"Let's assess all seven of the candidates on the stage last night. However, I want to start with this ridiculous Ted Cruz 'born-in-Canada' business. Why are we wasting time on this? Senator Cruz is an American citizen and he is entitled to run for president. As to the debate, I felt sorry for Ben Carson last night. The doctor spoke for only eight minutes and 26 seconds and it is simply impossible for him to compete under those circumstances. Dr. Carson is a good man, he has run a dignified campaign but he is not going to win. Jeb Bush had his best debate. He was strong on foreign policy and did not back down from Donald Trump. Jeb Bush helped himself, but I don't know how much. The governor will hang in there and hope lightning strikes something because he needs divine intervention. John Kasich has been a terrific governor in Ohio, but his record is simply not enough in this age of anger. He prefers to be a policy guy when the folks want emotion and confrontation. In another time Kasich might have carried the day, but not this year. Governor Chris Christie was his usual feisty self, and he is very effective in attacking Hillary Clinton. So I will not be surprised if Christie gets the VP nod on the Republican ticket. That leaves us with the three main contenders: Trump, Cruz and Rubio. Rubio is an excellent debater and that was on display last night when he flayed Ted Cruz on his voting record. Cruz hammered Rubio for being a soft guy on illegal immigration and they also went after each other on taxes. Marco Rubio has a legitimate chance to win the nomination and is feared by the Clinton campaign. But whether Rubio can convince hardcore conservative Americans to back him remains to be seen. Ted Cruz is also a very strong debater, but got in trouble challenging Donald Trump on 'New York values.' Trump won that exchange, but Cruz won the Canada-birth issue, so it was pretty much a draw. Trump did not back away from his tough anti-immigration stance concerning Mexicans and Muslims. He also hammered China, but was a bit vague on the tariff issue. But as we all know, it is all about demeanor for Donald Trump, not policy. He continues to lead in the polls because he is perceived as an avenger, a person who will knock down the political establishment. Trump has also set the agenda on immigration and he continues to support a temporary ban on all Muslims entering America, including Syrian refugees. In deference to that stance, all the other GOP candidates except Senator Rubio said they would prevent any person from Syria from coming here until better background checks could be developed. There is one more debate here on the Fox News Channel before the Iowa vote on February 1st. The race is still fluid, anything could happen. However, realistically it looks like Trump, Cruz and Rubio are best positioned to secure the nomination."

The Factor asked FNC's Geraldo Rivera and Eric Bolling to evaluate the debate. "The clear winner was Donald Trump," Bolling declared, "who showed a side of himself that people had never seen. He had never shown empathy before, but last night he had empathy. He also proved that he has become the best politician. I disagree with your Talking Points and I think Jeb Bush was the clear loser. He didn't make his case." Rivera theorized that the Ted Cruz eligibility question could gain traction. "There is a difference in people's minds between a 'born citizen' and a 'naturally-born citizen,'" Rivera said. "Ted Cruz is a citizen, but is he a naturally-born citizen? Most importantly, this question is in people's minds right now." Rivera added that some New Yorkers are now accusing Cruz of subtle anti-Semitism, saying, "I have heard from Jews who believe Ted Cruz was really saying that 'New York values' equals 'Jewish values.'"

For perspective from a Democrat, The Factor turned to FNC's Kirsten Powers, who essentially declared Jeb Bush's presidential hopes dead and buried. "The winners were Trump and Cruz," she said, "and the losers were Bush and Carson. It was Trump's strongest performance and this was one of Bush's weakest performances. He seems very uncomfortable, he stumbles a lot, and he has that 'deer in the headlights' look. He made a stupid attack against Trump on the Muslim issue, which enabled Trump to call him weak. And Ben Carson just seems out of his depth and lost."

One of the movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar is "The Big Short," a harsh critique of some Wall Street greedheads and their effect on the market meltdown. The Factor discussed the movie with its director Adam McKay. "We really looked at this as an issue that goes beyond right wing and left wing," McKay said, "because it affected everyone. We did question how the government sort of neutered itself as a regulatory body. So, yes, there were some shots at the government and at the banks. I am against corruption and I am against the government being bought and paid for." McKay expressed his fondness for Bernie Sanders, saying, "I like the fact that he takes no money from banks and oil companies and billionaires." The Factor playfully warned McKay that Sanders "would come in and take your stuff."

Senator Marco Rubio entered the No Spin Zone and clarified his stance on accepting refugees from Syria and other nations. "If we don't know who you are and why you are coming," he said, "we will not let you in, whether your are a Syrian refugee or anyone else. And when it comes to Syrian refugees, I don't think we can know who they are and the overwhelming majority can not be vetted." Rubio also stressed that, as president, he would be extremely tough on illegal immigration. "700 miles of the border needs to be walled off. We also need sensors and cameras and 20,000 new Border Patrol agents. If an immigrant hasn't been here twelve years they will have to leave, and criminal illegal aliens will have to leave immediately."

Finally, The Factor asked Glenn Beck to assess the GOP debate. "They talked substance," Beck said, "and they actually mentioned Hillary Clinton, which I appreciated. The two winners were Cruz and Rubio, but I don't understand the Donald Trump thing. He's a great showman who says nothing, but he is a progressive. He voted for Obama in 2008! Cruz is my guy." The Factor contended that Trump is more of a pragmatist than a progressive: "He's not an ideologue, and back in 2008 all he cared about was putting up another building or two. He is a unique politician, you either like him or you don't like him."

Greg Johnston, Beaverton, OR: "I thought I was watching a CNN debate. Cavuto and Maria Bartiromo baited Cruz and Trump to go after each other just for ratings."

Dr. Tom Williams, Portland, OR: "Here's what can be done: deport all illegal alien felons, fine all immigrants who can't prove they are here legally, and deny all federal handouts."

Dan Decker, Mountain Home, TX: "O'Reilly, your Talking Points was confusing. You said that poor, illegal people are not villains. But they are villains because they broke the law."

Janet Harlan, Edmond, OK: "Bill, excellent Talking Points on immigration. We cannot allow extremists to redefine our country as anti-immigrant."

When debating political issues, whether with friend or foe, discipline yourself to keep an open mind, listen to the other side, and rely on facts rather than emotion.