Wednesday, July 13, 2005
On The O'Reilly Factor...
Segment Summaries
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.
Talking Points Memo
A memo to Judge Schroeder
"Dear Judge Schroeder: Please allow me to fill you in on Joseph Duncan, the man you allowed to post $15,000 bail and walk out of prison. In 1980 Duncan raped and tortured a 14-year old boy, for which he served 16 years in prison. During that time he told authorities he had raped 13 other young boys. Four months ago Duncan came before you, charged again with molesting little boys. Instead of keeping him locked up, you allowed him to walk out on low bail. Duncan skipped bail, traveled to Idaho, where he allegedly murdered four people, including a 9-year old boy. So my question for you is this: 'Why are you still sitting on the bench? Why haven't you resigned?" But the shame of the nation isn't Judge Schroeder - it's that we allow him and other judges discretion in sentencing sex offenders. Every state should have Jessica's Law, passed by Florida in the wake of the brutal slaughter of 9-year old Jessica Lunsford. That law gives child sexual offenders 25 years in prison on the first offense. Every state must get tough on the likes of Joseph Duncan and take the power away from the likes of Judge Thomas Schroeder."

Fox News Video: FoxNews.com

Top Story
Why is Tony Blair shocked?
Guests: Roger Bate, American Enterprise Institute

Prime Minister Tony Blair has expressed surprise that the London terrorists were British-born citizens. But London has been home to radical Islamic clerics who openly incite violence. Roger Bate of the American Enterprise Institute predicted that British laws and attitudes are about to change. "New laws need to be put into place, because inciting hatred that leads to these kinds of atrocities needs to stop. Tony Blair will act on this because he has to." The Factor asserted that England is paying a price for tolerating hate speech. "I lived in London for a year, and there were very few radical Islamists. Now they're everywhere - they're saying we like suicide bombers, we want to kill the infidels and the Jews."

Impact Segment
BBC vs. Fox News
Guest: Fox News analyst Michele Malkin

The Factor has criticized the BBC for refusing to use the word "terrorist," and some Factor guests have accused the BBC of treating Islamic terrorists with kid gloves. The network has now fired back - BBC executive Roger Mosey wrote that "the comments made on Fox News are beneath contempt." Mosey declined an invitation to appear, and Fox News analyst Michelle Malkin heaped more criticism on the BBC. "The BBC has a long history of having soft-peddled terrorism in the Middle East. And the London attacks have exposed them as an unfair, unbalanced, and unreliable journalistic enterprise." The Factor extended an open invitation to the BBC to appear, and again pledged to monitor the network. "I took the New York Times to task for calling Zarqawi a 'Jordanian fighter,' but the New York Times is not nearly as bad as the BBC."

Factor Follow Up Segment
Natalee Holloway case... unresolved?
Guest: Arlene Ellis-Schipper, attorney

Judicial experts have hinted that no one will be charged in the Natalee Holloway case, largely because Aruba authorities have bungled the case. Aruba attorney Arlene Ellis-Schipper speculated that suspect Joren Van Der Sloot may be released, and declared that local citizens are just as distressed as Natalee's friends and family. "The people of Aruba want this case resolved, and they want answers. But this case may remain a mystery." The Factor predicted that Aruba will pay a steep price if this case is never solved. "If they release Van Der Sloot and don't say why, I'll predict that the economy of Aruba will take a thunderous hit next year because Americans will not tolerate that. They need an explanation."

Factor Investigation Segment
Bailing out Joseph Duncan
Guest: Anne Bremner, former sex crimes prosecutor

As mentioned in Talking Points, Minnesota Judge Thomas Schroeder set bail of just $15,000 for sex offender Joseph Duncan. It turns out that two men - real estate developer Joe Crary and physician Richard Wacksman - actually gave Duncan money to pay his attorney's fees and make bail. Former prosecutor Anne Bremner implied that both men could be criminally liable. "We have complicity laws - a getaway car driver is as guilty as the person that comes in with a gun and shoots the teller. So we have to take a look at this." The Factor suggested that this case may turn out to be more complex than it appears. "We know there is an internet link with child pornographers all over the world. They all know each other. So I think the authorities and the FBI have to get involved with this and have to figure out what happened."

Unresolved Problems Segment
Reparations debate
Guests: Keith Watters, civil rights attorney & author Debra Dickerson

The NAACP wants corporations that may have benefited from slavery to pay reparations to black Americans. Civil rights attorney Keith Watters contended that reparations are a matter of simple justice. "America owes African Americans a great deal. This country was built on slavery." The Factor countered that reparations are sometimes a form of blackmail. "I submit to you that any kind of extortion of the American public along racial lines is absolutely immoral. Individual Americans owe nothing to anyone for something that happened in the past."

Back of Book Segment
Turning point in Holloway case
Guest: Fox News host Greta Van Susteren

A three-judge panel is about to issue some key rulings in the Natalee Holloway case, and may release suspect Joren Van Der Sloot. Fox News host Greta Van Susteren reported that the entire investigation is shrouded in secrecy. "The prosecution isn't talking, the defense isn't talking, and the judge isn't talking. The rumors are running wild, and a little communication from people in the know would be greatly appreciated." The Factor again warned of severe consequences if Aruba authorities release Van Der Sloot without saying why. "If they don't give an explanation for what they do, all hell is going to break loose. People aren't going to pay thousands of dollars on island they don't like."

Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Many of you sent to send e-mails about the Karl Rove investigation. Some excerpts:

Richard Rimestad, San Diego, CA: "Bill, your investigation of Karl Rove was atrocious. The two attorneys who wrote the law Rove is accused of breaking said he is not guilty of anything."

Steve Clark, Sacramento, CA: "Newt Gingrich seems to think we should ignore all of Bush's gross exaggerations like Saddam attempting to buy yellow cake from Africa and the illegal outing of Wilson's wife. O'Reilly, give your audience credit, we're not all mindless Republican imbeciles."

Bob Gallo, Plainville, CT: "Bill, thank you for your talking points on Rove. I don't know what to think, but it was refreshing to hear an independent voice."

Other viewers continued to write about the BBC:

Timothy Mullen, England: "Mr. O'Reilly, I had the misfortune to watch your segment on the supposed left-wing bias of the BBC. I don't know whether the BBC changed the word 'terrorist' to 'bomber' but if they did - well done to them. We, over here, are not terrorized."

Gerard Howells, England: "It is well-known that the BBC is biased left. Thank God for FNC so the British people can finally get some balance."

James Owen, Tampa, FL: "The BBC is afraid of you, O'Reilly? The BBC doesn't care about you! Delusions of grandeur again?"