The “failures” of the Obama presidency as the right perceives them, especially the spike in unemployment despite his expensive programs to rehabilitate working-class jobs, has made the opposing party’s bid hotter than is usually the case in a reëlection. Republican candidates have sprung from their congressional seats and out of pizza boxes, with slogans promising radical moral revolutions in politics and America in general: “Restore America now” (Ron Paul), “I will make this country strong again” (Herman Cain) and “Overhaul Washington” (Rich Perry). But the excitement among Republicans of selecting a moral, passionate and refreshing candidate came crashing down in light of recent scandals and bloopers.

I’m inclined to think that the Republican base is so sure of its victory in the general election that the candidates have determined that they can afford to put the vitality of the party as a whole after the integrity of their platforms. The debates themselves have been relatively civil and most of the candidates have actually, from what I have seen, grown to like each other. But frankly, every viable candidate has proved him/herself screwed in a “Ten Little Indians” fashion.

After winning the Iowa straw poll, which is essentially a chance for candidates to appeal to voters by distributing greasy food and hiring popular musicians to perform between speeches, Michelle Bachmann just faded away from the scene.; her performance in the actual debates was mediocre and she was ridiculed for her inability to compete with the other candidates in this way. Newt Gingrich, whose values, long since haunted by the ghost of his affair in the 1990’s, were further criticized when he went on a cruise around the Greek archipelago in the midst of his campaign. Gingrich went out on a limb, distancing himself from the average American, in stating that his cruise gave him a sense of the profound impact of Greece’s economic collapse.

Mitt Romney, who was advertised as having enough experience and the sobriety to lead the nation, in the most recent debate bet Rick Perry $10,000 regarding the technical issue of what Romney wrote in one of his books. Though it may have been intended as a joke, it resonated as an arrogant remark that detracted from the image of him as a realistic leader and reminded everyone of how little the millionaire has in common with the bulk of America.

Herman Cain’s sexual accusations which led him to “suspend” his campaign and Perry’s chain letter worthy blunder - forgetting one of the three federal bureaus which he would eliminate as president - more than deserve to be added to this list. As these ridiculous candidates continue to do Obama’s negative campaigning for him, one can only wonder whether the candidate pitted against Obama will continue to advertise himself/herself as an agent of change, because it sure looks like if they win, America will undergo an irreparable change.