"As we have reported a number of retail companies will no longer use the words 'Merry Christmas' and some school districts have banned Christmas songs. The ACLU is threatening lawsuits against towns that allow Christmas displays on public property. Now the backlash has begun. The Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, has directed that the decorated tree in front of the Capitol be called a Christmas tree. Someone, and that person remains elusive, changed the name to the 'holiday tree.' Hastert has changed it back. In Boston someone, and that person remains elusive, ordered the traditional Christmas tree on the Common be called a 'holiday tree.' But Boston Mayor Tom Menino says no, it will be called a Christmas tree. In Encinitas, California the Christmas parade was changed to a holiday parade and again nobody will say who did that, but Mayor Dan Dalager has changed it back to the Christmas parade. In response, a number of groups say they will boycott the Christmas parade in Encinitas because they are offended by the word Christmas. Also, the American Family Association reports that its campaign of encouraging retail companies to use Christmas in advertising has resulted in the Lowe's stores renaming holiday trees as Christmas trees. Well, good for the AFA. The Christmas madness will not stop until traditional Americans hold the anti-Christmas forces accountable. If you do nothing the Christmas tradition will diminish, to be replaced by the Winter Holiday tradition."

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Lori Litman Brown, director of the Secular Coalition, said Christmas does not need to be a federal holiday. "I don't think it needs to be a federal holiday. That's a government endorsement of a Christian holiday." The Factor noted that the Founding Fathers probably used the term "Merry Christmas" to one another, to which Brown said, "But they didn't put it in the Constitution." The Factor retorted: "They never envisioned a person like you objecting to it."

The Factor is concerned that the AARP is becoming increasingly radicalized, embracing a variety of left-wing causes. Now they have named Harry Belafonte one of the AARP's persons of the year. Peter Ferrara, senior policy analyst at the Institute for Policy Innovation, said of the AARP: "They claim to be a seniors group, but they don't represent seniors. They represent liberals." The Factor said that embracing Harry Belafonte meant the AARP was embracing a left-wing agenda. "Now it looks like the AARP has come out of the closet, is basically saying look, this is who we are. We're a far left group."

The one time leader of the Crips gang, Williams was convicted of murdering four people in two robberies. He's been in prison since 1979 and is sentenced to die on December 13th. But the NAACP and many others want his life sparred. Joe Hicks, vice president of Community Advocates, a civil rights organization in Los Angeles wondered why Williams has become a cause for the left: "The question is why these limousine liberals are arguing that his life has been redeemed when he refuses, he absolutely refuses to apologize or be remorseful for his acts." The Factor explained why some think Williams deserves clemency. "The main argument is that this guy, Williams, has in prison undergone a conversion where he now tells young people don't join the gangs, don't be violent, look what happened to me and my sons."

A couple of weeks ago, Michael and Cathryn Borden shot to death allegedly by 18-year-old David Ludwig, who fled with their daughter and his girlfriend, 14-year-old Kara Borden. At the time, the Factor said that Kara was in on it. The police have now said she did flee with Ludwig willingly. FOX News legal contributor Arthur Aidala: "At the very least, this is a very troubled young woman. And at the very worst, she was part and parcel of what happened. Now, the hard part of proving whether she was part and parcel of it is probably the best witnesses to that are now dead, her mother and her father." The Factor thought that public sentiment was with Borden: "I think the sentiment is leave the girl alone, let the girl slide."

The story of 21-year old Catherine Woods is a warning to young women everywhere. She came to New York City from Columbus, Ohio to become a professional dancer. But she took a shortcut, dancing in a topless place, and then apparently running into boyfriend problems. Sunday night Catherine was found murdered in her apartment, her throat cut. Police have not charged anyone yet. The Factor wondered why Woods hadn't pursued other options: "I don't understand why a girl who is educated from Ohio State University would come to New York and work in a sleazy club. You see, I don't get that. You're 21 years old. You can get a job. You know, waitresses in this town make $50,000, $60,000."

A new book called "War Footing" tries to convince Americans we are in the middle of a world war. Not an easy thing to do these days. The book's author is Frank Gaffney, the President of the Center for Security Policy. Gaffney noted one of the problems. "I don't think at the national level we've talked frankly enough or repeatedly enough about the stakes." The Factor said, "The only one who can be really clear about it is President Bush, and he has not been clear about the danger. And I'll start with the fact that he should have declared war, you know, against Al Qaeda or whatever other if he wanted to do. And we still don't have a declared war here."

Ron Toomey, Las Vegas, NV: "Mr. Bill, stop your prattle! Constitutionally, Christmas should be abolished as a holiday."

Celia Friedman, Sterling, VA: "O'Reilly, saying happy holidays does not suppress Christmas, it includes it. You are doing the country a disservice by getting angry about it."

Other commented on the Factor interview with Mike Wallace.

Virginia Daniel, Hamilton, IL: "O'Reilly, you were too cute with Mike Wallace. He said we shouldn't be in Iraq and you just let it go."

Henrick Blunck, Dianalund, Denmark: "Bill, really enjoyed your interview with Wallace. He was evasive at times and that was an eye opener."