Unemployment is down. Hiring is up. What's not to like?
Well, if you're a conservative dedicated to painting all things Obama in the most unflattering light, the latest labor stats are yet more proof that the president is simply incapable of doing his job.
"We can do better," declared GOP front-runner Mitt Romney. "These numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery."
The economy added 243,000 jobs in January, far more than economists expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%, the lowest in three years. The high-salary professional services industry added 70,000 jobs, the most in 10 months. Manufacturing added 50,000, the most in a year.
Is that good enough to turn things around right away? Not by a long shot. As things stand, it'll take years to return the U.S. to full employment. But isn't it time to give a little credit where credit's due?
The trend line is clear: Things are improving. Maybe not as fast as we'd all like, but at least we're moving in the right direction.
If the Republicans have a magic formula that would make things move even quicker (other than deficit-ballooning tax cuts), let's hear it. Otherwise, man up and acknowledge that the sun's in fact starting to come out from behind all those dark clouds.
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Well, if you're a conservative dedicated to painting all things Obama in the most unflattering light, the latest labor stats are yet more proof that the president is simply incapable of doing his job.
"We can do better," declared GOP front-runner Mitt Romney. "These numbers cannot hide the fact that President Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery."
The economy added 243,000 jobs in January, far more than economists expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%, the lowest in three years. The high-salary professional services industry added 70,000 jobs, the most in 10 months. Manufacturing added 50,000, the most in a year.
Is that good enough to turn things around right away? Not by a long shot. As things stand, it'll take years to return the U.S. to full employment. But isn't it time to give a little credit where credit's due?
The trend line is clear: Things are improving. Maybe not as fast as we'd all like, but at least we're moving in the right direction.
If the Republicans have a magic formula that would make things move even quicker (other than deficit-ballooning tax cuts), let's hear it. Otherwise, man up and acknowledge that the sun's in fact starting to come out from behind all those dark clouds.
RELATED:
Economy adds more jobs, but are they good jobs?
Unemployment rate falls to 8.3%; fifth straight monthly decline
Consumer Confidential: Airline gossip, Facebook stats, Madonna
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