Economy Creates 163,000 New Jobs but Rate Rises to 8.3%  —  The U.S. economy followed up a weak second quarter by creating more jobs than expected with 163,000 new positions added in July, but the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent.  —  Markets reacted positively to the announcement …

Porn star Jenna Jameson endorses Romney  —  “I'm very looking forward to a Republican being back in office,” Jameson said while sipping champagne in a VIP room at Gold Club in the city's South of Market neighborhood.  “When you're rich, you want a Republican in office.”

The Civil Rights Agenda files complaints against Chick-fil-A  —  Protesters at Chicago Chick-fil-A Aug. 1, 2012.  Photo: Tony Merevick.  —  The Civil Rights Agenda, a local LGBT rights advocacy group, filed multiple complaints with the Illinois Department of Human Rights Thursday …

Perry: Romney's VP pick won't make much difference  —  Aspen, Colorado (CNN) - The announcement of Mitt Romney's running mate won't do much to change the dynamics of the presidential race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday.  —  Perry said the running mate pick will likely grab headlines …

The Bad History Behind 'You Didn't Build That'  —  The controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's admonishment that “if you've got a business — you didn't build that.  Somebody else made that happen” has defied the usual election-year pattern.  —  Normally a political faux pas lasts little more than a news cycle.

Can Obama's “Chemical Warfare” Keep The White Vote Down?  —  John Ellis on the president's negative campaign.  Romney hasn't figured out an antidote.  —  Image by Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images  —  President Barack Obama's re-election campaign has spent more than $100 million on advertising over the last 3 months.

Harry Reid takes Romney tax-accusation campaign to Senate floor  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his jihad concerning Mitt Romney's personal finances to the chamber floor Thursday, repeating his unsubstantiated claim that the wealthy Republican paid no federal income taxes for 10 years.

The Life of the Party  —  What Bill Clinton could add to the Obama re-election effort.  —  From a friend watching the Olympics: “How about that Michael Phelps?  But let's remember he didn't win all those medals, someone else did.  After all, he and I swam in public pools, built by state employees using tax dollars.

Phil Bryant says it's ‘unfortunate’ church blocked black wedding (updated)  —  PHILADELPHIA, Mississippi — Gov. Phil Bryant said Thursday it is “unfortunate” that a predominantly white church in the state wouldn't allow a black couple to get married in its sanctuary.

Amtrak Lost $834 Million on Food in Last Decade, Audit Finds  —  WASHINGTON — Amtrak lost more than $800 million on its food and beverage services over the last 10 years, largely because of waste, employee theft and lack of proper oversight, government auditors have found.

Obama's problems in the South  —  Ever since his national debut at the 2004 Democratic convention, Barack Obama's calling card has been that he practices consensus-oriented politics that transcend traditional divisions.  But four years after his historic presidential election …

Why Muslims Must Hate Jews  —  Recently, a Pakistani religious leader, Pirzada Muhammad Raza Saqib Mustafai, said: “When the Jews are wiped out ... the sun of peace [will] begin to rise on the entire world.”  The same preaching is routinely done not only by clerics, but by politicians — in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and elsewhere.

Obama's Magic Number: 316,000  —  A rhetorical milestone appears to be in reach.  —  With three months to Election Day, today's tepidly positive July jobs report has prompted Republican attacks on an increased unemployment rate and relief from the Administration that it could have been worse.

New SuperPAC, FightBigotry.com, Smears President Obama For ‘Racism Against White Folks’  —  FightBigotry.com, a new Super PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission this week, makes no bones about its aim.  It intends to run an attack ad that it says will hit President Barack Obama for …

Sir John Keegan  —  Sir John Keegan, who has died aged 78, achieved an international reputation as a military historian, then discovered a talent for writing rapid analyses of international crises as the defence editor of The Daily Telegraph.  —  He had been on the teaching staff …