I stream Lionel, and listen to Press on a land (plug-in) radio. KPOJ has Lionel on on Saturday and Sunday nights, and do a local show at this time..

If, in his usual calm manner, Barack Obama and his campaign pick apart the Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, she will be history...

The fact is that, notwithstanding her family situation or, perhaps even TrooperGate, any reasonable centrist Independent or Democrat constituent would not, in good conscience, vote for a McCain/Palin ticket. McCain is making the same mistakes that Hillary Clinton (whom I admire very much by the way) made during the course of her campaign. They both underestimated the American public. Americans are more informed than ever. There is a critical mass of young, new voters merging with the more seasoned existing constituency that are just tired of what the Bush Administration has done to this country. They are excited by the rhetoric of Barack Obama, even after a grueling campaign against the most powerful and formidable political establishment family in the Democratic party, save the Kennedys. American exhaustion with Bush, the Republicans, and I would argue, McCain, goes beyond tangible debacles like Katrina, invasion of privacy considerations and FISA or even Osama Bin Laden and Iraq. These concerns, with little done right to counterbalance their negative effects, combined with an extended housing crisis, record deficits, the rise of China and gas prices have left most Americans (Democrat, Republican and Independent) with a sense of hopelessness. We feel dirty. Selecting a Vice-Presidential candidate that can, in the words of Fred Thompson, "field dress a moose" is going to do little to alay those feelings of sadness and despair.

America needs a bath. A good, cleansing bath. Sarah Palin is the flavor of the moment for the most die-hard in the Republican ranks. A closer look and the recognition that she cannot be sufficiently known in 60-odd days before the election will soon sink in to the rational American public. Barack Obama, Joe Biden and the Democratic party need to deliver that message...respectfully and deliberately. It needs to be transmitted again and again, ever more loudly as we approach the election until it rises to its crescendo and its inevitable strength - the truth SHALL set us free. She is not prepared, unvetted, and a hail Mary pass out of the Rovian Republican playbook. What else could she be? Largely unknown and untested, she is NO Hillary Clinton (did I mention that I admire Mrs. Clinton). Obama has done more during the administration of his campaign than Mrs. Palin has likely done during her time as mayor of Wasilla? or as Governor of the large, yet largely unpopulated state of Alaska. She is a wild card. From all accounts and external appearances she is an idealogue that will walk lock-step with John McCain on a march that will lead the spirit of Americans over the proverbial falls.

The McCain/Palin campaign is angry that the media and the liberal left seem to be attacking her. I think, for the most part, the country is asking questions because it DOES NOT KNOW this person who could be entrusted with running the country on two months notice - two months notice on the seeming whim of an elderly Senator. In the meantime, Mrs. Palin has hid (or been hidden by handlers) from the media ala Cheney. Whatever his status as a hero, John McCain represents the past and a United States that can no longer sustain its preeminence by standing still on old rhetoric, old policies or "moose-dressing". His judgment should be seriously called into question for making this pick in the first place and, equally as important, the manner in which it was handled. The right can get as emotional and fired up as it likes about Ms. Palin, who I believe is a good person. Being a good person does not qualify you to lead this country. Individual citizens need to be inspired to take an active role in the administration of this government because the hole that's been dug cannot be refilled by the next President or his adminstration alone. If, God forbid, Mr. McCain is forced by illness or worse to give up the presidency, Mrs. Palin should not be trusted in any way as a reasonable potential stand-by. The Obama/Biden team just needs to make that clear. Over and over again.

Hey kids,

After the show is done, I'd suggest taking a drive down University Avenue (catch it up behind the capitol building). Take it from St. Paul all the way to Minneapolis. You would definitely see a different population color scheme than the one found in Bloomington.

Even though a lot of it makes me cringe, said the native Californian, I'm totally loving your honest and off-the-cuff commentary about our fair city. And yes, I totally know that Mutant Walmart you are talking about down in Bloomington...

Sharon in Minnesota

Race and Ethnicity, 1990-2000
According to the 2000 census, Saint Paul’s total population grew by a modest 5.5% from 272,235 to 287,151 people.

Between 1990 and 2000, the population statistics for Saint Paul showed decreases, increases, and status quo population data:

The Caucasian population decreased from 81% to 64%.
The Asian population, primary comprised of Hmong and Vietnamese, increased from 7% to 12%.
Saint Paul’s Hmong population is one of the largest contingents of urban Hmong in the United States.
The African-American population grew from 7% to 11%.
The Latino population, the fastest growing population in the United States, grew from 4% to 8% in Saint Paul.
The Native American population remained constant at 1%.
Multiracial population data, for the first time in United States history, was gathered through the census and 3% of Saint Paul’s population declared themselves as multiracial.