Is Ed Shultz a plant/spy/sabateur?

[Al-CIAda]

As per Raw Story, he is being bought/promoted by the reich wing.

Is Air America THIS stupid -or are they (leadership comprimised as well?

Will AAR now ditch him?

[NYCGirl]

1. He doesn't work for Air America Radio. Some of the stations they've

since bought have a standing contract to play his show. Presumably, after the contracts expire, he's no longer in the lineup.

[Drewskie]

59. No..

That depends on whether or not it's a Clear Channel station and how his ratings compare to others in the slot. AAR itself does'nt own jack for stations...

[SimpleMan]

2. He's not on AAR

is he?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. He has the right to criticize Dean, but Ed's also been sounding

more conservative lately. Makes me wonder too.

[KoKo]

4. I think he was on Jones Network and not Air America. Although some

DU'ers were picking him up on the same station as AAR airs and they may have confused it. :shrug:

[DemNoir]

5. DU at it's finest

Don't bother finding any facts. Just post.

Maybe your the spy. The stupid act is always a dead giveaway!

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Have you ever heard Ed Schultz?

Try listening to him before dismissing it.

[democracyindanger]

13. I have.

And listening provides no other proof for the idiotic nature of the suggestion.

Rupert Murdoch owns FOX.

FOX owns The Simpsons.

By your logic, THE SIMPSONS ARE RIGHT-WING PLANTS! THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!

[Al-CIAda]

20. The idiotic nature of my suggestion is based on hearing the show

and a compilation of other factors, including AAR.

By my logic, the Simpsons have nothing to do with this nor is it 'logical' to compare the two circumstances.

The sky is falling? Well, you're on your own with that one.

[democracyindanger]

23. Yes, I'm sure you have

an entire dossier of all the factors, written in code in case the CIA captures it.

[LaurenG]

32. Chill out man. Geez N/T

[democracyindanger]

34. Absolutely not.

That's what's the Lounge is for.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Yuo have to writre to teh station manager and complain

he is NOT part of the AAR lineup... but he is right now the highest rated host

Nor is he a plant, just a little to the center

That said, his comments on Dean were off the scale... but I don't expect him to agree with me all the time, just as I disageree with Malloy from time to time, (gasp, I know)

[Zinfandel]

35. Absolutely! Schultz, is a sick republican ploy & foresight to take away

listeners and sponsors from the upstart and liberal, AAR.

Support Air America Radio! (AAR) www.airamericaradio.com

Republicans are greedy liars, and they know the best way to defeat their opponent is through subversive methods...The republicans are slimy and excellent at it; NOTHING is too low for a republican!!

Schultz is the perfect moderate pig for what the republicans want to accomplish...crippling and getting rid of liberal, progressive radio!

Schultz, an asshole is certainly no liberal progressive...

The fucker never takes a stand on anything...Over & over people call in with very liberal ideology and/or heavy accusations of what liars and assholes the republicans are...And Schultz will just listen, and say, "thanks, I appreciate the call", or he might even change the subject, never committing or helping liberals, elaborate what true bullshit the republican agenda is and the right-wing lies are. No, Schultz won’t rock the boat, what a prick, it's sickening!

What is that "leftie" "rightie" bullshit...Does he think its all so cute? Just a fucking game, all for his paycheck.

The asshole is a fucking moderate joke at best!

Ed Schultz with his bullshit "lefties" this and "rightie" that. Why doesn't Schultz use the words liberal, democrat or progressive, and conservative, republican or re-gressives?

Schultz' doesn't take real or hard stands for progressives, he's more concern about a moderate stance and more stations...He seems to be in it only for the bucks and whichever way the wind blows.

I have my suspicions and he never proves me wrong...I can't listen to him for very long. Give me Malloy, Hartmann, Rhodes, Bernie Ward (KGO) Webb, Janeane, or even Lynn Samuels, sincere, passionate, liberal progressives any day over Franken or Shultz.

He "was" admittedly right-wing not long ago. However that field is pretty full with the Limbaugh's O'Reilly's, Savage's, etc. etc. etc...

There's more profit in saying he's a "leftie" such bullshit, he's no progressive or liberal.

Why doesn't he call them what they are, fascist conservative republicans, right-wing regressive extremists, instead of "righties" because I don't believe he all of a sudden disagrees with that philosophy completely.

I would not be the least bit surprised if five years down the road, he came out and said he's had enough of liberal ideology and then crusades again for the right, if it became more profitable for him to do so...He, I'm sure, thinks he has everyone fooled

Schultz so often takes a republican point of view, while suggesting, "he's just playing devil advocate" I don't trust him...He's making gobs of money by saying he's now on the left, and seems far more concerned about how many more stations will be picking him up. He never takes a hard liberal stand on any issues of real importance.

I also prefer Thom Hartmann a true progressive, or Rhodes, Malloy, Janeane or Sam, Peter Werbe, Lynn Samuels, Not to mention, the very liberal Meria Heller.

Support Air America Radio! (AAR) www.airamericaradio.com

[The Revolution]

52. I just don't get it.

For the life of me I can't understand the hatred for Ed Schultz on DU. * himself seems to be getting better treatment around here lately. It seems like people are now saying if your views don't line up 100% with what I think, then you're a evil right-wing plant. Which scares me, because that's the type of talk you see on FR all the time.

He actually seems pretty far left to me, and I'm really far left. I know he has some views that aren't in line with the extreme left, but I really don't think its fair to attack him like this.

I'm not sure what you're talking about with the whole "leftie" "rightie" thing. Yes, he uses those words, but he also uses the words you claimed he wasn't (progressive, liberal, etc). I think he usually refers to himself as a progressive actually.

I'm not sure if he uses the term "fascist" a lot, but I do know he commonly refers to Rumsfeld as "Field Marshall Von Rumsfeld". Maybe you don't like that because it sounds "cute", but it seems like a clear reference to the Nazis to me.

[Zinfandel]

53. One would have to say some things, that seem credible or their ploy...

and subversive goals would be quite obvious to everyone, correct?

The republican machine is NOT stupid.

Schultz, never takes himself too far to the left, ever, a bit of name calling here and a bit of finger pointing there, but overall he says nothing with strong liberal context, that is coming from his heart, his inner soul, (which he really doesn't have).

If someone makes a strong liberal point or exposes the greedy lying republicans...Schultz will so often, offer only, "thanks, I appreciate your call" .... Next!

The fucker Schultz is in it ONLY for the money...not for any convictions.

Just listen to a real liberal, and professional radio host, like Mike Malloy or Thom Hartmann or Randi Rhodes and then you will see the huge difference, and I'm not talking about different styles or personality...

BUT IN REAL SUBSTANCE AND WHO REALLY HAS THE DEEP PASSION TO FURTHER THE LIBERAL & PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGY.

CERTAINLY IT'S NOT THE MODERATE TO RIGHT LEANING SCHULTZ!

[The Revolution]

65. What are these subversive goals?

Do you really think Schultz is trying to turn people into republicans? Because it doesn't really seem to be working. He seems to be pushing people to left. Or at least making people more vocal about being on the left. I hear callers all the time who say that they had no clue what the bush administration was really up to until they heard Ed talking about it. I think he's really doing a good job of getting information out there.

I've listened to Mike Malloy, and I like his show too. I don't know why there isn't room for both.

[paulk]

61. it's easy enough to understand

the lefty freepers on this board are really no different than their right wing counterparts - extreme, narrow in their thinking, and bigoted against anyone who doesn't share their views 100%.

Take heart in the fact that, while they may be a majority on this website, out in the real world they are a decided minority.

[Pirate Smile]

63. He pissed me off last week with the ragging on Dean but I'm don't

think he is a fraud.

I just don't want him to be counter-productive. I thought he focused on it toooooo long. Keep some complaints private, or say it and move on to bashing BushCo. We just eat our own too much sometimes.

I'm listening still. I don't write people off that quickly.

[devilgrrl]

6. He's much ado about nothing.

Don't like him? Don't listen to him.

I prefer listening to Randi... :shrug:

[Al-CIAda]

11. Oh I listen to Randi -its just that the blob has been taking HER spots on

AAR affiliates.I think he is uninformed and should not be bumping Randi off stations that are allegidly AAR stations.

[Nite Owl]

7. I get him on America Left

on XM in the car but sometime in July XM will switch to AAR and carry Randi in full in that time so I don't think he is AAR.

[Catrina]

17. I've listened to him

and he isn't that bad most of the time.

The reason I'm upset is because he is on AAR's channel here in NY. I used to get Randi after Al Franken, and now I can't find her show, instead I get Ed Schultz.

I'm wondering too if that's why Randi's ratings in NY are supposed to not be as good as they were. I remember reading that she was beating Rush Limbaugh in NY, then the last I heard was that AAR was not doing well here.

If anyone knows how I can get back to Randi, I'd appreciate it. I listen in the car and have gone all over the dial, I also checked AAR's website, and have nothing about the change.

[NYCGirl]

21. Which channel are you listening to? WLIB (NYC) has NO Schultz.

Are you upstate?

[Catrina]

50. No, I'm out east on LI

I used to get Randi on WLIB which was around 1298 on the dial and it was not very clear, but I listened anyway. I thought AAR had gotten a better signal, when I move further up to 1300 and got the Al Franken Show. It was way more clear and I couldn't get anything on 1298 anymore, just static. Then I noticed that Ed Schultz came on after Al Franken and I tried to get back to 1298 but couldn't get a signal there, either in the house or on the car radio.

Until I saw this thread, I just thought it was my radio, (which is pretty cheap, as is the one I have at home).

Is it possible I'm not listening to AAR when I hear Al Franken? Although I do get Morning Sedition on 1300 also. It seems to me that Randi has been bumped for Ed Schultz. But I'm not sure. Maybe I should email AAR and ask them?

I'm way out at the tip of Long Island, so we always got static on AAR (WLIB) and now it's clear, except that it doesn't have the Randi show.

Thanks for your response, btw :-)

[NYCGirl]

56. WLIB in NYC (which has Randi and not Shultz), is 1190 on the dial.

According to the AAR website, you might be listening to Binghamton NY at WYOS 1360 AM?

[janx]

9. My S/O thinks he is.

And I have to confess to wondering the same thing. What I suspect, though, is that it is (as usual) all about money, and that he is a character striving to be the Limbaugh of the left.

[chaska]

14. BINGO! That's it exactly. He is...

someone who knows political talk radio, so that's what he continues to do. Since marrying his lefty wife he has changed from a righty to a moderate lefty. But he really doesn't much care about politics, I think. He's phoning it in most of the time. He's not really committed like most of us here.

[tishaLA]

24. I don't disagree with this

He's not a big policy guy with dreams about how to make more effective Social Security or something. But then I don't know that most Americans are. I think most Americans--not political junkies like DU has--want broad brushes and they want to feel comfortable with the people they might vote for. Schultz is perfect for these people, who might be less ideologically driven than many of us are.

To my mind, his presence on the radio is very good for all of us, even though it's probably better for him $$$$$$$$$$

[KoKo]

38. agree tisha....I think he's a good "foil" to Limbaugh. An alternative who

is way to the Left of Limbaugh, but not as Politically savvy or hard edged as most DU'ers who've been through the wringer and have learned not to trust anything.

We probably should lighten up and give Schultz a break. Many folks out there aren't going to be swayed by Franken or Randi...but Schultz does have many Democratic guests that most Americans don't get to hear on Cables or other Mainstream Radio sites.

We need all the help we can get to bring down the Limbaugh types spewing hate and lies. So far, I've not heard Schultz lie or spread hate even when he doesn't agree with PETA or VEGANS or Dean or whomever, he's still "reasonable." (Granted I don't listen to him every day, so maybe I missed something). :eyes: And, folks can still avoid him if they choose.

:shrug:

[democracyindanger]

10. Why don't you call in and ask?

Let me know beforehand. I want to record the ensuing hilarity for posterity.

[xxqqqzme]

12. don't know what or who

he is pretending 2 B but I have stopped listening 2 him. The LA station puts him on after Franken...I turn it off then!

Hey - 1150 AM - I don't listen to Stephanie Miller either. I stream Morning Sedition from Sacramento instead.

[tishaLA]

19. I love Stephanie

I thanked KTLK when they put her on even though I thought I wanted Springer.

[Pirate Smile]

57. Why don't you listen to Stephanie? She is hilarious and very much

to the left. I also love Jim, voice-guy extraordinarie and conspiracy dude.

[marylanddem]

15. I don't know

But I do feel he is a bit of a phony - with his redneck b.s., and also he stated he opposes abortion - don't know whether this means he's a right to lifer or more moderate...
I much prefer Randi Rhodes. A.M. 1260, the newly-progressive Washington, D.C. station I listen to, has him from 3 to 6, then plays some Randi Rhodes live, some taped from earlier.
He sounds so much like Limbaugh it's a turnoff.

[tishaLA]

16. Seems Mr. Schultz has already addressed this

“I understand this is going to raise red flags for progressives, especially those out there on the blogosphere that have been comfortable taking shots at me from the very beginning,” Schultz said. “First they said I was owned and paid for by the Democratic Party, now they’re going to say I’m owned and paid for by people who are obviously Republicans.”

“The conspiracy nuts can have their way with this, but what they really need to know is this is still going to be just me, my two Fargo-based producers, my wife and I developing the content for the show every day,” he added. “Hell, I don’t use talking points. You just get my take on what’s happening in the news.” Raw Story

[Qanisqineq]

55. I think that's a good response

He's just being himself and if you don't like him, change the station.

I am sick of the "they must be secretly working for the republicans" or "vote him out, he's really a republican!" when someone says something they don't like. People can have differing opinions and still be progressive.

Big tent, people, big tent.

[Pirate Smile]

58. If they can get progressive talk on more stations great. I wish they

would also do that with Stephanie Miller's show.

[tiredofthisstuff]

18. What are you guys talking about??

I have listened to Ed Shultz since his first broadcast over a year ago. He is, in my opinion, by far the best Progressive talk show host we have right now. So what if he disagreed with Dean's recent comments. This is a free country and we do have the right to disagree with one another. If you are suggesting that Ed should be dropped from a particular radio station because he disagreed with some comments Dean made, then we are no better than the right. Come on people, isn't this the type of philosophy we are trying to avoid.

:wtf:

[kaygore]

25. This isn't the first time

His Dean comments are part of a larger pattern that suggests that he is not what he pretends to be.

[marylanddem]

28. yes, it's annoying

I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but he is too wishy-washy to be believable

[democracyindanger]

29. He's an ALIEN!

RUN!!!!!!

[janx]

27. Misinformation.

That's the problem I have with him. He either needs to do more research himself, or he needs to get some people to do it for him. He often spouts off before examining sources and facts, and he has been in the media long enough to know better.

We don't need that.

[KoKo]

39. But isn't that what most "non-political Average Americans do?" Don't

many of us hear spout off before we have more info, sometimes?

That he appears to not know gives him a chance to be informed. That appeals to many ordinary folks who don't have time to keep up on all the issues. I think that's his value...that he's not an "absolutist" like Limbaugh. He's kinda like an "average joe." :shrug:

[kaygore]

22. We need to boycott his sponsors & stop listening to him &

I stopped after he took the time to write a profane and hate-filled response to an email I sent him.

Believe me, if we write his sponsors, the stations that broadcast him, and also just turn him off, he'll soon be gone back to the unemployment line where he belongs.

[KoKo]

43. Do you have a copy of the "profane and hatefilled" response he sent to

you? Also a copy of what you sent to him?

Urging a boycott of him is very harsh given that he's way to the left of Limbaugh and we don't even know what his show will be like after the buyout. Why jump the gun and condemn this man when he regularly has Democratic guests on his show and helped get donations for the Washington State recount? His appeal is to those on the Dem Right who don't have a voice today. I'm glad to have had him on the airwaves since I don't like Franken's voice (find it grating) and Randi is a little too strident for me. Yet, I'm a way lefty Dem...

I think those Dems on my Right have a right to express their opinions with the exception of Joe Lieberman.

[kaygore]

54. It goes to pattern

I agree that we should tolerate a variety of opinions. The Democratic Party, after all, is a large tent. My problem with Schultz is that he too often appears to be a shill, a troll, pretending to be something that he really isn't.

But I do have to agree with you on Joe!

I'll see if I can find the email. It was a while ago.

[kaitykaity]

64. His favorite line when I disagree with him is

"get a life." He's sent me at least two of
those. Not a very creative kiss off, but still.

I posted one of the exchanges in the Media
forum if anyone's interested.

The guy's a total ass.

[WLKjr]

26. AAR does not carry ed, XM leaves him on AAR 167 3-5pm

[ls317]

30. Just Think

Bottom line its all about the money!

[UdoKier]

31. That's not exactly the spin of the story.

Schultz is a bit to the right for my blood, but he seems to be consistent in his views, so why does that make him a spy?

Here's the actual story.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Radio_vets_purchase_Ed_Schultz_Liberal_talk_gains_business_0613.html


If you don't like him,, don't listen to him. I generally don't...

[me b zola]

36. Here in Portland he is on in between Frankin & Randi

I've stopped listening to him. We would seem to be okay, although he was never well researched or quick to understand the importance of a story, but then out of nowhere his shows would seem to take a hard turn to the right's talking points.

He gives Lieberman a forum, which is bad enough in & of itself, but he also defends Lieberman to the extreme of criticizing true-blue-Dems for calling Lieberman out. Sickening. It was at this point that I began to wonder about the guy.

I haven't been listening, so thankfully I haven't heard any dumb-ass remarks that he may have said about Dean. I keep meaning to call the radio station here and ask what is up with his contract, and can we please dump him.

A Plant/spy/saboteur? I don't know, but I do know that he is not doing us any favors and he is fanning the flames that fuel the rw tactics.

[peacetalksforall]

37. My defense and my attack. I would prefer Randi. Mostly, because Ed

yells. Hannity yells. O'Reilly yells. I never listen to Limbaugh, but I know he yells. I don't like to be yelled at (though I'd like to yell at the people who design the most grievous acts against us.

In defense, I must say - he claims to have 20? years on the radio - he claims to be a recent convert to the Democrats. I don't think he has been converted all the way - especially if it is his wife who is educating him. She can't cover it all and may not know it all...se he probably drops back. But, his ego is enormous and fragile and if anyone woos him, he's susceptible.

He seems to be taking off all over the country. It's too bad. Because I want Randi.

[tishaLA]

45. You don't like to be yelled at and you like Randi?

I love Randi, but girlfriend does some serious yelling on her show. To people who love her.

[Old and In the Way]

40. Is the glass 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

For us, with sensitive liberal/progressive ears, Schultz will never please us. That's OK....if he gets people who love Rush to listen and change their minds on things, it's a win.

[Zinfandel]

41. No one is better than the true liberal progressive Randi Rhodes! In the

same time slot as the asshole moderate Shultz.

www.airamericaradio.com

[KoKo]

44. If Schultz is conflicting with Randi in some markets can see why some of

you are so angry. Many of us have his show independtly aired so don't have that conflict and think Schultz is good in the conservative markets ...like where I live.

Maybe with the "buyout" the time slot will change so Randi lovers can hear her.

[LibDemAlways]

42. Ed Schultz has apparently been a

radio talk show host for a long time. He's a moderate at best and not terribly well-informed. In LA he's on the AAR station KTLK from 12 - 3. He spends too much time putting guys like Lieberman and Daschle on the air and when he has nothing else to say, which is frequently, he says "I appreciate the call" and hangs up. He's not a big champion of progressive causes, but he seems to appeal to the people in the middle. I wish we had a Malloy on midday, but Schultz is certainly better than nothing - which is what we had far too long.

[Beelzebud]

46. Actually, I'm suprised

they have Malloy at all! Thank god someone has some brains, because Malloy is "take no prisoners". I love his show, and sometimes he is so good (good as in telling it like it is)that it makes me nervous they'll pull the plug on him. No one else just speaks their mind like that. Malloy will tell you EXACTLY what he is feeling, and not what some talking-points dictate he should say.

He is the only angry liberal in the media. I LOVE him for that. Malloy is an asset. :)

[LibDemAlways]

Malloy has no equal.

Simply the best. Where else can you go on the dial to hear the unvarnished truth about the "Bush Crime Family"? In LA, nowhere.

[LibDemAlways]

49. Self-delete dupe.

[Festivito]

47. There are some things he doesn't GET. A Mockingbird operative?

If he is, we wouldn't know just yet.

He still had a commercial which promoted the RepucliCONNING Bill Clinton left a recession CON lie. Tho I did not hear it today.

He spent 20 minutes circling Democrats and firing at Dems for what he said was Dems circling and firing at Dems -- I guess WITHOUT him.

Philosophically he likes pumping gas into his SUV, which I don't mind so much as long as one realizes it's more than the pump price, it's America's blood and tears that support that pump price that he does not acknowledge so he can drive around in more room than needed in a vehicle that doesn't qualify for higher fuel standards. As long as one realizes that after about ten gallons, the rest is blood and tears, then at least that person would be dealing honestly, callously, but honestly with themself. But, this is just philosophical.

So, he's doing a good job of hiding, if that's the case.

He may, someday, mockingbird on us. But, then, so could anyone.

[ConsAreLiars]

48. When your basic facts are so wrong, the charge of disinformation

seems better pointed at your remarks than at the one you accuse. Your attack on AAR could easily be seen as a part of the wider campaign to discredit AAR. It is certainly supportive of that effort.

When you try to bash AAR for the views of a radio host who is not even affiliated with that network you discredit yourself. Instead of contributing to the discussion, you end up looking like the worst of the simple-minded tinfoil hatters who never let the most basic and easily checked facts interfere with the workings of their grand delusions.

[OnionPatch]

51. I just don't see it

I've listened to Ed many, many times and I don't understand why everyone says this. It doesn't make any sense. He practically converted my brother-in-law singlehandedly so if he's working for the other side, he's not doing a very good job. So what if he's not always up on every political detail in the blogosphere. It doesn't mean he deserves to be accused of being a GOP plant. I think we need to lay off people on our side who are sticking up for our values even if they aren't perfect.

[Larkspur]

60. His show was recently sold to RW Clear Channel

and he's definitely a DLC supporter. DLC is the first line of defense for Repukes.

[iconoclastNYC]

62. Randy Rhodes doesn't trust him. n/t

[Douglas Carpenter]

66. Contact Info for Ed Shulz Show

Please try your best to be polite--but firm

:spank:

To contact the National Program Manager:


E-Mail: [e-mail]


Telephone: [phone]


For comments on overall show content:

E-mail:

[e-mail] :spank: