MICHAEL BARONE:

Things are better than you think. Yes, I know, most Americans are in a sour mood these days, convinced that the struggle in Iraq is an endless cycle of bloodshed, certain that our economy is in dismal shape, lamenting that the nation and the world are off on the wrong track. That’s what polls tell us. But if we look at some other numbers, we’ll find that we are living not in the worst of times but in something much closer to the best.

Yes, and if we elect a Democrat to the White House we’ll hear a lot more about those good numbers . . . .

UPDATE: Some related thoughts here on good times and bad.