• This'll be a different kind of forum. The kind where the crowd sings "Happy Birthday" to Barack Obama. And yet, even though applause and interruptions are allowed, the questions are starting tough. Richardson got the first query, asking whether he regretted saying he'd appoint Supreme Court Justices likes the anti-Roe Byron White. “I screwed up on that one,” he said. He promised not to allow any justices who didn't agree that Roe is settled law.
• One of the next questions is, surprisingly, mine. McJoan, who's moderating, attributes to me a question as to what Hillary Clinton learned from from her failure to reform health care in 1994. She gives three:
1) It's not enough to have a plan, you need to have a political strategy, too.
2) It's imperative that as we go forward we put together a coalition of as many groups who'll be affected -- doctors nurses, hospital administrators, etc -- as possible, and steel them to withstand the incredible blowback we'll get from the drug companies and insurers. In other words, you need a proactive, sympathetic coalition able to create a counterweight to industry forces.
3) I learned a lot about the tactical end of things. I don't have the time in 90 seconds to tell you of all the mistakes I made, but being in the Senate has taught me an enormous amount about how to marry my proposal with the process. This will be my highest domestic priority.
• Obama says he's not going to sacrifice his domestic priorities for deficit reduction. Universal health care, renewable energy, and all he rest won't be sacrificed on the altar of PAYGO.
• Edwards: "I don't think insurance companies, drug companies, or other interest groups will voluntarily give away their power." He proceeds to give a quick ripsnorter on change, which brings down the house
• Richardson just came out for a Balanced Budget Amendment. Wow. I'm genuinely stunned by this. I knew he supported an amendment like that in 1997, but I wasn't expecting him to wage an affirmative battle for such an amendment.
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