MINYANVILLE ORIGINAL Strong economic data failed to lift US stocks out of the post-elections doldrums as major US indexes after a sharp plunge yesterday stayed all but flat in mid-Thursday trading.   The Labor Department reported that jobless claims for the previous week fell 8 000 to a seasonally-adjusted 355 000 when the consensus was a reading of 370 000. Additionally the US trade deficit narrowed to $41.55 billion in September thanks to an increase in exports. Wall Street had forecast the deficit to widen to $45.0 billion.   Nonetheless the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) was down 0.35% to 2 ...