As Andy Worthington indicated in a comment last month, the rights group Reprieve has been working up a report on Guantanamo detainee Mohammed Saad Iqbal Madni and his rendition. Reprieve announced today the formal start of proceedings in the case.

Usually, Jane’s slap-down of concern trolls talking about breast cancer stands by itself. But in this case, I’m going to pile on Megan McArdle’s attack on a public option in the name of breast cancer survivors, because McArdle’s basically arguing that I should be thankful my insurance company had to pay $72,000 more for my breast cancer treatment.

Basically, for me, it all boils down to public choice theory.

It sure looks that way. . .

Conservative cesspool National Review Online’s John J. Miller apparently has nothing important to write about. Yesterday he expressed grave concern as to whether or not the upcoming G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie will be American enough. “I keep wondering: Is G.I. Joe still an American?” he ponders.

Reps. Kratovil & Van Hollen

Chris Van Hollen, chair of the DCCC, released a statement condemning the lynching-in-effigy of Maryland Rep. Kratovil at a conservative anti-health care protest:

This shocking and despicable act of hate has no place in any debate and Republicans must condemn it.

While there should be a robust exchange of ideas about the best way to reform our broken health insurance system, violent expressions are beyond the boundaries of a respectful and civilized debate.

Last March, 60 Minutes had a story on rural health care volunteers that really floored me.

Marty Tankersley came with his wife and his daughter, asleep behind the front seats. Tankersley says he drove some 200 miles to get to the clinic and slept in the parking lot for hours.

This unidentified man decided he was doing the Tea Party-anti-reform effort a real solid by hanging freshman Maryland Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil in effigy [note the creepily expert knotted noose] with a placard “Congress Traitors The American [and a word that looks like "idol"].

I’m really having a hard time processing the notion that the American people gave Democrats control of the House and the Senate in 2006, then gave them even larger majorities two years later while installing a Democrat in the White House — just so we could get Willard’s health care plan.

In this installment, we find the Republicans split into two camps.

I don’t know what Ezra’s motives were in echoing the White House sales pitch so quickly, but he’s worked hard to build up credibility as an astute observer of health care policy over the years.  A sudden default to a “let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good” position that cedes the battle for a pulic plan right when it’s politically convenient for the White House undermines that credibility.