"Data"?

Some of Eduardo's recent posts (e.g., here) have provided information and claims, or provided links to information and claims -- usually about the bad-acting or mis-steps of the Bush Administration, or Republicans in general -- that are characterized as "data."  One on-line dictionary defines "data" as "[f]actual information, especially information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions."  Let's assume the information in question is "factual."  What is the decision that this information -- this "data" -- is supposed to help us make?  For the truth of what proposition(s) are these "data" supposed to serve as evidence?  (As I hope Eduardo knows, I don't raise this question to be snarky or petty, but to clarify).   

As for the 60 Minutes interview, and "moral seriousness", I'm happy to agree that we should think hard about, among other things, the overall "moral seriousness" of those who supported, and opposed, the decision to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein.