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John Kasich fills in tonight. |
| On The O'Reilly Factor...
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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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| John began Monday's program with rising gas prices, which have become the leading issue in the presidential campaign. Conservationist Howard Gould pointed to the silver lining in the cloud of high prices. "There may be a benefit out of this," Gould said. "It could be the tipping point that drives us into alternative fuel sources. We can tap into geothermal energy sources, and have the capacity to put in wind farms and solar farms. We need more oil, but we also need to tap into renewable energy sources." Fox News contributor Jonathan Hoenig blamed environmentalists for the current crisis. "The environmental movement is loving this. They're against any viable energy source, and in the name of preventing global warming they have created an economic disaster." John praised Gould for his pragmatism, but contended that other "greens" are standing in the way of progress. "There is a worldwide shortage of oil, so you have to have more supply. We need a comprehensive solution, and I think some people in the environmental movement do not want a comprehensive solution." |
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| Obama supporter General Wesley Clark disparaged John McCain's war record when he said this: "I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president." FNC contributor Juan Williams claimed Democrats are using tactics that were used against them. "Last time the Republicans went right at the strength of John Kerry," Williams asserted, "and now the Obama campaign is using John McCain's strength against him. They're questioning whether McCain is a real war hero, and Wesley Clark is out there doing Obama's dirty work." Political analyst Mary Katharine Ham added that Clark's attack was not an isolated incident. "Seven of Obama's supporters have made a similar argument, so I don't think it's a mistake. This is going to get worse and worse, and the left blogs are starting to smear McCain." John questioned the wisdom of denigrating McCain's heroism. "This could backfire in that people may get angry and question Obama about what he did. I think Wesley Clark blew himself up if he thought he had any chance for vice president." |
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| Probation officers in San Francisco, a "sanctuary city" that won't cooperate with immigration authorities, have actually used city funds to return young criminal illegal aliens to their native Honduras. Former SF police commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese defended his city's approach. "We have to deal with these kids," Veronese began. "We deal with them by rehabilitation, and in at least two cases, the individuals were returned to Honduras to be with family members. The real sin here is that there is no federal cooperation, and there needs to be immigration reform." John criticized San Francisco authorities for indulging criminals. "You're treating crack cocaine dealers as if they're jaywalkers. When you're dealing crack cocaine you ought to be thrown in jail. How could anyone in the city say let's buy them airline tickets so they can be flown back to their families?" |
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| The New York Times has reported that government infighting is harming the military's efforts in Afghanistan. John welcomed former CIA agent Michael Scheuer, who provided his analysis of the situation. "Al Qaeda and the Taliban now have the initiative in Afghanistan," Scheuer said. "America is approaching a point where it will either have to leave Afghanistan or increase the number of troops on the ground. If I were in charge, I would prepare the American people for the inevitable - there is going to be a reintroduction of conscription in the next administration because we have just about broken the military." Scheuer also commented on a New Yorker magazine article that revealed alleged U.S. covert operations inside Iran. "There's very little caring for America among journalists today. What I found interesting about the article is that so many of the leaks have come from the military. I think that means that the military knows they are stretched very thin in Afghanistan and Iraq, and another war will be too much to handle." |
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| Authorities in Portland will soon decide whether to parole Richard Gillmore, a serial rapist who terrorized women in the 1980's. John welcomed 35-year old Tiffany Edens, who Gillmore raped in 1986 when she was thirteen. "I was listening to music," Edens recalled, "and the stereo turned off. I went to check out the stereo and was surprised by a strange man in my home. This took away my youth, it caused panic and anxiety." Prosecutor Russell Ratto explained why he and Edens are fighting to keep Gillmore locked up. "Before Tiffany, there were seven other women who were raped and attacked by him. All the doctors have identified him as dangerous, and one doctor called him a sadistic serial rapist." John pledged that "The Factor is not going to turn away from this, we're going to keep our eye on it." |
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| After the Supreme Court struck down Washington's ban on handguns, many big-city newspapers editorialized against the decision, and the Chicago Tribune even suggested repealing the Second Amendment. John was joined by media expert Tim Graham, who ridiculed the Tribune's editorial stance. "I thought this was a joke," Graham said. "We saw a lot of liberal urban papers that disagreed with the ruling, but the Tribune took it to a whole new level. They just think they should throw out the Second Amendment and start over. The news media ignores stories about citizens bravely defending themselves with their own firearms." John lauded the Supreme Court's decision as a potential life-saver. "I wonder how many people living in a violent section of Chicago or DC are saying they may now be able to have some protection from a thug drug dealer who wants to break into their homes." |
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| Finally, John introduced a conversation between Bill and Gary Coleman, who starred in the 1980's hit "Diff'rent Strokes." "People still think of me as that cute little cherub kid," Coleman said, "but the more forums I get like this, the more people can get in touch with the person I am now." Coleman describe his current life as an ambitious actor eager to be taken seriously. "It's 90% striving and battling to get the job and 10% bliss. But the bliss makes up for all the hell." |
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