Thursday's Opinions: Don’t let the naysayers fool you: This is the best period in recent U.S. history

Donald Trump may find a place in history — by losing just that badly; For Democrats, defeating Donald Trump isn't enough; Most Americans don't like the death penalty, right? Wrong.; Trump tries to make the Old Post Office great again; Are libel laws rigged against Trump? Yes, on purpose.; How should we measure economic progress?; In pop culture, there are no bad police shootings; Drop the death penalty for Dylann Roof; The Obama administration rewards repression in Bahrain; Destitution in Central America can't mean a suspension of border security in the United States; What do Post readers’ choices for 2016’s ‘most memorable’ quotes say about the election?; Happy Hour Roundup; Eight reasons Donald Trump will be remembered as the ultimate cable-news candidate; News outlets support Margaret Carlson following report that she assisted Clinton-connected consulting firm; The fallacy of reducing costs by subsidizing expensive things; Trump voters already know the election will be rigged against him. This new poll proves it.     Richard Drew / AP Gerald S. Rose Don't let the naysayers fool you: This is the best period in recent U.S. history The nation isn't in free fall — far from it. Read more » Latest Columns   George F. Will Donald Trump may find a place in history — by losing just that badly Hillary Clinton's win could be a major deviation from the usual patterns of presidential elections. Read more »     E.J. Dionne Jr. For Democrats, defeating Donald Trump isn't enough Democrats hope that as voters reject Trumpism, they'll reject down-ticket Republicans, too. Read more »   Charles Lane Most Americans don't like the death penalty, right? Wrong. A proposition to abolish California's death penalty has uncertain prospects. Read more »     Dana Milbank Trump tries to make the Old Post Office great again It's an apropos setting for the candidate's new hotel, because Trump is mailing it in. Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Bruce W. Sanford Are libel laws rigged against Trump? Yes, on purpose. The GOP nominee has a lot to lose by following through on his threats to sue his accusers. Read more »     Robert J. Samuelson How should we measure economic progress? The notion of devising a single number that gauges "progress" is a potentially dangerous pipe dream. Read more »   In pop culture, there are no bad police shootings Movies, television and novels have trained audiences to excuse almost any police shooting. Read more »   Editorial Cartoons Tom Toles Ann Telnaes Obamacare got an annual checkup, and they found something Watch Ann sketch Donald Trump Seems to be chronic. Watch a short video of the cartoonist sketching Trump and see the final drawing.   ADVERTISEMENT   The Post’s View Drop the death penalty for Dylann Roof Killing the accused church gunman won't help Charleston. By Editorial Board  •  Read more »   The Obama administration rewards repression in Bahrain Is this the kind of ally America wants? By Editorial Board  •  Read more »   Destitution in Central America can't mean a suspension of border security in the United States Underage migration has spiked to 2014 levels, an ominous sign for the next president. By Editorial Board  •  Read more »   Latest Blogs What do Post readers’ choices for 2016’s ‘most memorable’ quotes say about the election? "Grab them by the p---y" and "basket of deplorables" show the two major-party candidates going low, while Michelle Obama goes high. By Molly Roberts  •  PostPartisan  •  Read more »   Happy Hour Roundup Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion. By Paul Waldman  •  The Plum Line  •  Read more »   Eight reasons Donald Trump will be remembered as the ultimate cable-news candidate By Erik Wemple  •  Erik Wemple  •  Read more »   News outlets support Margaret Carlson following report that she assisted Clinton-connected consulting firm Longtime Beltway journalist mentioned in New York Times story about hosting 'salons' for a hot PR/strategy firm By Erik Wemple  •  Erik Wemple  •  Read more » The fallacy of reducing costs by subsidizing expensive things Do Democrats understand basic economic principles? By Jennifer Rubin  •  Right Turn  •  Read more »   Trump voters already know the election will be rigged against him. This new poll proves it. The conspiracy is real...in the minds of Trump voters, anyway. By Greg Sargent  •  The Plum Line  •  Read more »   Recommended for you   In Theory Emerging ideas and the arguments behind the news. Sign Up »         Share Opinions:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you are signed up for Opinions. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071