If many have tried, did none of them learn from their predecessors? Or why did anyone after the first guy try it again if it was so obviously political suicide?

If many have tried, did none of them learn from their predecessors? Or why did anyone after the first guy try it again if it was so obviously political suicide? Edit: Ugh, sorry, I know what I just said is a fallacy. I just want to believe that making systemic improvements — getting Congress to operate on a better rule set — would be the thing which gets a person re-elected.