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.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo
Impact Segment
Personal Story
Unresolved Problems
Miller Time
Watters' World
Factor Mail
Tip of the Day
Want KILLING REAGAN Free?
Get the book free when you become a Premium Member. Join up today!
Comments
What President Obama Failed to Do
"Barack Obama is a confident guy. Yesterday in Greece, he told the world that he did a heck of a job as president, saying this: The policies that we put forward were the right ones ... the country is indisputably better off.' Mr. Obama really believes what he says, and he has backup: The latest Gallup poll has the president's job approval rating at 57%, a very strong number. Some of his support is surely based on personal likability, but he does deserve credit for stabilizing the economy after the mortgage-backed securities fraud. Also, for helping Americans with severe health problems and for conducting himself with class in the White House. But there are some very important things President Obama did not do in eight years, things I hope President-elect Trump will consider. First, targeted tax cuts for businesses while at the same time phasing out deductions that drain tax receipts to the government. Mr. Trump is an expert at this and he understands that in order to rebuild the military and roads and bridges you need cash. Also, persuading corporations to bring the profits they are hoarding overseas back to invest in America would be a huge economic stimulator that would expand the economy and create well-paying jobs. To be polite, President Obama does not understand macro-economics and generally sees private business as an opponent of social justice. On the individual tax front, surely a fair percentage can be worked out with the goal being to allow consumers to have more money in their pockets, another major economic stimulator. Barack Obama's philosophy is to give folks stuff rather than setting up a robust private marketplace so they could earn their stuff. Overseas, the Obama doctrine of containment through diplomacy has not worked and the pain has been immense. Millions of refugees have flooded into Europe, some of them terrorists. The suffering of poor people in Syria and Iraq is cruel, all because Mr. Obama does not act aggressively against the jihad. Talking Points has put forth a solution - NATO should formally declare war on Islamic terrorists, set up safe zones for refugees in the Middle East, and punish ISIS any way it can. Barack Obama would never even think of doing that because it is way too confrontational. Mr. Trump should learn from Mr. Obama's mistakes. Most Americans want a robust economy and a vibrant national defense, including border protection. If he can make those two things happen, he will succeed in the toughest job in the world."

The Factor welcomed Monica Crowley and Eboni Williams, who assessed President Obama's high self-regard. "When presidents are leaving office," Crowley said, "there is often a nostalgic feeling of good will towards the president. He was a charismatic guy and the first black president, people feel the emotional pull of that. But last week's vote was a rebuke of President Obama's policies." Williams then tried to rationalize President Obama's high job approval rating. "Americans separate the man from his politics. The Democratic Party has been completely rejected, but people still like Barack Obama the man."
Battle Over Sanctuary Cities
Some big city mayors, among them New York City's Bill de Blasio, defiantly insist that illegal immigrants will continue to have sanctuary in their towns. The Factor spoke with New York reporter Mac King about a Wednesday meeting between de Blasio and Donald Trump. "The mayor wanted everyone to know," King reported, "that he told Trump about his concerns. These two men have a history of saying nasty things about each other, so the meeting couldn't have been totally civil." FNC correspondent Doug McKelway elaborated on the bad blood between the men. "No word has escaped about what happened at this meeting. But remember that Mayor de Blasio is considered insufferable even by many members of his own party. To Bill de Blasio, Donald Trump is one great big macro-aggression." The Factor predicted, "The Trump administration will not allow these mayors to do what they want to do."
Campus Backlash Against Trump
With some college campuses roiled by anti-Trump and pro-immigrant protests. The Factor spoke with two college journalists. "Referring to immigrants as 'illegal' is inaccurate," declared Liam Knox of Tufts University. "People can't be illegal, branding them as 'illegal' is dehumanizing. Students are walking out of classes to pressure institutions to uphold their liberal values. Specifically, we are asking Tufts to declare it a 'sanctuary campus.'" Ellie smith reported on protests at George Washington University. "Students took a list of demands to our administration, mostly asking administrators to support marginalized and multi-cultural student populations. They want the financial aid office to support undocumented students."
NBA Racial Controversy
Former NBA coach Phil Jackson referred to LeBron James' business advisors as a 'posse,' which didn't sit well with James and some other black players. The Factor spoke about the controversy with sports analyst Stephen A. Smith. "Phil Jackson tries to tweak everybody from time to time," Smith said, "but certainly the word 'racist' should not be associated with him. No one needs to go that far, but at the same time his use of the word 'posse' means he is not respecting LeBron's assistants. In certain cases the word 'posse' comes across as having racial overtones to an African American like LeBron James. Phil Jackson should know better!"
Miller Struts and Gloats
Dennis Miller, bursting some buttons, gushed over Donald Trump's victory. "I spent the entire day basking in the glorious glow of crude nationalism," he jested, "just to watch Juan Williams melt down. I always thought this would be delicious, but I didn't know it would be this delicious. It's beautiful! Upper-case Democrats are now being asked to be lower-case democratic, and they are not answering the call. And if you think they hate Trump now, just wait until his policies start working!"
Watters' World: The Sanders' Fan Edition
Bernie Sanders, who has a new book out, has refused numerous invitations to enter the No Spin Zone. So Jesse Watters tried to catch up with the camera-shy Senator at a book signing in New York. It didn't exactly work, however, as security personnel gave him the boot. "You had to have an official photographer take a picture with Sanders," Watters explained, "but I had a guy with a phone camera shooting this thing. I think Bernie Sanders kind of remembered me, but he had no idea there was this huge commotion going on. He just wanted to get me out of there."
Viewers Sound Off
Factor Words of the Day
Larry Berry, Slidell, LA: "I voted for Trump. What is the appropriate time to gloat?"

Natalie Leroy, Riverside, CA: "I am a millennial, but I always vote. I'm not surprised many of my peers did not."

Mike Ziembowicz, Phoenix, AZ: "O'Reilly, you say most migrants are law-abiding. But they broke U.S. law by coming here illegally."
Rest for the Weary
It seems obvious, but some people simply overlook the value of a well-deserved rest after a period of long and hard work. To paraphrase the old commercial, you deserve a break.