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The potential presidential candidacies of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton have generated a lot of discussion about political dynasties in America. Thats understandable. After all, in a democratic republic, the prospect of dynasties should make everyone at least a little uncomfortable.

In America, where leaders have to run for office, a more useful way to think about dynasties might be to view them as brand names. In chaotic and confusing marketplaces, brand names are a useful shortcut. People buy stuff from Apple because they think they know what theyll get from Apple. The same goes for Kennedys, Bushes, Clintons and, these days, Pauls.

So lets look at the very real differences in the Bush and Clinton brands.

Fairly or unfairly, the Bush brand is tarnished. Among the rank and file of the GOP particularly among tea party types no one wants to see another Bush on the ballot. Its not unimaginable that a Bush nomination would spark a significant third-party movement on the right.

Things are very different for Hillary Clinton. At least within her party, the name Clinton is nothing but an asset. She benefits not only from her husbands successes but also from the sympathy for her generated by his personal failures.

More intriguingly, shes aided by many of Barack Obamas failures, too. After two terms of partisan gridlock and anemic economic growth, Clinton the technocrat is palatable, particularly given the burning desire to elect a female president.

The dynamic would likely change dramatically in a general election. As the Democratic nominee, Clinton would instantly confront a problem from Obamas failures, particularly on foreign policy and health care. And the Clinton brand name becomes at best a mixed bag, given that it wouldnt take long for the GOP to remind Washington-weary voters of the sordidness of the Clinton presidency. Hillary Clinton is a much worse campaigner than her husband, and given her omnipresence in American life for more than two decades, its hard to see how she could sell herself as a fresh start.

Its less clear how well Bush would do as a nominee. Assuming he could keep the tea party right from bolting (a big assumption that might require putting Ted Cruz or Rand Paul on the ticket), Bush would have a lot of appeal to independents and a significant number of Latinos. Ironically, running against Clinton would make things easier for him because only in comparison to her (or Joe Biden) would yet another Bush seem like a fresh start.

Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and editor-at-large of National Review Online. He may be contacted at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com.

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Jeb Bush, Hillary Clinton and political dynasties

The potential presidential candidacies of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton have generated a lot of discussion about political dynasties in America. Thats understandable. After all, in a democratic republic, the prospect of dynasties should make everyone at least a little uncomfortable.

In America, where leaders have to run for office, a more useful way to think about dynasties might be to view them as brand names. In chaotic and confusing marketplaces, brand names are a useful shortcut. People buy stuff from Apple because they think they know what theyll get from Apple. The same goes for Kennedys, Bushes, Clintons and, these days, Pauls.

So lets look at the very real differences in the Bush and Clinton brands.

Fairly or unfairly, the Bush brand is tarnished. Among the rank and file of the GOP particularly among tea party types no one wants to see another Bush on the ballot. Its not unimaginable that a Bush nomination would spark a significant third-party movement on the right.

Things are very different for Hillary Clinton. At least within her party, the name Clinton is nothing but an asset. She benefits not only from her husbands successes but also from the sympathy for her generated by his personal failures.

More intriguingly, shes aided by many of Barack Obamas failures, too. After two terms of partisan gridlock and anemic economic growth, Clinton the technocrat is palatable, particularly given the burning desire to elect a female president.

The dynamic would likely change dramatically in a general election. As the Democratic nominee, Clinton would instantly confront a problem from Obamas failures, particularly on foreign policy and health care. And the Clinton brand name becomes at best a mixed bag, given that it wouldnt take long for the GOP to remind Washington-weary voters of the sordidness of the Clinton presidency. Hillary Clinton is a much worse campaigner than her husband, and given her omnipresence in American life for more than two decades, its hard to see how she could sell herself as a fresh start.

Its less clear how well Bush would do as a nominee. Assuming he could keep the tea party right from bolting (a big assumption that might require putting Ted Cruz or Rand Paul on the ticket), Bush would have a lot of appeal to independents and a significant number of Latinos. Ironically, running against Clinton would make things easier for him because only in comparison to her (or Joe Biden) would yet another Bush seem like a fresh start.

Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and editor-at-large of National Review Online. He may be contacted at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com.

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The difference between Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton political dynasties

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) Hillary Rodham Clinton has helped to announce a new campaign that aims to harness science and technology to end extreme global poverty by 2030.

We intend to try to change and better lives all over the world, Clinton said Thursday in announcing the initiative in New York. We intend to learn how better to scale successful efforts so they reach far more people.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is undertaking the anti-poverty effort with 32 partners from private industry, colleges and universities, philanthropies and nongovernmental organizations. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah said the campaign, called the U.S. Global Development Lab, will tackle issues such as the lack of clean water and access to education.

Shah said the initiative will engage academics, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and others to invent, test and scale the most promising and cost-effective solutions to end extreme poverty.

The former first lady and senator from New York, who is widely seen as a potential 2016 Democratic presidential contender, said planning for the Global Development Lab started in 2011 when she was secretary of state, adding, by government terms that is a warp-speed accomplishment.

The partners include the University of California, Berkeley, Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Coca-Cola Co., Microsoft Corp., DuPont and Walmart.

Clinton said she thinks its possible to do good while doing well, one of the guiding principles at the Department of State.

We wanted more and more companies that had expertise, that had resources, to come to the forefront, to be part of our development work and to be held to standards, she said. It wasnt just a one-off opportunity to get some positive attention but to really be committed for the long term.

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Hillary Clinton Promotes Anti-Poverty Campaign In NYC

NEW YORK Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday night that excessive partisanship flowing through the nations political system is causing the U.S. to march backwards instead of forward and pointed to fall elections as a sign of how the country might tackle problems.

The former secretary of state reflected on her time at the State Department, the U.S. relationship with Russia and the advice she gives to young women during her appearance at the annual Women in the World summit. But when the moderator asked her to address the nations future, Clinton cited the need to get back to evidence-based decision-making.

There is just pure ideology, pure partisanship. We disguise a commercial interest behind a political facade and the result is that were kind of marching backwards instead of forward, Clinton said. She said the U.S. needs to address economic hardships facing many young people to produce an inclusive prosperity.

The potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate noted that we have an election coming up this year. And we ought to be paying attention to that because that will set the parameters for a lot of what can and should be done.

Clinton spoke alongside International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde in a discussion moderated by journalist and best-selling author Thomas L. Friedman.

Asked about her tenure as secretary of state, Clinton compared it to a relay race. You run the best race you can run, you hand off the baton, she said. Some of what hasnt been finished may go on to be finished.

Some critics of Clinton have said her time at the State Department was marked by caution and failed to produce any major diplomatic victories reasoning that any diplomatic breakthroughs by Secretary of State John Kerry on Iran, Mideast peace or other global crises might diminish her record.

Clinton said she was very proud of the stabilization and the really solid leadership that the administration provided that allowed the U.S. to address problems in Ukraine and other global hotspots. I think we really restored American leadership in the best sense, she said.

Turning to Russia, Clinton said the U.S. and its European allies need to be both smart and patient in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putins bold annexation of Ukraine. She said Putin was motivated by the past and trying to build up his political base at home by spurring nationalism and stopping Europes influence in the region. I really believe over the long run its a losing strategy, she said.

Addressing hundreds of women, Clinton said theres a double-standard for how women are treated in the media and that she counsels young women to be resilient when they face challenges. Believe me, this is hard-won advice, Clinton said to laughter.

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Hillary Clinton: Partisanship taking U.S. backwards

Once again, Bill Clinton proved that being an ex-president, surrounded by the rosy glow of the past, beats being the current pilloried resident of the White House.

A Wednesday night guest on comedian Jimmy Kimmels late-night ABC show, Clinton was tight-lipped about his familys future political plans, leaving that to Hillary Rodham Clinton to eventually divulge, but embraced his 1992 moniker as the nations first black president and the actual first black president.

I loved being called the first black president, but Barack Obama really is, Clinton told Kimmel, to laughs.

Clintons historic support among and affinity with African Americans became strained in 2008 when Hillary Clinton and Obama battled to become the Democratic partys presidential nominee.

Clinton pointed to that divide when he said that any differences between his family and Obama were resolved along with that primary fight.

You know, Ive done what I could since Hillary lost the primary, weve done everything we could to support him, Clinton said. Then he turned to Obamacare, and pointed out that more than 7 million people signed up for healthcare coverage by Mondays deadline. Clinton, of course, had battled for his own healthcare proposal when he took office, to no avail.

This is going to have huge positive economic benefits, if we just stay with it and keep working with it, he said.

The appearance on Kimmels show came during a multiday Southern California swing. On Thursday morning Clinton joins Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and others at City Hall to discuss infrastructure at an event organized by the Clinton Global Initiative.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of State and a potential 2016 White House contender, will be in California in coming days for a series of paid speaking events, and their daughter, Chelsea, has taken a greater role in the familys charitable efforts, leading to questions about her future political pursuits.

Clinton didnt directly address either, but may have offered a clue as to where his desires lie.

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Bill Clinton on being the first black president, and aliens too