Have a look at the poll that Keith Olbermann flashed during this evening's Countdown.
Try to put aside your politics for a moment to describe - in all objectivity - the most striking aspect of the poll results. I'd say it's the fact that by a margin of almost 2:1, Americans feel more safe rather than less safe since 9/11. Pretty good accomplishment by the Bush administration, you might say.
So how did Keith Olbermann characterize the results? "55% combined think we are either as safe or less safe" since 9/11.
Olbermann might just as accurately have said that "74% of Americans feel more safe or as safe since 9/11" or even "less than ¼ of Americans feel less safe." But he obviously didn't agree to set aside politics in the way I asked you to do.
Like they say about statistics, there are lies, damn lies . . . and Olbermann.
Mark Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY. View webcasts of Mark's award-winning TV show 'Right Angle' here. Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net