"Two vibrant political parties are necessary for a strong America; competition always leads to good ideas. When one party dominates, you tend to see arrogance and foolish policies creep in, and that may be happening to the Obama administration. Since his inauguration, the president's approval rating has dropped by sixteen points. That should bolster Republicans, but many conservatives are acting foolishly. Instead of concentrating on ideas, they are frenzied over the president's birth certificate and that kind of dumb stuff. Mr. Obama loves this because it makes his opposition look irrational. Some conservatives also personally attacked Judge Sotomayor, and then there is talk radio, which has angered centrist Republicans like John McCain and Colin Powell. If the Republican Party wants to regain power, it must come up with better programs than the Democrats. Ideological rhetoric doesn't persuade voters, and every crazy theory like the birth certificate deal actually helps the president by marginalizing his most bitter opponents."

The Factor welcomed two prominent conservatives, radio host Mike Gallagher and Newsmax's Christopher Ruddy, both of whom disagreed with the Talking Points. "There are legitimate issues regarding the birth certificate," Ruddy argued. "He has yet to release his actual certificate, and he has never released his college records, medical records, or state legislature records. He said he was going to be the most transparent president ever." Gallagher concurred that this is a legitimate story. "This is a request for the official birth certificate. It's wrong to brand people as crazy extremists and 'birthers' simply because they're asking for a birth certificate." But The Factor warned that conservatives are damaging themselves. "The administration is using this to paint the GOP as a bunch of kooks who are running around with no ideas. Two newspapers in Hawaii announced Barack Obama's birth the week he was born."

Candidate Obama pledged to never raise taxes on families earning less than $250,000, but two of his top economic advisors have hinted that middle-class taxes may be necessary. The Factor interrogated Fox News analysts Juan Williams and Mary Katharine Ham about the tax issue. "President Obama is in a corner here," Ham said. "People are very upset about the deficits, but he wants to spend a lot of money. So - surprise! - a liberal Democrat wants to raise your taxes and spend a lot of money." Williams reported on the rift among President Obama's advisers. "There's a split inside the administration. You have economic advisers who say you have to reserve the option of raising taxes, but the political people know they can not go back on the pledge." The Factor concluded that President Obama will not break his tax pledge: "This is a 'read my lips' moment. He can't raise taxes, and that'll be the end of him if he does."

26-year-old Kentucky high school teacher Nicole Howell was fired and arrested after allegations that she had sex with a 16-year-old football player. Howell, who vehemently denies the accusation, entered the No Spin Zone to defend herself. "Every text message between us was platonic," Howell claimed, "but in December my principal walked me out of the building, I was suspended right there. The student had come forward and said I had sex with him. I want people to know I am completely innocent." Howell's attorney Eric Deters accused the young man of telling conflicting stories. "He made the allegation and then he denied the allegation. The only evidence they have is this boy's word. The allegation is that she bought alcohol. Never happened! The allegation is that they had sex four times. Never happened!"

Voter registration records show that professors at the University of Oregon are almost exclusively Democratic. Radio host Lars Larson claimed that political imbalance is common in American universities. "There is a bias in favor of liberal points of view on campuses; a lot of people who know how to do things actually go into the private sector. Universities talk about 'diversity,' but they are not interested in political diversity." But author and radio host Thom Hartman argued that teaching is a profession that naturally attracts liberals. "When young people are asked what kinds of professions they're looking at, education is very high for liberals, while business is often very high for conservatives. So I'm guessing there's a self-selection process here, because we see this at most universities." The Factor complained that parents and students are being cheated. "This is indoctrination and taxpayers should be outraged about it. They're funding the school. This is not fair to any student and it's a scandal!"

Culture Warriors Margaret Hoover and Gretchen Carlson looked at the Dutch city of Amsterdam, known for legalized drugs and prostitution, which is now infested with organized crime. "It was na�ve of the city," Hoover declared, "to not anticipate that international organized crime would come to the Netherlands. Ordinary citizens are getting caught in the crossfire of the thugs." The Warriors turned to Oklahoma, where two women were arrested for running a sex ring with teenage boys. "These boys are victims," Carlson pronounced. "They were having sex with these two women, who were drugging them up and letting them drink. The boys who are tarnished for life, and this will only stop if they punish these women like they do men." Hoover also worried that the women may be treated leniently. "There are people who say that if a 14-year-old boy has a physical ability to have sex, it can't be abuse. I absolutely disagree. These women are out on bail, if they were men they'd be locked up."

A "humor" magazine features photos of Roseanne Barr dressed as a domestic Hitler, complete with moustache and swastika. The Factor's Check: "Apparently she is mocking the Holocaust, holding a tray of what she calls 'burnt Jew cookies.' This does not reflect well on Ms. Barr." Also, the far-left St. Petersburg Times has published an outright lie. The Factor's Check: "Media critic Eric Deggans, who consistently distorts the truth, told his readers that I called President Obama a 'racist.' That is blatantly false and Deggans knows it. So we called publisher Marty Petty, who told us the paper will run a front-page retraction. I appreciate that, but the problem is acute - all American newspapers have an obligation to hire honest people, not crazed ideologues."

Monday's Patriot: Actor Kevin Costner, who rescued people when a stage collapsed in Canada. And the Pinhead: Oliver Onion, the baseball mascot who decked another mascot dressed as President Teddy Roosevelt.

Thomas Rockford, Greenwood, AR: "Mr. O'Reilly, I enjoy your discussions with Dr. Marc Lamont Hill but he is wrong about Sarah Palin and Bill Maher. Palin connects with the folks and Maher will never be able to do that."

Kevin Collier, Grand Haven, MI: "Professor Hill speaks his mind and is cordial. Great example of the Factor being fair and balanced."

Roisin Walsh, County Meath, Ireland: "I follow the Factor and think it's fair. But the UK TV channels describe your programme as extreme right-wing."