Straight Talk from the Heartland : Tough Talk, Common Sense, and Hope from a Former Conservative

Rating:
Summary: aiming straight for the heart of this land
Review: Ed Schultz is conservative turned liberal talk radio host. His show is syndicated on over 30 affiliate stations in the United States and Canada. The cover of his book, Straight Talk From the Heartland, proclaims that his is the fastest growing talk radio show. Not being a talk radio listener, I missed out on the hoopla surrounding this guy. However, having read his book, I'm now interested in hearing what he has to say on a regular basis. In the midst of his at times bombastic ranting (a trademark of talk radio), Schultz displays a keen intellect and average-guy understanding of the socio-politic-economic realities of life in the 21st century world. Neocons will hate this book. Moderates will feel enlightened and emboldened. Liberals will enjoy the occasional pot-shots at Neocons and want more.

The book is divided into two parts. The first describes Schultz's transformation from hard-line conservative to left-of-center talk radio host. He outlines the events that brought him to his current ideology and lays out criticism of leaders on the Left and the Right, but mainly the Right. The second part is Schultz's vision of what holds us together as a country and how these "pillars" are becoming unstable. At the end of each pillar section, he reiterates his main points, making this a handy crib sheet for those who may not wish to read them in detail.

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Summary: THIS IS A BOOK OF TRUTH, AND IT WILL SET YOU FREE !!
Review: Ed Schultz is not only a straight talker, he offers his readers a viable argument for political change in America. The book is brutal in its honesty, and doesn't mince words in a politically correct way. Common Sense, a characteristic that seems to have been lost by a majority of the electorate-at-large, is the core of the remdies offered in this book. As a longtime student of the United States Constitution, I applaud Mr. Schult for putting the "we" back into WE THE PEOPLE.... The Radical/Reactionary Right has chosen to forget that WE, is by its very definition, a word which praises diversity and multiplicity. The Neocon Right does not possess the monopoly on truth, and has forgotten the meaning of the word justice. The tragic result of this type of myopic politics from the Neocons, is the eroding of, through CYNICALLY manufactured fear, the fundamental common sense understanding of American Liberty we Americans were taught in Civic and Government classes, thereby permitting the clouding of the real issues facing the nation. Mr. Schult reminds his readers of the political damage already rendered by the Right Wing Charlatans. STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE HEARTLAND provides the Progressives of America, and those who would embrace the agenda of the Progressives, a clear argument to reject the Neocon Right's NONSENSE, DRAPED IN SUPPOSED RIGHTEOUSNESS, and exposes it for what it is; SELF-SERVING FEAR MONGERING, DESIGNED TO ROB THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS! This book is must reading for those seeking clearly and passionately written political truth. Rest assured, THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

Rating:
Summary: Driving Left of Center toward the breakdown lane.
Review: Ed Shultz is on the right track but does not follow thru with many ideas like the voting machines. Seems to be friendly with beef growers as he sends out steaks on his show and never addresses the serious problem of Mad Cow Disease. The book seems to miss many major points. Definitely not written by an intellectual person or one who deeply understands the issues. Completely misses the point on Colin Powell and his nespotic behavior. Disappointing all in all.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, and just what you expect from Big Ed.
Review: I loved this book. It's written the way Big Ed speaks. Is it the most intelligently-written book of the year? NO! Is it filled with fact-based opinion? YES! Is it true that many people said that a "progressive" radio show would never make it on the air today? YES! Did Big Ed prove them wrong? YES! He continues to prove them wrong every week as he adds new markets.
It is important for all progressive Republicans and conservative Democrats to know that this is a man who spent years living his life (professionally and personally) as a Conservative. He refers to himself as a "recovered conservative." In my opinion, this sets him apart from many others...he speaks with a different authority. He knows the talk, and he has walked the walk. He has seen the light, and wants to guide us to the light of Progressive America.
Give the book a try. You will definitely learn something.

Rating:
Summary: Left out some imporant stories
Review: I thought this book was okay, but it would have been more educational if he would have included some background on his experience with near-death experiences involving Jack Daniel's bottles or actual death experiences involving the slaughtering of hunting dogs.

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Summary: A surprisingly thoughtful look at America's challenges.
Review: I underestimated Big Eddie. I got this book because I'm a fan of his radio show, and what I got is a thoughtful discussion of America's promise, and how the Bush administration letting us down.

The first part of this book is Ed patting himself on the back, and he owes himself a certain amount of that. After all, his show is currently on a trajectory that dwarfs Rush Limbaugh's early years, putting him on track to become the biggest voice in progressive talk radio.

The second part of his book is where you find the real meat: this is where Schultz talks about what progressives need to do to save America.

Schultz's America is one where we all have four responsibilities: (1) Defend America, (2) Keep the Economy Sound, (3) Feed the Nation, and (4) Educate America. The problem, according to Ed, is that we're not doing any of these things. Ed discusses each of these responsibilities and how we're not fulfilling them in detail. Take "Defend America" as an example: the Bush administration makes a show of doing this with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, when in fact what he's doing (according to Schultz) is weakening the military and undermining the troops while the real front lines in the war on terror -- homeland security and understanding the enemy -- go unaddressed. This isn't anything that you don't already hear from Chomsky and Biafra, but Schultz is plain-spoken and disarming, and his message has a much greater impact on the reader as a result.

Readers of Moore and Franken may find this a refreshing approach to the matter of progressive politics. Fans of George Lakoff's book "Don't Think of an Elephant" will find Big Eddie's book very instructive as an example of a great frame.

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Summary: The Prairie Populist-The People's Rush
Review: Makes a great gift for independent-minded friends

Big Eddie, radio sportscaster and talk-show personality, starts out by telling his own story of political growth from a typical loudmouth know-it-all right-winger to a gregarious as ever compassionate populist. It was his "date" in the form of a visit to a Salvation Army homeless shelter run by his girlfriend and wife to be that opened his eyes. I suppose we all know right wingers who are genuinely kindly as real live human beings in normal life, but have seldom listened to their better angels when it comes to their politics. It was the touch of conscience that started his transformation which occurred that night when he saw with his own eyes how misfortune can wreak havoc on the lives of veterans, disabled people and otherwise normal decent folks.

He goes on to explain the trials and tribulations of getting a nationally syndicated liberal talk-radio program off the ground. In spite of the fact that nearly half the country leans in the liberal direction-it was stills the common wisdom of the media that no one wanted to listen to liberals on talk-radio. So, he had to prove them wrong. And he did. Part of the problem according to him is that few radio professionals had taken up the cause. With his lifelong broadcasting career-he was perfect for the job.

Most of the rest of the book contains his well researched and factually based analysis of the major problems facing America today which he describes as the four pillars. They include; defending America, sound economy, feeding the nation and education. He gives special attention to how saving the family farmer and feeding the hungry can work together. He's no intellectual elitist; just a bright, well-read ordinary guy with a lot of common sense.

We have all heard the media represent liberals as out-of-the-mainstream and out-of-touch-- even when they win elections. Big Eddie blows that double-talk right out of the water with his earthy prose and down-to-earth straight talk; just like progressive populist we have all known all our lives.

Some have accused Ed Shultz of being a "Rush copycat". To be perfectly honest; he does sound a little bit like him and his style is not totally dissimilar. However, whereas Rush just makes things up and invents facts out of thin air; Big Eddie actually has his facts down pat 99% of the time and admits it when he gets it wrong. Just as importantly, Ed Shultz actually knows ordinary people in the heartland and knows the real world firsthand. This is a world far from Limbaugh's world of celebrity friends, the three-star restaurants of London, Paris and San Francisco, the finest French wines and expensive Cuban cigars.

(...)

Rating:
Summary: Neocons are obviously afraid of this guy.
Review: The neocons are running scared. Their lies and agenda driven propoganda have been unchallenged on the airways, until now. For twenty years plus, the neocons have been assemblng an infrastructure on TV and radio to brainwash America with their divisive, extremist, fear-driven agenda. Talking points and spin zones have passed for "news" though they have no basis in truth. Finally, the real voice of America, the progressive voice, based upon true democratic principles and values will be heard. Big Ed is finally here. He will be heard and he will be believed because he tells the truth (unlike the Bushies who view lying as a justifiable tool), because he speaks for working men and women (as opposed to Bush's wealthy cronies), because he supports real moral values like justice and equality (unlike George Bush, the divisive bigot), and because he understands that America ought to be a respectful, inspiring world leader (not an imperialist, self-serving one). Listen to this guy. He is the real deal. The neocons know it and, like all cowardly bullies, they're running scared.

Rating:
Summary: RUSH COPYCAT
Review: This guy is your basic dime store liberal mouthpiece. I've listened to the radio show a number of times and its 100% rip off of the Limbaugh show. The guy copies Limbaugh's voice, laugh, manerisms, merchandise, etc. What appears to have happened is the guy went to some type of conservative radio convention when he was on that side and tried to kiss up to Limbaugh and was totally ignored. Now he's attempting this "turn liberal" stunt to somehow get even in his feeble mind. The book is exactly along the same lines there is nothing new if you've heard the show even a few times. Bottom line: if you want to be on the winning team listen to and read Limbaugh. There is a good reason why the world of Michael Moore and Dan Rather tactics has been a loser for more than 10 years now.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding and LONG Overdue!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Wow, the right wing hate machine has even managed to puke out its lies in this list of reviews. How could anyone rate this book as a 1 star? Instead take your dishonest opininions back to your call ins to the Shawn Hannity show, and continue to get your moral talking points from great moral leaders like Oreilly and Gingrich. This book is long overdue. There is a reason his show is exploding in growth like no other talk show in history. Ed Schultz isn't buying his success by paying radio stations to air his program like Oreilly, and he doesn't have right wing corporations flooding money into booksales to get him on the bestseller list. Finally the truth from a real American. Thank you Ed Schultz.