THE WSJ COMES THROUGH AGAIN

(h/t Eric Boehlert at Media Matters)

The WSJ admits again that the stimulus bill worked.

Stimulus Fueled Much of Expansion
OCTOBER 30, 2009
By JAMES R. HAGERTY and JON HILSENRATH

The U.S. economy would have turned in a far worse performance in the third quarter without help from the federal government.

More than one percentage point of GDP growth in the third quarter came from car sales, driven in a large part by the temporary "cash for clunkers" program. [REMEMBER HOW THE WINGERS SAID THIS WAS A FAILURE?]

Spending in the third quarter was also propped up by home building, which rose for the first time since 2005, by a whopping 23.4%, and contributed a half-percentage point to GDP growth.

But much of the housing revival reflects government efforts to push down mortgage rates, prevent or at least slow foreclosures, and reward home buyers with tax credits.