Super Laura?

On Saturday nights, when most have already packed it in, one woman's still fighting. Should we call her Super Laura? Rallying the RadioNation each Saturday and Sunday.

Taking on 2004's stolen election, or reminding you of 2000's questionable selection, she is there, on the air. Addressing the issue of what does voting mean, "If our votes don't count, aren't counted, or are counted for the other guy?"

Puncturing a hole in the gas bags (example: Lou Dobbs), armed with reality, or charting the course of the exotic but lethal species known as Pacifica and FAIR, she brings to the mike experience. Now she's teamed up with The Nation and is in the midst of a national tour to prove the country not a simplistic "blue" or "red" but differing shades of purple. (Next week, Seattle.)

On air, she asks the questions you wished would be asked. Such as Saturday, when Republican Bruce Fein, a former Bully Boy booster, was on to discuss the damage fearful leader had done. Noting an e-mail that had been sent to her during the program, she gave voice to the woman's concern: why did the woman, a self-identified "housewife," know the Bully Boy would lead us down a perilous path when the presumed expert only came to that conclusion much later?

Fein joked that the woman should think of becoming a punidt, then he attempted to explain that he'd never feel guilty for having faith or hope or whatever it was he felt from or saw in the Bully Boy. The question, from an average listener, seemed to leave him flustered. Flanders wasn't rude to her guest but she also didn't attempt to rescue him so he could avoid answering the question. (We can picture Cokie Roberts chorteling at the pundit joke and saying, "Let's move on.")

Saturday, she addressed Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" with Ann Waldman, Eliott Katz and Greg Palast -- as well as the the role of the arts in politics.

That's the show, wide ranging, reflecting her own diverse interests (and many a listener's as well). Never afraid to address the big issues or to zone in clearly on individual responsibility, she just may be hosting the best commercial radio program there is -- aided by the strong contributions of Steven Rosenfeld and Christabel Nsiah-Buadi.

Super Laura? She'd probably reject the idea. Her slogan is "Don't leave politics to the politicians." To "Super Laura," she'd probably reply, "Don't give me your power, own it and use it yourself."

RadioNation with Laura Flanders (seven to ten p.m. Saturdays and Sunday on Air America Radio) today features:

Progressive Democrat MARCY WINOGRAD will be our guest, She's waging an upstart primary campaign against California Congresswoman Jane Harmon.