The O'Reilly Factor
A daily summary of segments aired on The O'Reilly Factor. A preview of the evening's rundown is posted before the show airs each weeknight.
Friday, April 2, 2010
The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo & Top Story
Impact Segment
Fridays with Geraldo Segment
Personal Story Segment
At Your Beck and Call Segment
Back of Book Segment
Pinheads and Patriots
Factor Mail
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Comments
Obama approval rating at all-time low
"According to a new CBS poll, just 44% of Americans believe the President is doing a good job. That is Mr. Obama's lowest approval ever, and what's driving it? The President blamed 'Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck' for being 'troublesome.' President Obama sincerely believes that conservatives are hurting his image, but his outrage is selective. The left attacks the President's critics with even more vitriol than the right uses, but Mr. Obama never mentions that. He must not watch NBC News. Talking Points believes it is unemployment, the bitterness surrounding health care, the massive debt, and the huge expansion of the federal government that are driving Mr. Obama's poll numbers down. Also, the President has lost nearly every right-leaning independent voter because he has governed almost exclusively from the left. This week's announcement about drilling for oil is an attempt to stop that bleeding, so the President is definitely aware of where he is in the court of public opinion."

The Factor asked political strategist Karl Rove to assess the impact of President Obama's declining approval ratings. "The Democrats are going to lose very badly this fall," Rove said, "and the President has basically squandered the good will of the American people. He's lost not only a lot of right-leaning independents, but also a lot of centrist independents by the spending and deficits and the health care bill." Rove characterized President Obama's endorsement of selective offshore drilling as smoke and mirrors. "In 2008 Congress repealed its ban on drilling off the east and west coasts and Alaska. The President makes it look like he is expanding drilling, but he is actually putting big swatches of the west coast and Alaska off limits. This is a 'nothing-burger' that he tried to present as a big and dramatic gesture."
Students objecting to Palin fundraising appearance
Sarah Palin is scheduled to appear at a June fundraiser for California State University Stanislaus, but some students and faculty there are protesting her presence. The Factor spoke with two of the students who want Governor Palin to steer clear of their school. "I object to her coming to our campus for this event," said Alicia Lewis, "because the event should embrace the community at large and should reflect the 50th anniversary of our campus." Ashli Briggs asserted that Sarah Palin is simply too divisive. "With budget cuts and the type of feeling there is on campus, this is a great time to bring students and faculty together. Political ideology is irrelevant." But The Factor argued that protesters actually object to Sarah Palin's conservatism: "I don't think you're being quite honest with us. Mrs. Palin has already passed on her speaking fee and is bringing in money to the university. So it seems that even if you don't like her philosophy, she is doing good for the college. C'mon! This is ideology!"
Geraldo reports from Afghanistan
The Factor was joined by Geraldo Rivera, who reported from Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. "The bitter irony here," Rivera said, "is that our forces fought over this exact same ground back in 2004. We had beaten the enemy then, but we then had to draw these Marines away to help in Iraq. So it was clear to me that we robbed Peter to pay Paul. Afghanistan is now a 'narco-state,' a country in which the most lucrative crop is opium poppy. I think President Karzai is playing a dangerous game and at the heart of it is the cascade of aid that comes from the West and from the drugs grown right here." The Factor lauded the U.S. military, but questioned whether Afghanistan is sharing the burden: "The problem we're having with Afghanistan is corruption. The Karzai government has not been able to secure the area because the people don't trust them."
Raquel Welch on being conservative in Hollywood
The Factor welcomed Raquel Welch, who has just written a book about her life and career. The 69-year-old sex symbol explained how she continues to rebuff advances from Father Time. "There are two sides to me," Welch said. "There's the sloppy girl who stays up and eats cake and cookies at night, and then there's the Raquel in training, which is like a military regime. I wake up at five o'clock in the morning to go to my yoga class, which I mix with weight training. I am Raquel Welch and I am paid to look good." Welch also outed herself as one of Hollywood's rarest of breeds, a conservative. "I think it was my upbringing and my midwestern values. I was just raised in a certain way - your country is important and you should honor those people who fight for our country."
The best of Glenn Beck
With Glenn Beck off on vacation, The Factor introduced a few of his greatest hits. This was Beck on the news that Jeremiah Wright was presenting himself with a 'living legend' award: "Isn't that great! I would like to present this silver pen to the greatest broadcaster in human history ... me. Bill, what are you giving yourself today? How about if you and I go to Chicago and we do a 'living legend' award?" And Beck on Time magazine columnist Joe Klein, who disparaged the intelligence of ordinary Americans: "This is the trick of the progressives - they really and truly believe that we have to breed the stupidity out of people, which is why they promoted eugenics. They're dangerous people!"
The dumbest things of the week
FNC's Greg Gutfeld and Juliet Huddy entered the No Spin Zone to name the absolutely stupidest people and events of the past week. Huddy picked rapper Snoop Dogg, who told Larry King about his undying love for marijuana. "They also talked about President Obama," Huddy reported, "and what a good job he's doing. Snoop Dogg was evaluating the President's performance! Is there anything wrong with that?" Gutfeld singled out Congressman Phil Hare, who said "I don't worry about the Constitution" while defending the health care bill. "I have to give him credit," Gutfeld said, "he is being honest. Unlike the other politicians, he is saying he doesn't care about the Constitution. It's scary that he's telling the truth." The Factor went with Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson, who actually worried that overpopulation might cause the island of Guam to "tip over and capsize." The Factor quipped, "There is no truth to the rumor that he is related to Snopp Dogg."
Pick two, any two
Friday's Pinheads and/or Patriots: Possibly comic Robin Williams, who characterized Australians as "basically English rednecks." Or Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who responded by telling Williams he should "spend some time in Alabama." Then there's Alabama Governor Bob Riley, who joined the fray by advising Prime Minister Rudd that Alabama residents are "decent, hard working, creative people."
Viewers sound off
Factor Words of the Day
Michele & Larry Henry, Kona, HI: "Hey, Bill, once again we were delighted watching Megyn Kelly calmly destroy you in the Westboro Baptist Church debate."

Bob Annett, San Diego, CA: "Bill, you were right and Megyn's position was shocking. The judges hurt the Snyder family when they didn't have to."

Joshua Fullwood, Katy, TX: "I do not trust the government to decide what speech is proper. Therefore I agree with Megyn Kelly."

Dave Robbins, Valencia, CA: "Let me see if I have this right. It's against school rules to hug, but the school can take girls for abortions!"