"President Obama campaigned on cleaning up corruption, but now the president has a major problem with General Electric. Yesterday, GE agreed to pay $50 million to settle a fraud claim lodged by the federal government. Simply put, GE misled investors by cooking its books. GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt has a lot of explaining to do, because this is the same GE that has received $139 billion in government-backed low-interest loans. Think about that! GE defrauds the public, has to pay $50 million in fines, but could conceivably use taxpayer loan money to do it! The situation directly touches the president because NBC News, owned by GE, has perhaps been Barack Obama's biggest supporter in the media. Jeff Immelt was rewarded for that when President Obama appointed him to his economic advisory board. By the way, some analysts believe GE stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars if 'cap-and-trade' passes. There is something very wrong about all of this - a major corporation promoting the election of Barack Obama and then seeking to profit from his policies. It's very simple: The Securities and Exchange Commission says GE is guilty of fraud. So how can its CEO be advising President Obama? That's insane. It is long past time for the federal government to begin policing corrupt corporations. There is nothing the feds can do about a news organization promoting a political candidate, but to reward that corporation with government contracts after the fact is flat-out corrupt. President Obama needs to distance himself from General Electric immediately."

The Factor was joined by political strategist Dick Morris, who elaborated on the apparent conflict of interest within General Electric. "When you have news organizations owned by commercial entities," Morris said, "it sets up the possibility of federal payments to the corporation that could incentivize that network to give favorable coverage. The corporate culture becomes pro-Obama and that filters down to the news organization." The Factor concluded that such a conflict is readily apparent: "The Obama administration has granted $139 billion in very low interest loans to General Electric, which now has to pay $50 million to the government because it defrauded investors. How can the taxpayers be giving GE billions when it is accused of fraud? The appearance is that a corporation like GE can buy government contracts if it supports the winner of the election."

Bill Clinton journeyed to North Korea and won the rescue of two American journalists who had been jailed by the Pyongyang government. Fox News analyst Karl Rove applauded the mission, but with reservations. "It is a happy ending for the women," Rove said, "and it looks like a happy ending for the United States. But over the long haul we are going to have to live with the consequences - what does this say to others who grab hold of Americans? We don't know what North Korea wanted and what it got. The Obama administration did a smart thing by not making a big deal about this."

With Democrats promoting the health care bill facing hostile crowds in town meetings, Fox News analysts Monica Crowley and Alan Colmes debated whether the protesters are genuine. "The American people are mad as hell," Crowley declared, "and this health care debacle is the last straw. They see their government as unresponsive to their needs and they see out-of-control, profligate spending. Why is it so hard for liberals to understand that people might have a dissenting point of view?" Colmes argued that some anti-Obama demonstrators are excessive in their opposition. "The issue is whether or not this is the way you want to behave. One lobbyist for a drug company put out a memo saying, 'be disruptive and get in their faces.' These people are crazy and fanatical, and some members of Congress had to have police escorts."

Toxicology reports indicate that Diane Schuler was drunk and high on marijuana when she caused a horrific auto crash in New York State that killed eight people, including herself and four young children. Relatives of two victims are suing Schuler's husband, claiming he knew she was too intoxicated to drive, and The Factor asked former prosecutor Julia Morrow to dissect the case. "If the husband was with her," Morrow said, "while she was drinking vodka and smoking pot, he is criminally liable for what happened to the kids. But he would only be criminally liable for what happened to third parties if he has an ownership interest in the car. Under the law, a husband doesn't have a general duty to prevent the bad actions of his wife."

The Factor invited Dennis Miller, that 'beacon of common sense,' to opine on Bill Clinton's mission to North Korea. "This is a great story," Miller said, "and good for Clinton because that's crazy-land over there. The only person feeling bad is Joe Biden because they've got him playing Fredo while Clinton gets to go and play Errol Flynn." Miller also took on the ballyhooed 'cash for clunkers' program. "It seems a little low-rent to me. The 'shining city on the hill' has now turned into Fred Sanford's front yard, and we might as well put the whole country up on blocks at this point." The Factor suggested that the next government program may be "cash for polyester suits." Before taking his leave, Miller questioned Paula Abdul's decision to leave "American Idol." "No doubt she'll wind up on another #1 ranked show where she can show up two days a week a little loaded for $10 million a year. At some point you have to tuck your ego away, take the check and thank God you have a lucky life."

FNC's Courtney Friel and Jane Skinner viewed footage of Whoopi Goldberg claiming that Sarah Palin intentionally portrayed herself as dumb during last year's campaign. "This is a new one," Skinner said. "Goldberg wants attention and she wants to be 'relevant' in the political realm. This is the first time this has come up." Friel agreed that Goldberg is way off base. "Whoopi was giving Sarah Palin a backhanded compliment by saying she really is smart, and it was kind of insulting to the viewers. Palin is a breath of fresh air and she's beautiful, which makes her an easy target." The Factor concluded that Sarah Palin is genuine: "She may not be able to tell you who is running Botswana, but she did a good job in Alaska. And no dumb person could have delivered Palin's speech in Minneapolis."

Wednesday's Patriot: Comedian Dan Whitney, aka "Larry the Cable Guy," who is donating $1 million to help abused kids. And the Pinhead: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who doffs his shirt more frequently than Matthew McConaughey.

Kristi Rhebb, Winter Park, FL: "Mr. O'Reilly, I feel hopeless after watching Glenn Beck on the Factor. Is there any hope for America?"

John Sunday, The Villages, FL: "It was refreshing to hear Beck without the usual antics."

John Bartell, Boca Raton, FL: "I disagree with Beck that President Bush is in the same category with President Obama. Bush never tried to change the core values of our country."

Zulay Suegart, Venezuela: "O'Reilly, I watch the Factor every night but am afraid the government here may shut Fox News down. They've done it to others."