Action Point with Cynthia Black 03-16-2008: The Reference Shelf

Today's article and item links:

• POLITICS: NATIONAL: CAMPAIGN 2008: The Violent Vision of Mccain's Newest Mentor: from Jeffrey Feldman:

  Parsley's views on Islam are just one aspect of his much larger violent vision--which focuses on the violent conflict between Christianity and what he calls 'secularism.' To read Parsley's violent language as he encourages his readers to join the so-called 'war' is to come face-to-face with the violent rhetoric John McCain will tolerate--even encourage--to win votes in November.

• PERSONAL SECURITY: NSA Domestic Spying Grows:

  The central role the NSA has come to occupy in domestic intelligence gathering has never been publicly disclosed. But an inquiry reveals that its efforts have evolved to reach more broadly into data about people's communications, travel and finances in the U.S. than the domestic surveillance programs brought to light since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

• INTERNATIONAL: Petraeus: Iraqi Leaders Not Making 'Sufficient Progress':

  Many Iraqi parliament members and other officials acknowledge that the country's political system is often paralyzed by sectarian divisions, but they also say that American expectations are driven by considerations in Washington and do not reflect the complexity of Iraq's problems.

• ECONOMY:Forget Spitzer, fire Bernanke:

  In essence, this is a US$200 billion facility that is being misapplied to rescue a specific part of the financial system at a preferential rate, and without any disclosure required on usage. Given all this, it is impossible for anyone to expect that the ultimate cost of this facility will not be borne by US taxpayers;

  AND: from Greg Palast Eliot’s Mess:

  While New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was paying an ‘escort’ $4,300 in a hotel room in Washington, just down the road, George Bush’s new Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke, was secretly handing over $200 billion in a tryst with mortgage bank industry speculators;

  AND:Economy Hammered by Toxic Blend of Ailments:

  “We have to be careful about what medicines we throw at this, whether it’s stimulus packages or a bailout,” said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Company. “A lot of what we are dealing with is a solvency problem. We need to let the system wash it out.”

• NO COMMENT: Bush says if younger, he would work in Afghanistan:

  "I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."

  "It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," Bush said.

• FUN, WEIRD & COOL: Lawrence Welk vs. The Hippies My favorite of this collection is the send-up of Lou Reed's 1960's “Sister Ray”!

  Thirty years before American Idol, parts of America were still uncomfortable with the very idea of rock songs even appearing on television, especially during Welk's squeaky-clean song and dance show. And since The Lawrence Welk Show ran for three decades, these videos suggest the ultimate long, strange trip. They're a window in time, capturing a bizarre never-world where the hour-long show actually surrendered happily to the coming onslaught of rock:

  Hat-tip to Freedom's Phoenix.

• NEW!! JOIN THE SHOW ON SUNDAY'S with NEW LIVE CHAT!! Voice of Arizona now hosts Action Point on it's 50 state online network, Voice of North America! Log on, join in!! Thank you VOA!!