Republicans should consider re-branding

In regard to The Seattle Times recent reporting on the Washington State Republican Party’s Roanoke Conference [“State GOP looking to future for success,” NWMonday, Jan. 28], the reference to “Roanoke” may lend historical appeal, but it may not be the best choice if the Republican Party is looking to re-brand itself.

Roanoke was the ill-fated 16th-century attempt at establishing a permanent English settlement in America. It’s known as the “Lost Colony of Roanoke” because it disappeared. Next year, if they’re looking to revitalize themselves, maybe finding some other historical reference for their conference might be wise.

--Jennifer Moon, Bellingham

GOP’s discussion of reaching minorities not reflected in actions

It is revealing that this weekend’s GOP conference held to identify what went wrong in 2012 included an invitation to “grab a cigar, enjoy a drink and show off your shooting skills at our Nerf gun range,” all of which are so appealing to most women, minorities and independents.

If they can’t see their obvious problems, they will forever be seen as the rich, white guy, gun-toting party and will continue to lose statewide.

--Norma Jean Hanson, Seattle

Republicans need to be ‘reasonable’

The Republican Party is trying to get more Republicans elected. Here are a few suggestions.

Get out of our personal lives. Make us safer. Reagan Dunn thinks background checks at gun shows aren’t necessary?

Stop going after family-planning clinics; effective birth control lowers abortion rates.

Support job creation and public safety by upgrading infrastructure. Keeping tax rates low so the wealthy can hire a maid isn’t an effective job-creation plan.

Support the Dream Act. It is not rational to deny young people, who are American in all but their legal status, an opportunity to pay back our country. By offering work visas to persons from Third World countries, we are depriving those countries of the educated people they need to develop while leaving our own potential to rot.

Support environmental policies proposed by scientists. We rely on them for health care and food-production advances (to name a few), but don’t trust them on obvious environmental problems?

This alone won’t move the Republican Party from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s “stupid party” column, but it might make them appear reasonable. Where reason reigns, votes follow.

--Deanne Gilbert, Kirkland