The Evening Quickie.

Batwoman hero returns as lesbian; DC's Batwoman is back, heroine of lipstick lesbians everywhere.

News of the odd variety: Pedophiles to launch political party; "Dutch pedophiles are launching a political party to push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals, sparking widespread outrage."

Iraq to probe US massacre claims; "Iraq will investigate allegations that US marines carried out a massacre of civilians in Haditha in November, the country's prime minister has said."

The ACLU is now attacking the Supreme Court whistleblower lawsuit ruling, saying that it leaves employees too afraid to report misconduct.

Ex-Kansas GOP Chair Switches Affiliation; Mark Parkinson, the state GOP chairman from 1999 to 2003, has switched parties to become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Coalition in Iraq continues to dwindle; Japan, Italy, and South Korea are the next allies to pull troops from Iraq.

Pentagon: Iraq Insurgency Steady Until '07; "The Sunni Arab heart of the Iraqi insurgency seems likely to hold its strength the rest of the year, and some of its leaders are now collaborating with al-Qaida terrorists." Great.

Former Lobbyist Testifies Against Official; "The aide, Neil Volz, who was a partner of Abramoff's at the time, also outlined how the Abramoff team received assistance from several Republican congressmen including, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio."

2 of 3 college grads go into debt; and yet you supposedly can't get anywhere in the modern world without having a college degree....

Petition likely to nullify South Dakota abortion ban; voters will now get a chance to have their say on abortion this coming November.

Tags: [Petition likely to nullify South Dakota abortion ban], [A petition to repeal the South Dakota abortion ban is due to be filed today, with organizers claiming that nearly 38,000 signatures have been collected], [Dr. Maria Bell], [2 of 3 college grads go into debt], [Nearly two of every three undergraduate students are going into debt to go to college, owing an average of more than $19,000, most often to the government], [National Center for Education Statistics], [Former Lobbyist Testifies Against Official], [former congressional aide and lobbyist described Tuesday how he obtained insider information, advice and assistance from Bush administration procurement chief David Safavian to advance two projects for Republican influence-peddlar Jack Abramoff, who then took the official on a lavish golf trip to Scotland], [Neil Volz], [received assistance from several Republican congressmen including, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, and Rep. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio], [Pentagon: Iraq Insurgency Steady Until '07], [The Sunni Arab heart of the Iraqi insurgency seems likely to hold its strength the rest of the year, and some of its leaders are now collaborating with al-Qaida terrorists], [Coalition in Iraq continues to dwindle], [Japan, Italy, and South Korea are leaving Iraq], [Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki], [Ex-Kansas GOP Chair Switches Affiliation], [former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party jumped ship in a big way Tuesday, switching his affiliation to Democrat amid speculation that he would become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate], [Mark Parkinson], [Critics say court ruling leaves whistleblowers in fear], [Critics today railed against a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court today that effectively bars public employees from reporting misconduct to their supervisors or within the chain of command], [ACLU], [Iraq to probe US massacre claims], [Iraq will investigate allegations that US marines carried out a massacre of civilians in Haditha in November], [a limit to the acceptable excuses for civilian casualties], [Batwoman hero returns as lesbian], [Comic book heroine Batwoman is to make a comeback as a "lipstick lesbian" who moonlights as a crime fighter], [Kathy Kane], [Pedophiles to launch political party], [Charity, Freedom and Diversity (NVD) party], [push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and the legalization of child pornography and sex with animals], [Ad van den Berg], [1996 Marc Dutroux child abuse scandal], [Algemeen Dagblad], [Christian SGP party]