article_snippet: (CNN)For those who hoped that the coming presidential election would usher in the dawn of a new, more inspiring politics, this past week has been deeply discouraging.
article_snippet: In two key moments, leaders from both sides of the aisle have acted like the Bourbons of France, who famously remembered nothing and forgot nothing from battles of leaders from both sides of the aisle past.
article_snippet: In short, the story may soon die.
article_snippet: Bill Clinton likes to say that politics is always about tomorrow -- and Bill Clinton is right.
article_snippet: But candidates also need to remember and learn from yesterday.
article_snippet: After this last week, candidates might start by reading a wonderful book by historian Barbara Tuchman published some 30 years ago: "The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam.
article_snippet: There Hillary Clinton argues that leaders often start out trying to do the right thing but take a wrong path, stubbornly stick with it despite all evidence and eventually wreck.
article_snippet: historian Barbara Tuchman calls their refusal to learn from experience "wooden-headedness".
article_snippet: We have seen too much wooden-headedness these past days.