POTUS Spread

TW: I am sure most everyone has seen this or similar version of our past, present and future POTUS. The thing that struck me though was the mediocrity and flawed nature of all of those in the photo (with the one hopeful and huge potential exception of BHO). These men were meant to be the best and brightest in order to lead the free world instead we have:
Carter- well-intentioned, highly principled iconoclast who ultimately was unable to build a true coalition to execute his principles
Bush Senior- the most normal of the bunch but sufficiently mediocre to lose control of the electorate after one term
Clinton- brilliant, most talented person to occupy the place since JFK but defaced the office and created the atmosphere into which a truly disastrous person could gain entry into the office
Bush W- no further comment at this time...

Obviously the one POTUS missing in the chronology, Reagan, is gone who many (certainly not me) regard highly but then if you go back further you get a Nixon and LBJ who had their own very serious flaws.

One is left wondering why we could not have done better in selecting our POTUSes?