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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 9/26/15

I'm not voting for Bernie Sanders.

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I know that not everybody reading this diary would describe our nation's challenges in the way I have (although I believe there's no getting around #1). Also, people who we label as disaffected non-voters probably would nominate quite a wider and more varied list of priorities. Even so, many if not most low-participation voters and non-voters would agree that "sh*t is f*cked up and sh*t." Many of those who might otherwise vote for Democrats would agree that the play-along, incremental strategy Democrats have used during the last 30+ years supposedly to make life better for people has (yes) resulted in some incremental gains but has also failed to avert a greater number of much larger setbacks.

Importantly, politics as a brand (regardless of party) has just about zero appeal for low-participation and non-voters. Politics and the idea of addressing problems through public policyare not seen by them as a solution to anything. Politics for them is the opposite of inspiring or effective. And people who don't care about politics aren't going to get out of their chairs in November 2016 to vote for a politician pursuing a political office. But they will get up to vote for a leader who inspires them. Maybe even for a leader who challenges them. They may even give that leader some great big coattails.

Regardless of whether it's Sanders or Clinton or someone else, the next president will have to accomplish as much or more than F.D.R. did, even despite a great deal of inertia and opposition. The next president is going to need all our backing and support, and conversely we are going to need a president who doesn't have to be dragged and cajoled into recognizing the urgency of solving the problems mentioned in this diary. If Hillary Clinton believes she is the person who can be that president, then she needs to transform -- right now -- from a candidate into a leader. She needs to be much, much more than just the alternative to whichever Republican makes it to the ballot. She needs to be the leader who is equal to the task of mobilizing a nation in the face of some very difficult problems. She needs to challenge and inspire us to solve those problems.

A candidate runs for office. A leader inspires a nation.

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In keeping with my earlier suggestion that diaries about the presidential primary could also include some information about down-ticket candidates, here's a link to Morgan Carroll's website. She is currently the Colorado Senate Minority Leader and is challenging Republican Mike Coffman to represent Colorado's 6th congressional district in 2016. I'm still learning more about her, but she has a reputation for working well with diverse groups and demonstrating what we need most -- leadership. And Mike Coffman is awful.

The 6th C.D. has become competitive, and a strong Democrat has a good chance of beating an increasingly weak-seeming Republican incumbent. Read up on Morgan Carroll, and consider coughing up a few bucks or wearing out some shoe leather to get rid Mike Coffman. Just as important, let Morgan Carroll know what issues are important to you.

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