With Obama, History Repeats itself

The phrase "history repeats itself" deserves a place of prominence in the book of cliches. Like most cliches, it describes a big idea, but leaves out a crucial detail. The truth is that history repeats itself, but the effects are magnified at every iteration. Another way you could put it, is that "each time, it costs more and more." But clearly, these effects could be good, bad or neutral.

The phrase certainly rings true with the rise of Barack Obama. Consider this New York Times Article from over 3 years ago. F