"You think you've had a bad week? In the space of just four days, the loons from Barack Obama's past all showed up unannounced. Last Sunday his former pastor Reverend Wright once again attacked America at Trinity Church. All you can say about Wright at this point is, good grief! Then, a few days later, here came William Ayers on national TV explaining his bombing activities. But by far the worst ghost from Obama's past is Governor Rod Blagojevich, who apparently tried to sell the President-elect's Senate seat. Mr. Obama was forced to defend the whole situation regarding the Senate seat, saying 'I did not speak with to the governor about these issues.' So adding up this week for Obama, you have Reverend Wright wrong again, Bill Ayers still making excuses for his terrorism, and the corrupt Illinois governor putting Obama's Senate seat up for sale. And a Merry Christmas to you, Mr. President-elect."

The Factor showed excerpts from a 2002 TV interview in which Barack Obama said this: "Right now my main focus is to make sure that we elect Rod Blagojevich as governor." Jeff Berkowitz, who conducted that interview, entered the No Spin Zone and put the comments in perspective. "In 2002 we didn't know Blagojevich would be the kind of guy who would be trading Senate seats," Berkowitz said. "On the other hand, it is interesting that Barack Obama was working hard for Rod Blagojevich. If you're objective, you have to say he was an accommodator." The Factor concluded that Barack Obama was too willing to go along with the "Chicago way." "President-elect Obama was a very loyal machine player, and that is a corrupt machine. The question is, how could he feel comfortable in a Bill Ayers/Reverend Wright/Rod Blagojevich world?"

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has forcefully denied any suggestion that one of his representatives offered Rod Blagojevich cash in exchange for the vacant Senate seat. The Factor welcomed Professor Marc Lamont Hill, who defended both Jackson and Barack Obama. "Jesse Jackson, Jr. has always resisted and criticized back door politics," Hill asserted. "As for Barack Obama, this is a test of his leadership before he even gets inaugurated. He needs to again demand that Blagojevich resign, and he has to distance himself from all of this. Barack Obama couldn't have become president if there was any dirt on him, and if anyone has something to worry about it's Rahm Emanuel. He has always struck me as a shady figure." The Factor theorized that Blagojevich will say anything, true or false, to save his own skin. "Blagojevich is going to flip because he's a weasel. So when facing 30 years in the federal penitentiary, he'll give up anyone he has to give up. Barack Obama has to be careful not to totally alienate this guy because he can say anything."

The Factor welcomed Fox News analyst Laura Ingraham, who urged President-elect Obama to repudiate the corruption in his home state. "If Barack Obama is really the 'change we can believe in,'" Ingraham said, "I would have expected him to come out and give a talk about corruption and how it eats away at the public trust. Instead, he said he's 'saddened' and can't say anything else. It's time to start showing some emotion - the 'cool cat' thing is getting a little old already." Ingraham also argued against any auto bailout that does not include major changes in labor contracts. "It would have to deal with the unions in a way that is not going to happen when there is a majority of Democrats in Congress."

After monitoring news coverage of Rod Blagojevich, Fox News media analyst Bernie Goldberg pointed to a glaring double standard. "When Senator Craig was caught in a bathroom in Minneapolis," Goldberg reported, "every broadcast anchor identified him as a Republican. When Senator Stevens was indicted, every broadcast anchor identified him as a Republican. But when the governor of Illinois got caught up in a scandal, only one of the three evening news anchors referred to him as a Democrat, and on the morning shows the word 'Democrat' never passed the lips of any of the anchors. Why does the mainstream media find it more newsworthy to name the party of a politician who gets into trouble when he's a Republican?" The Factor promptly answered Goldberg's question: "The press sees the Republican Party as moral scolds, and if any Republican or conservative person gets into any trouble, they'll ram it down their throats."

A decomposing body was found in Florida Thursday, presumably the remains of 2-year old Caylee Anthony, who has been missing since June. FNC's Megyn Kelly surmised how the discovery will affect the case against Casey Anthony, who has already been charged with killing her infant daughter. "They should find forensics on the body," Kelly reported, "and the best evidence against Casey Anthony has just been uncovered. This child was murdered, wrapped up in a garbage bag with duct tape and thrown into a snake-infested swamp. They're going to find a lot in the next 24 hours, and if the body shows signs of intentional murder this could put the death penalty back on the table."

In a column about the controversy over the atheist display in Washington State, Maya North of The Olympian wrote this: "Bill O'Reilly of Fox News might need a rabies vaccine as he was foaming at the mouth. Since when does having an opinion contrary to one's own constitute an attack?" The Factor's Reality Check: "Any literate person knows that when a sign says religion 'hardens hearts and enslaves minds,' that constitutes an attack. By the way, Ms. North has accepted our invitation to appear Friday, and I will try to get my rabies shot before then." On another subject, Comedy Central's Jon Stewart chastised Governor Mike Huckabee for opposing gay marriage, comparing that stance to denying Hispanics the right to vote. The Factor challenged Stewart's logic with this Reality Check: "Why can't triads get married? Why can't you marry fifteen people? And on and on."

Thursday's Patriot: Actor Josh Hartnett, who successfully sued a British newspaper that claimed he had sex in a public library. And the Pinheads: The three KFC workers who bathed in the restaurant's sink, then posted the photos on MySpace.

Joe Stella, Friday Harbor, WA: "Bill, why is everyone tiptoeing around the conclusion that there must have been some degree of contact between Governor Blagojevich and Obama over the Senate seat?"

Mary McLemore, Pike Road, AL: "Lots of media will be in Illinois trying hard to cover up for Obama."

Brian Mixan, Jefferson City, MO: "Bill, you and Gretchen are right. The goal of the anti-religion movement is the elimination of the Christmas holiday."