Guests: Fox News analyst Ellis Henican & Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Temple University

"Talking Points has been reporting for years that the secular-progressive far-left movement in the USA is not free speech friendly. If you disagree with those people, many of them will try to hurt you. There is no better example than reaction to the death of Rev. Jerry Falwell. Within hours of his demise, the far-left hate machine cranked up. The far-left Minneapolis Star Tribune editorialized that Falwell urged Christians to 'focus on the issues that drove them apart.' The far-left Oregonian said Falwell built his organization by 'appealing to people's worst instincts.' And there was this revolting statement from former John Edwards employee Amanda Marcotte: 'The gates of hell swing open and Satan welcomes his beloved son.' Ms. Marcotte symbolizes the hateful far left in America, the same people who celebrated when Tony Snow announced he has cancer. As for Jerry Falwell, he was an American who spoke his mind. I believe he was wrong in singling out homosexuals for scorn, but he had a right to say what he said. And these awful secular progressives have the same right, but there is such a thing as decency. This is another example of how out of control the S-P far left movement in America is today."

News Link: John Edwards' ex-blogger post

News Link: MN Star Tribune editorial

News Link: Oregonian editorial

For more on the reaction to Jerry Falwell's death, The Factor welcomed FNC analyst Ellis Henican and professor Marc Lamont Hill. "I don't want to celebrate his death," Hill began. "But many people are really celebrating the death of his movement and ideologies, which had a vicious effect on people in America. The reason we're talking about him is because of his attacks on gays and lesbians." Henican suggested that Falwell might actually enjoy his posthumous notoriety. "This is the life the reverend chose, the life of angry rhetoric, finger-pointing, condemnation. He enjoyed a good counter-punch and he would throw a few back from the grave if he could." The Factor again denounced those who could not wait to condemn Falwell. "Falwell was certainly a man who should be criticized if you disagreed with him, but not three hours after his death. And I only see this hatred from the secular-progressive side."

Guest: Author Eric Dezenhall

As a stunt for his upcoming film that skewers the U.S. health care system, Michael Moore took some ill Americans to be treated in Cuba. Former Republican Senator Fred Thompson denounced Moore for visiting "your buddy Castro," and reminded Moore of Castro's political prisoners. The Factor surmised that Thompson picked the fight to earn political points. "Thompson needs attention and needs to carve out some conservative positions, so he says 'I'm going to go after Michael Moore.' And this is a smart move from him." But author Eric Dezenhall warned that Thompson's strategy could backfire. "Getting into a debate with Michael Moore is like sending Paris Hilton to jail - it's good for his brand. Moore's brand is outrageousness, and Thompson's brand is trying to look presidential. Thompson's belief is that picking a fight with Moore will elevate his image on the right. The problem is that if you pick a fight with a clown, you can wind up with a pie in your face."

News Link: Treasury Dept. probes Moore's trip to Cuba

News Link: Michael Moore challenges Sen. Fred Thompson to debate

News Link: Video: Sen. Thompson responds to Moore

Featured Book: Damage Control: Why Everything You Know About Crisis Management Is Wrong by Eric Dezenhall

Guest: Political analyst Dick Morris

Political analyst Dick Morris critiqued Tuesday night's debate among Republican presidential hopefuls. "The debate was a big win for Rudy Giuliani," Morris declared. "This was a fight between terrorism and abortion for the title of 'issue du jour,' and Rudy demonstrated that, unless you're really a fanatic on abortion, you're going to vote on terror and you're going to vote for him. And Mike Huckabee stood out from the pack - he has the capacity for a Reaganesque turn of phrase." The Factor dismissed Huckabee's chances, but praised Mitt Romney's recent performance. "Romney is rising in all the polls. The more people see him, the casual person says 'gee, this guy looks like a president.' But I can't take any of this seriously until November."

News Link: Video & Analysis of GOP debate

Guest: Fox News correspondent Megyn Kelly

In Massachusetts, 44-year old Alvin Suliveres sneaked into bed with his brother's girlfriend while she was asleep, pretended to be his brother and had sex with the woman. The state's high court ruled that Suliveres was not guilty of rape, and FNC correspondent Megyn Kelly explained her disagreement with that decision. "I would have convicted on rape. As soon as the lights went on and she saw who it was, she started hysterically crying. She called a friend, she called the police, and she went to the hospital. Obviously she did not consent." The Factor agreed that the woman was violated. "The court ruled that this was fraud rather than rape. This exemplifies the problem we have in America with date rape, with telling people you're someone you are not. There is a lot of fraud and dishonesty in the sexual arena."

News Link: Sex isn't rape when it's fraud

Dennis Miller returned for his regular analysis and commentary, this time beginning with the Republican presidential debate. "I don't like the niceties of the debates these days. I say we give them two hours and let them thrash it out, that's what I'm looking for. I think Rudy is going to be the Republican nominee, and Huckabee could be the VP nominee." Moving to Jerry Falwell, Miller disagreed with the Talking Points memo. "Falwell led a turbulent life, and I didn't find what was in the newspaper commentaries that reprehensible. And you know what - I don't care what anyone says about me while I'm alive, much less when I'm dead." But Miller, once a man of the left, agreed that his former ideological colleagues are prone to irrational anger. "I would say the left, in my experience, is more hateful."

Guest: Dr. Laura Schlessinger

The Salt Lake City Tribune quoted radio host Laura Schlessinger as saying she is "tired of all the complaints" she hears from military wives." Schlessinger joined The Factor and explained the quote's context. "If you're a warrior's wife or mother, as I am, you can bitch and whine and moan to each other, but never to the warrior. Because that distracts and demoralizes them when they're in harm's way. So it's about a sense of responsibility for how we, as the warrior's family, have to rise to the occasion." The Factor advised Schlessinger to avoid reporters like the Tribune's Matthew LaPlante, who wrote the story. "I want everyone to know who Matthew LaPlante is. He is not a journalist, he is out to make it look like you are out to hurt military families. He is an ideologue who wanted to hurt you."

News Link: Dr. Laura responds to controversy

Featured Book: The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage by Laura Schlessinger

Many of you wrote about Vermont's refusal to pass a version of Jessica's Law. Some excerpts:

Peter James, Des Moines, IA: "I left Vermont after living there for 22 years. The state has become a haven for social misfits."

Derek Fogle, Lexington, SC: "Vermont House Judiciary leader Bill Lippert has brought disgrace upon himself and his beautiful state."

Alex Barkauskas, Pasadena, CA: "Bill, ordinarily I would call your confrontation of Lippert out of line, but in defense of children extraordinary measures must be taken."