Free Republic

CBS will introduce more gay characters on its scripted programs in response to recently receiving a failing grade from GLAAD, CBS President Nina Tassler said Wednesday. "I'm very disappointed in our track record so far," Tassler said at the Telvision Critics Association fall previews. "We know and we will do better."

Many fans of the sexy superhero were outraged when DC Comics released drawings in June showing the iconic defender's costume had changed from the patriotic design she had worn for decades to a new, more nation-neutral style that featured - gasp! - leggings.

Aetna Inc. releases its second-quarter earnings report after markets close today, and the company is expected to show strong gains. Aetna said last month that it will likely beat Wall Street earnings forecasts because medical costs from the first quarter were lower than expected.

About 200 Connecticut lobstermen spoke out Monday night against proposed measures that would affect the state's lobster industry, including a five-year ban on setting traps in Long Island Sound. The state Department of Environmental Protection hosted the meeting at its marine headquarters in Old Lyme. A second meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Sound School in New Haven. The five-year moratorium on lobster fishing, recommended by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, would stretch from Cape Cod to Virginia. The commission regulates fishing along the entire East Coast.

Progressive Catholic groups vented outrage Friday over the decision of a Roman Catholic school in Massachusetts to rescind the admission of an 8-year-old student because his parents are lesbians. "The idea that a child might be punished because he does not live with his two biologic parents is antithetical to notions of Christian charity and Catholic social justice," said Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, in a statement Friday.

Some legal scholars, including some who normally lean to the left, believe the states have identified the law's weak spot and devised a credible theory for eviscerating it. The power of their argument lies in questioning whether Congress can regulate inactivity -- in this case by levying a tax penalty on those who do not obtain health insurance. If so, they ask, what would theoretically prevent the government from mandating all manner of acts in the national interest, say regular exercise or buying an American car?

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students. Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

Aetna Inc. (AET) has been disqualified from further consideration for a contract from the Defense Department's Tricare health network after two incumbent bidders successfully appealed an award last summer to the company.

...a climate skeptic is crazy...we want big government...the man on the street can't do much...

George W. Bush, whose presidency was marked by the September 11 attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will release a memoir on November 9, his publisher said on Monday.

Via Political Carnival and Crooks & Liars, we learn that Comcast has announced a new venture with RightNetwork, "an independently-owned media company" whose mission is "to entertain, engage, and enlighten Americans who are looking for content that reflects and reinforces their perspective and worldview. RIGHTNETWORK will consistently impact the political and cultural discussions of Americans" (it is set to launch this summer).

Jury selection is scheduled to start this morning in Mayor Eddie A. Perez's bribery and larceny trial, and his lawyer has made it clear to everyone in the case that he will be looking hard at the racial makeup of the jury pool. Perez, who is in his second term, is Hartford's first Hispanic mayor. In court papers, attorney Hubert Santos says he sees two issues that could deprive Perez of a jury of his peers: the expected eight-week length of the trial, which is actually two criminal cases consolidated into one; and the underrepresentation of minorities in Hartford jury...

No. 1 cable news host Bill O'Reilly said Tuesday that he will personally write a check to cover $16,500 in legal costs for the father of a fallen U.S. Marine who sued the members of a church who picketed his son's funeral. According to news reports, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, located in Topeka, Kan., believe that God is punishing the United States because of its acceptance of gay people. The church garners attention for its views by protesting high-profile funerals.

WASHINGTON - One day after protesters hurled epithets at black and gay congressmen, impassioned protesters returned to the Capitol yesterday to tell Congress to "kill the bill."

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass), who switched from "yes" to "no" on the health reform bill, is insisting that his vote will not kill the legislation, noting that the House Democrats have the votes to pass the measure this weekend without his support. He also says that during a meeting with President Barack Obama on Thursday, the president failed to win him over with a promise to make the reform package more progressive down the road.

IRS agents would be tasked with determining whether Americans had obtained the insurance coverage required under the individual mandate. Individuals could be fined $2,250 or 2 percent of income, whichever is greater, if you are unable to prove you have "minimum essential coverage." Ironically, two groups of residents would be declared exempt from IRS enforcement measures, according to the Republicans: One is illegal immigrants who aren't supposed to be included in the insurance exchanges in the first place. The other consists of people who are incarcerated.

46.3% of primary care physicians (family medicine and internal medicine) feel that the passing of health reform will either force them out of medicine or make them want to leave medicine. 41% of physicians feel that income and practice revenue will “decline or worsen dramatically” with a public option. 72% of physicians feel that a public option would have a negative impact on physician supply, with 45% feeling it will “decline or worsen dramatically” and 27% predicting it will “decline or worsen somewhat.

"What would Jesus do?" That's what many people in Boulder, Colo., are asking after a Catholic elementary school in the city expelled two children because their parents are lesbians. The conflict in the Roman Catholic Church over homosexuality has come to loggerheads in the community, with the church standing by its belief that marriage is a pact between a man and a woman while opponents accuse it of failing to live up to Jesus’ mission of love and acceptance. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church says it told the lesbian couple that their older child would be allowed to complete enrollment...

House Rules Chairwoman Louise Slaughter is prepping to help usher the healthcare overhaul through the House and potentially avoid a direct vote on the Senate overhaul bill, the chairwoman said Tuesday. Slaughter is weighing preparing a rule that would consider the Senate bill passed once the House approves a corrections bill that would make changes to the Senate version. Slaughter has not taken the plan to Speaker Pelosi as Democrats await CBO scores on the corrections bill. "Once the CBO gives us the score we'll spring right on it," she said. . . .

Many people are worried that the health-care reform proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats will fail to bend the "cost curve." A number of commentators are urging no votes because of this, and Republicans have asked the president to start health reform over, focusing squarely on the issue of cost reduction. These calls overlook the actual legislation. Over the past year of debate, 10 broad ideas have been offered for bending the health-care cost curve. The Democrats' proposed legislation incorporates virtually every one of them.