>Tom,
>
>>>...It is interesting to note that the returning strikers (who were out for about 5 months and received nothing for their efforts) comprise the largest single segment of “new jobs” created in March.
>
>Just curious... how many of the 300,000+ new jobs do you explain away as returning strikers? How many new jobs does that leave? Is that good or bad news? Seems to me like you're straining pretty hard to find something bad in the good news. :-)

But, David, I do think just throwing out a number is working hard to make good news where none may exist too!
How do we explain that there had been no on-going news items about the "improving" economy prior to the announcement? Do the people of Silicon Valley and Ohio agree that the job situation is getting good again? I would have thought that President Bush needn't have visited Ohio last week and focused on jobs if that had been the case.

I also find it exceedingly odd that the stock market had a great day as a result of the "news" about 300,000+ jobs being created. Wouldn't they have known about it first??? Wouldn't the stock prices have ALREADY reflected increased production/sales??? Some smells around here, and it ain't the cheese.

cheers