The United States of America is certainly the greatest nation our world has ever seen. So shouldn't we, the American people, resolve to elect the greatest president we can find to lead our country -- and indeed the world?

We must admit that some of our presidents have not been anywhere nearly so great as, say, George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. And, in fairness, our challenges and conditions have changed over the centuries.

Nevertheless, are we confident today that we are going to elect "the best and the brightest" for president in 2012?

We do not believe our nation was wise in electing Barack Obama in 2008, and his track record, particularly on the economy, bears out that assessment. Unemployment has remained vastly higher than it was supposed to be if his massively costly federal stimulus plan passed. Millions upon millions have now been unemployed long term. Companies are afraid to hire, for fear of the twin threats of higher taxes and regulations related to ObamaCare and other federal impositions.

There is no reason, in short, to believe that Obama is the best we can do in 2012.

In fact, any of the current crop of Republican alternatives would be an improvement on Obama. The leaders in polls, for the moment, are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, followed by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and, perhaps, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

All of them have their strengths and would rightly begin reversing many of the harmful policies of the current president. But that is somewhat different from saying any of them would do an "excellent" job in the White House.

And so there may be improvement after next year's election. But our quest for a truly great president may not be fulfilled.