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| All content taken from The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel. Each weeknight by 6 PM EST a preview of that evening's show will be posted and then updated with additional information the following weekday by noon EST.
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"President Bush held a press conference Thursday, trying to persuade Americans to hang in there on Iraq. The president's argument for sustaining the war is mostly theoretical, and he is correct - a defeat in Iraq would harm the United States and could lead to a greater conflict down the road. But after four years, many Americans are just sick of it. It doesn't help that the Iraqi government is incompetent and the people are largely ungrateful. A poll shows that just 22% of Iraqis 'support' or 'strongly support' coalition forces, while 78% oppose the coalition. Talking Points believes America, Britain, and our allies tried to do a noble thing in Iraq. We despise those who are rooting against the effort, but we understand the frustration that good Americans feel over a country that may not want to be free. There are long odds against Iraq actually becoming a democracy any time soon. The whole thing is tragic and depressing, complicated and dangerous. But after four years, Iraq remains a huge stone around America's neck."
The Factor was joined by White House spokesman Tony Snow, who disagreed with the Talking Points Memo. "Your primary concern is security," Snow began. "The president put together a plan and we finally got all the forces in the field three weeks ago for securing that plan. When it comes to standing up against terror, the Iraqi security forces are taking three to four times the casualties that the Americans are. And Anbar province, which was written off last November, is a success story. Markets are opening, there are human rights, and you know what they're saying to the Americans? They're saying 'thank you.'" The Factor pointed out that Al Qaeda remains a potent force in Iraq. "Somebody is hiding Al Qaeda forces, and no one is informing on them. No nation could win unless the Iraqi people turn on all the terrorists. And they're not, Tony. We don't have the hearts and minds of the people." |
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| An Internet video shows a woman suggestively singing about Hillary Clinton, while another features a young woman's adoring tribute to Barack Obama. Although neither video was produced by campaign staffs, political analyst Dick Morris described Internet communication as the next big thing. "This is the future of political media," Morris declared. "It's transforming politics, and this is what is going to attract the millennium generation. This is effective in generating enthusiasm and turnout among young voters." Morris also predicted that Republican Fred Thompson will eventually face questions about his ethics. "He has his daughter working for him, he paid his son $170,000 from his campaign, and his other son was a lobbyist. He's lobbied for Toyota, for some asbestos-linked companies, and for the leftist Aristide in Haiti." |
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| Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo has released the photos that were allegedly used to blackmail her. While there is no nudity, some of the shots can certainly be described as provocative, and Geraldo Rivera analyzed what this episode says about modern society. "In this digital age, everything we have every done that has been captured on an image will come back to haunt you, particularly if you are holding yourself out to be something you're not. You can no longer protect yourself, and I tell my children you only get one reputation." The Factor added that every pageant has different standards. "These pictures are not shocking, but there's a difference between USA and Miss America, which is supposed to be the squeaky clean contest." |
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| "DC madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey has released 13 years worth of phone logs, which included the telephone number of Republican Senator David Vitter. Palfrey's lawyer Montgomery Sibley explained the legal strategy behind releasing the logs. "We hope to identify witnesses who can testify at the trial. There was no black book with a list of customers, and the only way we can identify customers is to use the power of the crowd-sharing Internet. The other reason is that there are significant public interests values in those phone records, and Senator Vitter is an example of a public servant who is involved in hypocrisy. Ms. Palfrey feels a civic responsibility." The Factor expressed skepticism at Sibley's latter claim. "You're saying she's doing this for the good of the country? I'm a little bit stunned that your client is that civic-minded. Maybe we'll talk to her and she'll convince me." |
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| FNC analysts Bernie Goldberg and Jane Hall began their media observations with CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, who is reportedly unpopular at the network. "She came to CBS as an outsider," Goldberg pointed out, "which is strike one. She brought an entourage with her, strike two. The ratings stink, which is strike three. And strike four, they don't like her there. I'm starting to back away from my prediction that she'll be there for life." Hall blamed CBS boss Les Moonves for setting unrealistic expectations. "CBS brought this on themselves when Les Moonves said we're going to 'blow up' the evening news. Then the show wasn't very good, and a lot of people still want to get their news, sadly, from white guys." The Factor surmised that Couric was not prepared for the cutthroat CBS atmosphere. "CBS is a vicious, back-stabbing place, and Katie Couric looked surprised by that. NBC has actually lost more viewers than CBS, but you don't see the vitriol directed at Brian Williams." |
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| Some animal rights activists are protesting the annual running of the bulls in Spain . PETA's Lisa Lange explained why she finds the tradition repulsive. "Anyone who watches the race sees the terror in the eyes of these animals. Every single one of those bulls is then killed in the bull ring - a dagger is stuck in the bull's neck, and many of these animals bleed to death. This is a blood sport and we need to see an end to it." Moving from land to sea, Lange also contended that people should stop eating fish. "Fish have a central nervous system, they react to pain the same way as the animals we cherish like cats and dogs. And the healthful aspect of eating fish is diminishing." The Factor concurred with Lange on the bulls, but not with her stance on fish. "Every doctor says that eating fish helps human beings ward off disease, and you crazy people at PETA are saying don't eat fish because the fish feels pain. The bottom line is that you don't eat meat, you don't eat fish, you don't eat dairy products. C'mon, Lisa, you can't be asking people to do this." |
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Many of you wrote about the San Diego Padres baseball team, which held a gay promotion and a giveaway to kids on the same night. Some excerpts:
Gregory Myers, Fort Collins, CO: "Mr. O'Reilly, your position seems to imply that putting gays and kids together in one place is a bad thing. Newsflash, Bill, kids are around gays every day."
Mark Lockyer, San Diego, CA: "Please, let children have a childhood filled with innocence and not force them to confront things before they're ready."
Cindy Beck, San Diego, CA: "Thanks for the piece on the Padres, Bill. From now on my family will watch the games at home." |
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