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If that's not scary enough, Jim Morrison of The Doors, who died in 1972, is the hot rock star of the day, thanks to a reverential movie about his druggie life, and we now learn that polyester, the epitome of tackiness from the 70s, is the New Fiber of the 90s. Am I lost in a time warp or are we headed for a Retro- Decade? What would George San- tayana have to say now about those who do not learn the lessons of history being con- demned to repeat them? We thought we learned the lessons of history and we're repeating them anyway. Does this mean that Menachem Begin will awaken from his self- imposed exile one morning and announce his intention to regain the post of prime minister of Israel? Or that Nancy Reagan will convince her husband that they can have more fun in their sunset years by retir- ing to the White House? It's like the scene in Awakenings when the hospital patients suddenly stir from their years-long stupor and come to life. I'm not suggesting that all of these former political fig- ures are going to be re- elected, but the very fact that they're considering running tells us something about our society. It is one where changes take place so rapidly that we tend to wrap the recent past in the gentle gauze of Nostalgia. One week a movie is play- ing in the neighborhood theater, the next week you can see it in your living room, courtesy of the neigh- borhood video store. Soon after a pop song is on the Top 40 list it's a Golden Oldie. And somehow, a politician who was seen as a jerk when he was in office can bask in the warm glow of our collec- tive faded memories. Maybe George McGovern is counting on us remember- ing him as a leader of the an- ti-Vietnam movement rather than as a presidential candidate who sounded like Liberace's brother and got clobbered by Richard Nixon. (Now there's a former presi- dent who's been graced by the passing years; once con- sidered a disgrace to the presidency, he is now viewed as a brilliant strategist and historian — and not a crook.) The truth is that Jimmy Carter, while considered a failure by many as presi- dent, is considered an excellent ex-president. Maybe that's the job he should have rim for in the first place. As for future campaigns, Mrs. Marcos could do well in the Philippines by promising high-heeled shoes to every woman who votes for her, and Gerald Ford, if he gets the presidential itch, could hand out helmets to those Mrs. Marcos could do well by K promising high-heel shoes to every woman who votes for her who watch him play golf. As for Mike Dukakis, the memory of his failure may be too fresh in our minds for his comeback, but the image of him riding around in a military tank is already looking better in these post- Gulf war days. Even though Israelis haven't started waving "Draft Begin" signs, they have had the right idea for some time now, rotating prime ministers and discouraging their former leaders from retiring from public office. That's why Yitzhak Rabin, who re- signed because of a minor banking scandal, managed to return as prime minister a few years later and would like the post again. For Shimon Peres, being prime minister was the only cabinet post he's gotten high marks for. And it seems that Yitzhak Shamir has been prime minister forever. If there's a lesson here it's to never underestimate our capacity to forget unplea- sant memories and re- member only the good stuff. And never underestimate a politician's ego. As for me, I'm hording "Win With Wilkie" buttons. Just in case. El (