if we don't have that we get one-sided journalism."
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Is the USA the enemy of Mexico?
According to a new poll, 31% of Mexicans actually consider the United States an enemy. Laura discussed that finding with professor Raul Hinojosa, who tried to put the poll in perspective. "Mexicans are very favorable compared to a lot of other countries," Hinojosa said. "The Germans and the French have a much more negative opinion of the United States, so Mexico doesn't look that bad. Mexican attitudes fell in the last year because of the criticism they feel is unfair, and they're very skeptical that either McCain or Obama will make a big difference." Laura argued that too many Mexicans believe there should be no restrictions on immigration. "Mexicans don't like the fact that Americans want to see their borders enforced. The idea that we are anti-Mexico seems quite wrong-headed. We should respect the laws of Mexico and they should respect the laws of the United States." News Link: Mexicans view US leaders negatively
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Controversial translations uncovered in Saudi school
Federal investigators have reported that a Saudi-sponsored Islamic school in Virginia promotes violence against adulterers, apostates and Jews. Laura introduced a 2005 interview Bill conducted with two graduates of the academy. "I was at the school for six years," said Nadia Ghannam, "and the only message was that we are all sons of Abraham, whether you are Jewish, Christian, or Islamic. We didn't learn anything other than being good brothers and sisters to one another. I never experienced any radicalism." Another ISA alumna, Raiah Idris, distanced herself from radical Islam. "I don't agree with killing innocent civilians, I don't agree with destroying buildings because that is a complete contradiction to my religion." Laura reminded viewers that another of the school's graduates is Ahmed Abu Ali, who is now in prison for plotting to kill President Bush. News Link: Saudi school in Virginia under fire for extremism
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R. Kelly found not guilty on all counts
R&B singer R. Kelly has been acquitted of charges that he videotaped himself engaging in sex with a 13-year old girl. Defense attorney John Richardson explained why Kelly walked. "It doesn't surprise me that the prosecution lost," Richardson said. "There was tons of evidence that was not allowed. There were seven prior allegations of child molestations and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of lawsuits that he settled. But prior bad character evidence can't be used to prove propensity, and they couldn't prove that it was him on the video. Plus, the defense put on a very good case." News Link: R. Kelly found not guilty
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