Game over?

THE JOBLESS rate is down to 8.8 percent, the lowest in two years. Odds are good it will drop to 8% or lower by late 2012. Experts say is the economy is definitely growing. The pollsters say public perception is growing that things are getting better, and that upward trend is likely to continue. Pundits can debate ad nauseam about the quality of the potential Republican presidential field (the weakest in decades), Sarah Palin’s impact (will she or won’t she?) or the live political IEDs that still litter Mr. Obama’s path (Libya, etc.) to the next election. It’s still the economy, stupid. Barring the apocalypse or alien invasion, President Obama’ re-election in 2012 is a near certainty. Anything else you hear is just noise.