  We perform a global analysis of all available electron-deuteron quasielastic
scattering data using Q^2-dependent smearing functions that describe inclusive
inelastic e-d scattering within the weak binding approximation. We study the
dependence of the cross sections on the deuteron wave function and the
off-shell extrapolation of the elastic electron-nucleon cross sections, which
show particular sensitivity at x >> 1. The excellent overall agreement with
data over a large range of Q^2 and x suggests a limited need for effects beyond
the impulse approximation, with the possible exception of the very high-x or
very low-Q^2 regions, where short-distance effects or scattering from
non-nucleonic constituents in the deuteron become more relevant.
