I think the thing to look at there is the rapidity with which the employment trend reversed under Obama as compared to Bush. And the steadiness of the increase despite, arguably, a much worse global economic environment. And of course Krugman isn't really trying to credit Obama for the job growth, so much as point out that claims that the bail-out, stimulus, and the ACA would KILL jobs, which they clearly DID NOT. The stimulus, in fact, is likely a big part of the rapid reversal of the employment trend early in Obama's Presidency.

I do like your chart, though. Really shows the hole we found ourselves in.