"Being an elected official is a performance business, and now is the time for our leaders to perform. This is not about ideology, this is about helping the folks. But predictably, the New York Times scorched President Bush, panning his speech and insinuating the President's stance on global warming had something to do with the hurricane. The Times failed to mention that its own environmental policies are now hurting Americans. The Times has consistently opposed new drilling for fuel and opening new refineries. This is not a defense of President Bush, who is not engaged on the energy issue. America's failure to conserve energy is a disgrace, and the administration has done little to encourage conservation. This country uses 25 percent of all the world's oil as we hop around in gas-guzzling cars and waste energy. So, let's buy less gas. In fact, let's buy NO gas on Sundays. If we cut back even 10 percent on energy buying, OPEC and the oil companies will get hurt. If we don't, the national economy will totter and we'll all be poorer. President Bush said he would like to see corporate America contribute to helping the victims of Katrina. The big contribution would be if the oil companies would give up 20 percent of their profits. Again, politics is a performance business. The country expects the government to control law breaking in the hurricane zone, to provide food and shelter, and to prevent any person or company from exploiting this desperate situation. That is the accountability bar, and we will keep you posted on who steps up and who doesn't."

Fox News Video: FoxNews.com

Guests: Victim Finis Shelnutt; Lt. Kevin Cowan, Louisiana Homeland Security; Fox News host Shepard Smith

People stuck in New Orleans are trying to survive in a city littered with dead bodies, and where criminality is rampant. The Factor spoke by telephone with Finis Shelnutt, who is trapped in his French Quarter home. "A block from me looters shot a policeman in the head and killed him. All the shops have been looted, people are pushing carts with sports gear and everything you can think of. This is a black mark on America." Lt. Kevin Cowan of Louisiana Homeland Security declared that help is on the way. "We're catching up and we're bringing in extra forces. We have 300 riflemen from the Arkansas National Guard moving in." But in an unsettling report, Fox News host Shepard Smith laid out a vision straight from Dante's Inferno. "Corpses are all over this city. It's very disturbing in America to see a corpse lying on the side of a highway. The 'haves' evacuated, and the criminals looted everything. I still don't think we know the scope of this. In my wildest dreams, I can not conjure up a vision of this city being rebuilt." The Factor criticized the apparent lack of response. "It looks like the Louisiana Governor's office did not anticipate anything. I can't blame the local authorities - they have no place to put these thugs. But the lack of National Guard presence is very disturbing."

Guests: Fox News analyst Col. Bill Cowan; survivor Gwendolyn Jasmine; historian Douglas Brinkley

On Wednesday night's program The Factor spoke with 77-year old Shirley Mae Washington, who was stranded in her home with her 98-year old mother. Fox News analyst Col. Bill Cowan pledged to lead an effort to rescue the women. "We've got a team going over their right now. I've got the best team in the world and if we have to do it, it will be done right.

Many other New Orleans residents spent days inside the Superdome, but conditions there have become unbearble. Gwendolyn Jasmine, who has been transferred to Houston, described what she saw during her stay at the Superdome. "The bathrooms were overflowing, there was urine and bowel movements on the floor. It was a horrible mess, and you couldn't get any help." Another city resident, the historian Douglas Brinkley, remained in New Orleans during the storm. "I was in a building that was built to withstand this type of storm and didn?t heed the first notice to evacuate. The core problem here is there has been no person in charge. In New York after 9/11 you had Rudy Giuliani, who had strong leadership. I don't think New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has provided that."

Guest: EMS supervisor Richard Zuschlag; Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano; Jerry Taylor, Cato Institute

New Orleans is being terrorized by marauding gangs of young men who have displayed incredible depravity. EMS supervisor Richard Zuschlag explained how thugs are even assaulting rescue workers. "Hospitals are begging for help, but we've had a great deal of difficulty evacuating eight major hospitals. Our problem is that there is no security in downtown New Orleans. The thugs try to turn our boats over and have even shot at us. It's one thing to have a flood, but we can not have the disaster of losing all these patients." The Factor called for help from the National Guard. "We're going to demand that the federal government start sending in the National Guard and Army to provide security. Some of these people are going to die if you don't get them out of the hospital. Everyone should understand that this is not the fault of the individual police officers. It's just that there are not enough of them inside the zone."

Even far from New Orleans, some gas stations have hiked prices in anticipation of an oil shortage. Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano explained what can be done to prevent price gouging. "Most state laws prohibit unfair trade practice. If it costs them $3 a gallon to buy gas, they can't sell it for $6 a gallon in anticipation of higher costs coming their way." Jerry Taylor of the libertarian Cato Institute argued that government has no business interfering with the free market. "The price is being set by supply and demand. If you price below the level set by supply and demand, you're going to run out. The best way to get conservation is to let market prices do their job and not artificially constrain them." The Factor again appealed to oil companies to sacrifice a portion of their profits. "US oil companies should voluntarily say we are going to lower our prices by 20 percent for the good of the country. They are making record profits. What's wrong with taking 20 percent off of that?"

Guests: Arthel Neville, A Current Affair & Fox News analyst Ellis Henican

Arthel Neville, a former Factor contributor, told of her determination to reach her family in New Orleans. "My mind was racing because I did not know what was happening to my home town and my family. I drove as far as I could, then took a boat. By hook or crook I was going to get into town. My family is all out and safe, but I don't know how to articulate the ruin I see in my home town." Fox News analyst Ellis Henican, also a New Orleans native, was stunned by the rampant criminality. "The absolute ferocity and senselessness of the behavior surprised me. Shooting at a helicopter that is helping people to get out? Even people who had a dim view of New Orleans were surprised. There are racial and class angles that are deeply imbedded in this."

You sent thousands of e mails about Katrina and its aftermath. Some excerpts:

Frank Carpenter, Newton Falls, OH: "Those criminals with weapons in the hurricane zone are no better than terrorists. They should be designated that and dealt with accordingly."

Phyllis Knisley, Sanford, FL: "O'Reilly, I do not agree with your position on looting. What's wrong with taking food when these people are starving? Come on, have a heart."

Jeannine Thibodaux, Houma, LA: "Mr. O'Reilly, it is upsetting me greatly that the liberal media is excusing the looters in New Orleans, my hometown. These people are criminals."

Dana Lamb, Fayetteville, GA: "How can we be a noble, saving presence in Iraq when the world sees pictures of Americans destroying New Orleans. I am embarrassed by that behavior."

Kristen Stidham, Cincinnati, OH: "Bill O, thanks for your Talking Points memo about gas prices. These companies are taking advantage. Gas jumped here 50 cents in one day."

Adam Thurgood, Las Vegas, NV: "Bill, your talking points memo was flat out absurd. First, OPEC does not control oil prices, the market does. Second, your comment that oil companies should give up 20% of their profits is borderline socialism."