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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (10558)	10/3/2003 9:49:35 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793800

In its most provocative sentence, the article said, "A senior administration official said that before Novak's column ran, two top White House officials called at least six Washington journalists and disclosed the identity and occupation of Wilson's wife." No other news organization has managed to confirm that statement. John, I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that the statement is not true. The last sentence is a "Tell." I don't know how the Post reporters screwed up, but TWT.

To: JohnM who wrote (10558)	10/3/2003 11:20:39 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793800

How's this for a "Grudging" headline in the "New York Times?" Krugman must be gnashing his teeth. ____________________________________________ October 3, 2003 For First Time in 8 Months, U.S. Businesses Add New Jobs By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 9:42 a.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's unemployment rate held steady at 6.1 percent in September as businesses added to payrolls for the first time in eight months, suggesting a turnaround in the weak job market. A survey of U.S. companies showed a net increase of 57,000 jobs last month in wide-ranging industries, the Labor Department reported Friday, and there was new hope for recovery in the slumping manufacturing sector. Some 29,000 factory jobs were lost, but that was considerably fewer than in previous months. Economists had expected the overall civilian unemployment rate to rise to 6.2 percent, with a loss of 25,000 more jobs. ``This is potentially the key turning point,'' said Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors. ``It is really taking on the tone of a labor market that is finally getting over the hump. Indeed, this is what we need to create the confidence in both the household sector and the business sector that this recovery is real,'' Naroff added. Job losses in August, initially reported at 93,000, were sharply revised to 41,000, a positive sign, he said. People seeking work are not out of the woods yet, the latest report indicates. The number of jobless people looking for work for 27 weeks or more rose to 2.1 million last month. Also, people working part time because they can't find full-time work increased to nearly 5 million, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. The economy has improved in recent months, growing at a 3.3 percent rate in the second quarter of this year, with analysts predicting even more momentum in the current quarter, growing at a rate of 5 percent. But those improvements had failed to trickle down to the jobs market, until now. Companies have feared taking on the increased cost of new workers, relying on their existing employees to do more. Economists think companies will wait to see steady profits before going on a hiring spree. Amid signs of an economic rebound, the Federal Reserve last month decided to hold a key short-term interest rate at a 45-year low of 1 percent. Analysts think policy-makers will leave that rate unchanged again when they next meet, on Oct. 28. The weak hiring outlook could mean trouble for President Bush's re-election next year. The 10 Democrats vying to challenge him have latched onto the economy as a campaign issue, criticizing the administration for tax cuts they say have benefited the wealthy and failed to improve the lives of ordinary Americans. Bush is touting the job-creating power of small businesses as he looks to blunt news about an economy that is not generating enough jobs. He was meeting Friday with small business leaders in Milwaukee before giving a speech on the economy. Bush was to renew a call for six steps that he has said would build confidence among employers and strengthen the economy, ranging from health care measures, streamlined regulations and restrictions on medical lawsuits to a comprehensive energy plan, expanded trade and tax breaks. Bush also has challenged Congress to make recently enacted tax cuts permanent rather let them expire on schedule. In Friday's reports, manufacturing lost jobs for the 37th straight month, a record, although the pace of the hemorrhaging slowed. Construction employment was up for the month, with 14,000 new jobs. That sector has added jobs for seven straight months. In the services sector, professional and business services added 66,000 new jobs last month, with half of the gain occurring in temporary employment services. That gain is significant because analysts closely watch the sector for signs of a turnaround. Growing companies often will hire temporary workers before taking on commitments to full-time employees. Gains also were found in health care and social assistance; transportation and warehousing; and financial services. nytimes.com