James Carroll makes a comparison between Obama and LBJ, whose domestic aspirations were blunted by the trauma of the Vietnam War.

Speaking of historical comparisons, here is one of the political situation today as it compares to the situation in 1994.

David Warren writes also of history, and how the wrong lessons are learned and mistakes repeated.

Robert J. Samuelson continues to write about the lack of candor in the health reform debate.

These are all just particular aspects of the fact that people, despite all evidence, logic and history, continue to believe what they want to believe. They generate a narrative, or have one written for them, and then cling to it with religious ferocity. All types of disasters often ensue.