Unemployment Down to 5.9% In September

Today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report on September hiring shows the economy added 248,000 jobs, bringing the unemployment rate down to 5.9 percent for the first time since July 2008.  In addition, the report revised upward August's weak jobs gain from 148,000 to 180,000, and July's from 212,000 to 243,000.  The report also means that business investment is increasing, and GDP growth will likely remain at 3 percent or above this year.

Republicans have been very successful -- and very dishonest -- about depicting the last few years as an economic disaster, with little or no pushback from Dem politicians, the Beltway media, or even the White House communicators.  That has to stop, particularly when the Rethugs want to make the 2014 mid-term elections about their distorted portrayal of the economy.  An increasingly robust economy and jobs numbers should be the Dems' biggest ally, if they would only spread the good news.