David Sirota vs. Ed Schultz On Air Confrontation

[democracy1st]

Run time: 02:49 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ocMyKme2BA   Posted on YouTube: May 19, 2011 By YouTube Member: AudioForAnarchists Views on YouTube: 73   Posted on DU: May 20, 2011 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 5017

 
David Sirota and Ed Schultz have an excellent confrontation live. Get past the shouting and try to listen to the substance of the argument.

[comtec]

1. what was the point of that fight?

my take on this whole thing is
yes, i'd have like it if ubl was captured.
but im not gonna cry over his death either.
we got a metric fuck ton of information from his computers.
i dare say that makes up for him being gak'd

people talk about that we should have tried ubl in absentia, then sentenced him to death.
the only time we really could have done that was during the * administration.
and they didnt.

this is one instance i'm with the president, for the most part, and people here know how rare that is anymore.

[dennis4868]

3. I am just about always with the president on the issues....

and here also....what a bunch of craziness from Sirota....fuck the law when it comes to people like OBL, Hitler, etc....

[watajob]

9. "fuck the law when it comes to people like OBL, Hitler, etc...."

I believe that's known as "anarchy". Great idea. I'm wondering how you might feel if your, say, your best friend was the target of a "government" with this philosophical underpinnings? I'm an agnostic, for the lack of a better word, when it comes to OBL's death. But, "NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW" is the bedrock of a thousand years of western civilization. Get a clue.

[blackbart99]

21. If my best friend had 3000 people killed...

I'd put a bullet in him myself....and yes FUCK the law.

[watajob]

35. Nice.

Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove/et al thank you for your support.

[hlthe2b]

5. I hate it when progressives do this to each other--competing egos

While they both have valid arguments to make, neither can extend benefit of the doubt to the other.

I hate this kind of thing.... Both look bad doing this, but in the end, I can't blame Ed for hanging up. Sirota talked over him and then cut off his mike? Damn... that's how one would treat a rabid RW looney that had become impossibly disruptive--not a fellow progressive who called in to make a point and defend themselves. Bad form, Sirota. Very bad form (and I don't necessarily agree with Ed in total, but still....)

[suzanner]

32. Disappointing show from Sirota but Ed a little overboard on defense.

I agree with your view, hlthe. Hand wringing is nuanced however blustery, Moore nuanced his misgivings, Sirota seems pretty stickish and pokey. He can't possibly think Ed is that bad without disrespecting the years of hard work Ed's put into uniting Dems and progressives, affording an alternative and support for the better good. Ed expected fairness, not deference.

[liberalmike27]

6. I've Been So Irritated with Ed Lately

That I've just been deleting his shows. Truth is, I never like these times of military-centric coverage, because it brings out the goose-steppers in both parties, in this case the Obama Goose steppers, which is annoying. Clearly I don't agree with Ed on everything, and I still see MSNBC in general as right-of-center on the ideological spectrum, when you factor in all of its shows. Some issues are off the table. I just can't buy into this idea that we've got to support everything Obama does, no matter what. Got to go with David Sirota on this one...

[dsharp88]

20. You have to admit Ed has been AWESOME in his WI covg.

His sledgehammer approach can grate on me sometimes, but he is admirably passionate for the rights of the working man.

[dennis4868]

2. This is crazy....

only crazy liberals would make this an issue...OBL is dead....THANK GOD!

[blackbart99]

22. I agree 10,000%......thank goodness he's dead....not god

God had nothing to do with it because he doesn't exist.:evilgrin: :thumbsup:

I believe in good and evil people...that's human nature....but I have never seen one ounce
of proof in God. The good people won this round so lets just let it go and be happy that
there is one less evil bastard in this world...Cheney's turn next....

[Dokkie]

4. There is a reason why I switch the channel

immediately he gets on the screen. Thank you David for exposing the rethug that is Ed Schultz. I guess you can take an ED out of the rethug but u cannot take the rethug out of the ed

[Slit Skirt]

29. their is a childish jealousy going on here

you would have to listen to sirota all the time to understand it. Sirota should be taken down a few notches..it would do wonders for progressive radio in Denver. David's hands aren't clean..he sided with the "the left does it too" bullshit during Stewart's rally

[kaffy4x4]

7. Sounds like a right wing conspiracty to me

Don't we get enough of this from the right? There is no doubt the guy is dead, so what else matters? Sirota and Oberman are wrong on this one.

[Hulk]

8. Ed has evolved into an egotistical fat ass...

I didn't care much for his show from the beginning....the "liberal version of rush limpballs". The guy thinks he is something special...he does the same thing to the working man that bush did to the military...uses them for backdrops, to further his own ambitions.

I can't listen to the guy anymore. Sorry. I just take a break on the radio between Thom Hartmann...and man I have a huge amount of respect for...and Randi Rhodes...a woman I have a great deal of respect for.

Ed is a hotheaded show boat. He likes to make himself out to be the working man's advocate, but he has morphed into the working man's parasite. Ed...get a f*cking life, and do what is right for the country and the working man...not what gets YOU a little recognition.

Loser. Not sure what the issue was..but once again, Ed shows himself to be a pompous prick....just like his nemesis, rush.

[gtar100]

34. A radio talk show host with an ego? Nooo!! Can't be.

[theFrankFactor]

10. Bush, Obama

Some people say "it's okay" when their team cheats or lies. Some people don't.

[deutsey]

12. +1

:thumbsup:

[blackbart99]

23. Nobody cheated or lied in this one...

OBL was fair game...period...end of story...he had to go.

Do you doubt that ?

[jerseyjack]

11. Summarizing Ed Schultz's argument (as I understand it)

The Attorney General told the president it was legal. Therefore, it was o.k. Does everyone support Bush on torture because John Yoo told him it was o.k.?

Schultz's second argument: Michael Moore should just shut up. That's the approach you take when you can't defend your argument.

[Dokkie]

13. +1000

[ellenfl]

26. the crux of it. ed has gotten a little bombastic for me but i

am still glad his voice is out there . . . most of the time. i don't care for his opening lecture, tho'. i watched every night when he was on at 6 but i don't watch him much at 10. i wonder if the time change has hurt him?

ellen fl

[JJW]

14. Journalists carrying koolaide or powerful

should have ended with Judith Miller. I canceled NYTs and Comcast cable. Not wasting my time listening to corporate sponsored propaganda.

[Mr. Sparkle]

15. ED all the way for me.

There are much more important topics to be discussing than the bin laden attack.

[Slit Skirt]

16. I heard this live...it was ridiculous

and afterwards Sirota licking his chops..and the day after too. Ed schultz screaming on his show...the two of them were so out of line, and egos exploding...man, I just couldn't believe it. THIS WAS PROGRESSIVE TALK RADIO??? yeah baby...kind of sounds a little childish doesn't it? You know when Schultz had his labor rally in DC, Sirota bad mouthed it. Then when Jon Stewart had his, Sirota started talking about how the right and the LEFT were both responsible for hate rhetoric. The old false equivalency ...he's trying to improve ratings. David is the kind of guy who prides himself reaching out to the right...while leaving the left behind

Progressives eating each other...aaaahh how sweet. Sirota used to have a good show..but now so much ego and "I am telling the truth"...yet that truth is VERY selective. One day he spent the entire morning talking about Charlie Sheen...I can't believe what has happen to progressive radio
Ed Schultz screaming about Pro Obama bullshit....and not to question...

That's why I love Thom Hartman period and I love Rachel. They are great progressives and great truth seekers....Amy Goodman too. They set the bar very high.

Sirota and Schultz need to grow up!

Let's hear it for the real progressives searching for the real truth

Japan anyone
how about Wisconsin
how about losing rights to unlawful search and seizure
How about Bradley Manning
iraq
afghanistan
gulf of mexico
bp
corporate take over
...and the hits just keep on coming

hey schultz and sirota...how about lending a hand to the progressive movement and the truth...got anytime for that????

[blackbart99]

24. Very well said....

:yourock: :headbang:

[certainot]

17. one thing ed understands better than sirota even though they are both in the biz , and

something most liberals (and michael moore) don't understand including most of those who analyze politics for a living, is that obama does not have the bully pulpit most of the time, that the cons do all the messaging in the sense that even when the left gets lucky most of it can get messaged over, and that much of the left evaluates obama's political actions and performance without a clue as to how dominant 1000 coordinated think tank fed radio stations are in media and politics the last 20 years.

the talk radio monopoly is the right's most important weapon and the left stupidly ignores it- it is basically an invisible weapon (that's why it's their best weapon) and for the left to continue to evaluate obama with no clue as to how dominant it was in swiftboating clinton gore kerry and many progressives on local and national levels, lying unto iraq, excusing the reagan and bush crimes, getting corporate lawyers on the supreme court, deregulating banks, keeping GOP pols in line, intimidating blue dogs and media, etc , and basically everything the right has done the last 20 years, while blaming fox (a tick on limbaugh's ass) is stupid.

so ed, with a better understanding of this fact (i have listened to sirota ignore the power of RW radio many times during stays in co) but who can also be a red neck egotistical jerk, i think is speaking from a broader context, as if liberals are stupid to expect a black man to walk into the white house and kick white billionaire ass all over the place.

[Slit Skirt]

18. i would agree with that...100%

you are right on about Sirota and Ed....I listen to both daily....but we should always question what is happening in our government...even with this administration.

[florida08]

19. I don't like this

Liberals should not be attacking each other over the death of OBL. Discussion? Ok, but not this. I saw the interview Mike Moore had with Piers Morgan. It was eloquent. Very postive and supportive of the president. He did however remind us about the lies of the Pentagon like Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman. He questions how they handled the reporting on the Bin Laden shooting as do I.

They say he resisted when there was no weapon in the room. Utterly pathetic to treat us as naive children. We know they went to execute him so just report that. Stop the inane pretension that somehow it was a remake of the OK Corral. We don't need that. There was gunplay and a heli crash. There was real danger for the navy seals. But they accomplished the task set before them without shock and awe. Am grateful for that.

I am very proud that we have liberals in our party that challenge us to choose the higher ground. I don't want to sink to the GOP level where anything goes. I understand why some Americans were joyful and why others moved to quiet relief. I had mixed emotions myself. Some would prefer he had been captured and put on trial. That would have been the ideal. But doesn't change the guilt of the al-Qaeda leader.

We should always push for the ideals we say we embrace. When we fail to reach them..there should be a warning from the public. That's what a democratic republic does. Reminds our leaders of our laws that they are suppose to be upholding. Bin Laden had convicted himself by admitting his invovlement in the attacks of that life changing day. The NSA and German intellignece also had evidence of communications between OBL and an associate in Pakistan discussing it. I don't believe Obama would have ordered it had he not believed he was directly involved with planning and financial support.

My relief is for the families of the victims. I stand with the president on his decision. I slso stand with those who want us to walk the walk. They are not at odds with each other. Obama wanted him brought to justice..unlike Bush who really didn't think about him anymore. What a slap in the face to the country. Justice may have been rerouted but was still served in the end.

You can watch MM here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkOSgSsNXwM&feature=player_embedded#at=83

[desertrat777]

25. Boulder Colorado AM760 listener response to David and Ed

David Sirota is a good progressive talk show host, and Ed Schultz has shown himself - notice my wording here - to be nearly as progressive. The thing about Ed Schultz is that he is able to reach a segment of our society that some more 'cerebral' talk show hosts can't. Yes, conservatives are often driven by fear, and they act out their fear, instead of use their noggins to do a structural analysis of the problem, as a research study recently showed. Yet Ed can reach out to the hunter sportsman working class patriotic types that often vote conservative, and I respect Ed for that.

That doesn't mean that I agree with everything Ed Schultz says. We do need to question government, including the Attorney General, and even the US Supreme Court. Especially the US Supreme Court. Just because they can declare corporations are people - what a bunch of hogwash - doesn't make it true or right or proper. All it proves is that our Supreme Court right now serves the ruling elite and their corporations, not the American People. But I digress. We need to question all government officials, no matter who they are. It is our duty to ensure that our officials and representatives serve us, the American People, and not just the rich and their multinational corporations that are plundering the planet these days.

Ed Schultz was being patriotic, IMHO, and that is something that a lot of Independents respect. Not that I agree that government officials must not be questioned or challenged. After all, they are our employees - and they all too often forget that these days. Well, okay, they have forgotten that for many decades. Oops. And we need to correct this problem. And what happened regarding the assassination of Osama bin Laden needs to be thoroughly questioned, not just for ourselves as Americans, but for everyone on the planet. It's a global village these days, you know.

David Sirota had a point, but he blew it by lambasting Ed Schultz, instead of discussing the issue. Maybe Ed made a mistake. I think that he did. But David Sirota blew it when he treated Ed Schultz in such a condescending fashion. He actually put Ed on hold like some crackpot caller. True, they were talking over one another at the same time, something that annoys me to no end. However, note that they were both doing this, and to put Ed on hold was rude and inconsiderate toward a man who should have been treated as an ally and a friend, instead of someone to ruthlessly attack. Sure, we can attack others, put others down, to make ourselves look better. "Hey, look, I'm better than him!" But that is a form of vanity. David Sirota accused Ed Schultz of changing sides to become more successful - I just remember when I was a kid. My parents were conservatives, and I had adopted their mindset, but one day, around 1970, during the Vietnam War, I realized it was all a bunch of hooey. I changed. People change. And just because people change, it doesn't mean that they are still the way they were. Now I am a lefty progressive Democrat.

So we are all human. Ed Schultz is human, and so is David Sirota. David did apologize a few minutes later.

But David Sirota does have a habit of interrupting callers before they have a chance to make their point. He latches on to the first few words spoken, and then righteously interrupts - even talks over - the poor caller, before they can finish their thought. On numerous occasions, I have perceived what the caller was trying to say, and it was other than what David was criticizing them for. This is not to David Sirota's credit, and for the record, not all talk show hosts do this. For example, Thom Hartmann lets callers go on and on - maybe even too much. But he lets his callers speak for a bit before responding. He respects his callers, even the crackpots or the callers from the conservative think tanks.

So there's my input regarding a very unpleasant experience for all concerned. Good luck, David Sirota, and good luck, Ed Schultz. We need you both, and we need you to apologize to one another and forgive one another. Because that is the American Way.

[democracy1st]

31. great post thanks I agree with you!

[Dookiestix]

27. I like David Sirota

But what he did here pissed me off. I'm not a big fan of Ed Schultz, but I thought progressives were smarter in regards to having a civil discourse in this country. Hell, Tom Hartmann can do it with all the many conservatives he has on his show. I like you, David, but you pissed me off on this interview. Perhaps less yelling would have actually lead to a more substantive debate. Us liberals/progressives are smarter than that.

[neoralme]

28. I agree with David Sirota here. I think blindly accepting the word

of any AG, let alone the one we have now, is idiotic. But, then, I can't stand Ed Schultz anymore, so I may be biased.

[TheEuclideanOne]

36. Yes, I think that you are biased.

I always lean toward disbelieving the guy who can not discuss an issue. If a person really is so correct, they would have no issues letting the other person state his point. If a person has to shut off the opponent's microphone, then they simply can not argue their point. Any idiot can win an argument when they don't let the other person speak.

[seabeyond]

30. this guy whoever he is is chicken shit. start with a long list of the issue. lets ed talk for sec

interupts then continues to talk over with accusationa nd has AUDACITY to put ed on hold so he can continue his speel

then like surprised he hung up

well

i dont think much of sirota

[donheld]

33. I'm sure Karl Rove is loving this