The GOP's Bernanke Letter  —  I'm not shocked by much any more, but I am shocked by this: the leaders of one of the great parties in Congress calling on the Federal Reserve to tighten money in the throes of the most prolonged downturn since the Great Depression.

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in August indicates that economic growth remains slow.  Recent indicators point to continuing weakness in overall labor market conditions, and the unemployment rate remains elevated.

The Warren announcement bump  —  Less than a week after formally launching her bid, Elizabeth Warren has leapfrogged Sen. Scott Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race, according to new polling Tuesday.  —  Public Policy Polling puts the race at 46 percent to 44 percent in favor of Warren …

A Grievous Wrong  —  Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday for the 1989 killing of a police officer in Savannah, Ga. The Georgia pardon and parole board's refusal to grant him clemency is appalling in light of developments after his conviction: reports about police misconduct …

Obama, at U.N., Explains Rationale for Opposing Palestinian Statehood Bid  —  UNITED NATIONS — President Obama declared his opposition to the Palestinian Authority's bid for statehood in the Security Council on Wednesday, throwing the weight of the United States directly in the path …

Barack Obama joins Open Government Partnership for group photo  —  U.S. President Barack Obama waves while standing with other leaders during the Open Government Partnership event at the United Nations September 20 in New York City.  The United Nations General Assembly kicks off September 21 …

In U.S., Significantly Fewer 18- to 25-Year-Olds Uninsured  —  Percentage of uninsured 26- to 64-year-olds increasing  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fewer young adults in the U.S. reported lacking health insurance coverage in each of the three quarters since the new healthcare law …

A Statement from Tony Bennett  —  A Statement from Tony Bennett (clarifying comments made on yesterday's Howard Stern program):  —  I am so grateful to be an American and as a World War II veteran, I was proud to fight to protect our values, which have made America the greatest country on the planet.

The math says Obama's speech was class warfare  —  “Middle-class families shouldn't pay higher taxes than millionaires and billionaires.  That's pretty straightforward.”  —  That's what President Obama said in his White House speech Monday on deficit reduction.  It was even more straightforward than he seemed to think.

Ron Paul says he'd consider putting Dennis Kucinich in his Cabinet  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) says he would consider putting the liberal congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) in his Cabinet if he wins the presidency in 2012.  —  Paul said his libertarian political philosophy helps him connect …

R.E.M. Break Up After Three Decades  —  Legendary rock band have ‘called it a day’  —  R.E.M. have announced that they have broken up after 31 years together.  “As lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band,” the band said in a statement on their official website today.

Romney calls for a tax policy that will help “us” in the middle class  —  MIAMI - Mitt Romney suggested Wednesday that he feels the pain of the middle class.  —  At a town hall meeting here, the millionaire GOP presidential contender told his audience that he favors a tax policy that will help …

Law gives huge pension perks to union leaders  —  In all, 23 expected to collect combined $56 million in their lifetimes  —  Dennis Gannon, then-president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, speaks with a bullhorn in April 2010 outside the Willis Tower as he joins around union members …

Shutdown?  House votes to reject short-term spending measure  —  The House on Wednesday afternoon surprised Republican leaders by rejecting a temporary spending bill allowing the government to operate through November 18.  —  The defeat was due to strenuous objections from Democrats …

National GOP Primary: Perry 28%, Romney 24%  —  As of now, the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary race is all about Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, with no other candidate reaching double-digit support.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey …

Palin suggests she'll make a 2012 decision by November  —  Sarah Palin seemed to give a November deadline for a decision on a 2012 bid.  —  Speaking to Sean Hannity on Fox News Tuesday night, Palin said there is still time but conceded that a deadline was rapidly approaching.

American Hikers Leave Iran After Prison Release  —  LONDON — Two Americans arrested while hiking along the Iran-Iraq frontier two years ago and sentenced to eight years for espionage were released Wednesday and left the country by plane, their families said in a statement.

Forbes: Koch Brothers Now Worth $50 Billion  —  Forbes: Koch Brothers Now Worth $50 Billion |  Forbes estimates that Tea Party petrochemical scions Charles and David Koch have a fortune of $25 billion each, making them the fourth richest Americans, behind only Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Larry Ellison.

Bill Clinton: No more taxes now  —  Former President Bill Clinton says now is not the time to hike taxes.  —  “I personally don't believe we ought to be raising taxes or cutting spending, either one, until we get this economy off the ground,” Clinton told Newsmax in an interview Tuesday.