More Abuse of Working Americans...
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}To watch "The Memo" click here.
Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight.
More abuse of working Americans. That is the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Airways is bankrupt. United Airlines in trouble. American Airlines laying off thousands of workers, 8,000 to be exact. And most airlines want more tax money to bail them out. You may remember that President Bush gave the airlines $15 billion immediately after 9/11, and I supported that gift. Nobody could have foreseen that terrorism would cripple the airline industry.
But now, Talking Points is against any more handouts because the airlines are themselves responsible for their financial problems. I mean, who likes to fly? It's a horrendous experience in many cases as the major carriers have lost control of customer service. Long lines are everywhere, security hassles are legion. Inefficient service on the ground is appalling.
In the air, the food is awful or nonexistent, seats are cramped, delays are common. Come on. What kind of business is that? Few Americans are satisfied with the airline experience. The only time this frequent flier feels comfortable is when the plane is actually in the air. American flight crews are the best in the world, but it is a nightmare on the ground.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}So, let the airlines go under. They'll be replaced by companies like JetBlue that understand how to treat people. JetBlue is making money because they make the flying experience pleasant. Most Americans believe in capitalism. If you have a good product, we'll come. If you have a bad product, like the airlines, we'll drive. No more tax money bailouts for incompetent corporations, period.
Now, I really feel sorry for the conscientious men and women who work in this industry, and I know hundreds of them. They help me out all the time. But when it takes an hour to get the luggage through the conveyor belt, when a flight is delayed for hours and only pretzels are available to eat, when you land after a five-hour trans-con flight and have to sit on the runway for another hour because the union guys are on a break and no gate is available, that's simply unacceptable. Americans aren't stupid. And we don't react well to being abused. See you, U.S. Air. See you, United. Clean up your own acts or die a gory death.
That's "The Memo."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day
Time now for "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day."
Guess who's a huge Springsteen fan? Ted Koppel, that's who. He was spotted at a Bruce concert in D.C. looking dour, but clapping to the music, according to reports. There is no truth to the rumor that Springsteen is now changing his hair to mimic Ted Koppel's. That would be ridiculous.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}— 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