Updated

Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly.  Thanks for watching us tonight.

Well, we finally found a powerful politician that favors putting American troops on the borders to protect us.  And that is the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo.

On the left, the Clintons, Al Gore, Ted Kennedy, all oppose deploying troops to secure the border.  On the right, Newt Gingrich, Jack Kemp, Drug Czar John Walters, all opposed as well.

But 79 percent of the American people want this protection, according to a FOX News poll done before we broke the story that accused sniper John Lee Malvo was in this country illegally.

So I'm saying to myself, am I nuts?  Why can't these politicians see that the war on terror is a joke unless our borders are secure?  And only the military can do that.

Then today on The Radio Factor, I'm talking with [incoming] Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, and here's what happened.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, THE RADIO FACTOR)

Why not back up the Border Patrol with the military, whether it's National Guard or straight troops?  Why not do it?

SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MS), INCOMING SENATE MINORITY LEADER:  Well, I think we should do it.

O'REILLY:  Do you really?

LOTT:  And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) before the -- oh, absolutely.

O'REILLY:  You're the first politician I've heard...

LOTT:  Look, most politicians run around worried about civil libertarians and being sued by the ACLU.  This is not only a porous border in terms of illegal aliens, it's also a porous border with regard to crime and drugs.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

Well, thank God.  And I hope Mr. Lott will bring the border issue front and center, because if he doesn't, nothing's going to happen, and more illegals will pour in, and more drugs will pour in.  And it's just a matter of time until another catastrophe hits us.

If President Bush and the Republicans do not militarize the border and we are attacked by foreigners from within, the administration is toast.  They're finished.  That's what Talking Points can't understand -- the number one game in Washington is cover your butt, yet our borders remain in chaos even after 9/11, even after the snipers.

And most Americans are angry.  The polls prove that.  So go, Trent Lott.  You have a chance to become a true American hero.  And it would help if Americans let the Senator know he has your support.

And that's The Memo.

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day

Time now for the "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day."

In Melbourne, Australia, there's a big drought, and now the minister of the environment, Sherryl Garbutt, has a suggestion to save water.  She's asking citizens in the State of Victoria to shower with a friend.  Says Ms. Garbutt, "I would urge Victorians to share their shower,"   They say you can make friends easily down under.

The lines at Qantas Airlines are already jammed, which may be ridiculous.  Is there enough soap?

— You can watch Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points and "Most Ridiculous Item" weeknights at 8 & 11p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com