I must not understand what all the hub-bub (yes, I said hub-bub) is about the article in the original post, it is quite simply a rehash and summary of the beige book comments. It doesn’t really try to add anything just summarize what the beige book release says.

Now you may disagree with the beige book but that isn’t the AP’s fault.

http://www.federalreserve.gov/FOMC/Beigebook/2009/20090909/default.htm

The article is just a complete rehash of the above.