STILL A MAN HEARS WHAT HE WANTS TO HEAR AND DISREGARDS THE REST

USA Today reports that two congressional Democrats, Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Jerry McNerney of California, just got back from Iraq and saw some okay things:

...Ellison said that local leaders in Ramadi told him of how they partnered with U.S. and Iraqi military officials to virtually rid al-Qaeda from the city. Although the lawmakers had to travel in flak vests and helmets, "we did see people walking around the streets of Ramadi, going back and forth to the market."

There have been fewer anti-U.S. sermons as the violence has been reduced, Ellison said, and religious leaders meet regularly with U.S. military officials....

National Review Online's Jim Geraghty asks:

How Far Are Ellison and McNerney's Positions From O'Hanlon and Pollack?

Glad you asked:

Tour Solidifies McNerney's Stance on Iraq

A visit to Iraq last weekend confirmed Rep. Jerry McNerney's belief that the United States should set a timetable to bring its troops home.

"After visiting Iraq, I still strongly support implementing a reasonable timetable to begin withdrawing troops," said McNerney, a Democrat who represents the Tracy area. "I believe that is the only way to give the Iraqis the incentive they need to step up and take control of their country." ...

And as for all the good stuff they saw?

McNerney said he was well aware Ramadi doesn't necessarily representative of the rest of the country.

"I really don't have an opinion on the rest of Iraq," he said in a conference call from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany on Monday morning. "I'm sure (the military) cherry-picked the best place for us."

Ellison, meanwhile, will be holding a town hall forum next week in Minneapolis on "Peace & The Iraq War":

Please join Congressman Ellison to discuss current proposals for possible troop withdrawals from Iraq....

This is a great opportunity to voice your opinion about the war, get legislative updates that affect peace, learn about legislative action to stop the war, and to further the dialogue about peace.

But apart from that, their opinions and the opinions of O'Hanlon and Pollack are indistinguishable!