"After Iraq, the most contentious issue in the USA right now is illegal immigration, most of it from Mexico. And the root cause of illegal immigration is poverty. About half of Mexican homes don't have the money to buy basic necessities That kind of abject poverty is driven by poor education - an astounding 60% of Mexican citizens failed to graduate from high school. Many Americans are asking, 'with huge oil reserves and two beautiful coastlines, why can't the government of Mexico develop a first world economy?' Some analysts believe that corruption in Mexico has led to the economic chaos there. Certainly the drug traffickers are causing an enormous problem. Thousands of Mexican citizens have been murdered by drug dealers, including journalists, politicians, and even a Catholic archbishop. All of this is taking a huge toll on both Mexico and the USA. Nearly 34,000 Mexican nationals are serving time in American federal prisons, and more than 75,000 Mexicans are in state prisons, costing the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. This is a very intense situation and one that must be solved. Talking Points believes that tight border security, including a fence and the National Guard, is the first step, followed by alien registration and working permits for those who have legitimate jobs and a clean record. Also, American businesses that continue to hire illegals have to be heavily fined. There is no other way to solve this problem."

The Factor welcomed former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who addressed some of the issues in the Talking Points Memo. He began with this explanation for pervasive Mexican poverty: "We had 72 years with a lousy and corrupt government controlling the country, but we're working hard to overcome poverty and create jobs." President Fox defended Mexican citizens who enter the U.S. illegally. "It's okay for them to look for a better future for their families, and you hire them here. They are hard working people doing their best. America is the land of opportunity." But The Factor challenged Fox and the Mexican government. "You have not been able to stop tens of millions of your citizens from coming to the United States. You're letting them come here and violate our law. We have to have a wall because your government won't stop this chaos."

News Link: Former Mexico Prez talks immigration

Returning for a second segment, former President Fox blamed much of the Mexican drug problems on demand in the United States. "Who consumes those drugs," he asked rhetorically. "Who pays for those drugs? This is a joint responsibility, and we have to work together to solve this problem that is hurting kids in both countries." Fox also took a shot at the Minutemen, the volunteer citizen group that patrols the southern border. "The Minutemen are aggressive, xenophobic and violent. Fear is dominating the United States and we must work on this so immigration becomes an asset to both nations." The Factor took issue with President Fox's representation. "I don't think the Minutemen are racist and I don't know of any violence. They're protesting, saying we have to stop this illegal immigration."

Finally, Fox spoke about his new book, which includes the story of his grandfather's odyssey from Ohio to Mexico. "Imagine that back in 1895 he rode a horse from Cincinnati to Mexico, where he settled and bought a farm. He was born the very same day Abraham Lincoln was shot to death. He took the American dream down to Mexico, and that's where I nourished myself. I love America and I am part of this nation."

Featured Book: Revolution of Hope by Vicente Fox

This week The Factor is re-airing some of Dennis Miller's memorable segments. This was Miller's take on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance at Columbia University: "He didn't disappoint. He was beautifully demented, and he always looks like a rat that just bit into an extension cord. I thank (Columbia president) Lee Bollinger for one thing - if Ahmadinejad does take over America, Bollinger will be the first person beheaded." Miller on Rudy Giuliani, whose personal life is being dissected by the New York Times. "I'm for Giuliani because he's a take charge guy, and if the Times pushes him a little further on his wife, I think he's going to tear into them. It's the guy's wife, okay?" And Miller on Tim Robbins and other Hollywood types who denounce President Bush as a war-monger. "I like Robbins," Miller said, "but I couldn't disagree with him more. We're not going around strafing Iraqis and putting them into mass graves. The first person who misinformed me about WMDs was Bill Clinton, and the first guy who said we're going to have to go in and take care of this guy in Iraq was Clinton."

FNC legal aces Megyn Kelly and Lis Wiehl analyzed the case of Louise Ogborn, who won a $6-million dollar lawsuit against her former employer McDonald's. A man impersonating a police officer called the restaurant and said Ogborn, then 18-years old, was suspected of stealing a purse and had to be strip searched. Assistant manager Donna Jean Summers took Ogborn to the back of the store and had her strip naked as the hoaxer gave instructions. By Kelly's reasoning, the jurors were sorely misguided. "The jury blamed McDonald's and the caller, but Ogborn wasn't held responsible for her idiocy. Neither was the manager who was doing all this." Wiehl said the jury was sending a message. "This was to punish McDonald's because they had known for ten years about these hoaxes. They put it in their employee handbook, which is about a thousand pages long." But The Factor smelled a rat. "I think this is one of the biggest legal scams I have ever seen. And to make it worse, the store manager who conducted the strip search was also awarded $1 million. McDonald's has to appeal this."

News Link: $6.1 mil awarded in McDonald's strip search hoax

The playoff hopes of the New York Yankees were crushed this week, but would Steve Doocy retain his dominance in the Great American Culture Quiz? The Factor posed five questions to Doocy and Martha MacCallum, including these: "Who played John Wayne's lady friend in 'The Shootist?' ... "What does a 'three dog night' mean?" Doocy emerged victorious as MacCallum came up with just one correct answer, proving again that "one is the loneliest number."

Tuesday's Patriot: Vicente Fox, who entered the No Spin Zone and took the heat. And the Pinhead: Bruce Springsteen, who has not replied to The Factor's offer to contribute $25,000 to charity if he follows President Fox's example.

Many of you wrote about Springsteen's anti-Bush comments and The Factor's challenge. Some excerpts:

Dan Burger, Tucson, AZ: "I admire your donation offer to Habitat for Humanity. But my guess is that Bruce will be a no show."

Carole Trifiletti, Albany, NY: "O'Reilly, I think you are far more dangerous than Springsteen."

Patrick Martin-Vegue, Brisbane, Australia: "Why should Springsteen talk to you, Mr. O'Reilly? You're a neo-con."