President Barack Obama is now sleeping with one eye open and a little notebook for ideas on his nightstand.

America’s economy has gone from bad to worse over the years and the election is a little more than a year away.

So, now that we have a chance to consider someone else as our next president, what are we hoping to find in a candidate?

America has set its eyes on picking a Republican candidate and the race is a crazy one. We have two front-runners in the GOP race – former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Romney has had his fair share of media hiccups with his “To sign or not to sign the opposition of gay marriage proposal” and his “corporations are people” statement. Perry, more than likely, will pass the “Pray for our economy” Act right after inauguration.

So, assuming we find an ideal candidate, what would a new president need to be?

Since superheroes are scientifically out of the question, let’s think practically. As of now, the country is residing in an economic crisis, possibly the greatest depression of our generation.

We need a president to solve problems George W. Bush created. Obama tried valiantly; however, it’s hard to get your feet out of concrete that’s already set.

So, should Americans vote for a different chief executive, or do we allow Obama to grab his chisel and free his feet from the concrete?

“I just want our next president to be a little more conservative,” said senior biomedical science major Jesse Borbe. “Because (Obama’s) change didn’t do squat.”

Although the change Obama promised has not been quite as noticeable as many had hoped, he had all the right intentions.

“I think Republicans and Democrats need to work together more often, instead of trying to pork barrel their ideas and get ahead with their own financial gains,” said senior civil engineering major Kalvin Fogata.

America just needs a kick in the ass to get back to the top. Honestly, a person who promotes trying to change for the better would get my vote. Who loves change more than anything? Obama does.

Although Gallup’s daily tracking poll said Obama’s approval rating stands at a personal-low of 32 percent, let’s realize the standard conservative Republican ideals are not what we need for help.

The popular Republican ideals consist of digressing back to the Stone Age, trying to reinstate policies such as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and rearranging tax cuts to satisfy wealthy wine drinkers and their Lamborghini-driving children.

It may be true Obama has done a whole lot of talking instead of walking, but his heart is in the right place. I truly believe his next term could become the one for the ages.

A complete withdrawal from Iraq, higher taxes on the rich and hopefully lower college tuition is something, we as voters, should all want.

Obama seems like the guy to heed our calls.

Artie Valenzuela can be reached at [email protected]