As the guardian of the true meaning of Christmas, Bill O'Reilly loves to chastise anyone whose seasonal celebrations don't meet his high standards. In addition to getting coal in their stockings, those who transgress get a steaming pile of bold, fresh nationally televised hectoring which includes the lies and personal attacks which are a vital part of Bill's favorite season. In 2007, Bill directed his Christmas wrath against Great Barrington, MA which, according to Bill, "banned" town sponsored holiday lights when, in reality, the lights were put on timers because of environmental concerns.  In 2012, Bill claimed that lights had, again, been "banned" when, in reality, the lights were down because of road construction. (Bill didn't mention that the town had plenty of other Christmas decor.) And because the lights aren't back yet, Fox's Father Christmas is, again, spreading Christmas peace, love, and slander.

Last night, Bill's "Tip of the Day," the shining moment of his show when he shares his wisdom from on high, was yet another wag of the finger for Great Barrington, a lovely (but "secular-progressive") town which is still on O'Reilly's naughty list because there still isn't any town lighting - even though Bill O'Reilly personally "saved Christmas" in the town.  Bill began by recounting how, "a couple of years ago" (actually seven), he sent his stalker-producer Jesse Watters to Great Barrington because "the town fathers there banned [he shouted the word while using expansive hand gestures] all Christmas displays in sympathy with global warming or something." (Lie - the only limitations were on the time periods used by the lights.)

His voice dripping with sarcasm, he told his fans that "this year they did the same thing." So, in the spirit of holiday hatred, he provided a "refresher" video, done during Watters' 2008 visit to the town (when Christmas had been saved), in which most of the comments were from Great Barrington residents who were disappointed about the light situation. Naturally, one of Watter's questions was about the propriety of referring to the lights as "holiday lights" when, as we know, they're Christmas lights, dammit!

After the video montage, Bill, looking sincerely into the camera, proclaimed that "Okay, but the town fathers [the town manager is a woman] are aren't putting up any lights, no lights, because it would take energy." As a laugh was heard off camera, Bill chuckled. His pearl of wisdom otherwise known as the Factor Tip: "You might want to avoid Great Barrington, don't fight the feeling, avoid it." (Given the demographics of his barcalounger brigade, I don't think that avoiding Great Barrington is an issue - now if he told them to avoid the "early bird specials," that's another story...)

What you didn't learn from Bill O'Reilly: First, in speaking with a town employee, who wishes to remain anonymous for obvious reasons, the hate e-mail, which always ensues after an O'Reilly attack, started this morning. Second, Bill is absolutely lying when he suggested that the lack of lights is due to environmental concerns. Terry Cowgill, the editor of the Berkshire Record, told me that there are several issues. In the past, the lights, which were strung haphazardly along the street, were plugged into businesses on Main St. and were, thus, in violation of building codes. He also mentioned that the big construction project on Main St. is not complete and the work involved in stringing the lights is disruptive to traffic. But the work is scheduled to be finished in early 2015 and at that point, there will be new decorative street lamps with outlets which WILL BE USED FOR NEXT YEAR'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTING according to the Betsy Andrus who heads the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. (The Berkshire View has the back story that O'Reilly neglected to read.)

Funny, if Bill and his production crew bothered to do some research, they would have obtained this information which provides an understandable answer to the issue of the lights. (Although Bill thought that the town spokespeople were lying when they cited the construction in 2012.) But then Bill wouldn't have been able to advance his Merry Christmas wedge issue with which to spread holiday hatred and defamation.

God bless us everyone?