From the KFGO website:
The attack is on the from the conservative right. All you have to do is search on google for Ed Schultz, and I will give them a plug, and you will see some of the most outlandish things that have ever been said or written about me as a radio personality and as a person. One of the websites that caught my attention was the thenewrepublic.com. Where do they get this garbage? Stories made up about me that are outrageous, which actually is a compliment. These people are nervous. They want to do anything they possibly can to take me down before we get launched.
What stories are outrageous? And why is he taking them as compliments? He says that the attack is on from the conservative right yet he doesn't site any examples outside of "thenewrepublic.com" which leads to a website which does not even mention Schultz's name. A search conducted for "Ed Schultz" on thenewrepublic.com does not produce any relevant results.
Now a search for "Ed Schultz" through google does produce some results from The Free Republic website, which is probably what Ed meant to say. Of course, those of us familiar with Schultz know that he tends to ignore that which does not support his opinions or ambitions.
If Ed Schultz is going to accuse a broad group of people like conservatives of attacking him I would expect him to at least link to some relevant examples. Or to at least make some sense, unless this sentence makes sense to you:
Stories made up about me that are outrageous, which actually is a compliment.
Ed Schultz would have us believe that he's a middle of the road guy. He doesn't take sides, he just reports on the issues as he sees them. This quote is also from the above referenced KFGO link:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Hal Pawluk
I think I read recently that "progressive" means left/liberal in some parts of the country.
And he could easily be middle-of-the-road and a Democrat, if the road is bounded by, say, left and right.
However, he sounds just as your heading says: incoherent. Who are the parties recruiting him to "counteract the likes of Limbaugh"? They sound like losers, too, and conservatives should cheer them on,
2 - Rob
Well, according to the article from the Bismarck Tribune (which, unfortunately, I can no longer find on their website) the Democratic Party is raising funds for the show. The figure I remember hearing is 1.8 million dollars, but that seems incredibly high...
3 - Rob
Here, I found a
4 - Hal Pawluk
I found the article and it appears that it's a claim by Schultz, but no more details:
"Democratic lawmakers in Washington are raising money for the show, and Democrats have pledged about $1.8 million over two years to get it off the ground, Schultz said Monday."
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/30dayarchives/10-28-2003/sta01.html
5 - Mark G
I'm in Portland OR and have had recently heard the Ed Schultz show. All I have to say is Thank God that there is finally a political talk show that is focused on normal people. This guy is absolutely fabulous and I listen to him every day and I'm telling everyone I know about him. Sure, he's biased to the left, but after being lied to about the reason for invading Iraq, so are a lot of people. I have called my self independent for the last 20 years, voting for both republicans and democrats, but after witnessing this administration in action the last three years, I will never vote "R" again for the rest of my life. Bush's press conference the other day was embarrassing.
6 - Casey Lehl
Ed Schultz is an excellent radio host who calls them how he TRULY see's them. He is a moderate Democrat, not a radical Republican like Rush Limbaugh-- who compares the dispicable military abuse allegations as soldiers"blowing off steam." Give me a break... Ed's for real; Rush is not. (He's a propagandist!)
Casey
Portland, OR
7 - Kin
Ed Schultz is right on! Man, I would LOVE to see a debate between him and Rush, The Lyin' King! LOL!!
Ed would eat Rush for BREAKFAST...and LUNCH...and DINNER!
The best way to counter the lies of the radical right is with truth from the progressive left!
Yahooooooooo!! Go Ed!!
8 - Red Owens
iTS NOT NEW REPUBLIC.COM, ITS FREE REPUBLIC.COM,THAN ASK FOR ED SCHULTZ...MANY TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM.
HE IS A FAKE WHO CHANGED TO LIBERAL 3 YRS AGO TO GET A TWO YEAR HUGE CONTRACT AND TO GO NATIONAL FROM FARGO AS HE IS PALS WITH SEN DORGAN AND DASCHLE. DEMOCRAT RICH FOLK ARE SUPPLYING THE CASH
9 - d. quinn
SGT. Schultz a living breathing heap of swine excrement.
10 - Tony
I have corresponded with Ed (email) and found his replies to be grammatically incorrect (e.g. "your" instead of "you're") with misspellings, and also to be somewhat non-responsive and/or abusive. The most coherent reply was "If you don't like it, don't listen."
All in all, I find Ed to be a bit thin skinned (bad characteristic for a talk show host) and somewhat illiterate. (I don't think I'll ever forget the time he said, "Folks pull into McDonald's and GOUGE themselves." Highly unlikely, unless they left the spoon in their coffee cup.) He tends to REALLY oversimplify and distort reality. Name calling (e.g. calling right wing folks "slantheads") does little for his image.
I called in and talked to him once and he simply would not address my question and attempted to change the subject. When I returned to the subject, he became angry and started yelling over me and at me.
Personally, I think he'll last until after the election. He is serving a purpose until then.
tony
11 - john
Ed Schultz is damn good on the air, and his ratings are kicking ass.
Conservative domination of talk radio will be a thing of the past in another 1-2 years, thanks to guys like Ed.
12 - cc
I sometimes listen to Ed Schultz and I can't figure out how he claims to have the views of an average middle-of-the-road guy unless the middle of the raod has shifted far to the left. Some of his 'Bushy' conspiracy rhetoric seemed pretty far out until I listen to some of the persons (and I use the term 'persons' loosely) who call. Some of them must also be on the Democratic 'venture capital' payroll.
Is it me or does Ed sound like he's banking his entire radio career on the dems losing the 2004 presidental election?
13 - Dr. Truth
All of the Doper Limbaugh dittoheads are going to be in for a rude awakening. Go ahead and keep thinking Ed Schultz is not going to succeed. PLEASE keep thinking it dittoheads, PLEASE!! The right wing liars are all going to get their just rewards in due time. So again, PLEASE keep underestimating Ed Schultz. PLEASE!!!
14 - Tj
I listened to Ed when he was a conservative, and now he's a liberal? Guess what? Money does talk. Call his show and challenge him, if you disagree with him, young or old he don't care, you'll adventually get called a few names and get hung up on. Ed's got about as much class as Howard Stern. Sorry if I offended any Stern fans.
15 - richard arellano
I recently began listening to ED a few months ago and can't say enough about how great it makes me feel to have someone on the air who is as mad about the state of affairs as I am. I have gotten as many of my friends as possible to tune in and I am constantly thanked for doing so. I'm just an average guy and I really think he speaks for alot of us working folks. Keep up the good work ED!!!
16 - C. Pagani
My opinion is that liberals are going to be in for a big surprise at some point in the future - when Ed Schultz reveals that he is still a conservative and he fooled them to take their money.
I base this on his conduct. For one thing, Ed seems unaware of progressive arguments for and against common issues that arise. Both sides have cogent arguments as to why they believe what they believe, after all, and a so-called spokesperson for the left should know those arguments. Instead, Schultz is struck dumb by even the most inane arguments from the right, indicating that he is either unaware of known refutations or is unwilling to use those refutations because he agrees with the caller.
Now as for the money thing, it's both true and false. Yes, Ed on the Jones Radio Network and Air America came into being with money from liberals. That means nothing and I'm surprised at how many people claim this is an argument against legitmacy. All it actually means is that left wing radio is funded just like right wing radio - money comes from people who identifiy with the point of view being expressed. The idea that people who believe in left wing causes are doing something scandalous by funding left wing radio is almost beyond ridiculous. ...If you told me Republicans funded Ed Schultz, THAT would be a scandal.. Now, how Ed will stay in business (or not) will depend on ratings. Nothing else will do.
I still think he's a fake, though. If he were for real he could make the case for liberal causes instead of being flumoxed by even the weakest counterarguments.
17 - kelly
Ed was a right-winger until some leftists with money asked him to play a democrat.
Odd, someone only being liberal for the money.
18 - Clem
I have witnessed the metamophisis of Ed over the last 25 years, amazing to say the least. Ask his first wife what a swell guy Ed is. Lets start with Ed getting drunk at a concert at the Red River Valley fair, then going on air to do his "nightside" show. Hilarious, people ketp calling in and asking him why he sounded depressed! Getting drunk and shooting his dog during a pheasant hunt because it wouldnt come to him or getting mad while commentating a NDSU football game because someone threw a bottle at the press box, that was a doozy, Ed declared on air he was going to kick that guys ass! I think he needs to take a serious look at his alcohol comsumption, especially considering his 2nd wife seems to be much more accomodating to his libation habits. What drove Ed over the edge, from conservatism to liberlism, is the fact that North Dakota republicans basically gave him a cold shoulder. Ed wanted to belong in the worst way, he wanted republicans to beg him to run for governor, but the GOP in ND saw him for what he was, a loose cannon, marginally intelligent, and much to thin skinned to make it in a political arena. America, the joke is on you with this guy, North Dakota gets it, when will you?
19 - Temple Stark
Clem - from your narrative, the guy sounds pretty typically American then
:-)
20 - Zeke
I hope Ed opens up an old-fashioned can of North Dakota whup-ass on Shawn and Rush. It's to bad that right wing fanatic's need someone to tell them who to vote for. Ed is just giving the facts. Kick some ass Ed.
21 - Mike
As an ACTIVE duty 27 year Naval Officer I have finally found a voice that stands for reason. The right wing, drug dealer, womenizing, wackos of the world were wearing me down. ED is THE MAN and I listen EVERYDAY!
22 - Bruce
I do not trust Ed. He is a loud mouthed conservative in liberal clothing. When the guy has to tell you over and over he is 'liberal' it begins to sound like Faux Spews 'fair and balanced' On Fridays 2/4/05 show good old 'liberal' Ed defended the general who enjoyed killing Afghani men. And the wonderful interview with Democratic Senator Chuck "let's privatize SSI" Hagel was very revealing. Neither mentioned anything about shrubs lie on SSI going bankrupt and both endorsed privitizing SSI using 'personal' retirement accounts. Good ol'Ed's is more interested in making it big and it overshadows anything else on his show. Maybe he should call himself the Zell Miller of liberal radio.... yeah maybe that would be more fitting.
23 - Steve
As a moderate I think Ed has about the right tone for me. He is liberal on most issues but conservative on others. He is hard on both sides and seems consisant and honest. Rush rips on moderate Republicans which I find radical. Ed is not perfect but he is the best talk show host out their from what I can see.
24 - Lauging lib...
How interesting to read the comments from a year ago and how small any of the right-wingers thought Ed's chances of success were. And now he's gone national and is a genuine phenomenon.
If Ed sounds somewhat conservative at times, he may actually be that way, I wouldn't know, but he is also aware that he is speaking to the brainwashed people who have been listening to Rush for years, and sounding like a flaming liberal would just get the station changed in the truck.
Better late than never, but between Ed Schultz and Air America (which has also seen phenomenal growth this year) we are finally on our way to countering the liars on the Right who have put this country into such a depressing financial and spirtual hole.
No doubt, Druggie Rush (Ed's term for him) saying that the torturers of Abu Ghraib were just letting off some steam and that it was similar to college pranks and hazing....if that isn't a true low point in the nation's discourse, I don't know what is.
Thanks Rush, you can retire now with your drug habit and your third wife, knowing that you've made torture okay with the family values crowd.
25 - SteveK
Ed's comments on issues are right on the mark most of the time. A discriminating lister just needs to stop trying to read graffiti and listen to the ideas. Few people entrenched in ideology can change their thinking when they see things going wrong, as Ed has done.
On the other hand, too many Americans seem to have a little trouble thinking for themselves, preferring to let talk show hosts do their thinking for them, and getting their "news" on unknown, uncredentialed rapsheets and blogs.