Bernanke has no answers.

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — In a key speech on the economy Friday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke proposed no new steps to boost growth, but did hint that Congress may need to act to stimulate hiring and the economy.Link

US May Back Mortgage Refinancing...........

The Obama administration is considering further actions to strengthen the housing market, but the bar is high: plans must help a broad swath of homeowners, stimulate the economy and cost next to nothing.Link

Ron Paul Leaps Past Bachmann in Latest Poll.

Ignored by the media and dismissed by the Republican Party in general, liberty-minded Congressman Ron Paul leaped into third place today in the Gallup Presidential Nomination preference poll. Paul jumped over Michele Bachmann, the Tea Party darling/lunatic, relegating her to fourth-place in the current poll. Here's how the numbers shake out today.Link

'Missing' lager yeast discovered in Patagonia.

A fruit fly's journey from Patagonia to Bavaria could be the reason we enjoy nice, cold-brewed lager beers today. The missing parent of the hybrid yeast used for brewing lagers has just been discovered in Patagonia. Link

The Real Hostages.

Who are the hostage takers? To hear the Obama White House tell it, they are the Republicans, and perhaps some bankers. But the metaphor is a clunky one at a time when actual, live Americans are being held hostage by enemy countries.Link

Obama in Close Race Against..................

PRINCETON, NJ -- President Barack Obama is closely matched against each of four possible Republican opponents when registered voters are asked whom they would support if the 2012 presidential election were held today. Mitt Romney leads Obama by two percentage points, 48% to 46%, Rick Perry and Obama are tied at 47%, and Obama edges out Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann by two and four points, respectively.Link

Political Punch.

ABC News’ Luis Martinez (@LMartinezABC) reports: The cost of U.S. military intervention in Libya has cost American taxpayers an estimated $896 million through July 31, the Pentagon said today.Link

Loves Jon Huntsman but Ignores Ron Paul.

Jon Huntsman won't win the GOP nomination, or so pundits assure us. But he is getting press attention anyway because he decided to start telling his fellow Republicans truths that they don't want to hear. In quick succession, he trumpeted his belief in evolution, said climate change is caused by humans, and insisted that it was essential to raise the debt ceiling. Says James Fallows, "I'm relieved to see someone in the party trying to pull it back from the abyss." (Me too.) Andrew Sullivan goes even farther. "Huntsman has a prophetic role in this campaign if he chooses to adopt it: the truth-teller," he writes. "His chances are so slim, he loses nothing by speaking this candidly.".Link