"A hawk cannot become a dove, nor can a friend of Wall Street become a foe."

[marmar]

(Truthdig) It’s not often that name recognition is a bad thing. But from a marketing standpoint, Hillary Clinton is stuck in a rut.

Like Coca-Cola or McDonald’s, her name is known worldwide. But it’s doubtful that either of those brands would, like Hillary, consistently register unfavorability ratings among American consumers in the range of 40 percent.

When familiar entities unveil new products, shoppers are notoriously discerning. Diet Coke worked, but Vanilla Coke flopped.

But when a politician suddenly adopts a new position, voters can be even more skeptical. A hawk cannot become a dove, nor can a friend of Wall Street become a foe.

Hillary’s core problem, in other words, is that she’s simply too familiar to American voters, who after two terms of one leader tend to want something “new.” And there’s very little she can do to reposition herself in the marketplace. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_devil_you_know_20141230

[JaneyVee]

1. Yet, she's polling pretty well against every possible candidate in both parties.

[daleanime]

3. No it can't...

[brooklynite]

4. But a Republican can become a Democrat?

[Autumn]

6. They do it all the time. They are called new dems, conservadems, blue dogs.

They are moderate republicans.

[brooklynite]

8. ...or Elizabeth Warren.

[Autumn]

10. No she's a registered Democrat, not a republican registered as a democrat to get votes and

still holding tight to their conservative values. She talks the talk and walks the walk. There is a difference

[brooklynite]

11. ...who WAS A Republican in the 80s...

The argument of the OP is that it's impossible to change.

[Autumn]

13. No, "A hawk cannot become a dove, nor can a friend of Wall Street become a foe is the

point of the OP. And Hillary is exactly that, a friend of wall Street and a Hawk. Hillary doesn't want to change those traits. You are the one who made it about republicans becoming democrats.

[MADem]

14. She was a REGISTERED REPUBLICAN in Pennsylvania in the NINETIES....!

Oh, those inconvenient truths!!!

I love these "Can't trust THAT ONE, they said 'x' a zillion years ago, so THEY will NEVER CHANGE..." arguments, particularly when they're turned on their heads!

[AlbertCat]

22. The argument of the OP is that it's impossible to change.

Actually, The argument of the OP is that it's impossible (actually it's rather difficult, but not impossible) to change the American public's 1st impression of you.

BTW.... Elizabeth Warren's 1st impression to the American Public was not that she was a Repug in the 90's, even tho' she might have been registered as such.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. She's the ultimate "Not as Bad" candidate offering a glittering new version of "More of the Same".

[99Forever]

7. All hawks and friends of Wall Street...

... are my sworn enemies and I will treat them as such.

[RiverLover]

9. The people's interests aren't represented in DC & won't be if Hillary is elected

The fact is, the people’s interests aren’t being represented in Washington and they won’t be if Hillary Clinton is elected. Her record is clear. She’s an ardent proponent of trade agreements; she’s consistently supported the interests of Wall Street over Main Street; she’s been hawkish on foreign policy; weak on civil protections; hawkish on the deficit (until very recently) and mum on many other issues that demand a progressive advocate.

Yes, she’s beginning to veer to the left in preparation for the primaries, but haven’t we had enough of this?

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see a candidate who actually represented the peoples’ interests tackle the usual corporatists who win the Democratic nominations? Not to mention the sycophantic Republicans who so obviously dance to the tunes of the likes of Addelson, the Koch Brothers and Wall Street?

The fact is we can wage and win a war for a progressive candidate, and we have potential candidates who speak for the people. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, the Progressive Congressional Caucus – each offers common sense and popular alternatives to the corrosive forces of corporatism that is eroding our Democracy.

Corporate money can trump everything but the vote. In the age of the Internet, we can take over this Party. We can raise our own money and turn out our own candidates. We can bypass the bought and paid for media and reach people directly with a message they are dying to hear....

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2014/04/17/hillary-clinton-and-future-failure-progressive-hope-and-change

[brooklynite]

12. Of course..."the people" get to make up their own minds.

Based on her performance in 2008 and her polling today, a lot of "people" seem to support her.

[cheapdate]

24. An "inconvenient truth," it seems.

[DesertDiamond]

15. I don't think it's familiarity that's breeding contempt here. It's her votes for the wars, it's her

buddying up to Wall Street, and for me, worst of all, it's her prayer breakfasts with the Dominionists -- who, for those who don't know, are mega-wealthy, powerful, and determined to force this country to be ruled by their version of Christianity. I don't think needing someone new is the issue. Just need someone whose efforts support the principle of "by the people, for the people," and not for war profiteers and theocracy.

[whereisjustice]

16. Demanding change, Americans forced to choose between Clinton and Bush.

[AlbertCat]

23. Thank you for that.

Add to what you said:

Oh BOY! It's "news of the future"!!!!!

[groundloop]

17. I call bullshit - people CAN change their fundamental beliefs

Don't tell me it's not true because I myself have changed drastically as I've grown and matured. Is someone going to tell me I can't possibly be a liberal because I used to associate with homophobic racists?

[cheapdate]

25. Old aphorisms are sometimes wrong.

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is the old wisdom. It's wrong. People who study human behavior, growth, and cognitive development have found that people continue to change throughout their lives. People continue to change, develop new interests and perspectives all the way through old age.

Old aphorisms are sometimes wrong.

[jalan48]

18. Non-Choice

The power structure will make sure the final two candidates are vetted and approved. No candidate that advocates raising the minimum wage to at least $15/hr. will get there. The same with finance reform, opposition to TPP-like trade agreements , the national security state, the military budget, etc. There will be "talk" around these issues but it will quickly turn to social issues, the police, or whether or not Hillary has had plastic surgery.

[Nye Bevan]

19. Can a Reaganomics-supporting Republican become a progressive Democrat? (nt)

[xchrom]

20. du rec.

[cheapdate]

21. Transmutation of species has nothing to do with politics.

The 2016 election will be a contest between a conventional Democrat and a conventional Republican. Hillary Clinton is not a brick-throwing radical. She's a widely respected and popular conventional politician with both liberal and conservative leanings. Ordinary Americans and regular Democratic voters will turn out in large numbers to vote for her, if she runs.