The American people surely are in 100 percent agreement that we need to elect an exceptionally capable president next year. That will be possible, however, only if we field good candidates.
The entry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry into the Republican presidential field has shaken things up, with presumed front-runners Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann knowing they will have a fight on their hands — not only against each other but against Perry. Then whoever wins the nomination will face an almost certainly bitter contest against President Barack Obama, whose policies have made him politically vulnerable but who will have the campaign cash to put up a fierce fight.
Our history as a nation shows that at times we have elected excellent presidents. But often, we have picked leaders who weren’t up to the challenge or who did not have a grasp of fundamental principles.
Obama has his supporters, but his record doesn’t indicate that he is the president we need for the four years beyond the next election. His dismal economic record, in particular, speaks for itself.
Meanwhile, the Republican field is coming into clearer focus.