The Ed Schultz Show

The Ed Schultz Show:Broadcasting from the heart of America in Fargo,
The Ed Schultz Show debuted on January 5, 2004, and is now heard on
close to 50 markets across the nation.
(03/22/2006 ) Bush Says U.S. Troops Will Stay in Iraq Past '08:
President Bush acknowledged yesterday that the war in Iraq is dominating
nearly every aspect of his presidency.
Bush said that American forces will remain in Iraq for years and it will be up
to a future president to decide when to bring them all home.Bush said the "trauma"
of war has left the public and even some lawmakers in his own party understandably
shaken and skeptical of his vow that the United States will prevail. Bush said,
"Nobody likes war. It creates a sense of uncertainty in the country."
Bush Rejects Calls to Change: Bush rejected calls to change the U.S. military
strategy or shake up the White House staff. Bush rejected calls for the resignation
of Defense Secretary Donald RumsfeldBush said, "Listen, every war plan looks
good on paper until you meet the enemy." Bush did not rule out bringing aboard
a veteran Washington operative to help soothe relations with an increasingly restive
Republican Congress. Aides said the move may happen soon. Bush said, "I'm not
going to announce it right now." Polls show less than 40 percent of Americans
approve of the Bush presidency. Polls also say a growing number no longer trust him.
Bush Dismisses Republican Criticism: Bush dismissed the rising chorus of
Republican criticism as election-year jitters. Bush said, "There's a certain unease as
you head into an election year."
On Troops Coming Home: Bush said he would call home the 130,000 U.S.
troops in Iraq if he was not confident about his victory plan. Asked if a day will
come when there are no U.S. troops there, Bush said "that will be decided by
future presidents and future governments of Iraq." Bush on Civil War Bush said
he disagrees with former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, a man who had been
handpicked by his administration, and others who say that the country is already
engaged in a civil war in which dozens of people are killed each day. Bush said,
"The way I look at the situation, the Iraqis took a look and decided not to go to
civil war." Nearly 4 out of 5 people, including 70 percent of Republicans, believe
civil war will break out in Iraq, according to a recent AP-Ipsos poll.
Bush on Censure: Bush dismissed as "needless partisanship" calls by
Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI, to censure the president for authorizing the secret
National Security Agency spying program, which involves eavesdropping on
U.S. citizens. Telegraphing the GOP's election plan to portray Democrats as weak
on terrorism, Bush dared his opponents to campaign in the 2006 elections on a
platform that includes eliminating the spying program. Bush said, "They ought to take
their message to the people and say, 'Vote for me, I promise we're not going to have
a terrorist surveillance program.'" Bush also taunted Democrats who opposed the
reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act: "If that's what the party believes, they
ought to go around the country saying we shouldn't give the people on the front
line of protecting us the tools necessary to do so." No Democrat has made such a
statement. Bush Speeches on Iraq Continue: Wednesday, Bush continues his tour
of speeches on Iraq in Wheeling, WV. White House officials are hopeful that the
communications offensive by Bush will stop the decline that has sunk his job
approval ratings to the lowest levels of his presidency. Some military analysts said
they were skeptical because Bush has not announced any new policies in his news
conference or in his speeches.