I know setting up big Eddie in this group is an easy target, and I can anticipate many of the responses.
For some reason, Schultz has been putting Republicans on his radio show--recently it was Duncan Hunter and today Ted Olson (as a representative for Rudy).
I can imagine scenarios where putting right wingers on Air America or other progressive talk radio might serve a useful purpose, but what I heard today was just stupid.
I know that Ed Schultz is not the most progressive talk show host on liberal radio. He has, however, been able to develop his national presence, both on the radio and on TV. He has a demonstrative style that can be forceful and effective and he doesn't back down from anyone from the right. He is part liberal, part populist, part PT Barnum, and part good ol' boy. He's not my favorite, but he does present a different perspective and I think he has a place in the liberal media continuum. I actually think he does good interviews -- he doesn't soft pedal his questions and he doesn't allow his subjects to ignore direct questions and lapse into talking points--at least not the Democrats.
Having republicans on his show is not necessarily a bad thing either--two of the most frequent guests on Jon Stewarts show are John McCain and Bill Kristol, so I can't single out Ed. Schultz's justification for the Olson interview was that he is on location in NH and he will "talk to anyone who will stop by."
What disappointed me the most was that he just let Hunter and Olson present their canned remarks without any challenge at all. You don't have to be confrontational, but, on a liberal station there should at least be some substantive interaction. I found myself listening incredulously as Olson went into a full-blown stump speech for Rudy--did this guy even know what show he was on?? I don't think the Air America audience was really all that interested in hearing how Rudy would appoint more justices like Scalia, Thomas, and Alito.
Ed, if I want to hear unchallenged wingnut drivel, I can just shift one station down for Air America Right or a couple of stations away for Fox News talk. Given that we have a handful of media outlets and they have 1000, I don't see why Ted Olson should be getting an open mike.