The Mainstream Media Shockingly Reports on Good News in Iraq

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

"Good News From Iraq"

TIME Magazine's Joe Klein — a longtime critic of President Bush and the Iraq war — writes this week — "There is good news from Iraq."

Klein details progress in Anbar province against Al Qaeda — including some days in which there have been zero effective attacks by insurgents.

He credits alliances between U.S. troops and local tribes — and writes that at least two other Sunni-dominated provinces are seeking similar alliances.

Klein says – "It is possible that Al Qaeda is being rejected like a mismatched liver transplant by the body of the Iraqi insurgency."

Support Group

House Democrats are trying to buck up freshman Tim Mahoney — the man who won the Florida seat formerly held by the disgraced Republican Mark Foley.

The Hill newspaper reports the millionaire businessman doesn't much like his new gig. Mahoney says — "very candidly, this isn't the greatest job I've had." The paper says the congressman has had a tough time dealing with the glacial pace and seniority-driven ways of the House.

Says Mahoney — "There's nothing in my experience in 30 years in business that even comes close to doing what you have to do in Congress. I think there should be a law that says, before you run, you have to do the job for two weeks."

Diversity Awards

While Wal-Mart is facing litigation from critics over its workplace policies and alleged discrimination — the company continues to pile up awards for its diversity programs.

Working Mother magazine has just put Wal-Mart on its list of "best companies for multicultural women." The magazine credits Wal-Mart for — "Harnessing the wealth of talents and perspectives that people of different backgrounds have to offer."

Wal-Mart's diversity efforts also have been recognized recently by LATINA Style Magazine, Hispanic Business magazine and the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Not Guilty

A former Democratic party official in Colorado has been found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge — after leaving dog excrement on the doorstep of Colorado Republican Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave's local office.

The jury found former District Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Ensz innocent of "criminal use of a noxious substance."

Democratic District Chairman Don Hoff said Ensz's actions were protected free speech — an argument used by her attorneys and apparently accepted by the jury.

Musgrave's aides denounced the act as a political dirty trick.

—FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.