Wednesday, January 3, 2007
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 & Top Story
America and Saddam's execution
Guest: Author & former National Security advisor Nancy Soderberg

"As soon as I heard Saddam Hussein was going to be executed I knew the Bush-haters would swing into action, and they did not let me down. NBC News led the way, with elements over there calling the execution a PR disaster for the USA. We also heard an NBC commentator say President Bush is allowing Americans to be killed in Iraq for money, and other insane stuff. The Bush-hating Baltimore Sun says more Iraqis are dying now than under Saddam and it's America's fault. By my count, Saddam was responsible for about 750,000 deaths during his reign of terror, so the Baltimore Sun is nuts. And our pal, far left columnist Robert Scheer, wrote about 'misplaced vengeance for the September 11th terrorist attacks.' In Scheer's world, the USA lied to start a war and was wrong to allow the Iraqis to execute Saddam. The truth is the Bush administration didn't want the Iraqis to kill Saddam so quickly, but allowed the government to make its own decision; the truth is the world is a better place now that Saddam is gone. But it is also true that the strategy in Iraq was flawed and the war has not gone well. So you can argue competence all day long, but ascribing evil motives to the president is irresponsible and no legitimate news organization should be party to it. It is long past time to drop the Bush hating and work to secure the best results in Iraq for America and the world. As for Saddam, anyone who puts his well being ahead of America's is misguided and a fool."

For another view on Saddam's execution, The Factor welcomed Nancy Soderberg, a national security advisor in the Clinton administration and a frequent critic of President Bush. "The execution symbolizes that yet again we can not get our policy straight," Soderberg proclaimed. "The way it was handled and our complicity in that is another symbol that we can not even execute Saddam Hussein in a positive fashion. He's now been made into a martyr." The Factor reminded Soderberg of the far left columnists who take very opportunity to bash the United States. "This kind of vitriolic propagandizing is harming our country far more than Saddam's execution. The Iraqis wanted to execute him and the Bush administration did not stand in their way. I think Americans are happy that he's dead."

Related: NBC calls Saddam's death a "PR disaster" for America

Related: Baltimore Sun says more Iraqis dying now than under Saddam

Related: Robert Scheer calls Saddam's hanging "misplaced vengeance"
Impact Segment
Gay marriage and Massachusetts
Guest: Author & radio host Michelangelo Signorile

Massachusetts residents may be given the chance to vote on gay marriage, and author Michelangelo Signorile explained why he and other gay activists are vehemently opposed to a statewide vote. "This is a civil rights issue, and you don't bring a civil rights issue to a ballot. Same sex marriage is about two people wanting to have the same rights that heterosexuals have, and I would say it's the same thing as a black person marrying a white person." The Factor argued that this kind of decision belongs with a state's voters. "I don't think Franklin, Madison, and Jefferson wanted the federal government to have anything to do with marriage. The spirit of the Constitution was to let the states decide. And if you open this up and say gays have the right to be married, then you have to open this up to polygamists. Gays have to understand that to let one alternate group in, you can not exclude other alternate groups."

Related: Massachusetts gay marriage ban advances
Personal Story Segment
Mike Tyson in trouble
Guest: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson was arrested in Arizona when police found two bags of cocaine in his pocket and one in his car. The 40-year old Tyson was released without bail, a decision that surprised Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. "He's been convicted of rape," Arpaio told The Factor. "He's registered with my office as a sex offender, and he's had some run-ins with the law here in Arizona. So I'm a little surprised, but what am I going to do? That's up to the judge to decide." The Factor complained about Tyson's apparent preferential treatment. "This does not make sense and it is not fair, because if some low-life got caught he would not have received this treatment."

Related: Mike Tyson busted with coke

Related: Mike Tyson police interview

Related: Update: Tyson charged w/drug possession & DUI... prosecutor wants him in prison
Factor Follow Up Segment
Barack Obama and drug use
Guest: Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune

U.S. Senator and presidential prospect Barack Obama has admitted to using cocaine when he was a young man. According to columnist Clarence Page, the admission will not affect Obama's presidential chances. "He was a kid at the time, and I don't expect this to hurt him. There's a lot of hunger out there for a candidate out there who is candid about his misspent youth, and Americans believe in redemption. I'm betting he runs for president." The Factor agreed that Obama should not pay a price for long-past indiscretions, and again extended an invitation to the senator. "Obama will not come on this program, we can't get anywhere with him, and the word is that his staff is keeping him away from all tough venues at this moment."

Related: Obama admitted to using coke and pot
Unresolved Problems Segment
The state of marriage in America
Guest: Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Author Laura Schlessinger, whose new book urges American women to be far more accommodating to their husbands, explained why. "I'm telling people that the greatest gratification comes from being a loving person, not from being grabby and nagging and greedy. I want loving, attentive, sweet women. Because when we treat you that way, we turn you into our dream." The Factor suggested that Americans of both sexes expect too much from marriage. "There's a lot of pressure on men - he's got to be making money, he's got to be the best dad, and he has to be great in the sack. Then there are the guy's expectations - the woman has to be 'hot,' the home has to be perfect. Nobody can live up to this."
Back of Book Segment
Accused Duke students return to class
Guest: Greta Van Susteren

Finally, Great Van Susteren reported the latest on the chaotic Duke rape case, where the accused lacrosse players have been invited to return to classes. "Maybe Duke now understands," Van Susteren said sarcastically, "that silly little provision in the Constitution called the presumption of innocence." Van Sustern was also harshly critical of prosecutor Mike Nifong. "Most people would agree that Nifong is a renegade DA who insists on going forward without any evidence. The most damning thing is that other DA's in North Carolina have sent him a letter telling him he should step down from this case. That's like a 2 by 4 being shoved right into his chest." The Factor agreed with Van Susteren's analysis of the crumbling case. "You are very cautious about what you say, and I have never heard you use a phrase like 'renegade DA.' The alleged victim has changed her story a number of times, she will never testify. So basically what you have now is a district attorney whose whole life is about to collapse."

Related: Accused Duke lacrosse players invited back to school
Factor Mail
Viewers sound off
Many of you wrote about the concurrent deaths of Gerald Ford and Saddam Hussein. Some excerpts:

Elliot Smith, Dallas, TX: "Ford and Saddam died within a week of each other. FDR and Hitler also died within a week of each other. Life is always a dual-edged sword."

Raymond Fielek, Greenland, NH: "The editor of Newsweek, Jon Meacham, appears very uninformed as to how many S-P's consider President Bush evil. I hear that every day."

Eric Villavaso, Starkville, MS: "Iraq may be better off without Saddam, but in my opinion, we aren't."

Diana Regald, Leesburg, VA: "I wondered when various newspapers would find a way to distort Saddam's execution. It didn't take them long."

Dick Oman, Fond du Lac, WI: "In the body language segment, Saddam looked happier than Bill Parcells."

Rose Rountree, Winter Haven, FL: "O'Reilly, can't stand you, would never buy anything from you."

Leonard Larsen, Seattle, WA: "I know your interns are told to turn down negative emails, O'Reilly."
Books Mentioned


The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage
by Laura Schlessinger

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Queer in America: Sex, the Media, and the Closets of Power
by Michelangelo Signorile

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The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might
by Nancy Soderberg

Read more...