OH, AND THEN THERE'S THAT – AT 8:56 A.M. ET:  In the midst of the Mideast convulsion, we have a new jobs report, and it isn't good.  From Bloomberg:

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose more than projected last week, showing scant improvement on the outlook for jobs.

Jobless claims increased 15,000 in the week ended Sept. 8, the biggest gain in almost two months, to 382,000, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 50 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 370,000 claims. Tropical Storm Isaac resulted in about 9,000 applications for benefits, the agency said.

The job market is cooling as a global slowdown and looming U.S. tax policy changes keep businesses hesitant about hiring. Persistent unemployment, a “grave concern” according to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, is a focus for policy makers today as they meet to consider whether new steps are needed to boost the world’s biggest economy.

COMMENT:  There aren't many of these reports left before the election.  But we have warned that some crisis could come along to take the spotlight off the economy and give Obama a boost.

Hmm.

Not sayin' anything, just askin'. 

There will be, at the end of this month, another report on job creation, and there's no reason to expect it to be good.  In fact, I cannot think of any reason, based on results, to re-elect our current president.  Can you?  But the media can.  And some of the constituent interests in the Democratic Party can.  And don't underestimate that combination.

September 13, 2012