U.S. Growth Rate Picks Up to 2%

Sounds good, doesn't it?   We must be recovering, albeit slowly.  It is up to 2% from last quarter's 1.3% so it MUST be good. 

However, in spite of all the flourish of the New York Times, one finds in the 24th paragraph, the following:

"..... growth last quarter was unexpectedly bolstered by a 13 percent jump in military spending that few economists expect to be repeated in the fourth quarter.    Without the increase from military spending, the economy would have grown at an annual rate of 1.4 percent, said Steve Blitz, chief economist at ITG Investment Research."   [New York Times]

 Now, just how could that 13% jump in government spending just happen?  Come on you cynics.... it couldn't possibly have been done to juice the numbers in the quarter before the election.   ........... Could it?   [clipper]