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The Life of the Grand Old Party

Your cover story on the GOP's risk of extinction squarely addresses the Republicans' problems of connecting with voters but neglects to address the fact that, save Barack Obama, the Democrats are not in any better shape [May 18]. Remove the highly popular President from the Democratic equation, and that party, as evidenced by the previous Congress's approval ratings, is even less popular than George W. Bush. For all the cataclysmic talk about the GOP, the Democrats are one person away from being in the same boat. Constantinos Scaros, CLIFFSIDE PARK, N.J.

Michael Grunwald's analysis of the sorry state of the Republican Party is the best of many I have read. But he assigns insufficient blame to the figurehead of the party for eight years, Bush, whose faith-based leadership alienated many who believe in secular government. His obstinacy in the face of evolving public opinion in favor of stem-cell research, equality for same-sex couples and women's reproductive rights underscored his failure to feel the pulse of modern America. Most of all, his my-way-or-the-highway foreign policy made the U.S. a global pariah. Bill Gottdenker, MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J.

Since November's elections, Republican state legislative candidates have won 10 special elections--besting Democrats in Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina and Texas. It should be noted that the seat won in Delaware represents parts of Vice President Joe Biden's hometown. While others may be waiting for the Virginia and New Jersey 2009 gubernatorial elections as bellwethers for 2010, we have been focusing on rebuilding the party from the grass roots up--through recruiting, training and supporting down-ballot candidates for state office. The party has a bright future. It is being built in the states where the next generation of leaders is winning elections by advancing new ideas while adhering to conservative principles. The plight of Republicans in Washington does not reflect the true standing of the party. To paraphrase Mark Twain, we believe the reports of the Republican Party's demise are greatly exaggerated. Scott Ward, President, Republican State Leadership Committee ALEXANDRIA, VA.

As a former GOP county Chairman, I firmly agree that the Republican Party is toast, but what exactly do you expect will happen once the GOP is relegated to history's trash bin? That we'll all live in peace and harmony and sing "Kumbaya" together? Howard Hirsch, DAYTON, NEV.

My take on the Abysmal state of the GOP is a grab bag: the sea of rapturous pink-faced men in suits at last year's Republican Convention, Sarah Palin speaking of her gay friend's "choice," the endless seven minutes of Bush sitting still during the onset of 9/11, pretty much any comment from Dick Cheney. When Obama was elected, many wept from a mixture of deep relief and optimism--only to be mocked afterward by Republican pundits, who would begrudge Obama anything. When will they get it? Will Gilchrist, LOS ANGELES