This week's puzzle is filled with Patriots and Giants, but none of them ever played a down of football. Play online or print it out for the road.
By Bill O'Reilly
Why are some conservative Americans demeaning Newt Gingrich? That is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points" memo. First, the latest poll from Florida, Rasmussen surveyed 750 likely primary voters yesterday.
And found that Mitt Romney is favored by 39 percent; Gingrich 31; Rick Santorum 12 percent and Ron Paul nine percent. Obviously the poll is very good news for Governor Romney. And he's being helped by the hard-right America.
Earlier this week you heard Ann Coulter on this broadcast smash Newt Gingrich. She believes he is not committed to the conservative cause and that he would get hammered by President Obama in the general election. And there is no question that many prominent conservatives are siding with Coulter.
Read More
Nothing the President said last night surprised me. He is convinced the federal government can unleash economic justice that will bring prosperity to the U.S.A. There is no question the President really believes that.
But I don't. Let's start with the capital gains deal. The President is making a big issue out of Warren Buffett secretary paying more tax than the billionaire does. In fact, the secretary Debbie Bosanek sat near the First Lady and the camera zoomed in.
In just about an hour President Obama will deliver his third State of the Union address. We can expect the President to be in full campaign mode painting an optimistic picture of America filled with forward-looking promises for middle class Americans. That's what all politicians do.
From the beginning I have opined that President Obama is not a bad person. I think he genuinely wants to do good for Americans. There is no malevolence in President Obama's belief system. But policy, policy, that's another matter.
Last week, I wrote on the strategic challenge Iran faces in its bid to shape a sphere of influence stretching from western Afghanistan to Beirut on the eastern Mediterranean coast. I also pointed out the limited options available to the United States and other Western powers to counter Iran.
One was increased efforts to block Iranian influence in Syria. The other was to consider a strategy of negotiation with Iran. In the past few days, we have seen hints of both.
Rebel Gains in Syria Read More
T-Points congratulates Newt Gingrich for his victory in South Carolina on Saturday and we suggest... we suggest that he send candy and flowers to ABC News and CNN. Those agencies tried to use the Speaker's former wife against him and in a brilliant political move Mr. Gingrich turned what could have been an embarrassing situation into a major victory, by pointing out the inappropriateness of the situation vis-a-vis the media.
Now, there is no question that many conservative Americans believe the news media demeans them. It's very personal which is why the Fox News Channel is now the dominant prime time news agency in America. We don't demean traditional Americans, we respect them.
Faced with harsh accusations from his former wife Marianne, Speaker Gingrich turned the table last night in a very shrewd way. He killed the messenger, he hammered the press.
For conservative Americans, this was deeply gratifying because there is no question that the American media are generally invested in liberal politics. A Pew Research poll in 2008 found that Americans believe journalists favored Barack Obama over John McCain by a margin of 70-9. And just 8 percent of the press people themselves say they are conservative.
The polls are all over the place in South Carolina. But there is one common thread: Newt Gingrich is on the rise after last Monday's debate. However, ABC News is running an interview tonight with the Speaker's ex- wife who says bad things about him. Also voters are digesting a bunch of new data.
Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the presidential race today endorsing Mr. Gingrich; no surprise, Perry and Romney do not like each other at all. The Governor was polling about six percent in South Carolina. So his support will likely be divided between Gingrich and Santorum. Ron Paul not much of a factor down there according to the polls.
LETTER OF THE DAY!
“There is no difference between the Brian Ross hit piece on ABC on Newt Gingrich and the Dan Rathers hit piece on CBS on George W. Bush. Both were purposely aired at the last minute in a liberal attempt to derail a nomination.”
Joe Bailey
Atlanta, GA
NEWSWORTHY?
ABC News correspondent Brian Ross conducts an explosive interview with Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife Marianne, in which the woman claims the former Speaker was a serial cheater who advocated for open marriage.
“I can’t believe the naivety you displayed in expressing surprise that ABC News ran a story about Newt Gingrich’s personal life ten years ago. Dan Rather sacrificed his career at CBS News to run a false story about George Bush that was 20 years old!”
Marc Arenstein
Boca Raton, FL
“It seems like you are backing up ABC and Brian Ross. I don’t remember ABC saying much about John Edwards’ antics, which were far worse than Gingrich’s marital stunt.”
Bill Helms
Richmond Hill, GA
“I have a new respect for you after saying you would not interview Marianne Gingrich. I think it was most despicable for Brian Ross to present the whole ugly scene in an effort to diminish Newt Gingrich’s candidacy.”
Jan Bird
Madison, IN
“Absolutely newsworthy! When it all went down way back when, Mr. Gingrich was Speaker of the House, and now he’s running for president.”
Angela Schultz
San Jose, CA
“Who do you think paid Marianne Gingrich to come forward? Romney or Obama?”
Henry Craven
Hahira, GA
“Laura Ingraham is right about the motives of ABC News’ Brian Ross. He was salivating during the Marianne Gingrich interview.”
Tammy Tidwell
Matthews, NC
“I have had it with the hypocrisy and double standards of liberal media outlets like ABC. The Gingrich story was the last straw! I will now be voting for him in my primary.”
Jams Dobos
Lansing, IL
“With respect to Newt’s morality issue, I would rather have a repentant sinner as president than a self-righteous man who believes he’s never done anything wrong.”
Rev. Steve Woods
Perth, Western Australia
“If this presidential race has become a question of character as Brian Ross claims, then why isn’t he doing any hard, investigative pieces on President Obama?”
Steve Halderman
Coram, NY
“I’m disgusted by the interview with Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife. What does that have to do with how we’re going to get this country back on track?”
Ann Carroll
Boise, ID
“How many ex-wives say nice things about their ex-husbands? Now that Gingrich is on the path to presidency, it’s no surprise the liberal media is seeking out his ex-wives.”
Seymour Dicker
Prescott, AZ
“I have no problem with ABC News airing the interview, but I don’t recall them being curious about President Obama’s associations with Tony Rezko or Bill Ayers.”
James Truncale
Orange, TX
“Brian Ross comparing Gingrich to Clinton is ridiculous. Clinton was charged with lying under oath. It had nothing to do with his affair with Monica Lewinsky.”
Gayle Curry
Spring, TX
“Same old story, he got religion and now everything is right with the world. I don’t care for Gingrich and I’m a staunch Republican. I can’t see the GOP coming out on top with this group of candidates.”
Jo Ann Onale
Tomball, TX
“ABC and Brian Ross knew exactly what they were going to get from the ex-Mrs. Gingrich and they got it. Shameful.”
BW Smith
Yokosuka, Japan
“So let me get this straight – Marianne Gingrich is complaining that Newt cheated on her with his now-third wife. Meanwhile, Marianne knowingly carried out an affair with Newt while he was married to his first wife. Got it.”
Steve Schwimmer
Floral Park, NY
“If the subject of the story was a Democrat, you would not have taken the ‘he repented and asked forgiveness’ line. Gingrich’s suggestion to his wife that he wanted an open marriage is newsworthy and indicative of his moral double standard.”
Brian Gutherman
Shamong, NJ
ACTION HERO
Actor Mark Wahlberg was forced to apologize for some insensitive remarks regarding 9/11. The star claimed he would have stopped the terrorist attacks from occurring had he been on board one of the hijacked planes.
“Mark Wahlberg meant no disrespect. In hindsight, we all would have reacted differently if we were on those planes. That wasn’t in our pre-9/11 mentality, but it is now.”
Kip Holscher
Ogden, UT
“Mr. Wahlberg needs to be reminded that the action movies he makes are make-believe.”
Dennis Ferguson
Fayetteville, AR
“It’s hard to blame Mark Wahlberg for saying he would make a stand on that plane. With the highest respect to the 9/11 families, who among us wouldn’t make the same attempt today?”
Chris Weber
Fairfax, VA
“Mark Wahlberg should be lauded for saying that he would have tried to do what any of us should have tried to do on one of those planes. Not many Hollywood stars have said the same.”
Bob Zeinert
Macdona, TX
Not a good week for Governor Romney so far. He was rather flat in Monday's debate. And the poll numbers are reflecting that. The new Rasmussen survey taken just yesterday asked 1,000 likely Republican voters nationwide who they favor. Romney 30 percent; Gingrich 27; Santorum 15; Paul 13; Perry 4. Speaker Gingrich is up a whopping 16 percentage points in two weeks while Romney support is unchanged.
Governor Romney's latest problem is money. Some Americans believe he is not sensitive about his vast wealth.
“I suggest to President Obama that he should schedule his trip to Walt Disney World to coincide with his State of the Union Address. He could give the speech from the Fantasyland area of Magic Kingdom.”
Paul Tanton
Webb, AL
WEALTH WARFARE
After Mitt Romney claimed to not earn much money from speaking fees (about $375,000 a year!), some voters are questioning whether his vast wealth puts him out of touch with the average American.
“So Romney is a big, bad rich guy? During a recession, I would rather have some evil rich guy try to turn the economy around rather than an incompetent poor guy.”
Chris Holtorf
Thiensville, WI
“Thanks for putting Romney’s wealth and taxes in perspective. I would prefer a president who got rich in the private sector and went into public service over a guy like Gingrich who went into the public sector and got rich as a result of that service.”
Rob Grien
New York, NY
“I think it’s insane for the GOP candidates to attack Romney on his wealth. He invested his money, which allowed companies to expand and grow our economy. Why are we demonizing that which is the fabric of our economy?”
Bruce Ciummo
Providence, RI
“I will vote for Romney even though he’s wealthy. I don’t want a candidate who is using the presidency to become rich after leaving office. That only leads to corruption.”
Mary Martin
Tyler, TX
“Mitt Romney is acting like he’s ashamed to be wealthy. That’s a mistake. For one thing, it defies reality. Would he rather be poor?”
Eldon Brown
Moyers, OK
“I’m not troubled by Mitt Romney’s wealth. I’m not even bothered that he’s taxed just 15% on his income. What irks me is that he still expects me to pay 25-35% on my income when I can barely make ends meet.”
Gina Cresse
Acton, CA
“While I support Newt, I think it’s crazy to attack potential public service candidates like Mitt Romney because of their success. Do we really want a president who doesn’t understand the American dream?”
Chad Sander
Wichita, KS
“You don’t understand why it’s a problem for Mitt Romney to call $300,000 not very much money. The fact is to most Americans that is an awful lot of money. He clearly can’t relate to the average Joe.”
Paul Pomykala
Rantoul, IL
“It doesn’t bother me that Mitt Romney has money; it bothers me that he’s using it to buy an election.”
Ruth Johnson
Burlington, NC
“Please don’t compare Romney’s wealth to that of George Washington. Washington’s life as a general and war hero was far different than the soft life of rich boy Romney.”
Ron Adkins
Lancaster, CA
“The criticism of Romney has nothing to do with capitalistic philosophy. It was his casual handling of a secondary income that well exceeds the primary income of most Americans.”
Greg Herbold
Bethesda, MD
DEBATE CLASH
Fox News analyst, Juan Williams, as a moderator of this week’s debate, bumped heads with Newt Gingrich. At issue: Gingrich’s assertion that poor kids often lack a work ethic. Mr. Williams thinks that’s racial politics!
“I was in the debate audience. Juan Williams was booed for playing the race card. Newt Gingrich was cheered for calling him out on it.”
Sam Singleton
Myrtle Beach, SC
“You’re defending the indefensible in your segment with Juan Williams. Newt Gingrich’s comment about blacks being janitors was insensitive, disingenuous and cruel.”
Pat D’Auria
Howard Beach, NY
“Shouldn’t Juan Williams adhere to the hallmark no spin standards that the other moderators exhibited when questioning the Republican presidential candidates?”
Dennis Clay
Lenoir, NC
“Gingrich may have been condescending towards Juan Williams, but Juan certainly deserved it. He was playing the tiresome old liberal race card.”
Richard McMaster
Bosque, NM
“Your interview with Juan Williams showed how ignorant you are. Juan’s question to Newt wasn’t about poor people; it was about race baiting.”
Ed Fielek
Dayton, OH
“Juan asked two gotcha questions and got excellent answers. However, his lack of acceptance of the facts and actuality of the occurrences is appalling and has drastically reduced my opinion of him.”
Bill Nesting
Redding, CA
“I think most people watching the debate would have preferred Mr. Williams use his valuable time to pose critical, substantive questions to Speaker Gingrich.”
IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL…
President Obama is headed to Disney World to promote foreign tourism.
“Obama goes to Disney World to promote tourism, but if Obama has his way, there’d be no Disney because you can’t power that place on wind turbines.”
John Horgan
Fort Myers, FL
“We recently visited friends in Orlando and found no shortage of foreign visitors. Maybe President Obama should work on making it easier for Americans to be able to afford traveling to Disney.”
Don Bost
Murphy, NC
“Obama in Disney to promote tourism? Disney is overrun with rude foreigners as it is.”
Joe Farmer
Rising Sun, MD
“If lack of tourism is hurting the United States, do we really need our President to go on another vacation to Disney to promote it? He’s exploiting his position just to have a little fun.”
Max Akwiwu
Hoschton, GA
“Somebody has to make sure Mickey and Goofy are registered to vote!”
Jim Lauth
Gerald, MO
Lots of action last night in Myrtle Beach as the Republican guys brought a sense of urgency to the floor. Everybody knows Mitt Romney is building a commanding lead so his challengers had to make some points and to some extent they did.
So let's run it down. Frontrunner Mitt Romney had a so-so night. Not making any dramatic statements or breaking any new ground. He was very complimentary to the other candidates going out of his way to agree with them on certain issues. The Governor portraying himself as the elder statesmen, trying to build coalitions wherever he can. His toughest moment last night was this.
“Stossel is wrong, wrong, wrong about Ron Paul. It is clear that President Obama is destroying America slowly from within with his irresponsible spending. President Paul with his isolationist blinders would allow the country to be destroyed quickly from without.”
Doug Mele
Colierville, TN
DEBATE REACTION
Mitt Romney reveals that most of his income is taxed at 15%, the long-term capital gains rate. After the SC shoot-out, this looks like a race between Romney and Newt Gingrich.
“Money invested by anyone who reports capital gains has already paid tax on those invested monies, and at a much higher rate. That’s the most important component of the Romney story.”
Lois Simpson
Rocklin, CA
“I almost choked on my foie gras when you were trying to figure out why Romney has trouble explaining his conservative viewpoints. Have you ever considered it’s because he’s not actually a conservative?”
Gerry Lock
Las Vegas, NV
“You’ve fallen in with the GOP establishment toeing the Romney line about being the only candidate in a position to defeat Obama. This is pure fabrication created by the Romney campaign.”
Thomas Moore
Duvall, WA
“If Romney is chosen as the GOP candidate, he will lose. He doesn’t have the passion to convince the general public his ideas are best for the country.”
Ryan Cook
Plano, TX
“Your defense of Romney’s income being taxed at the 15% capital gains rate is just fine with me, but only if that income is the result of investing his own money.”
Bob Walters
Piemonte, Italy
“Romney feels like Obama-lite to me. My husband and I both favor the blunt and brusque style of Newt Gingrich. He provides effective experience and clear, decisive responses.”
Denise Lipper-Wood
Cranston, RI
“Newt Gingrich’s debate performance proves he’s most electable. He has the best record to contrast with Obama’s and he reminds us that we can have a country of prosperity again.”
Mike Lindell
CALLING ALL LIBERTARIANS!
Fox Business guy John Stossel reaffirms his support for GOP candidate Ron Paul, whose isolationist credentials appeal to the fellow libertarian.
“After listening to John Stossel on your show tonight, I’m convinced that he and Ron Paul should run on a libertarian ticket. In France!”
Tommy Farmer
Jacksonville, FL
“John Stossel and Ron Paul are missing the point. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, it would either sell it or give it to al Qaeda to use on the United States.”
Al Carmello
Reading, PA
“Stossel was absolutely correct when he said we shouldn’t blow up every country with nuclear weapons. He fails to distinguish between peaceful nations and nations like Iran that have vowed to kill all Jews.”
Ray Finley
Page, AZ
“Stossel says that Iran is not as big of a danger as Hitler was? Hitler threw everything he had at London and couldn’t destroy it. Only one nuclear weapon in the hands of Ahmadinejad could do the job Hitler failed to do.”
James Dupuis
Pensacola, FL
“Mr. Stossel, in agreement with Ron Paul, stated that we can’t stop every rogue nation from acquiring nukes. But shouldn’t we try to stop the ones we know we can?”
Bo Dostal
Olathe, KS
“We already have one rogue nation, North Korea, with nuclear weapons. The world does not need another.”
Tom O’Brien
Fort Jones, CA
THE FELONY VOTE
GOP candidate Rick Santorum says felons who have fulfilled their sentences should have their voting rights restored. Do you agree?
“Felons tend to have a high rate of breaking the law again and returning to prison. Maybe it’s because they have no chance of making it on the outside because all of their rights have been taken away from them.”
Chad Copper
Knob Noster, MO
“You say the government has the responsibility to permanently remove the right to vote for felons. Is this not the same government that wants to give illegal immigrants the right to vote?”
Eric Renstrom
Douglas, WY
“You are right, the lawyers are wrong. The punishment for a crime doesn’t end when a person is released from prison. Part of the punishment is loss of some rights and privileges.”
Gary Nicola
Phoenix, AZ
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think a felon who has been released from prison and has led a clean, productive life for the last five years should be able to vote again. Sometimes people deserve a second chance.”
Linda Buckley
Sarasota, FL
“You were way off base saying paroled violent offenders should never vote again. From my prison ministry experience, I know that recidivism goes up dramatically when people don’t get their rights back.”
Bob Fitch
Thousand Oaks, CA
“Voting is not a privilege, it’s a right. Our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. All citizens of legal age should be able to vote.”
Debbie Fisher
Fort Riley, KS
Jon Huntsman dropped out of the race today endorsing Mitt Romney. Huntsman was polling in about six percent in South Carolina. And if Romney wins the presidency you can expect Huntsman to get a job in the administration.
Also there is a new Fox News poll out among Republican voters nationwide, has Governor Romney at 40 percent now; Rick Santorum 15; Newt Gingrich 14; Ron Paul 13; Rick Perry six percent. Also in that poll a virtual tie between the President and Mitt Romney with the three percent margin of error.
“Mr. Harpootlian seems to think anyone opposed to a second Obama term is racist. I don’t care if Obama is black, white, red, green, blue or purple – I oppose him because his policies have been disastrous for this country.”
Darrell Long
Morristown, TN
RACIAL GAFFE?
Dick Harpootlian of the South Carolina Democratic Party is rebuking Republicans for scheduling a presidential debate on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. But didn’t Democrats do the same exact thing in 2008?
“The interview with Dick Harpootlian was a thing of beauty! He should know better than to go to a gunfight armed with only a slingshot.”
Terry Williamson
Goose Creek, SC
“Bravo on setting Mr. Harpootlian straight regarding the Democratic debate in 2008. He was totally caught off guard.”
Gloria Plaisted
Duluth, MN
“After you confronted Mr. Harpootlian with the fact that Democrats also held a debate in South Carolina on Martin Luther King Day, the look on his face and the pregnant pause were overwhelming.”
Rick Sterpe
Maryville, TN
“Watching your segment with Mr. Harpootlian was like watching the town bully get beat up. Well played!”
Becky Dodson
Columbia, SC
“Dick Harpootlian appears to have learned nothing from the writing, speeches, and life of MLK Jr. I conclude that this has been a conscious decision to remain uninformed so as to continue with race-based political attacks.”
Dave Tolsma
Hershey, PA
“It was both painful and fun to watch Dick Harpootlian try to dance out from under his ridiculous gaffe. You’d think he’d have taken the time to check his own house before throwing that particular rock at someone else’s house.”
Arthur Marino
Medford, NY
“Dick Harpootlian tried very hard to portray Republicans as racists for not specifically targeting the black voters of South Carolina. I thought racism was treating one group differently based solely on their race.”
Rick Rice
Schnecksville, PA
VOTER FRAUD
Even though 80% of Americans agree that photo ID should be required to vote, the Obama administration – led by Attorney General Eric Holder – is opposing any planned state laws to that effect.
“Is it just me or is Mr. Holder a hypocrite for claiming he wants to fight for voter rights after refusing to prosecute the Black Panthers for voter intimidation? At least be consistent.”
Norman Beazer
“Can you please explain why it’s necessary to show picture ID when I go to my doctor’s office to curb insurance fraud, but showing picture ID to curb voter fraud is somehow discriminatory?”
Barbara Silver
New City, NY
“It is laughable to suggest anyone is being discriminated against if they are required to show ID in order to vote. Those same individuals have no problem showing ID to get food stamps and welfare.”
Jo Ellen Pyle
Ames, IA
“Have I missed something? Don’t you need an acceptable form of ID to get social services? So why shouldn’t it also be the case with voting?”
Alan Moore
Forth Worth, TX
“To board a plane or a ship, to use a credit card or cash a check, to purchase alcoholic beverages, I am required to show valid photo ID. So what’s the problem?”
Ed Delph
Brush Prairie, WA
“Democrats have a vested interest in voter fraud. In fact, I doubt Al Franken even really believes he was elected by the voters.”
John Brogger
Northfield, MN
TOO WHITE?
An op-ed in the New York Times suggests Mitt Romney is the “whitest white man to run for president in recent memory.” Is this reverse racism?
“If Mitt Romney is the whitest white man running for president, then Mr. Obama is the whitest black man ever to run.”
Ray Fontenot
Central, LA
“Mitt Romney may be our first Hispanic president! He can claim dual citizenship through his grandfather who fled to Mexico when Utah outlawed polygamy. The whitest president? I don’t think so!”
Jim Veach
Sacramento, CA
“Republican lawmakers in the early 60s overwhelmingly fought the Democrats for racial justice at the federal level. The movement has since been hijacked by liberal black leaders.”
John Stires
Rancho Santa Fe, CA
“I disagree with Bernie’s assessment that liberals who play the race card are setting the groundwork to explain Obama’s defeat in 2012. They are trying to rile the base to get historic turnout.”
Harrison Hodges
Richmond, VA
Let me set this up for you. I believe about 50 percent of Americans actually know what's going on in the country. People like you who watch news programs, read newspapers, listen to news talk radio. You guys understand the tempo of the country.
But unfortunately half of we the people never bother informing themselves. They form opinions based upon what they hear, what their friends say and what they see in the popular culture. So without a doubt this year's presidential race will be influenced by pop culture the question is how much?
“During the 2008 election, comedians wouldn’t make a joke about candidate Obama if he walked into a bar with a duck on his head.”
Nancy McManus
Madison, NJ
THE JOKE’S ON US!
A recent study shows Republicans are the targets of late-night comedians three times as often as Democrats. Does this give liberals an advantage at the polls?
“All of the late-night comedians are buffoons full of sound and fury signifying nothing. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of discussion on the Factor.”
A.P. Bushey
East Longmeadow, MA
“The jokes work because TV and movies have portrayed all conservatives as evil. Name one conservative good guy on TV.”
Charlie Keller
King George, VA
“For television critic Linda Stasi to state that President Obama and the future GOP candidate will absolutely be mocked at the same level leads me to wonder if she actually watches any TV.”
Mark Juarez
“While it’s true that every candidate is a target, Hollywood pointedly took aim at Bush, but left Obama alone.”
Michael Manoogian
North Hollywood, CA
“Ben Stein is spot-on when he says the late-night jokes against Romney are mean. Mean jokes equal ridicule, a hallmark of Saul Alinsky’s rules for radicals.”
Jim Forman
Huntington Beach, CA
“The jokes are affectionate towards President Obama and appalling towards the Republican candidates. This subtle difference will certainly influence young voters.”
Charles DiFini
Henderson, NV
IMMIGRATION HYPOCRITE?
Geraldo Rivera criticizes GOP candidate Mitt Romney for failing to mention the fact that he was born in Mexico, while being an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration from Mexico.
“If Romney made a point of his Mexican background, I’ll bet Geraldo would have accused him of trying to make political gain without having the proper racial credentials.”
William Jarvis
Loma Linda, CA
“If Mitt Romney had brought up his Mexican heritage, Geraldo would have accused him of exploiting his background for political gain.”
Jim Plahmer
Plover, WI
“I’m an American citizen born in France and I do not want illegal French immigrants coming to this country. If anyone wants to come here, do it through the legal process in place.”
Bob Pannelli
Niceville, FL
“Geraldo Rivera described Mitt Romney as one of the most virulent anti-illegal immigration people ever. If I’m not mistaken, illegal immigration is, well, illegal. What’s so wrong with being opposed to law-breaking?”
Geoff Miller
Boulder Creek, CA
“I believe Geraldo would have accused Mitt Romney of pandering to Latinos had he used his Mexican heritage as a strategy to get votes.”
Tim Babb
Centerville, OH
“It’s unsettling that Geraldo apparently believes that anyone with a Mexican heritage must favor illegal immigration from Mexico. Mitt Romney strongly favors legal immigration from all countries.”
Galen Haugh
Rigby, ID
“While George Romney was born in Mexico, both his parents were born in the U.S. and had immigrated south. If Romney claimed Mexican heritage on that basis, Geraldo would have criticized him for having a father who was an anchor baby.”
John Kerkowski
Pawley, PA
VICTIM OF RACISM?
First Lady Michelle Obama takes issue with a new book portraying her as an angry black woman. Is she being unjustly vilified?
“Michelle Obama sat under a radical, angry black man, Pastor Jeremiah Wright, for many years. I believe she carries an undertone of injustice that shows up when she speaks.”
John Banner
Tulsa, OK
“Angry blackism, despite decades of progress, will regrettably be with our society forever. Its flames are fanned by the hucksters and lyricized by the rappers. So sad.”
William Roberts
Fort Walton Beach, FL
“Michelle Obama was the one to put the racial twist on the new book, and I’m not at all surprised. The Obama campaign is just itching to play the race card at the first opportunity.”
Pete Norton
Wilmington, DE
“If black women are portrayed as angry in the media, look no further than Tyler Perry, who has made millions pushing the angry black woman theme in his movies and TV programs.”
Holly Addison
Glendale, CA
“Michelle Obama never struck me as an angry black woman. But your guest Faith Jenkins does.”
Don Rosen
Upland, CA
“You told Faith Jenkins you couldn’t think of any angry black women in the media. Really? Remember Whoopi Goldberg?”
Jared Berry
Lehi, UT
“When we were getting to know Michelle Obama in 2008, what we learned was that she was not proud of her country until then. She created her own image.”
Kevin Rooney
Omaha, NE
“Who is portraying Michelle Obama as an angry black woman? Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and far-right radio talk show hosts.”
Vince O’Driscoll
Plattsburgh, NY
“Years ago, it was considered a badge of honor if a black woman was considered an angry black woman. It showed she was strong and unafraid. Now for political reasons, it’s suddenly a bad thing.”
“Martha Stewart is a perfect example of a successful, powerful white woman who has been demonized by the media. Successful women in general are often scrutinized in this way. It’s more about gender than race.”
Deborah Henry
Shelby Township, MI
As you may know, there is a new book out about the Obamas in which the First Lady is discussed at length. ABC News reported on the book last night and used me, your humble correspondent, to represent pundits critical of Michelle Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A new book called "The Obamas" paint the portrait of a First Lady who in the beginning was frustrated and unhappy with life in the White House. The image of an angry Michelle Obama has long been fodder for critics.
"The selfish scorched earth approach by Newt Gingrich to Bain Capital has resulted in his losing credibility and my vote. I'm writing a check to Governor Romney today!"
David Freel
San Antonio, TX
MEDIA BEATING
ABC News airs a 2008 clip of your humble correspondent saying Michelle Obama looks angry. Subsequently, the Factor has been kind and favorable towards the First Lady. But ABC News wanted a narrative where conservative pundits have given Mrs. Obama a hard time. Fair?
"I see Michelle Obama as someone who enjoys wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on extended vacations. Don't know if she's angry, but I am."
Brad Drexler
Deland, FL
"Your statement that Michelle Obama is like Jackie Kennedy was blasphemous. I knew Jackie Kennedy, and Mrs. Obama will never be worthy of that comparison."
Mary Rosenbauer
Modesto, CA
"I don't think Michelle Obama is angry, but I think she has a big chip on her shoulder."
Sally Walker
Bluff Dale, TX
"Do we not expect the First Lady to have some influence over her husband? Laura Ingraham is out of line in her assessment of Michelle Obama."
Robert Anderson
Kenmore, WA
"By using that clip, ABC News forced you to respond with multiple clips of positive comments about the First Lady. You were too busy defending yourself to even notice that the race card was being played."
Travis Allred
Harrison, AR
"In your defensiveness, you missed the real issue: Democrats are trying to portray Mrs. Obama as a victim of conservatives and use her popularity to distract voters."
Rob Mitchell
Charles City, VA
BAIN BASHING
Mitt Romney's GOP opponents continue to pile on regarding his time as a venture capitalist.
"Please explain the difference between the federal government investing tax money in Solyndra and Bain Capital investing money in faltering companies for profit."
Vin Lazzarotti
Port St. Lucie, FL
"Venture capitalism is simple. Private money is invested in high-risk ventures. High rates of return are needed to cover losses from those ventures that don't make it."
Rob Behrens
Southborough, MA
"The practice of venture capitalism should be examined by everyone who has a conscience. That examination does not hurt the mighty concept of capitalism. It improves it."
Bonnie Fangmann
Lilburn, GA
"The Bain Capital thing is starting to give me a headache. If Romney is responsible for all the failed companies and lost jobs, then surely Obama is responsible for the failed auto industries and their lost jobs."
Cris Irsfeld
Stockbridge, MA
"Apparently Gingrich and his representatives love capitalism, they just don't understand it. Capitalism produces winners and losers, which is exactly what the left hates about it."
Boyd Stone
Frisco, TX
"If Mitt Romney gets elected, destroying thousands of jobs in Washington is exactly what the country needs him to do. No one else in the race has remotely comparable experience."
Chuck Craiglow
Alamo, CA
"Weak, mismanaged, publicly-traded companies are always in danger of takeover by someone. Are those takeover folks all bad, or is it just Romney?"
Denny Gramza
Comstock Park, MI
"Newt Gingrich's attack on Romney is right out of Saul Alinsky's playbook. I expected Obama to play this card, but from Republicans? Gingrich will undoubtedly be hurt by this."
George Eazell
Placentia, CA
"While I like Newt and the other Republican candidates, the attacks on Mitt's time at Bain Capital worry me. When did Republicans stop understanding capitalism?"
Marcus Shore
Charlotte, NC
"Venture capitalists take big risks in buying failing companies and expect high returns on their investments. If it weren't for Bain, many more people would be unemployed."
Karen Margrave
Irvine, CA
"The Democrats have been attacking capitalism for years. What is astounding is Republicans now attacking Romney for his participation in venture capital endeavors."
Patty Simpson
Tulare County, CA
CYBER BAITING
Some students are trying to get a rise out of their teachers and posting the cell phone footage on the Internet. But why do kids have cell phones in the classroom in the first place?
"I believe the teacher is at fault. He clearly didn't work hard enough at forming meaningful relationships with his students and failed to gain their trust and respect."
Eleanor Holisky
Peoria, IL
"By banning cell phones in the classroom, how do you expect students to document a teacher's illicit or unprofessional activities?"
Jerome Ganci
Fair Lawn, NJ
"As a high school teacher, I wish it was that easy to get rid of cell phones. No matter how much you forbid them, kids (and their parents!) think they have a right to have them."
Tiffany Burgess
Kernersville, NC
"The high school where I teach has a no cell phone during the day policy, but it is not strict enough or consistently enforced by administration."
(name withheld)
Seguin, TX
"I have been in education for ten years and have seen a drastic change in student accountability and the respect they have for educators. However, a school is only as strong as its leaders and rules need to be enforced."
Rich Crisci
Lewes, DE
After getting nearly 40 percent of the vote last night Mitt Romney now appears to be unstoppable as President Obama's opponent next November. In fact Mr. Romney beat Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry combined. As "Talking Points" said before, the Ron Paul vote 23 percent last night basically a protest vote as to Paul has no chance to get the republic nomination by his own admission.
And even if you don't like Governor Romney you have to admit he has run a disciplined campaign. Here is his response this morning to those bashing him over his business career.
In early December I received a call from Fred Burton, Stratfor's vice president of intelligence. He told me he had received information indicating our website had been hacked and our customer credit card and other information had been stolen. The following morning I met with an FBI special agent, who made clear that there was an ongoing investigation and asked for our cooperation. We, of course, agreed to cooperate. The matter remains under active investigation.
From the beginning I faced a dilemma. I felt bound to protect our customers, who quickly had to be informed about the compromise of their privacy. I also felt bound to protect the investigation. That immediate problem was solved when the FBI told us it had informed the various credit card companies and had provided those companies with a list of compromised cards while omitting that it had come from us. Our customers were therefore protected, as the credit card companies knew the credit cards and other information had been stolen and could act to protect the customers. We were not compelled to undermine the investigation.
The FBI made it clear that it expected the theft to be exposed by the hackers. We were under no illusion that this was going to be kept secret. We knew our reputation would be damaged by the revelation, all the more so because we had not encrypted the credit card files. This was a failure on our part. As the founder and CEO of Stratfor, I take responsibility for this failure, which has created hardship for customers and friends, and I deeply regret that it took place. The failure originated in the rapid growth of the company. As it grew, the management team and administrative processes didn't grow with it. Again, I regret that this occurred and want to assure everyone that Stratfor is taking aggressive steps to deal with the problem and ensure that it doesn't happen again.
From the beginning, it was not clear who the attackers were. The term "Anonymous" is the same as the term "unknown." The popular vision of Anonymous is that its members are young and committed to an ideology. I have no idea if this is true. As in most affairs like this, those who know don't talk; those who talk don't know. I have my theories, which are just that and aren't worth sharing.
I was prepared for the revelation of the theft and the inevitable criticism and negative publicity. We worked to improve our security infrastructure within the confines of time and the desire to protect the investigation by not letting the attackers know that we knew of their intrusion. With the credit card information stolen, I assumed that the worst was done. I was wrong.
Early in the afternoon of Dec. 24, I was informed that our website had been hacked again. The hackers published a triumphant note on our homepage saying that credit card information had been stolen, that a large amount of email had been taken, and that four of our servers had been effectively destroyed along with data and backups. We had expected they would announce the credit card theft. We were dismayed that emails had been taken. But our shock was at the destruction of our servers. This attack was clearly designed to silence us by destroying our records and the website, unlike most attacks by such groups.
Attacks against credit cards are common, our own failures notwithstanding. So are the thefts of emails. But the deliberate attack on our digital existence was a different order of magnitude. As the global media marveled at our failure to encrypt credit card information, my attention was focused on trying to understand why anyone would want to try to silence us.
In the days that followed, a narrative evolved among people claiming to speak for Anonymous and related groups. It started with looking at our subscriber list and extracting corporate subscribers who were now designated as clients. The difference between clients and subscribers is important here. A client is someone you do customized work for. A subscriber is simply someone who purchases a publication, unchanged from what others read. A subscriber of The New York Times is not its client. Nevertheless, some of the media started referring to these subscribers as clients, reflecting the narrative of those claiming to speak with knowledge of our business.
From there, the storyline grew to argue that these "clients," corporate and government, provided Stratfor with classified intelligence that we reviewed. We were no longer an organization that analyzed the world for the interested public, but rather a group of incompetents and, conversely, the hub of a global conspiracy. The media focused on the first while the hacking community focused on the second.
This was why they stole our email, according to some of them. As one person said, the credit cards were extra, something they took when they realized they could. It was our email they were after. Obviously, we were not happy to see our emails taken. God knows what a hundred employees writing endless emails might say that is embarrassing, stupid or subject to misinterpretation. What will not appear is classified intelligence from corporations or governments. They may find, depending on what they took, that we have sources around the world, as you might expect. It is interesting that the hacker community is split, with someone claiming to speak for the official Anonymous condemning the hack as an attack on the media, which they don't sanction, and another faction defending it as an attack on the rich and powerful.
The interpretation of the hackers as to who we are -- if indeed that was their interpretation -- was so wildly off base as to stretch credulity. Of course, we know who we are. As they search our emails for signs of a vast conspiracy, they will be disappointed. Of course we have relationships with people in the U.S. and other governments and obviously we know people in corporations, and that will be discovered in the emails. But that's our job. We are what we said we were: an organization that generates its revenues through geopolitical analysis. At the core of our business, we objectively acquire, organize, analyze and distribute information.
I don't know if the hackers who did this feel remorse as they discover that we aren't who they said we were. First, I don't know who they actually are, and second, I don't know what their motives were. I know only what people claiming to be them say. So I don't know if there is remorse or if their real purpose was to humiliate and silence us, in which case I don't know why they wanted that.
And this points to the real problem, the one that goes beyond Stratfor's own problem. The Internet has become an indispensible part of our lives. We shop, communicate, publish and read on it. It has become the village commons of the planet. But in the village commons of old, neighbors who knew and recognized each other met and lived together. Others knew what they did in the commons, and they were accountable.
In the global commons, anonymity is an option. This is one of the great virtues of the Internet. It is also a terrible weakness. It is possible to commit crimes on the Internet anonymously. The technology that enables the Internet also undermines accountability. Given the profusion of technical knowledge, the integrity of the commons is in the hands of people whose identities we don't know, whose motives we don't understand, and whose ability to cause harm is substantial. The consequence of this will not be a glorious anarchy in the spirit of Guy Fawkes, but rather a massive repression. I think this is a pity. That's why I wonder who the hackers actually are and what cause they serve. I am curious as to whether they realize the whirlwind they are sowing, and whether they, in fact, are trying to generate the repression they say they oppose.
The attempt to silence us failed. Our website is back, though we are waiting for all archives to be restored, and our email is working again. Our failures have been reviewed and are being rectified. We deliberately shut down while we brought in outside consultants to rebuild our system from the ground up. The work isn't finished yet, but we can start delivering our analyses. The handling of credit cards is being handed off to a third party with appropriate capability to protect privacy. We have acted to help our customers by providing an identity theft prevention service. As always, we welcome feedback from our supporters as well as our critics.
We are fortunate that we have the financial resources and staff commitment to survive the attack. Others might not. We are now in a world in which anonymous judges, jurors and executioners can silence whom they want. Take a look at the list of organizations attacked. If the crushing attack on Stratfor is the new model, we will not be the last. No security system is without flaws even if it is much better than Stratfor's was.
We certainly expect to be attacked again, as we were last week when emails were sent out to members from a fake Stratfor address including absurd messages and videos. Our attackers seem peculiarly intent on doing us harm beyond what they have already done. This is a new censorship that doesn't come openly from governments but from people hiding behind masks. Do not think we will be the last or that we have been the first.
We will continue to publish analysis and sell it to those who believe it has value. To our subscribers who have expressed such strong support, we express our deepest gratitude. To our critics, we assure you that nothing you have said about us represents a fraction of what we have said about ourselves. While there is much not to be proud of in this affair, I am proud beyond words of all my dedicated colleagues at Stratfor and am delighted to return our focus to analyzing critical international affairs.
"The evangelists will not vote for Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. If Christ returned, these same people would not vote for him because he's a Jew. Prejudice is alive and well in America."
Leonard Trugman
Red Bank, NJ
UNSTOPPABLE?
After winning Iowa and New Hampshire, GOP contender Mitt Romney seems to be on a roll. But will the harsh attacks about his tenure at Bain Capital by opponent Newt Gingrich hurt his chances in the general election?
"I'm a lifelong Republican who will vote for whoever the nominee is, but I'm not sold on Romney. That being said, attacking Romney for his actions at Bain Capital is the craziest thing I've seen in a GOP race in years."
John Savage
Michigan
"I really liked Newt, but I'm unhappy with his attacks on Mitt Romney and now I'm not sure who to support."
Joyce Straub
Santa Rosa, CA
"Gingrich has every right to be upset and attack Romney. Just look at the dirty and deceiving ads the Romney campaign has put out about Gingrich!"
Melvin Bendele
Castroville, TX
"My husband and I worked for a small startup company that never would have gotten off the ground without Bain Capital taking a chance on us. That's what American capitalism is all about."
Wendy Lynn
Summerfield, NC
"Please cut the spin and do some actual reporting on Bain Capital. How many jobs were lost and how many created?"
Glen Schulte
Streamwood, IL
"Someone with the Romney campaign should point out that what Mitt Romney did at Bain Capital is exactly what needs to be done to the federal government."
Bill Murdock
Costa Mesa, CA
"Mitt Romney should promise to give the ultimate failed enterprise, the federal government, the Bain treatment. He could turn this to his advantage if he would show real aggression towards our federal bureaucracy."
Robert Luoma
Colleyville, TX
"Romney needs to run positive ads featuring people speaking about how Bain saved their job and saved their company. That would be a slam dunk counter ad."
George Dimoff
Camp Hill, PA
"As the defender of truth and the enforcer of no spin, please call out Gingrich and Perry for their dishonest and hypocritical attacks on Romney and Bain. Please rise above the class warfare attacks."
Nathan Hilbig
Temecula, CA
THE RELIGIOUS VOTE
Some prominent evangelical leaders are meeting behind the scenes to devise a strategy to defeat Mitt Romney, a practicing Mormon.
"I'm a very conservative Christian and wish Romney was more like me, but he is a classy guy who will be a brilliant president."
Dick Wentner
Lafayette, CA
"You infuriated me when you said Mitt Romney is the only GOP candidate that makes sense. Thank God for the evangelicals."
Katy Sagatis
Mohawk, NY
"After two tiny states, you think Romney is unstoppable? Romney had money and organization in Iowa and New Hampshire, but he is anything but unstoppable."
Jim Giunta
Murphy, TX
"Obama will win a second term and Republicans will lose many Congressional seats. I am a lifelong Republican but will not vote for Romney if nominated, and I'm sure there are many more just like me."
Bob Czachor
Bellingham, WA
PRESIDENTIAL QUIZ
Factor producer Jesse Watters takes to the streets, asking folks to name the greatest U.S. president in history.
"Why not have Watters interview some young people around our colleges instead of people on the street so we can regain confidence in the bright future of this country?"
Richard Moore
Cayucos, CA
"You've got to get Jesse out of his New York City bubble to talk with regular folks who know something about politics."
J.T. Shealy
Titusville, FL
"I almost hate seeing a Watters street interview segment. It's such a reminder of what a waste of money, talent and time the U.S. education system has become. You can't fix stupid."
Charlie Kingman
Danbury, WI
"I think Canadians can identify American presidents and political issues more than Americans. Had Jesse stopped me in NYC, I would have answered every question correctly."
Diane Fisico
Toronto, Canada
"I'm 64-years-old, not a college graduate, yet my old, shriveled, uneducated brain answered all the presidential questions correctly."
Diane Arcuri
Orma, WV
A new Gallup poll out today says just 27 percent of Americans describe themselves as Republicans; 31 percent say they are Democrats and whopping 40 percent now say they are Independent.
But the poll's a bit misleading because America does remain a rather conservative country as far as values are concerned. We are not a libertine nation no matter how hard Hollywood tries to make us one.
But in the political arena, a strictly conservative candidate will have trouble getting elected president of the United States.
"Republicans say they want a strong leader who will aggressively reform the federal government by slashing waste, bloat and inefficiency. Governor Romney has proved that he can do this in the private sector, and now we're criticizing him for it? This seems hypocritical to me."
Bernie Gannon
Bronx, NY
GET IN LINE!
If Mitt Romney does secure the GOP nomination, will all Republicans, including the ultra-conservative wing of the Party, back him?
"If Mitt Romney wins the Republican nomination, it's all over. Obama wins. We don't need another John McCain running against Obama."
Greg Coblentz
Lynnville, TN
"You need to stop telling voters who has the best chance of beating Obama. Let the process work like it's supposed to, where people vote for who they really want to lead this country."
"The Republican Party has abandoned the values and ideas of the conservative agenda. There are plenty of leaders. They're just not leading us where conservatives want to go."
Mark Curtis
Alvin, TX
"I believe you're misreading why people are leaving the Republican Party. I won't support the Party until it starts acting conservative again."
Joe Langton
Rensselaer, NY
GIRL POWER
Some pundits believe President Obama could bolster his chances at reelection if he replaced VP Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton. Would that work?
"I think Condoleezza Rice on the ticket with Mitt Romney would blow Obama/Clinton out of the water! If Obama replaces Biden, he'll come across as weak."
Gloria Mitchell
Burlingame, CA
"Obama is too arrogant and prideful to ever admit he needs Hillary to win. He knows if he wins with Hillary, they'll always be a nagging presumption that she was the reason."
Joe Masi
North Haledon, NJ
"Hillary Clinton wants to be president. She needs to ask herself if taking the VP spot makes her unelectable in 2016 if Obama loses reelection."
RJ Buckingham
Watertown, CT
"I can't vote for President Obama and Hillary Clinton, but the idea is appealing economically and diplomatically."
AnnaMaria Proctor
Wilson, NC
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't Hillary stepping in as VP hurt her chances should she decide to run in 2016? She becomes the poster child for Obama's failed policies."
Dinah Lawrence
Rutledge, GA
BUSINESS BICKERING
Newt Gingrich and his supporters are going after Mitt Romney for buying companies during his tenure at Bain Capital and profiting off of them.
"It's true that Newt has gone aggressive against Romney, but Bain Capital wasn't an entrepreneurial company. It was a corporate raider."
Andy Hauter
Reston, VA
"We criticize Romney and Bain Capital for closing failed companies and we criticize Washington for bailing out failing companies. Double standard?"
Harry Woolley
Heber City, UT
"Mitt Romney took poorly managed companies and made them more competitive. American business needs more like him."
Adrian Jones
Hamilton, Bermuda
"Everyone is missing the point on Bain Capital. The Democrats will roll out individuals who will tell a story of losing their jobs, their homes and their dignity because of Bain. Romney will never be able to overcome the emotional appeal."
Michael Hailey
"Republicans should focus more on Obama closing longtime family GM dealerships and less on blasting Romney for his Bain business deals."
Dan Urshan
Hermantown, MN
"Romney's duties at Bain Capital were to take failing companies and turn them into productive and successful operations. If a company fails, it can't employ anyone."
John Feeney
Cream Ridge, NJ
"I haven't heard once that the Romney machine exists due to his ability to lead. His campaign is well-run, organized, broad, and deep - that's a testament to his leadership ability."
Elizabeth Dehghani
Sherwood Park, Canada
PRAISE GOD!
Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow, who openly displays his religion during football games, led his team to an unlikely playoff victory.
"Perhaps Tim Tebow's success as a football player is because he plays with a clear conscious and is not distracted by allegations of rape, infidelity, or other criminal behavior."
Keith Lucy
Danvers, MA
"Tebow may have Jesus on his side. This may get him to the Super Bowl, but they will lose. Everyone knows God is a Packers fan!"
Brian Pape
Dubuque, IA
"Tim does not pray for God to be on his team's side. He simply thanks God for the gifts He has given him in the form of talent and opportunity."
Jim Herbst
Hardy, AR
"Not only is he a patriot, but he's proving himself to be a pretty good quarterback. Forget the pundits, just ask the Steelers."
Martin Cohen
"It is my son's opinion that Tebow lost some games in December because Jesus was very busy during the Christmas season and didn't have time to help him until the holidays were over."
Susan Alvarado
Scottsdale, AZ
President Obama got some good news today with the unemployment number dropping. The rate is now 8.5 percent, the President says that proves his economic policies are working. Those who don't like Mr. Obama say the improvement is due to the fact that millions of Americans have simply stopped looking for work.
"Talking Points" believes the American economy is improving slightly, but the big picture is federal spending and regulation, not decimal points on unemployment. As we said last night the campaign is really all about an entitlement society versus a self-reliant one. And the struggle will be intense.
"Geraldo thinks we should feel sorry for Casey Anthony because she is living a life of absolute isolation? What kind of life is her poor daughter living?"
Tim Noble
Crestline, CA
ATTACK POLITICS
With Mitt Romney taking his place as the solid frontrunner, the hits against the former MA governor are gaining strength. Will this hurt the GOP in the end?
"The myth of Romney's electability bears some scrutiny: he did not run for reelection as governor of Massachusetts because he wouldn't have been reelected."
Dave Barnett
Belchertown, MA
"Romney is a consummate politician and what he says has little bearing on how he would govern, if elected."
Rich Asper
Marshfield, WI
"You are wrong when you say Romney and Santorum are running on the same ideas. Santorum doesn't support government health care and neither do most Americans. With Romney, I fear that's exactly what we'd get."
Lucille Kerns
Westminster, MD
"We have been eating junk food for four years and now the best the Republicans can do is to offer us up the equivalent of Denny's? We need a well-balanced, healthy and complete meal."
Peggy Stinnet
Ave Maria, FL
"You said you knew Santorum would be marginalized for his ultra-conservative positions. OK, mighty oracle."
Dan McConnell
Cortland, NY
"When an individual is nominated by his party to run for President, why doesn't he choose the person for running mate who came closest to getting the nomination?"
Paul Donahue
Pattaya, Thailand
ACLU REPORT CARD
The civil liberties issued a report card, giving GOP candidate Ron Paul higher marks than President Obama.
"When the ACLU endorses abortion under the guise of reproductive freedom, they fail to acknowledge the fact that reproduction has already occurred and that their freedom is protected when they consent to have sex."
Benjamin Ciaccio
Bellevue, NE
"While the ACLU and other left-wing organizations promote woman's right to abort her baby at any time, they also stand behind prosecutors charging murderers with two counts if they kill a pregnant woman."
Jim Wise
San Diego, CA
"Thanks for making that point on the ACLU not recognizing science or the rights of viable babies. I've been waiting for years for someone to make that point."
Mike Humphrey
Natick, MA
"Let's face it - the ACLU hierarchy has had a long-term love affair with Roe v. Wade. They treasure the idea of terminating a pregnancy."
Michael Tirpak, Ph.D.
Toms River, NJ
DEAR DIARY...
Six months after being acquitted of murdering her daughter, Casey Anthony - in hiding - has surfaced with a bizarre Internet video.
"Casey Anthony is floating a trial balloon to see if the public will warm up to her. That's the purpose of this leaked video, in my opinion."
Sylvia Aimerito
Long Beach, CA
"To hear Geraldo bewailing the fact that Casey Anthony is isolated and that she fears for her life puzzles me. It is nobody's fault but her own."
Cathy Arrasmith
Anderson, CA
"You are right and Geraldo is wrong. After Anthony was found not guilty, why is she not going to the ends of the earth to find the murderer of her baby? Villainous is too kind."
Donny Bartolet
Alliance, OH
"Because Casey Anthony was acquitted doesn't mean she's not evil. Hasn't Geraldo been screaming for years about the acquitted double murderer O.J. Simpson?"
Jeff Altimier
Loveland, OH
"Casey Anthony and Joran van der Sloot are both psychopaths who were never proven guilty of their crimes. How can Geraldo defend Ms. Anthony with a straight face?"
Scott Mogle
Trumbull, CT
"So sick of Geraldo defending Casey Anthony. If she really hadn't harmed her daughter, she would have mentioned her in the video."
Lilli Sanders
"Will Casey Anthony be recorded in history as famous or infamous? The answer to that question alone will determine whether she's a villain."
Michael Gilmurray
Baldwin, MI
There is no question that this program will play a major role in a presidential race this year. We are by far the most watched news show in prime time, tripling our opposition and many "Factor" viewers watch us because they want straight talk.
We're not rooting for anybody. We're not in the business of promoting any candidate. And we are tough on everybody.
Now, that alienates some Americans who want their candidate to be coddled. Let's take Rick Santorum who was on the program last night. The central point of the interview with the former senator was that he will now become a target because the media will portray him as a right-wing extremist. There is no doubt that will happen.
"I got the feeling you didn't approve of Mr. Kyle's military specialty. While many civilians look at the job of sniper as cruel, we must remember that war inevitably involves killing and the snipers are highly effective in neutralizing some of our worst enemy combatants."
Dennis Bridwell
Sumner, IL
SPENDING SPREE
Talking Points wonders whether President Obama knows the long-term damage his rampant spending is doing to the American economy.
"You send President Obama doesn't seem to understand the danger he is courting with his massive spending. I think he sees some danger to the economy, but believes a falling tide will level all boats."
Ed DeVito
Ridgefield, CT
"Are you kidding me? It's part of Obama's plan to keep spending. He wants to turn the United States into a socialistic country. He can only obtain that goal through bankrupting the country."
Joyce Chadwick
"Understanding that Obama is a progressive with an agenda contrary to the fundamental principles that built America will go a long way in understanding his methods."
Frank Ford
Pittston, PA
"During this presidential election, the future of our country will be on the line. Americans need to understand that. Thanks for looking out for us!"
Richard Ellinghuysen
"You are wrong. Obama is a hypocrite. In 2008, he attacked Bush for overspending and putting our children's future at stake. Now look at him."
Ron Altman
Evergreen, CO
"Obama understands that his spending is destroying this country. That you continually excuse him as simply unaware is tiresome."
Roy Locker
Newark, DE
"President Obama's highest priority is keeping his job. He campaigned for half his Senate tenure, and he is doing the same as President."
Ron Coates
Aurora, IL
"President Obama is doing what any good Marxist would do: spend other people's money so he can spread the wealth."
Tom Cooper
"You don't understand why Obama is courting increased spending? Let's be honest - he wants to increase people's dependence on government largesse."
Saverio Barbiere
"I believe Obama knows precisely that running up huge deficits will force us into such a mess that huge government will be the only way out. That is how he plans to fundamentally change this country."
Bob McCallister
Roseville, CA
IN THE LINE OF FIRE
Former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is reportedly the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, with more than 150 confirmed kills. Does the sharpshooter have any guilt?
"As a proud Army vet, I will tell you that sniper Chris Kyle is right. In war, you kill the enemy to save your own people. And the people we're fighting right now are savages."
Richard Ringo
Cincinnati, OH
"It's a shame that all you could focus on during your interview with Chris Kyle was his potential guilt from killing our enemies rather than his pride in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers and citizens."
Roslyn Smith
"This guy is a hero, and of course he didn't like killing. He was doing a job he was trained for and happened to do it very well."
Joan LaPore
Manassas, VA
"If I'm an American GI moving through a hot area, Chief Kyle is the guy I want on overwatch."
Devon Stavrowsky
Ignacio, CO
"May God bless Chris Kyle and his fellow Navy SEALs. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their bravery and service to our nation."
Kathleen Wright
Rochester, NY
"I love your show and you are a proven patriot, but I was put off by your Chris Kyle interview. How dare you question his state of mind while fighting a war. He did his job!"
Kevin Reiter
Forest, OH
RELIGIOUS OVERKILL?
Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow is taking some heat from other NFL players, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker (and ex-con) Terrell Suggs, for kneeling in prayer during football games.
"The world would be a better place with millions more Tim Tebows than with half the NFL players with their stupid antics and their foul mouths."
Meredith Ruff
Mill Spring, NC
"The Baltimore linebacker who criticized Tim Tebow's need for divine intervention each game is well within his rights. He is a patriot for not being scared into silence by the judgmental Christian majority."
Josh Brown
Kansas City, MO
"Mr. Tebow should stop praying on the sidelines as soon as other players stop doing their dumb dancing after making a good play."
Jerry Kosmicki
Milwaukee, WI
"If I were Terrell Suggs, I'd be hoping and praying that Denver beats the Steelers."
Sharon Sparks
Baltimore, MD
"I'm convinced that the NFL players who claimed to be incensed by Tim Tebow's prayers are really just feeling deeply ashamed of their own unsavory behavior. Rather than face their own faults, they choose to ridicule Tim."
Kenneth Besig
Kiryat Arba, Israel
"The more other NFL players complain about Tim Tebow's praying, the more they're not focused on their own playoff goals. I think Mr. Suggs should take his own advice and just play the game."
Marie D'Angelo
Norfolk, MA
"Ex-heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield used to praise Jesus after every victory, and I don't remember any outrage over his expression of faith. Tebow is doing the same thing and being persecuted by his peers."
Gary Adams
Palmdale, CA
"The Factor" offers No Spin analysis so I apologize ahead of time for offending many of you watching this evening. But I'm bound to tell you the truth about everything.
On paper, there were two big winners last night in Iowa, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The Senator will be here in just a few moments. But it is Governor Romney who is benefitting the most because just a few weeks ago, his campaign thought it would get hammered in Iowa. In fact Romney put only five full-time employees in the entire state. But as we know, Romney won the caucus by eight votes.
"Last night, Rick Santorum avoided your claims that his policies are extreme, then stated he would advocate for small government. However, he also stated he would aim for a Constitutional amendment to nullify gay marriage licenses already obtained. That sounds like big government to me."
Jacob Jones
Kahoka, MO
SECOND PLACE!
After his excellent showing in Iowa, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum entered the no spin zone to explain his campaign strategy going forward.
"Your interview with Rick Santorum showed you clearly don't care for him. You were in attack mode the entire time. Nonetheless, he maintained a positive and professional attitude."
Cheryl Hunt
Whitehouse, OH
"You finally interviewed Santorum, but spent the entire time on perceived controversies about which most voters don't care. Santorum is a smart, articulate and consistently conservative candidate who deserves your respect."
Laura Luke
Milford, MI
"How does an eight vote win give a lot of momentum to Mitt Romney? I think an eight vote second place gives Santorum a lot of momentum."
Vince Laurelli
Huntingdon Valley, PA
"I believe your interview with Rick Santorum was unfair. He deserves more than a dismissive interview after his exceptional performance in the Iowa caucuses."
Grant Moody
Eureka, KS
"It seems that Gingrich and Santorum are the best nominees for Republicans. They are good conservatives, pro-life, strong on the economy and the military, and they have a vision of traditional American values."
"You totally set up Santorum. He stands for issues that matter to our country's survival, like foreign policy and the debt crisis, but you only focused on wedge issues. Shame on you!"
Frank DiLeo
Philadelphia, PA
"Romney had actually had fewer votes than he did four years ago. Santorum was the final recipient of the surge that has happened to everybody in this race in an effort to avoid a Romney nomination."
Wayne Springer
Afton, OK
"I'm so furious at you for interrupting Rick Santorum big time! He's a candidate for the highest office in the land and I'd really like to hear more of what he has to say."
Mary Syron
St. Louis, MO
"I appreciate you being respectful to Santorum, but the economy and government spending are the issues you should be focusing on. Why didn't you ask him about earmarks and runaway spending when he was a leader in the Senate?"
Steuer Gray
Manizales, Colombia
"I agree with Rick Santorum's philosophies on the economy, Christianity, marriage and entitlements. Great interview."
"Excellent interview with Rick Santorum. I haven't paid much attention to him throughout the primary process, but I have to admit I was deeply impressed by his speech to supporters after Tuesday's caucus."
Kris Tufts
"Rick Santorum just dodged your questions about social issues. He will have to change course about much of what he says about gay Americans because gay conservatives like myself will not vote for him."
David Hoover
Miami, FL
IDENTIFICATION PLEASE
Attorney General Eric Holder has been fighting state laws requiring photo IDs for voters, claiming that poor people and college students will be unable to cast ballots.
"Eighteen-year-old voters have the right to cast their ballot, but they also have a responsibility to learn what their voting options are. College is about learning to stand on your own two feet. We need to stop coddling American children."
Tammy Stark Blandino
Conroe, TX
"You said college IDs should be accepted as identification for voting. Don't you realize that illegal immigrants go to college, get IDs, and could therefore vote?"
Christof Cook
Lake Placid, FL
"When I was 19 and in the army, I got an absentee ballot. It's so simple even a college kid can do it."
Mark Phillips
Edgewater, MD
"The problem with accepting a college ID for voting purposes is that students can vote where they attend school, then request an absentee ballot for their home state, and vote twice."
JJ Murphy
"There is literally no credible argument for why you should not have to show an ID to vote. Period. Preventing fraud is a necessity and any possible burden is negligible."
Alan Swindoll
"Eric Holder is fighting voter ID laws so the deceased won't be disenfranchised at the ballot box."
Marc Golaszewski
Phoenixville, PA
"If you are against voter ID, then you are in favor of voter fraud. It is just that simple."
Lynn Bradley
Newnan, GA
"I agree with the voter ID thing, but I don't get all the hullaballoo concerning acquiring an ID. Don't most people, including young college students, have a driver's license?"
Mary Warshaw
Beaufort, NC
"I had to present photo identification today to pick up an order at Best Buy!"
Dee Iannacone
Lewistown, MT
"Not having an ID puts many U.S. citizens at a disadvantage. Why does Eric Holder want these people to continue to be disadvantaged?"
Michael Holmes
Rockford, IL
The Iowa caucus is important because the Republican field is not well- defined. Voters are still trying to get a handle on the candidates.
In fact, polls say that 41 percent of Iowans who will cast Republican votes still undecided; an astounding statistic with the vote less 24 hours away.
So let's take a hard look at the candidates tonight. Mitt Romney polling better in Iowa because the perception that he is the strongest candidate against President Obama. That his economic experience would appeal to a wide variety of voters. "The Factor" expects Governor Romney to do well tomorrow.
