The Factor Rundown
Talking Points Memo and Top Story
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The real reason President Obama is not trying to solve the fiscal crisis
Guests: Monica Crowley and Alan Colmes
"I am getting very frustrated with President Obama. It has nothing to do with ideology, it has to do with performance. Mr. Obama is not trying to solve the fiscal mess and he does not want to cut spending. He will also not give his vision on things like Medicare and Medicare, which are draining the treasury. The question is why Mr. Obama is not trying to solve complex problems. According to a recent article in the Washington Post, 'the goal is to flip the Republican-held House back to Democratic control, allowing Obama to push forward with a progressive agenda.' So what we have is a reelected President not trying to reach consensus on important issues; rather, he's hoping that the messy stalemate will tee off voters, who will then throw out Republicans and give him full control in 2014. It's almost like Mr. Obama is sabotaging the country so he can re-shape it. Rome, Japan, Germany, and Russia were all destroyed by venal leaders exploiting an apathetic population. I pray that doesn't happen to us."
The Factor invited reaction from Alan Colmes and Monica Crowley. "When Barack Obama was campaigning in '08," Crowley said, "he talked about 'fundamental transformation' of the nation and we now have four years of evidence as to exactly what he meant. He wants the last two years of his presidency to have a Democratic-controlled Congress." But Colmes took offense at the notion that President Obama is focused only on politics. "I don't think he's not trying to do what's best for the country. It's one thing to say he wants to flip the House, it's another thing to say he purposely wants the American people to suffer. I don't believe that for a second." That led to an extremely heated and often tense exchange:
O'Reilly: "Give me one damned program he said he'd cut." Colmes: "He's offered cuts in Medicare and entitlements." O'Reilly: "You are lying here!" Colmes: "Don't call me a liar! We can have a disagreement without you calling me a liar." O'Reilly: "This is why I'm calling you a liar - give me one program he said he'd cut." Colmes: "He would cut Medicare and Medicaid." O'Reilly: "That's not a specific program, you can't give me one example of any federal program he said he would cut. This is bull-blank! I apologize to you, Colmes, I shouldn't have used the word 'liar.' But you haven't put forth anything he would do. The guy you revere refuses to say anything specific, but you're buying the con."
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Senator Menendez prostitution allegations take an interesting turn
Guests: Tucker Carlson
New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has been accused of helping a friend win government contracts and hiring prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. The Washington Post today reported that one woman was bribed to make false charges against Menendez, but Tucker Carlson, whose conservative publication broke the hooker angle, downplayed that allegation. "The Washington Post story is ludicrous," Carlson protested. "It was an attempt to take down our story but it doesn't achieve that. It's not at all clear that the woman they're talking about is the same woman we interviewed. If we're wrong, I will admit it, but we went and re-checked every fact." The Factor advised Carlson to tread with caution: "I have a lot of trouble with the prostitution angle of this story because you put forth some allegations but you don't have names attached. I want to give all Americans the benefit of the doubt."
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Harvard newspaper criticizes O'Reilly for criticizing Harvard
Guests: Bobby Samuels
The Harvard Crimson school paper has denounced Bill, who earned a master's degree at the school, for "implying that the Harvard community is morally suspect." Bobby Samuels, president of the Crimson, entered the No Spin Zone to explain his antipathy. "An important point to keep in mind about the editorial," Samuels said, "is that there certainly was a tongue-in-cheek component to it. But we were commenting seriously on the hypocrisy of coming to a school and utilizing its educational resources, then turning around a few years later and criticizing the school in a blanket way. You referred to professors as 'pinheads.'" The Factor countered that Harvard deserves criticism because of its blatant bias: "The Kennedy School of Government has taken a sharp turn to the left. When I was there the deans were fair, but the dean is now a committed leftist. And the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy has 25 professors, and do you know how many are Republicans? None!"
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Stossel responds to actress Daryl Hannah's energy advice
Guests: John Stossel
On Monday's program Daryl Hannah advised folks how they can heat their homes and fuel their cars in a cleaner and greener way. The Factor gave Fox Business host John Stossel equal time to rebut Ms. Hannah's advice. "She's right that you can heat your home with alternative fuel," Stossel said, "but it's awful that you can! It means people like her have gotten politicians to pass these horrible subsidies, which hurt poor people. I use solar panels because it's cheaper because of all these idiot subsidies, and to think this is going to stop global warming is like believing in mermaids. Oil and gas are wonderful, they produce so much energy for so little money and that lets us prosper."
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Appeals court upholds ban on Florida's controversial law drug testing welfare applicants
Guests: Kimberly Guilfoyle and Lis Wiehl
The state of Florida wants to give drug tests to welfare applicants, but a federal court says that is unconstitutional. Kimberly Guilfoyle laid out the court's rationale. "The court ruled that this is illegal," she reported, "and that it violates the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure. The state and Governor Rick Scott want to appeal this." Wiehl turned to the case of Pennsylvania abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who is accused of infanticide. "They charged him with seven counts of murdering children who were born alive during the abortion. The state is alleging that he took those babies and snipped their spines to kill them. These children had been born before he killed them and he may get the death penalty."
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Krauthammer on President Obama's vision for America
Guests: Charles Krauthammer
Returning to the theme of the Talking Points Memo, The Factor asked FNC's Charles Krauthammer to cite one specific program that President Obama is willing to cut. "There are no specific cuts," Dr. K. answered. "The man is not interested in cutting, he wants to 'invest,' which is the new Democratic word for spending. President Obama has a vision of an entitlement state more along the lines of Europe, and in order to enact that vision, he needs control of Congress. Normally a second term president is not interested in the polls or politics, but Obama knows that as long as the Republicans control the House he can't proceed." The Factor again denounced President Obama's apparent strategy, saying, "He's willing to put the entire country in economic jeopardy to realize this vision, he's gambling with our lives!"
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Viewers sound off
Ramona Richers, Arvada, CO: "O'Reilly, you are a great advocate for Jessica's Law and we need it here. Good job sending Jesse to confront Mark Ferrandio, who is blocking the law."
Betty Glover, Lamar, CO: "Don't judge this state by the progressives who live in the front range. There are still plenty of us with common sense."
Trudy Searle, Newburyport, MA: "Most of us in this country cannot believe we have a president who isn't worried about the crushing debt. We are in serious trouble."
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Check out the books mentioned during this show.
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Earn the Right to Win: How Success in Any Field Starts with Superior Preparation
by Tom Coughlin
Read more...
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What the (Bleep) Just Happened?: The Happy Warrior's Guide to the Great American Comeback
by Monica Crowley
Read more...
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Keep the faith
Because all of us need spiritual nourishment, it's important to set aside at least an hour a week for some form of introspection.
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