Lies, damned lies, and polls

Being ever “helpful,” Nation writer Greg Mitchell tweeted: “But more, please! RT @pollreport Afghanistan war has been: Worth fighting 34% / Not worth it 60%.” He was referring to a new ABC/Washington Post poll. Evidently most Americans think our efforts in the Hindu Kush are a fool’s errand. (And, god bless ‘em, they might be right.) Mitchell is in the let’s-just-pack-up-leave-tomorrow camp, the consequences be dammed. Brandishing the same poll like a game-changing “smoking gun,” ABC News reporter Jack Tapper asked Sec’y Clinton, “How can [Obama] continue to wage this war with so little public support?” With the patience of Job, Hillary replied: “I'm well aware of the popular concern ... But I don't think leaders and certainly this president will not make decisions that are matters of life and death and the future security of our nation based on polling.” I’m sure glad the adults are in charge.