"The Governor of New York has quit after being snared in a prostitution investigation. Many Americans are asking how other elected officials survived in office when Spitzer did not. Congressmen Barney Frank and Gerry Studds had gay situations, Senator David Vitter visited prostitutes, and Senator Larry Craig pleaded guilty to another gay charge. But none of those men left office. The difference seems to be Governor Spitzer's anti-crime posture, including prosecutions of prostitution rings. When you have a law-and-order guy breaking the law himself while punishing others for doing what he's doing, the situation becomes untenable. Talking Points believes the story tells us a lot about America. The ideologues on the left are making fools of themselves. Far left loon Katrina vanden Heuvel says she believes there was a conspiracy to get Spitzer, and the Los Angeles Times bemoaned the fact that prostitution is a big deal. And then there's the social hysteria. Laura Schlesinger says she 'holds women accountable' for not giving men what they need. All in all, just another week in America. God help us."

The Factor welcomed FNC contributor Laura Ingraham, who lamented what the Spitzer story says about our culture. "A lot of people on the far left," Ingraham pointed out, "are saying this is a 'victimless crime' and a private matter, but there are plenty of victims here. There are health issues involved and legal issues involved. We've come a long way over the past 30 years, and with the STD rates of young girls through the roof and prostitution all the vogue, I think we have an obvious problem." The Factor placed some of the blame on the information revolution. "The Internet has made almost every kind of behavior acceptable in this country, from child molestation on up."

News Link: Governor Spitzer resigns

For an inside look at the high-end prostitution business, The Factor spoke with private investigator Vito Colucci, who reported that many successful call girl rings are run out of the Caribbean. "They're often based on the islands," Colucci said, "and the owners are making unbelievable amounts of money and the girls are too. They have a shell company that is hidden, so it's tough for an undercover cop to infiltrate it." Former call girl Tracy Quan defended her business and colleagues. "We are working people," Quan maintained, "who are trying to build businesses. What you're really there to do is make people happy. I don't understand why a guy like Eliot Spitzer went to an escort service rather than a private madam." The Factor was also bewildered by Spitzer's reckless behavior. "I can't understand how a powerful person like Governor Spitzer can use the services of a prostitute knowing that as soon as you do that, the prostitute knows who you are. This is a very dangerous area for anyone."

Featured Book: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl by Tracy Quan

Geraldine Ferraro quit her unpaid position with the Clinton campaign after saying Barack Obama would not be where he is today "if he were a white man." The Factor asked FNC political expert Karl Rove to analyze the controversy. "What she said was offensive," Rove said, "and it detracted from the message she wanted to convey, which is that she felt Barack Obama is inexperienced and not fit to be commander in chief. She could have said that without any reference to race." Rove advised John McCain to avoid the race issue if he runs against Obama. "John McCain needs to run against an inexperienced senator with very liberal views who is out of the mainstream. You want to stay away from race." The Factor pointedly disagreed with Geraldine Ferraro's assertion about Barack Obama, saying "Obama is where he is today because of his charisma and presentation and talent."

News Link: Ferraro resigns from Clinton campaign

The clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch, notorious for its erotic ads aimed at young people, is donating $10 million to an Ohio children's hospital. In return, the hospital may put the retailer's name on its emergency room. Child advocate Susan Linn denounced the quid pro quo as totally inappropriate. "Abercrombie and Fitch," Linn said, "has consistently shown a cynical disregard for the well being of children. Their clothing sexualizes and objectifies children and really does them harm. So should a company like that be allowed to assume the mantle of healing?" The Factor agreed with Linn that the hospital should avoid giving A&F favorable publicity. "This may be an attempt to buy some good will, and you're saying the hospital should not put the Abercrombie and Fitch name on it. I'm sympathetic to your cause."

News Link: Abercrombie & Fitch donation controversy

Dennis Miller began his weekly observations with the Eliot Spitzer scandal, urging embattled politicians to man up and leave their wives out of the picture when they apologize. "One of these guys has got to ask his wife to stay home. Spitzer should have said, 'honey I love you, and you don't have to stand next to me.' And there should be no photos of the children." Miller also joked that Spitzer has two possible ways out of this jam. "He could say he thought the call girl was a superdelegate and he was courting her. Or if he really wants to get back in the good graces of the Democratic Party, he should offer to pay for the re-votes in Michigan and Florida." Joking aside, Miller hoped Spitzer will use this scandal "as a point of departure to save his life."

Internet ace Amanda Carpenter, filling in for vacationing Mary Katharine Ham, began with a site that allegedly helps women get breast implants. "It's a social networking site" Carpenter explained, "where women seeking implants hook up with men who will pay for those implants. The men buy credits to receive pictures from the girls and to have conversations with the girls, and eventually the girls get enough credits to have the surgery." The Factor denounced the site as a scam, adding that "anyone who would go on the site is a total idiot." Carpenter also reported on RateMyCop, which allows citizens to post complaints and compliments about police officers. "I actually like this site," Carpenter said. "because it enhances accountability." But The Factor argued that the site could actually put cops in jeopardy. "You could dislike a police officer, get on this site and smear and defame them and even give their address. One police union is going to court to make this site illegal."

News Link: Ratemycop.com infuriates police

Wednesday's Patriot: 19-year old Texan Monica Brown, an Army medic who earned a Silver Star for heroism in Afghanistan. And the Pinhead: Dawn Wells, former star of "Gilligan's Island," who pleaded guilty for driving under the influence of marijuana. Nominate a Pinhead or a Patriot by sending an email to pnp@billoreilly.com.

News Link: Texas female wins Silver Star

News Link: 'Gilligan's Island' star busted for weed

A sampling of your recent e-mails:

Russ Meyer, Granbury, TX: "Ted Kennedy walked away from a far worse situation than Spitzer's and never looked back. The Governor needs better spin doctors."

Marie Davis, Houston, TX: "Bill, please read Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment.' There are men who think the ordinary rules do not apply."

James Hellwig, Eagle, ID: "Brilliant, Bill! San Francisco is the ultimate 'sanctuary city' so we should help it get all the illegal aliens it can. I'm with you - let me know how I can help."