Sen. Obama's false and wrong-headed attacks against the Edwards and Clinton healthcare plans have made it virtually certain that universal healthcare for Americans is essentially dead at least until 2012, if not much longer. If Sen. Obama wins the nomination, it would be dead by definition. However, even if he does not win, he has poisoned the well as Krugman rightly points out, and Sen. Clinton will face one false attack ad after another from the GOP and healthcare special interests - using statements and ads that Sen. Obama has run - to destroy her universal healthcare plan. I have a hard time seeing how we get through and pass universal healthcare as a result. (This is not to say Sen. Clinton cannot be successful - maybe she will given she is a fighter - but the bar has been raised even more now).

• Toddler