You can go here to get the podcast of today's show. I beleive they do charge a small fee.
http://www.bigeddieradio.com/...
I'd like to provide a condensed version of the interview below the flip:
Let's just say I wasn't overly encouraged by Reid's comments.
Ed hit Reid pretty hard on Iraq and the new funding bill that Bush wants.
Reid initially stated that he didn't have the votes, especially in light of Sen. Johnson's illness. Reid's initial statements were very telling. He said the initial funding they caved on was to "support the troops." So not only have they bought the Republican mantra, they parrot it at every chance. This is exactly what Rahm Emanuel stated on Bill Maher's show a few weeks ago. The funding bill they caved on was to "support the troops."
Maher countered brilliantly saying "yeah, they have better equipment in which to get killed in."
So, Reid is essentially saying that better equipping our troops in the middle of a civil war based upon lies is more supportive than actually bringing them home to their loved ones and safety.
Ed cut to the chase and stated they didn't need to bring anything to the floor, just cut-off the funding. Reid stammered around but basically said he and Feingold were working on a bill to pull troops out by next summer.
Ed asked again, "why not just cut-off the funding"? Reid said withdrawl can happen but it has to be done the "right way". Reid stated that he wants to leave troops there for security and "counter-terrorism" measures. Essentially, it's still war but on a much smaller scale.
Reid even mentioned that no one would consider Feingold "weak" and he agress with leaving some troops in Iraq. Very telling in Reid using the word "weak". Obviously, this message has gotten through to Reid.
Reid has no intention of a full withdrawl. Ed stated that the American people were firmly behind the Dems if they chose to cut-off funding. Much like Pelosi's impeachment, full withdrawl is off the table.
A later caller to the show stated {quite correctly} that anything Reid and Feingold cook up will just be vetoed by Bush and the whole charade starts all over again.
Reid stated emphatically that they will not send Bush a clean bill for Iraq funding.
{I'll believe it when I see it.}
Ed questioned him on Iran and the drumbeat to more war.
Reid said he only supported designating the Republican Guard as terrorists. I'm almost positive he said "Republican Guard." Reid rambled on about how Bush needs to utilize diplomacy instead of sabre rattling. I wished Ed would have pressed him further on it because we know for certain Bush isn't interested in diplomacy. However, because of time constraints or whatever, Ed didn't press it.
After the interview, this was overwhelmingly the topic of choice on the show. How the Iranian drumbeat is so closely mirrored to the Iraqi drumbeat. As of right now, I heard nothing from Reid that had even an inkling that he'd stand in the way of an attack on Iraq.
Ed questioned him on S-Chip and the fires in CA. Reid stated they would not change S-Chip, it stays as drafted.
In my summation, I believe Reid is far behind the curve of what the American people want though he knows there's lot's of anger and frustration out there. Ed told him that the majority want Bush stopped, stood up to, the war de-funded, etc. In my estimation there's more to this than the fear of soundbites. The Dems are going to continue to play the same game: Time-lines, troop drawdowns, etc. Bush will have none of it. It's a matter of who blinks first and we all know how that'll end up.