Even in the saddest songs you sense the dogged optimism of hard work: that unruly feelings can be mastered in the process of expressing them well.

Mr. Karlsson retains a dogged optimism.

Most of the credit probably goes to the dogged optimism of American consumers, but the Fed's dramatic interest rate cuts helped keep housing strong even as business investment plunged.

Mr. Edwards, whether by virtue of his vice-presidential ambitions or the dogged optimism he believes has worked for him all year, has refrained from sharp criticism of his own.

But as the months wear on, the dogged optimism detaches from reality.

Suppose that, as seems increasingly plausible, the deteriorating job situation finally undermines the dogged optimism of America's consumers.

The only answer to that was the dogged plugging optimism of the Denver players.

In her dogged optimism, Wrong resembles the Eritreans who, despite worsening conditions, can't seem to fathom that the Afwerki who brought them independence may be incapable of delivering democracy.

It believes that most people are absolutely wonderful, and it is well enough made so that a dusting of that dogged optimism is bound to rub off on you.

For a change, what Paul Krugman in The New York Times recently termed the "dogged optimism of American consumers" is being richly rewarded.