The O'Reilly Factor
A daily summary of segments aired on The O'Reilly Factor. A preview of the evening's rundown is posted before the show airs each weeknight.
Monday, December 12, 2005
The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo & Top Story
Impact Segment
Factor Follow Up Segment
Unresolved Problems Segment
Personal Story Segment
Back of Book Segment
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Shouting down President Bush
Guests: David Horowitz, The Center for the Study of Popular Culture & New York State Senator Tom Duane

"A group called 'The World Can't Wait' is urging Americans to disrupt President Bush's State of the Union Address next month. In a full page New York Times ad, the group says 'In a cacophy of sound we will drown out his address.' 'The World Can't Wait' was founded in part by the Revolutionary Communist Party, people who are actually rooting for the US to lose its place of prominence in the world. The ad goes on to say people look at the administration's policies 'and think of Hitler.' The usual suspects signed the ad - people like Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, Ed Asner, Cindy Sheehan and of course Ward Churchill. What a lineup for the far left Olympics! Talking Points respects honestly held views, including those held by communists, socialists, and other radicals. But they don't have the right to spread malicious propaganda unchallenged. The New York Times should have rejected the ad as soon as the group compared the administration to Hitler. 'The World Can't Wait' is entitled to its opinion, but media organizations are also entitled to set standards for advertising. Fox News would not have run the ad."

Fox News Video: FoxNews.com

New York State Senator Tom Duane, who signed the ad, explained why he is supporting the protest. "I thought it was important to go on record to say that a lot of the things the Bush administration has done are dangerous and illegal. This is a symbolic shouting down. The action this ad is calling for is for people to make noise when the president is starting his address." Author and columnist David Horowitz criticized both the ad and Senator Duane. "The senator is lending credibility to fascists and America-haters. These are Maoists who want the terrorists to win. They have declared war on America, and it's disgraceful that anybody in the Democratic Party would support something like this." The Factor also questioned Senator Duane's judgment. "You put yourself in the company of radical communists, people who are rooting for the terrorists to win. There are other ways to protest what you feel are misguided policies."

No pardon for "Tookie" Williams
Guest: Fox News analyst Juan Williams

Despite pressure from various celebrities and "civil rights" organizations, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declined to stop the execution of convicted killer Stanley "Tookie" Williams. According to Fox News analyst Juan Williams, the governor's decision made legal and political sense. "Williams killed a guy who was laying face down and committed horrific crimes. There's no evidence of innocence, no reason for the governor to grant clemency as a matter of law. Schwarzenegger has to maintain his Republican base, and giving clemency to Williams would have eviscerated that right-wing support." The Factor expressed surprise at Schwarzenegger's refusal to spare Williams' life. "I thought there was a chance the governor may have granted clemency on the basis of compassion. Williams had the best lawyers money could buy. But the compassion element, the fact that he had written children's books, just doesn?t come into play when you murder four people."

Lowering the age of consent?
Guest: Attorney Anne Bremner

In most states the age of sexual consent is 16 or 18, but some people want it lowered to 14. Attorney Anne Bremner argued against lowering the age. "I think it's wrong, unconscionable, and insane. The hormones are working, but their minds catch up a lot later to what the consequences are." The Factor added that while some academics are calling for a lower age of consent, not many Americans would agree. "The whole thing is tawdry, and I think we should keep it at 16 or 18. "

Attacking the 9th Circuit Court
Guest: Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is frequently accused of issuing rulings that are hostile to traditional values, and the attorney general of California has actually complained to the Supreme Court that the circuit court is out of control. Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano elaborated on the court and its politics. "The Ninth Circuit is far and away more left wing than any all the other circuit courts in the country. They are typical liberals who think they know better than the people do. They second guess jurors because they think they're smarter. They second guess prosecutors, public defenders, and defense counsel. There's also political ideology at work. Many of these judges don't believe in the death penalty and they're trying to impose their views."

San Francisco police video trouble
Guests: Attorney Steven Clark & Angela Alioto, former San Francisco Board of Supervisors president

More than twenty members of the SFPD have been suspended for appearing in a crude video "parody" that mocked homeless people and depicted cops visiting a massage parlor. San Franciscans Steven Clark and Angela Alioto joined The Factor with divergent opinions of the episode. "It's absolutely crazy that the officers would do this," Alioto declared. "The lack of San Francisco pride that these officers have is the problem. This is direct evidence of racial animus, sex animus, homophobic animus." Clark characterized the video as a relatively harmless prank. "It was to have some fun at a time when morale in the department was going down. These officers made a parody video to poke fun at one another, and they would be much better back on the street as opposed to sitting at home." The Factor argued that the police officers stepped out of bounds. "This looks like buffoonery you'd see at a bachelor party, but shouldn't police officers be held to a higher standard of behavior? What disturbs me is that they were wearing the uniform in the video."

Violence in Sydney
Guest: Adam Harvey, Australian Daily Telegraph

There have been two consecutive nights of race riots in Sydney, Australia, where thousands of white men fought with others who appeared to be Muslim and Arab. Australian journalist Adam Harvey revealed that some Aussies are extremely resentful of Muslims. "These are two very different communities at each other's throats. There's starting to be some racial tensions in Australia, especially against Muslim people. We've had our embassy attacked in Indonesia, we've had sixteen Islamic people recently arrested and charged with terrorist offenses, and we've had some nasty gang rape incidents involving Islamic people. This has been simmering for some years." The Factor contrasted recent clashes in France and Australia with the lack of conflict in the United States. "In America we've kept a lid on the anti-Muslim sentiment, and haven't had too many incidents. And nothing like this."

Viewers sound off
Factor Words of the Day
Many of you sent emails about the ongoing "Merry Christmas" controversy. Some excerpts:

Jonathan Milenko, New York, NY: "Bill, according to you, saying 'Happy Holidays' will lead society down the road towards drug addiction and prostitution."

Sherrie Rogers, Rochester, MN: "Bill, we working at the Sears here are now allowed to say 'Merry Christmas.' Just thought you'd like to know."

Robert Maio, Charleston, SC: "Bill, Christmas is back. Today I went by Sears and they had put up posters saying 'Merry Christmas.' So I went in and bought a wide screen TV."

Mandy Chivers, Australia: "Bill, we have the same problem down here. Stores that refuse to say 'Merry Christmas' offend me and many others. Don't they realize that?"

Chad Colomb, Sparks, NV: "We liberals surrender, Bill. Will you now stop talking about this ridiculous subject?"