For the past 3+ years, Republicans have done everything within their power to prevent US economic recovery. The better the economy does, the greater the probability that Obama will be elected to serve a second term as President. Therefore Republicans have blocked almost every attempt Democrats have made to improve the economy, and what they haven’t blocked, they have watered down so much that it was less effective than it otherwise could have been. In spite of that, unemployment has fallen to 8.3% in the best jobs report we have had since Obama took office.

The United States economy gained momentum in January, as employers added 243,000 jobs, the second straight month of better-than-expected gains. And in a separate measure, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, giving a cause for optimism as the economy shapes up as the central issue in the presidential election. Measured by both the unemployment rate and the number of jobless — which fell to 12.8 million — it was the strongest signal yet that an economic recovery was spreading to the jobs market. The last time the figures were as good was February 2009, President Obama’s first full month in office. The report sent stocks up by over 1 percent in trading on Wall Street. The White House used the new numbers as a platform to appeal for an extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits. President Obama, speaking at a Washington-area firehouse to promote a jobs initiatives for veterans, warned that more help was needed and called on Congress to aid with the economic recovery… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Private industry actually did better than the 243,000 jobs, but that figure also counts the thousands of police, firefighters, teachers, and other state workers Republicans have fired to give more to millionaires, billionaires, and corporate criminals.

Cenk Uygur covers this story with attention to the disingenuous lies the Republicans are telling about it.

Republicans say "We could do a lot better"? How could reinstituting the same failed policies that caused the economy to collapse do better?