March 29, 2025

Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.

John Kenneth Galbraith (1908–2006), Canadian-American economist and ambassador, The Portable Curmudgeon, Jon Winokur, ed. (New York: 1987), p.221

Do you really think a short memory is a good idea? Or is Galbraith only being facetious?

Not true! A short memory forces one to keep a diary of what one has said on controversial topics, for fear of saying something on Friday contrary to what you said on Monday. Ted Cruz’s squirm session with Tucker Carlson in January 2022 should be an object lesson on the dangers of a deficient memory. If you can stand it, it may still be on YouTube.