Republicans, there are very few people I would disagree with more than you.
Whether it’s the usual Republican stance on taxes, national security, gay marriage or other viewpoints which mingle church and state, there simply isn’t much we agree on.
While most of these positions are insane, I know my beliefs are seen as far more crazy by most of you. Differences of opinion cause a lot of frustration, but are vital for any political system in the long run.
Although our two-party system may not be ideal, it sure beats the totalitarianism in most single-party states. So while I criticize the Republican Party, I do acknowledge its importance to the system.
But during this semester, there has been a certain something else — something insane and certainly not as beneficial for the political system as differing opinions. I’m referring to the jokes who are the Republican presidential candidates.
Between the willfully ignorant Herman Cain, who suspended his campaign Dec. 3, the Bush 2.0 Rick Perry or the simply crazy Michelle Bachmann, there is no one who seems like a reasonable candidate.
As it stands now, Mitt Romney seems to be the only candidate who can withstand the limelight for longer than a week without imploding. Without “oops” moments the other candidates had, his relative reasonability seems to have been enough to keep him afloat.
But is not making a political faux pas the only requirement to take a shot at the presidency? Something more than this would be required if the Republican Party has any chance to beat Obama next year.
Just look at how fierce the battle was between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the months leading up to Obama ultimately being decided as the Democratic nominee. Both candidates had to do their best to win over voters by debating and campaigning, not simply by an omission of mistakes.
The worst thing is that this really should have been a one-term presidency for Obama. Disregarding his actual policies, the economic climate under which he took office should have sealed such a fate.
But with no real contender from the Republican Party, this may not be the case.
In the last few months of the 2008 election, the Republican Party started to go the wrong path. In choosing Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate, he stirred up a nest of insanity which had been dormant.
Since then, the Republican candidates who get the most attention are those who flail about the most wildly.
This isn’t to say all the candidates are without merit. Jon Huntsman seems to be one of the more reasonable politicians running, yet he simply doesn’t get nearly as much attention. Between Huntsman and non-politician Herman Cain, it’s obvious who should be getting more support.
This is all up to the Republican voters. You need to find a reasonable candidate. Obama needs to be forced to fight for his second term, and clearly Republicans would like to see him out.
But given the events of this semester, it definitely doesn’t seem likely.
Get it together, Republicans. Democracy deserves no less.
 
Zachary Davis is a 21-year-old history junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @tdr_zdavis.
 
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Contact Parker Cramer at [email protected]