Morning Journal-NFP a blow out number

Economics
This Week’s Data

January nonfarm payrolls grew 243,000 versus expectations of +125,000; the unemployment rate dropped to 8.3%. This was a gangbusters number: prior months were revised up, the total workforce grew and hours worked increased.

Politics
Domestic

Ann Coulter considers Romneycare (medium):
http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-02-01.html

An inside look at Obama from my favorite progressive (short):
http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/02/what-does-obama-do-all-day/

More from Andrew McCarthy on the republican establishment (medium):
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/289905/big-government-republicans-andrew-c-mccarthy

And if think the above two articles are derisive of our political class, read this (medium):
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/mike-krieger-explains-why-its-leadership-stupid


International

A United States of Europe? (long):
http://www.alternet.org/economy/153951/united_states_of_europe_what_it_will_take_to_save_the_continent_from_economic_collapse/

News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

More earnings per share reports:

Reported Expected

NuSkin Pharmaceuticals $.76 $.72
Mastercard 4.03 3.93

Steve Cook received his education in investments from Harvard, where he earned an MBA, New York University, where he did post graduate work in economics and financial analysis and the CFA Institute, where he earned the Chartered Financial Analysts designation in 1973. His 40 years of investment experience includes institutional portfolio management at Scudder, Stevens and Clark and Bear Stearns. Steve's goal at Strategic Stock Investments is to help other investors build wealth and benefit from the investing lessons he learned the hard way.