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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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"In just about 48 hours, ten Republican contenders for president will debate in prime-time from Cleveland. This debate has one very unusual component - a red hot Donald Trump. Mr. Trump is averaging more than 23% support in the polls. Next is Jeb Bush at 12.8%, followed by Scott Walker at 10.6 %. The rest of the contenders are far back. So the debate is all about Trump and how he will handle his front-runner status. It is likely that many will tune in to see the drama. Will Donald Trump go after his competitors or will he become a statesman trying to demonstrate that he has the political finesse to run the country? Talking Points does not know how the debate will play out, which makes it exciting. Some of you have asked why I am not one of the interrogators. My role is that of a watchdog, I am a debater rather than an inquisitor. That does not play in a debate format. There are simply too many people and too many questions to be asked. If the contender doesn't answer we can expect follow ups but if he still doesn't answer, there's nothing the Fox News moderators can do. It's not like they can call evaders "pinheads" like some people I know. So it's better for me to watch what happens and analyze after the fact. Megyn Kelly, Bret Baier and Chris Wallace are all seasoned journalists who will do a fine job. Summing up, it's a very important debate for the Republican contenders. All of them, with the exception of Donald Trump, need to gain recognition among the voters. That will not be easy.
The Factor welcomed Donald Trump into the No Spin Zone. "I don't know how you can rehearse for a debate," Trump began. "You have to be yourself and I know the subject matter very well. Our country is going downhill and we have to stop it. I can stop it - I've built great businesses." The Factor specifically asked Trump about his seemingly unrealistic promise that Mexico will finance a new wall on our southern border. "Mexico is going to pay for the wall and I'm going to make sure it gets done properly. Mexico is making a fortune in the United States, they're killing us in trade, and I'm going to say to them, 'You're going to pay for the wall.' It's peanuts compared to the amount they take in from us in trade." Trump also implied that he won't attack his rivals Thursday night. "I want to talk about policy, illegal immigration, and bad trade deals. I have certain abilities that the other candidates do not have. I'm not looking to hurt or embarrass anybody, but I will bring up deficiencies if I have to." The Factor said to Trump, "I think you're surprised at your poll numbers, I think you are surprised that you are the front-runner and all eyes are on you in this debate." |
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| Fox News analyst Karl Rove gave his perspective on the upcoming debate and Trump's current dominance. "I'm impressed with the change in Donald Trump's numbers," Rove admitted. "His favorables have gone up and the number of Republicans saying they would never vote for him has gone down. But things can change quickly and that's why the pressure will be on him Thursday. Voters expect him to perform like a front-runner." Rove suggested that all the GOP candidates face three challenges Thursday night. "You have to have authenticity, you have to leave people with one or two impressions, and you have to be substantive so that people can actually see you in the Oval Office." |
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| Still another undercover video shows a Planned Parenthood official boasting about how they can deliver intact fetuses to medical researchers. Monica Crowley and Kirsten Powers evaluated the ringing defense of Planned Parenthood delivered by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. "She sounds just like the head of Planned Parenthood," Powers asserted, "and what Senator Warren said is absolutely false. This is not about whether or not abortion should be legal. I would call this lying, people like Elizabeth Warren are giving out extremely false information." Crowley posited that Senator Warren is the embodiment of the Democratic Party's left wing. "She represents the party at large and she is a creature of the left. For them abortion is such an article of faith that nothing, not even these horrendous videos, will change their position." The Factor concluded, "Elizabeth Warren, the voice of the progressive left, is a deceiver." |
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| Don Winslow's novel "The Cartel" documents drug gangs and widespread corruption in Mexico. The Factor spoke with the author about the recent prison breakout by drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. "He got out with the cooperation and complicity of the Mexican government," Winslow asserted. "How can you have a one-mile tunnel that goes past federal police, local police and the Army? I've been researching this for 15 years and the fact is that high elements of the Mexican government have been in the pockets of the cartels since the 1970s. There is bribery and intimidation, the corruption goes deep into the administration" |
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| Various Planned Parenthood officials have been caught on tape negotiating the sale of fetal body parts to medical researchers. Legal analysts Kimberly Guilfoyle and Lis Wiehl looked at whether the abortion provider is guilty of any crimes. "They are absolutely violating the law," Wiehl declared. "Federal law says it is illegal for a doctor to alter an abortion for the sole purpose of obtaining tissue for sale, and these videos are enough to get an investigation going." Guilfoyle turned to the case of Navy Lt. Commander Timothy White, who could face charges for firing his handgun during the Chattanooga terrorist attacks last month. "He used his weapon on federal property. But he was carrying a legal weapon and he was acting in self-defense and the defense of others, so there's a lot of outrage over this." |
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| Bernard McGuirk and Greg Gutfeld offered some unsolicited and perhaps unwelcome advice to the Republican debate participants. "Don't ask Donald Trump for an autograph," Gutfeld joked, "and don't ask for a selfie because that undermines your own professionalism. Do not treat him as a celebrity, do not fall for the myth, even though he really is awesome." McGuirk aimed his sarcasm at Vice President Joe Biden, who may challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. "Here you have a woman on the precipice of breaking the ultimate glass ceiling and you have these old, white, knuckle-dragging misogynists trying to thwart history. I am offended and outraged!" |
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Lola Cherson, New York, NY: "O'Reilly, you must be drinking Kool-Aid to think you could get away with your abortion interpretation with Charles Krauthammer. He was obviously furious."
Anita Williams, Tyler, TX: "I like Charles, but you won the debate, Bill. You said when life is involved, you err on the side of caution. I would think Dr. Krauthammer would agree with the empirical evidence."
Jack Thompson, Spokane, WA: "O'Reilly, you are a right-wing, Christian ideologue so it is impossible for you to understand an intellect like Krauthammer."
J.D. Walker, Kalispell, MT: "Bill, you and Krauthammer are both correct in explaining the oxymoronic views of progressives. Their primary goal is winning, not helping the helpless. Thus, they are morally bankrupt." |
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| Consider picking up a book called "The Gratitude Diaries," which gives many reasons for looking at the bright side of life. |
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