CNN

The Republican brand is not the problem. The problem is todays Republican leaders who only want to continue the totally bankrupt ideas of the last 8 years. They cannot play musical chairs with the same pseudo leaders and expect a different result. The current leadership just doesn't get the fact the American voters soundly rejected their politics on November 4, 2008. Gingrich, McConnell, Cantor, Boehner, Limbaugh, and Hannity are not leaders. They are nothing more than contrarians, which is exactly what our country does not need to fix our many problems that the Republicans pretty much created on their own. The Republicans need to find the undo button and start with a new cast of characters untainted by the ways of the last 8 years.

That's easy. Show us that you can cut through the red tape and get stuff done. Fight off the pull of the good ol boy club who play's politics with our lives.
"We the people" are sick and tired of politicians being politicians.
Impress the hell out of your voters by showing leadership. Here is one way.
Double tax the rich,stop trying to destroy the middle class, free education for the poor. I could go on and on about all the things that has scarred your image over the years.
Just do it and now.

Sit in the same room with the Democrats and have a real discussion without announcing that you're going to :just say no" berfore the meeting even starts.

First, they need to admit they messed things up, really, really badly when they were in charge. Then they need to start engaging in serious dialogue with the President on how to solve all the problems our country is facing. Like Obama said, it's time to be met half-way.

Get with the times and throttle-down the right wing hold on the party.

Maybe if the Republicans decided they were anti-war, anti-corruption, anti-Isreal and cease doing everything every multinational corporation asked, maybe, just maybe they'll gain a little respect from the millions of REAL 'Murikans that don't want war, who hate corruption, who are tired of Isreal dictating foreign policy and tired of filthy rich corporations dictating domestic policy.

First they must move away from the extreme right wing and try to retake a portion of the moderate vote. The extreme right wing and the extreme left wing only comprise a small portion of the voting public. No one in this country can be elected without the moderate majority. Second they must distance themselves from the hate filled ranting of the radical right radio and television commentators. They must repudiate the rhetoric of Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Beck, and the rest of the hate mongers. Third they must come up with new ideas for helping our economy instead of just standing back and turning all new ideas down just because they come from the Democrats, they must show that they are trying to help and not just complaining.

Stop Talking!

It needs to go out of business. All my life it has been a dishonest, lying, ignorant, racist, backward (1890's) party. It has no distinguished presidents except for Ford, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Are current economic mess is just 1890's economics practiced by Republicans. It caused the Great Depression and the current Great Recession and up until than the worst recession of 1981-3. They're the "Edsel" of politics. Replace them with a responsible party practicing sound Keysian economics and "center right" politics. Ralph, Yakima, Wa.

Stress moderate conservatism. In this this country you have some of the far right and some of the far left, but most people are close to middle of the road.

The Republican party would improve their image greatly if they quit being the FAUX party and stop scaring people with their dishonest rhetoric. This talk about "socialization" come on... One of the greatest Republican Presidents in history Teddy Roosevelt created the FDA; (a government program) the last administration did everything to abolish the FDA and let the private companies hire their own Food Inspectors. Look what happened to us, we were left FOOD POISENED! I consider myself a yesterdays Republican but the Republican party would consider me a far left extremists. They changed..

Get in the game and do something for the people and workers of this country. Start representing those that work to live and not just profit. There are more of us who work to make just enough to feed, house, clothe and doctor ourselves and family than those who make and have more than they will ever need or spend in their lifetimes. Represent us. Fight for a living wage and benefits for the working men and women of this country. Make education available to all who wish to attend. Fight for the rights of ALL Americans no matter their race, creed, color or sexual orientation. Not an elite few. Fight for equal and fair taxation for eveyone and tax reform in the form of a flat tax. Shall I continue? Representation is all that is needed.

Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI

To paraphrase those eminent British philosophers, the Who:

"Meet the New GOP, Same as the old GOP".

No new faces and no new ideas here, Jack.

These guys are like the guy who keeps flicking the light switch after the bulb has blown out and expects the lights to just somehow _work_.

The GOP Bulb has blown and until they actually change it they will just stay there in the dark.

New 21st century ideas that move the country forward while maintaining fiscal discipline would do alot for the Republican party. Just one idea besides tax cuts might actually get people to listen to them for a second. Also, they need to stop the nonsense about "real America" and "true republicans" if they want to have more than the core 25 percent of America to take them seriously. Lastly, a consistancy in their message would resonate farther. A party that claims to appreciate the value of human life should not support the death penalty, torture, and ignore the health care problems of the country.

They could try crawling out of the dark ages. They still seem to think reality has no place in their decisions and whatever they want to be true will be. If there proves to be some problem with that, they will find someone to fabricate evidence to support their assertions and proceed as if it were real. The best thing they could do is retire and go fishing.

1. They need to stop their hate. This country is more than old, white, conservative, and southern.

2. They need to stop acting like they are better than everyone else. If the last 8 years taught us anything is they are not.

3. Learn that comprise is not the same as weakness. The ability to work with other is a strength that they us do not get.

Kirven Dunham
Rancho Cordova, CA

The GOP have been hammering away with thier trickle-down tax-cut theories for something like three decades now. None of it has worked and yet STILL that seems to be all I hear from them. They try to scare the American people into beleiving that the government that they recently lost control of is the enemy. They gain power and don't do what they said they'd do and then wonder why nobody has much time for them any more. If they want any real respect they should shake loose the bonds of the ultra-religious and get in touch with what is really on the minds of the voters instead of lecturing on morality values that they cannot themselves seem to follow.

Jack,
The Rebulican Party thought they were invincible in 2000-2004. It just took time for them to get too cocky and start the self destruction process. Bush helped them get there and it will take time for the correction. I don't see that happening until after Obama is out of office. ( After his re-election of course) What they need in their party is "Change"

I was raised in a Republican household. Somewhere along the line I find myself a Demoncrat. The Republican need to sequester themselves in a room for a week and learn how to become more pro active. I've never seen such a whiney, back stabbing bunch of frustrated politicians. They can't come up with ideas of their own and now I can see why the Democrats are the new "intelluctual" party. Instead of being the GOP, become the INP – Innovative New Party.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

They don't need to improve their IMAGE, Jack.

They need to move into the 21st century and improve their MESSAGE (and really MEAN it).

Moderation and inclusiveness would be a good start. Repudiating the right-wing blowhards and wingnuts would also be an improvement.

And, I know its too much to expect the current Republican Party to put politics aside–stop thinking about winning elections–and just try and COOPERATE with Democrats for the good of the country.

But that, too, would be a tremendous improvement.

I'm afraid it is too late for the Republican Party to "re-brand" itself. It is going to take a long time for the party to regain even a little bit of their long gone popularity. I believe that President Bush has done irrepairable harm to the party and it will take a big meltdown of the Democrat party for the Republicans to have any hope for victory in coming elections. It is too bad that there is not another political party that can field a candidate like Ross Perot or John Anderson.

Not the way are have been carrying on. You think the antics of their Congressional leaders is the upper limit of bad behavior. Not until you see their You-Tube video out out today. There you have it–the Republican Party's plan for attracting more people (crazys) into their fold! Just pure, unadulterated hate messages and mindless chatters. This Party is destined for oblivion. It has no constructive ideas, no decency, no class, no moral restraint, no intellectual capacity or depth, no broad vision and no relevance in the new century of multi-racialism and global co-operation. Its new chairman is an empty head who failed his law exams so many times–and he talks like one. In his little self, he shouts that Obama slighted him by not giving him a call and therefore he rushes out in the streets to crudely attack him with the kind of language you can only hear from a gutter-sniper. Currently, he is worshipping at the alter of the "All mighty" Rush Limbaugh. Steeles attack of Obama can only exponetially eliminate any chances of his ever making any inroads into the Black and Latino votes–perhaps the single most important reason a Party of mostly old white males elected their chairperson. Obama, on the other hand, has almost universal appeal and attacts people from all demograhphics. What a joke the RNC has sprung on itself by selecting a loser as its chair.

There reputation will never improve until the press stops saying everything they do is bad. They have no ideas. Well they do have ideas but no one will report what they want to do.

The GOP/Grumpy Old People need to get some ideas that are relevant to the world today. Remember when Bush (Sr, not shrub) talked about a new world order? Well, there is a new world out there and it requires us to cooperate with others, and to lead thru good ideas and example. Gone are the old days of the US dictating to the world! The GOP needs to wake up and"smell the coffee", and develop strategies that appeal to the ast majority of citizens. Todays people no longer feel bound to support the party regardless of reality. It seems as if the reps only want big business and the upper (elite) 5% of the population.They will need to change that- hopefully in about 30 years (give all the fogies time to die off).

Now, do the Republicans see how destructive the George W. Bush administration actually has been? How can the Republicans say that they gave been conservative when the biggest default lay ahead of the nation? How can things like the Iraq war be justified when accounts are surfacing of little to no accomplishments being made in it? The moral ethics of the torture memos coming forth only exacerbate the plunging number of Republicans leaving the party as is Specter! The Republican Party is at the precipice of insolvency as is the nation these sent it to the brink! The Republicans cannot flout savings when they spent, they cannot claim the moral high ground; and they cannot support the unsupportable. They must go away as did the Whig Party which the Republicans replaced with Lincoln!

Jack,
The Republican Party needs a leader with vision. They will have to retract the Faustian deals they made with the Dixiecrat's and the Religious right to begin with. Next they will have to build a bigger tent and be more inclusive and not Aryan like in trying to purify the party from an ideologue perspective.
In light of the Spectre defection and allowing talking heads like Rush Limbaugh, John Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and congresswoman Michelle Bachman to define the party, don't expect make over to occur in the near future.

The GOP needs to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution. Our country is in CRISIS mode. UNITY is paramount. If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem. STOP being part of the problem.

I'm too old to be convinced they have been the party of dishonesty to me. I'm old enough to remember Pres. Nixon and the Water Gate scandals. That is when I left the party. Then came the last Republican Hurrah 2000-08
My advice to them is to lay low for a while and maybe the younger generation will forget. They want to be the party of change (this year) in eight years they may take a look at Republican party. If Pres. Obama can't produce and the Republicans doesn't continue to raise a stink. Which I think they are doing now and It only makes them look worse. Maybe they should become the party of cooperation for a better tomorrow. Heaven only knows America needs one.

Oregon

Hi Jack, they have to tell Cheney, Limbaugh, Hannity, and Coulter to shut the heck up. Those people were wrong about everything for 8 years and everybody on the planet except the uneducated know it.
Tim

Jack,I believe this "National Council for a New America" is a great idea,if the Republicans actually listen to the American people and take action on their ideas,something that neither party does right now.Also they need to quit living in the past,yes ,Ronald Reagan was a great President for those times,,but he his gone and so are those times.It is alright to look back but not to go back.Republicans to move into these times and bemore inclusive!

Simple. Change or Retire. I think we are all sick to death of listening to them whining and boo-hooing. You had your chance, now get with the people's agenda or get out.

Melondy
Palm Coast, Fl

In order for the Republican party to improve its image with voters it must first take responsibility for its failed policies and apologize. They must admit that they were wrong and must promise to never pursue that ideology ever again. They have admit that they have been discriminating against gays and other minorities and stop discriminating against gays and other minorities and apologize for doing so.
They must stop obstructing progress and finally, they must contribute something viable to the dialogue.

Jack,

If they stop trying to make everything a "scare" issue and try to come up with solution other than more problems with everything our president does, then perhaps they can start to recover.

The GOP hasn't had a new idea for 25 years now, unless you count deceiving the public on a whole new scale and invading foreign countries that were no threat to the US. Their policies have brought rising inequality in exchange for artificially inflated economies. They have no credibility on fiscal responsibility after they supported running huge deficits to feed a bubble. Now they criticize the Democrats for doing the same in a time of crisis. Hopefully the same trite old ideas alone won't do it, or we'll be in trouble.

Jack
A good start would be to get rid of Steele, Bohner, Limbaugh and the rest of these hate mongers. They are fools, they are wrong and they create trouble.

Well, let's just see how long this "forum" lasts before they resort back to the childish games, name calling, etc. that got them to this point to begin with....

Certainly, their party leader (Boehner) being part of an Anti-Obama ad recently won't help much....

Working on image instead of substance is what got them to where they are.

If they improve their positions, improve their candidates, and then improve their membership by losing (1) the Lunatic Right, and (2) the Robber Barons, they won't have to worry about image. It will improve by itself.

well, the first thing I would do is separate from Rush Limbaugh & the NRA & maybe, they could improve their image.
David, Las Vegas

First, they have to stop lying. They have to stop the persistant, misleading, dishonest "Talking Points". Their strategy for the past several years is to have enough party members repeat the same lie over & over in hopes it will become truth in the minds of the citizens. It doesn't work anymore. Secondly they have to stop calling themselves "Conservative", especially in light of the largest increase in size of our government in history was under the Bush Administration. Where's the conservatism? Fiscal? I think not. Moral & ethical? The last administration was the most incompetent when it came to spending and the most unethical & untrustworthy we've had in my lifetime. When you send sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers & fathers off to die in in an action based on your lies and your buddies get rich off it, that's not conservative. That's CRIMINAL.

If the Republican Party wants to improve it's image it simply has to grow up and act responsibly to help the President solve the problems he inherited. Refusing to cooperate isn't helping anybody.

The Republican party has to be patient and wait for the big surprises coming from President Obama like the Energy Tax and Carbon Tax that will cost the American Taxpayer approxiamtely $3200 each. Once the American people discover they were conned by Obama, These taxes will definitely help the poor, working and middle class. They will vote him out of office in 4 years along with Democrat members of the House and senate.

stop acting like a little 5 year old on a play ground with all the Name Calling. And stop all the lying.

People have lost their trust in the Republican Party. They have lowered themselves to the actions of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly. This will backfire on them.

Jack
I have no idea because they had 5 years when they had ALL the power
and failed completely.So IMHO they have avery lomg road back if they ever get back.
David

Climb back under the ultra-right, totally intolerant, "my way or the right way" rock they came from. Maybe then, the rest of us can have some peace. As a "former" independent I used to vote for the best person – not the party. This year, the Republicans took ridiculous to new heights and demanded I choose. And Jack, they aren't what I chose.

Only time can heal the damages caused by the Bush Administration. I can't see anything positive changing voter opinion on Republicans, unless it is clear that in 4 years that Obama has fallen flat on his face.

Is it possible to grow younger and more in touch? They need to do a Benjamin Button. Or follow Spector to the other side and grab a seat. Other than that they might be out of luck.

Jack,

They can start by cutting their umbilical cords to Rush Limbaugh and other bomb throwing rabble-rousers. They can quit moaning about giving thoughtful help to the American people. They can knock off shedding crocodile tears over taxes, Social Security and Medicare. They can submit good ideas on how to get America energy independent and help pass a single-payer healh care system, etc.

Try playing the role of a wise elder to the youthful Democratic leaders, providing supportive guidance and gentle correction toward mutual success. The current role of disgruntled election loser, snotty naysayer, and saboteur is unbecoming to the Grand Old Party – of which I a member.

Sorry but they cannot clean up their act especially with the new AD they are running today. This kind of behavior is unacceptable. America has had enough of the fear mongering the GOP has dished out the last 8 years and now it is time to move them out so this country can move forward without the Thug party. They should be tried in a court of law for treason.

It can not do a thing.

Good bye......................GOP

Come up with some new, modern ideas. I am tired of hearing the same old lines from the GOP. Your wrong with foreign and domestic policies. The last couple elections should tell you that America disagrees with most of their ideals.

Please, can anyone on the 'right' come up with one new original idea to improve the nation? Anyone?

Lose the I am wright you are wrong attitude and start dealing with reality rather than their perception of what reality should be. As long as they believe the ends justifies the means thy will remain out side of the mainstream. Making wild accusations about your opposition with out any truth behind it will not help them either. So I guess that makes it all about character. Oh forget it they have no hope.
John St Marys Pa.

Hi Jack:

The republicans have to stop blaming the democrats for a situation George Bush created. They should be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Ron K Temecula CA

Lose commentators such as Hannity, Limbaugh, Colton and all the extreme left mush mouths.

Perhaps they should form a “National Council for a New Republican Party." The idea that a bunch of conservatives would want to form a "new America" is oxymoronic. They're conservatives, for gosh sakes. They're for the status quo ante, not new things.

They could get a moderate voice like Princess Meghan McCain to lead the rebellion against Emperor Limbaugh and Darth Vader. Only then would people think that the Republican party actually knows anything about freedom, hope, and justice for all.

The GOP no longer stands for the Grand Old Party......it is now the Grouchy Old Party. These people have GOT to lighten up and get theirselves together. The entire bunch is acting like a clique of snooty high school girls. They have got to be more inclusive and much less rigid.

For all of the yelling they do about Obama being a socialist, it is the communist dictators in the world who command that their citizens must live by their strict rules of law and sets of belief, and there is NO tolerance for anyone different. That sounds a hell of a lot more like the US Republican Party's requirements for membership than the Democrats'.

Simple, stop living in the past.

Join the 21st century , stop the lies and quit being the party of No!

They could start by being a lot less myopic. Instead of shouting louder because they think we can't hear them, they should realize we can, but are choosing not to listen. Repackaging the same old crap in a shiny new expensive branding scheme won't make their message any more palatable. Americans will know when members of the GOP are actually rolling up their sleeves and working on solving the very real crises in front of us instead of trying to figure out how to get attention. Once we see them working, their image will improve.

By just quietly slipping away into oblivion.

Become Democrats.

To improve its image with voters the Republican Party needs to return to its roots and be what its advertised as, the party of limited government and fiscal responsibility. They need to read the Constitution and then follow it. They need to believe, once again, in a humble foreign policy and completely denounce torture.

Canton, Ohio

Jack, they need to grow up and act like adults. This finger pointing crap is childish. They need to watch themselves on television and ask themselves, if what they just said was rational. Frankly I've stopped watching commercial television for entertainment. I have more fun watching "The Republican Zone" . It's funny, surreal, and I'm always kept guessing on who can top their next blunder.

"New America?" Is that one of those things where the US, Canada and Mexico become one big happy country? Jack, you'd better alert Lou Dobbs about this one.

Become democrats!!!!!!!!!!!

they could do like a company does that has lost all face with the people..close their doors, make up a new name, and then open the doors again with a sign outside saying," under new management," business goes on .

What's left of the Republicans should just take their medicine and go to bed and let's not hear from them until they have something meaningful to say.

They could start by getting rid of the paranoid bunch that are so afraid that some one else might have an Idea that will work .not to mention the part that is scared to death that they may have to pay taxes ugh need I go on.
Ronald Holst
San Antonio, TX.

They have to SHOW America that they want to help the contry and the people by choking down their pride and actually WORK with the people who were voted into power by Americans. So far all they done is shown is that their priority is to get themselve back into power to the exclusion of all else.

That's not going to cut it anymore.

The GOP needs to divorce itself from both the robertson/dobson religious right and the limbaugh/hannity/o'reilly secular right to ever be relevant in our diverse culture again.

Well Jack, honestly I dont think it will be as impossible as the media makes it out to be. Simply because i think The President will do their job for them once Americans, keyword..Americans find out just how bad a Pelosi, Obama , Reid trifecta can be when all their money is given to welfare reciepientsand Banks, jobs are all sent to India and Mexico is allowed to re envelop the Southwestand dictate NAFTA. Imagine all of this excitement , and add in People being openly Gay in schools and Churches, Not even being allowed to criticize Terrorists anymore because their feelings might be hurt, and finally being told your Constitutional Rights are Null and Void. Unless a Moderate Conservative Hero comes out of the night soon........The Flag and Nation I love so Dearly and shed blood for as many in my family have also done is in REAL Trouble.

As long as the Republican Party continues it far right bent it will continue to be irrelevant. Rush Limbaugh and crew need to realize what the Republicans lost under the last election were the portions of the populations whose political beliefs were center right and left. Additionally, the demographics of the country are changing and the Party of Lincoln has been slow to change and adjust to those demographics (race, religion, gender, etc.). If the Republican Party is to survive a new generation of leaders must wrest control of the party from the current leadership whom, through their lack of foresight and good judgement, have so miserably failed the party.

Jack, the Republican Party needs to do much more than "rebrand" or "change their image." Putting a new coat of paint on rotten wood does not improve the quality of the fence.

They need real change – a change in their perspective about how to help our country, a change in their policies, and certainly they must make a concerted and genuine effort to be willing to work in a bipartisan manner.

And, they need to be less concerned about getting re-elected. In fact, the best way for them to win another election is to produce real change that is relative to our times and our situation.

Enough of their stuffed shirts already!

Changing their party name would be a good first step!
Second step would be not to tell Rush Limbaugh what the new name is!

Republicans need to LISTEN to what Americans want for our country; and stop spewing their hatred and fear of anything and everything that deviates from current Republican "thought." Start listening to leaders of other countries; and accept the fact that other countries are allowed to have a voice in world events. Stop telling us what you want, and start listening to what "WE" want. Republicans: if you want to improve your image - stop proclaiming your self-righteous birthright to the "top of the heap" and recognize that it is OK to have differences of opinion. The key points here are 1) talk less; 2) listen more: and 3) accept other points of view.

It is obvious what the Republicans have to do to improve thier image.Do what Senator Spector did and turn to the Democratic party.
Thanks to our ability to vote every four years,we have been experiencing a quiet revolution in yhis country.If the Republicans were able to steal the election again,the revolution would not be so quiet.The majority of the electorate has had it with the Republicans.
Bush/Cheney did them in.Senator McCain(a great patriot)was not defined as a moderate,a conservative,or a what?Governor Palin(duh) could not get elected to a school board in New York state.Forget Jeb,his brother made sure there would never be another President Bush.Romney has a chance if the economy doesn't recover,but it appears to be.Governor Jindal "has IT",but not enough of "IT" to make it to the top.
It is going to take the Republicans a long time to recover.Maybe Hilary can be President in seven years.

The GOP has established its identity as a dictatorship-leaning bunch of spies and liars over the past 8 years. Lotsa luck fixing it in a couple of months. As long as they keep bashing the Obama Administration at every turn, telling folks in need that the government is not here to help them, and preaching that progressives are vile, godless creatures who kill babies and take away the right to own guns, they will continue to look like the foolish, egomaniacal, out-of-touch baffoons that they are.

the republican party needs to get in step with the rest of the country. republicans represent, same old politics, same old thinking, same old ideology and same old BS that got us into the mess we are in today. Maybe they should start reading something other than their own bank statements.

simle jack by keeping people like rush in cage,and stop being a party of NO and at least come up with ideas other than the ones they had for the last eight years that put us in this mess,or second option they have is if you can bit them join the like spector did.

yasmin toronto canada

The Republican party, if it wishes to gain the confidence of the average American has to move aways from the Neo Con, right wing fringe of the party and move to the Center...The only ones left in the GOP will be (1) The Uber Wealthy who are worried about nothing more than their tax rate (2) The Social Conservatives who worry about nothing but Abortion and Gay Marriage (3) Racists/Xenophobes... They marginalized themselves, fell out of favor and now there is hope that we can repair the damge done over twenty-thirty years of GOP influence/dominance

Here is what the republican party stands for: total selfishness & self-interest, love of war, hatred for the poor and nature, greed, stupidity, narrow-minded moral judgments, and skill at lying. I'm glad I don't have to sell THAT brand.

They need to come up with an actual new idea, but then if they could do that then they would be neither conservative nor republican.

Simply put, all they need to do is get back to the basics, the republican party has lost it's way, and strayed far to the left. They started spending when they should have been reducing costs. The 2006 election should have been a wake up call, yet they did not change how they handled the issues. Today, all we see are a bunch of whiners, no real substance at all. Back to the basics!

Resurrect the 'Contract with America' and stick to it this time; no ifs, ands, or buts.

Jack, They can start by doing something the democrats wont do, try and put an end to free trade and outsourcing in the US and stand behind the American worker for once that would gain them popularity with about 99.99% of the america, it would certainly get me to switch parties.

By coming up with well thought out ideas, separate church from government completely (its complete BS that the GOP is so set up allowing laws to pass that are religious issues. Religion is too subjective and does NOT allow room for logic), not go so hand and hand with big business and the rich versus the poor (have things that appeal to everyone if you want everyone to at least say give that person a chance even if they don't like them), don't be so war happy (we WASTE trillions of dollars on war every year, why does the USA have to be the world police at the cost of a lot of my taxpayer money. This is NOT fair for me, I hate paying 30-35% of my paycheck to have 15-20% of that money to go to the pay the military their salaries, go to college and get a real job like everyone else, otherwise I'll be stuck paying for your 5 kids on welfare because the military doesn't pay you enough to support your whole family as a grunt), and get more in tune with technology (I work in the IT, and I am very tech swavy, and I added Obama on facebook, twitter, and contribute to his website regularly).

I don't think it's about improving image, Jack. It's the fact that Americans no longer identify with the Republican ideology. No matter how well a product is branded and marketed, if I don't like what's inside the package, I'm not buying it.

Jack Open up their minds and hearts to peoples,not just a one way road. There's more than one model on thew road these days!

A good start would be for the GOP to finally land the mothership on this planet. For the past few weeks, Republicans like Michelle Bachmann, Virginia Foxx, James Imhoff and Rick Perry keep making loonier and loonier comments. They have help turn the "Party of No," whiich is bad enough, into the "Party of No Reality Whatsoever."

Jack, as long as the old faces still control the party, no "re-branding" will save this party. Those guys are frozen in the 50's or the 80's that is. They only in favor of 2 things: WAR and TAX cuts, no concrete plan to adjust in an ever changing world.

Unfortunately when most people want the government to fix a crisis, which everyone believes the Republicans caused, lowering taxes and shrinking government – the extent of their economic toolbox – doesn't come across as a credible solution. The Republicans need to abandon this deep-seated core belief in order to be viable. Otherwise, they'll have to wait until the tax ramifications of all the upcoming well-needed government programs become the biggest issue. That might take awhile.

I beleive the Republican Party should distance themselve from people like Rush and Hannity. Because every time they speak, it's always how the Liberals (Democratic party) is bad & un-American and these Conservitive talk show personnel are just Spewing Hate. The Republican leaders need to tell the American people what they can bring to the table that will make this country better and prosperous. Don't force your belief on us... I am a Democrat, but I don't think it's right for the Democrats to have all the say and all the power in Washington.

Stella/ Miami, Florida

Here's four steps to start:

(1) Put down the Bible and pick up a copy of the Constiution.
(2) Focus on the economy.
(3) Come up with an original idea.
(4) Turn off Fox News.

Instead of being a party of exclusivity, which gives off the impression of extremism, they should lay out well thought out plans backed by concrete facts not ideological rhetoric or scriptures from the bible. Extremists in other nations already do this, and some may argue we are at war because of this. We just don't need this kind of stuff in our homeland. Faith is great, but don't mispace it.

The party needs to remember that church and state are separate. Stop all the namecalling and come up with some ideas besides tax cuts for the rich. We tried things that way all the rich did was pocket the profits and the hell with the people.

Jack,
The Reublican party simply need to climb aboard USS United States. they say no so much that it's hard to tell what country they represent. Surely not everything the Democrats present is a bad but the Republican response would have you think that way. They say no so much you would think they are being offered drugs.

Jack, they need to become more tolerance of other/new ideas. And also remember that no one get 100% of what they want. all the time.. .just as in life... we all compromise on some things in order to make things work and be happy.

Larry
Flower Mound, TX

Jack,the only way the republicans re-invent themselves is to rid themselves of the ones they have lined up to accomplish this.Get some new,fresh faces,much younger faces,,,,,let John McCain's daughter replace him in fact put her in charge.
They have no hope as long as the"fair and balanced"network continues to rant and rave oh and dont forget Mr.Fatso with his golden mic and Newt.
John in Florida

They have pandered to the racist aliment of this Country as far back as the 50's, if not longer. With the election of Barack Obama, you can see that they only have the support of the southern White's, when the rest of the Country has become more rational towards this issue. So, here's the answer to your question Jack. To improve their image, they need to adopt Barack Obama slogan that says, YES WE CAN, oppose to, NO YOU CAN'T!

Jack, Republicans will never stand for anything "new." They just need to muzzle Michelle Bachmann, Virginia Foxx, Sarah Palin, Eric Cantor, Michael Steele and Mitch McConnell – and simply let Rush be the authentic face of the Grand OLD Party.

They cant change, they are a hateful party, all you have to do is listen to rightwing radio and FOX NEWS and youll see and hear the worst of the worst. The only people they like in this country is rich CEO's and republican politicians. Their main goal is to divide the country. I think after watching Bush you can see they would like to start a dictatorship and have republican rule and have two classes of people , rich and poor only . They almost succeeded in wiping out the middle class in the last eight years . If they would of had four more I think they would have . They tried to do it and now they're all circling the wagons trying to make everyone think Obama is doing it , but it was their plan all along . I hope they never change their image because it would be a lie . Watch out if they get in power again , because we will be under NEOCON rule all over again .

They have to stop giving so much power to the crazy extremists in their party like Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Bachmann.

I don't know, Jack. Can a prisoner on death row improve his image with the American public? Just yesterday, the RNC put out an ad showing President Obama shaking hands with Hugo Chavez and then America being blown up to smitherenes. "Do you feel safer," it asks. Well, yes we do! And, we're sick and tired of Republican fear-mongering. So, if the GOP wants to improve its image among voters, it will need a much better execution (pun intended) of its ideas.

Honestly, I believe the first thing they have to do is disassociate tehmselves with the Christian Right. Next they have to promote themselves as environmentally responsible...Clear Skies and Healthy Forests were oxymorons put forth by morons. Then present fiscally responsible programs that include all Americans. That's the start. They can work on the rest later.

First I would learn not to say the word NO. Second, I would stop calling Obama a socialist, third, I would try with all your might to help this country, and work with the President, not against him, after all he has a job that is made more difficult because of the economy, the swine flu, the 2 wars. It seems to me if they spent as much time making this country better, than trying to make this President look bad, we would be a lot better off. If they scrutinized G.W.Bush as much as they do Obama maybe we wouldn't have the big mess we have.

claire Greensboro N.C.

I think the focus groups have already spoken, Democrats are better!

Another great example of what they should stop doing is the ad they just released trying to discredit Obama when the country is in dire straights and needs a strong President. What they are doing is trying to cause trouble at a hard time. The people do NOT need yet more trouble caused by yet more attempts at divisiveness.

Start caring for the middle class, stay out of our bedrooms and bodies. Stop telling us whom we can and cannot marry. Stop with the 'tax cuts' rant. Stop lying on and criticizing President Obama's every move and get rid of lush limpaugh, sean hannity and anne coulter. That's just a start.

No mater how much so-called moderate Republicans claim their party is constructive and inclusive, they are still beholden to the nutty chorus of Beck, Limbaugh, Bachmann, and others shouting for the overthrow the constitutionally elected government of President Obama. Republicans will stay the party of 'No' as long as they are afraid to say "No" to the extremist elements of their party and show respect for the elected will of the majority of Americans.

To improve it's image, the RNC must do something it is uncapable of. As the party shrinks, the percentage of far-right conservatives within the RNC grows as moderates leave the party. To appeal to voters, the RNC must act/do/say/legislate things in a manner that makes the far-right folks irrate. So it appears that the RNC is handicapped, even handcuffed, by people calling Obama a "socialist" because they are unwilling, or unable, to change with the times. And if the RNC could accomplish what is necessary to appeal to a broader segment of voters, then the moderate republicans wouldn't have left the party to begin with.

Members of this “National Council for a New America” include Bush, McCain, Jindal and Romney, Now that's thinking outside the box.

They should start by distanceing themselves from the likes of Rush, Beck, Hanitty and Cheney who constantly preach that everybody is out of step except right wing conservatives and that anyone who does not agree with their position on each and every issue is not fit to be a member of the party.

Rush recently was the featured speaker at a national gathering of conservatives. His speach was covered by all of the major networks. Those watching it on TV perceived it as a meeting of the leadership of the Republican Party. He was wildly applauded by those in attendance. However to the non "ditto-heads" watching on TV, he came across as a leader of the Republican party who was a ranting maniac.

The Republicans are fond of claiming that everyone is welcome under their tent. Unfortunately, there isn't much room under the pup tent they presently provide.

Bob
Louisville, Ky

Jack, sometimes its just a matter of reaping what one has sown; the republicans made their bed with George W.-Rove, McCain/Palin and now they have to sleep in it, alone.

Ogunquit, Maine

If Republicans spent more time worrying about what went on in the boardroom instead of the bedroom, they might actually be the majority party today. Its time for Republicans to close the Bible and open a copy of the Constitution. They need to emphasize their respect for individual freedom and no government interference in private citizen lives, but for real this time. The unmitigated hypocrisy of a party that spent this country into debt while preaching fiscal conservatism, screamed about individual liberty while it demanded government intervention into women's bodies and gay Americans civil rights, and insisted on moral purity for all while they privately engaged in behavior that would make a sailor wince, has simply taken its toll on the American people.

Is there anyone who thinks these folks are anything less than a bunch of utter hypocrites?

Keep their darn mouths shut and help make legislation. So I guess we can forget about that.

Jack, to improve their image, the GOP must start to own up to their mistakes. They cannot ignore the abuses of members of their party in years past and expect anyone to respect them. Own the mistakes. Acknowledge them. Provide realistic alternatives in areas where there is disagreement. In other words, be an adult!

If the Republican Party wants to have a chance, they need to stop being a party of religious "values." Most Americans don't want someone legislating our beliefs and morals. If the Republicans adopted a more more Libertarian viewpoint the party would experience a resurgence in numbers, but it's hard to see that happening with the "values" set controlling things.

change the mind set of the party and some of the leaders.

Isn't a wolf still a wolf even in sheeps clothing? There is a reason why people have lost trust in the GOP: they are not the party of the people. How can a Government be We the People with a political party that is all but for the people! Make over is more like we should Make believe that they are for the average joe....

What the Republican party needs to do is less clear than the certainty that they better do something. Having donkeys run unfettered in Congress is just hopeless. Hint to the Republicans. Read the constitution. Get religion out of your agenda and start using some sense. Also, try listening to the millions of women who do not like some pompous elephant interfering in their personal lives.

They can quit giving in to the ultra right conservatives who don't want anybody to have anything and want to indoctrinate the rest of us with their warped view of religion. This is not the party of Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower.

Jack, I think that is a tall order.
They can lie and say they're somebody they're not but I think after all we've been through during the Bush era, Amerrica's eyes are open.

Alan from Riverdale NY

Now Jack, Why would I want The Grumpy Outrageous party to improve their image? So they regain power and destroy our economy again. No Thanks I love the way they are dazed and confussed

By changing their actions! For example not putting our economy into the hands of Wall Street, Free-Market, Lobbyist & greedy business executives! Also by thinking America is safer by making us hated around the world and addressing age old problems first instead of playing golf while mankind and our planet are in peril! Last but not least stop raping the planet to make a buck, mother nature can be mankinds worst nightmare!

The Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld machine ran the GOP into the ground. Get far far away from them and their policies to start with.

The Republican party has held some good, solid ideas like smaller, more efficient government and solid national defense.

They've had some rather bad ideas, like peddling intolerance towards large segments of society instead of letting people live their lives their own way. I think the idea should be to be conservative in who you push out and treat as unequals rather than who you let in.

The GOP just keeps getting the smaller, less intrusive government thing wrong. They let the government intrude on people's lives to keep gays from living by their own rules when it won't change anything for heterosexuals by treating them as equals (the same way no one really cared when multi-racial marriage was unbanned). But they want to stop government from ensuring that everyone gets health care which would vastly improve the lives for many US citizens. Republicans want government to intrude on the freedoms of some people when letting them live their own way won't actually hurt anything, but they want to stop government on issues that would really help.

Why is conservatism so twisted these days?

Stephen
Virginia Beach

The Republican Party no longer exists...it hasn't existed since Ronald Reagan. The elected officials who are parading around as Republicans are simply just moderate liberals and watered down Democrats to many.

A new party needs to be created for conservatives, to allow this country to return to its core roots. Today, neither party represents the majority of citizens. They both need to be replaced. That will fix both of their images.

I think what Republicans need is some pride and excitement about their party. The difference in the 2008 election to the 2004 election is that the voter turnout advantage switched sides. Democrats were excited about their candidate and their cause while Republicans in 2008 were not.

It will also take some time. As a conservative I believe Obama is making mistakes, and when those mistakes start to show themselves people will take a second look at the Grand Old Party. We were the party that survived Richard Nixon in our own ranks. We sure as heck can survive Obama. The cyle of power in Washington has not ended.

Drop the religious right crap

Two things, Jack. First, stop the bleeding by telling the neo-cons to shut-up. It may be their party, too, but their agenda is what drives people away. Second, they need to listen to Megan McCain. She is the future of the Republican party. It will be her generation and her values that rebuilds the Greedy Obstructionist Party (GOP) for the future. If the neo-cons and far-right continue their control, I predict the GOP is history just like the Whig Party.

show the people what they want to see tell them what they want to hear be a salesman (and do it republican style) which i would assume is a strong shot of old glory..- andrew chicago il

Get rid of all the GOP including Palin and start over. I was GOP but went Dem after BUSH 43 and Cheney left a nasty taste in my mouth.

An American living in Costa Rica

Jack,
The Republican party has to begin by using fresh faces with the new outlook it needs to project. They are using 19th century ideas with 20th century people. I am a registered Republican who votes third party for my representation in Washington. If the Republican party wants to be a contender, it had better keep up with the times.

The first thing Republicans should do is to stop bashing President Obama! But they won't do that because then they wouldn't have anything at all to do. They have become the party of NO and HATE. The party of Eisenhower is gone, forever.

The Party is going to have to prove to the American people that they truly care about us. The average guy that does his job and wants some respect for doing it. I feel that the party have forgotten us in favor of bigger (richer) fish. Unless they can convince me I'm not a small fish, I can't go back to the party.

The Republican Party needs to reshape its SUBSTANCE, rather than its image. It needs to return to defending the constitution, including the freedom to follow any religion and not just Christian Fundamentalism. It needs to stop funneling our nation's treasure to the wealthy by things like no-bid contracts and dirt-cheap mineral leases. It needs to respect women's ability to make valid moral judgments as to when abortion is the least bad of bad alternatives, and it needs to recognize that God can accomplish God's will without the assistance of (and sometimes in spite of) the Republican Party.

If the Republican Party wants to be a party for the citizens, they need to listen to the citizens. 8 years of Bush really set them in a hole at this time. It is time for both party's to listen to what the American Citizens want, because wasn't this country of ours founded by and for the American People?

How about hanging the 'Under New Management' banner first then putting 'New' in fron of its name then find American who actually the profile of 2009 'c'onservative ( not super Conservative ,just small c who do not remember Ronnie Raygun, Barry Goldwater or Newt Gingrich. For a Start!

This is a good first step.

If they can form a more inclusive coalition outside the hard right Republican Orthodoxy, perhaps they can stand against the extremists now in control and become relevant once again.

If nothing else, they will have the beginnings of a new party to which Centrists may be drawn.

I left the Republicans when George W. Bush failed to accept responsibility for taking us into Iraq on a lie. That combined with the hypocrisy of the "Family Values" lie, the hard line against choice, and the Karl Rove style of Swiftboat politics pushed me farther away. The 2008 Republican campaign literally made my blood boil, and I voted with the Democrats a second time.

I'd rejoin the Republican Party of my youth, but not its current incarnation.

What can the Republican party do? Two simple answers. First, embrace younger Republicans such as Meghan McCain who are outspoken, smart, and can improve the image of Republicans to younger people, instead of being known as the "old white religious fanatics". Second, return to true conservative values: being hard on crime and excessive government spending. Tax cuts aren't the answer, spending cuts are.

Oh Jack, I could write a whole book on this topic! I was once a Republican, they lost me when the religious-extremists and the AM Radio-hate-mongers highjacked the party!

I watched in dismay and disgust, as the 2008 McCain campaign became more and more vitriolic. When Palin insinuated that "Obama paled around with terrorists" while the GOP rally crowds shouted "KILL HIM!" That's when I decided I would never........ever....... vote GOP again!

The Republicans have become mean, vile and downright liars, they will say and do anything to gain power. They are a scary group with the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter and the rest of the haters at the helm!

Hard to believe that these people are Christians!

Simple Jack, change the name Republican Party to Democratic Party.

Start listening to middle class americans no matter what color or gender. the majority of middle class americans are now back on food stamps, medicaid (chips) and are on unemployment. we had jobs with benefits and did not need government assistance, now we have no choice. we need help and until they identify with the struggling middle class america, the republican party will lose! we do not trust them, they need to show us that we can again, leave the politics out of the cause, and just help us! Please take note of this Governor Babor aka mr. NO!!!!!!!

To improve it's image as a first step I would put Dick Cheeney, Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh under the Cone Of Silence. Then up front and center ,intelligent and visible leadership from Romney, McCain, Jindal and others who can discuss issues and not just say no to verything. We need to hear solutions, not rants by has beens.

The Republican Party's politicians in Washington have to publicly renounce the hateful and divisive speech that comes out on a daily basis from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, until they do that they will not win any more support and they will lose big again in 2010 and 2012.

I see two problems that keeps us from having the two party system we need.

1 – When you want to get out of a hole you have to stop digging. 2 – Realize that the definition of mental illness is when you do the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Wise up GOP.

1 – They have to stop the hate reteric and dump Rush as their leader. In America hate mongers are never elected. They even hate their own members if they try and make a bipartison effort. Nuff said on that. 2 – They have to stop reciting the same mantra of "cut taxes and shrink government". They have no cred because of the mess they made during the last 8 years. They should admit that Obama did cut taxes and disagree on the things that are specific policy issues.

The only way they can improve its image is to clear the house of old ideals, old habits and Old men... that would mean it is no longer the republican party Period.

I'll tell you what they can do Jack, how about all the current leadership, Gingrich, Steele, Jindal, Cantor, Palin...and Limbaugh amongst others just retire from politics altogether. Then folks like McCain's daughter, and Bush's daughter, younger people can take over completely. And it helps to not represent the white Bourgeois America all the time.

The Republican party always liked to say they had a big tent, well the only way they can improve their imagine is invite everyone in it. So far they only seem to want Conservative White, Right-wing Christians who don't believe in sex education and are pro-life. That only covers a small part of this country and will never make their party appeal to others. They are bordering on irrelevance with the likes of Rush, Newt, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Ann Colter, and the horrible Foxx lady in the congress. there are many more who are making this party a great big joke, only the nutty tea baggers will listen to them and they don't know that brewed tea tastes ever so better.

Jack 3 things they need to do – 1 Tell the truth- ( I know this is a radical change from the past) 2 realize that the country is more important than the party-( no one in the republican party has thought of this in 49 years) 3 tell Rush Limballs to shut up- (why are they scared of a blowhart like him!)

One thing is for sure; the tea-bagging parties didn't work. Instead, the RNC has to hold a modern-day Woodstock with free Oxycontin while Rush shakes his fatt but to "Opps I did it again" (sung by Sweet Sarah Palin) while he is doin' dah shakedown against "Dah Man." And Mike Steele will be flippin' dah discs and rappin' about freedom to make it appear the party actually has a rudder.

Jack,

Stop spreading fear and start spreading understanding.

Join the Democratic party and hope nobody notices.

The Republican Party's politicians in Washington have to publicly renounce the hateful and divisive speech that comes out on a daily basis from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, until they do that they will not win any more support and they will lose big again in 2010 and 2012.

Steve M
Killeen, TX

They need to answer how they would solve our problems in a 'conservative' manor. For example, healthcare. How will they cover all or most Americans or are they interested in keeping things the way they are (rationing by money instead of resources). How do they plan to ween us off of oil and keep energy dollars in the united states? Or do they want to continue with bau and pretend we oil consumption isn't a national security risk.

The problem with the republican party is they don't really want to solve any of the major problems our country has. So until they get serious about it, they will be in the dumps.

They sould do what they did after the Great Depression, wait 50 years in hoped the voters forget how bad at governing they were.

Simple, they all need to become democrats.

Become Democrats!

Peter
Schaumburg, IL

How can Republicans improve their image? Take back the party from the religious nuts, and go back to being the party of fiscal conservativism, not telling people how to live their personal lives.

Go Away.

Jack,

the list is too long! But I can start that your image is false advertising since to me if labelling is so popular...I would say this is the party of grumpy old men!

The republician party needs to just go away until they learn another word other than "no"

Annie in Mississippi

End the bigotry. That's a start.

Not be the Republican Party

Why would I want them to improve. I hated hearing all that self rightous talk during the election, now I love seeing what all that talk has gotten them.

They should lighten up and start enjoying life more.

Grow up!

The first thing they have to do is to stop giving credence to idiots like Ruch Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity–all these fools do is polarise the country

The best thing they can do to imrove voter outlook is to dissolve the republican party all together.

real easy... become democrats like that senator lol

They will need to find some way to win over NBC, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC as they provide such biased coverage in favor of the Democrat party that the Republicans really are not playing on fair ground.

Julie
Austin, TX

Join the Democratic party?

Disband.

Stop hating. Just vote YES! And, put a muzzle on Michele Bachmann.

When something's not working –scrap it and start over. Rebirth and reinvention of the Republican party is necessary if there is any chance of survival. They can start with trying to reconnect with the American People and fast-forward their traditional ideology to fit the progressive times.

It's not possible. They have been forever branded as narrow minded racists, despite their puppets, like Michael Steele...they are truly the party of "no" all that is promising and inclusive.

The GOP needs to move back toward the center. I mean lets face it, nearly all of their seats are from the most conservative districts in the country (where there is little to no middle ground).

The first thing they must do is to start acting like adult human beings instead of spoiled, selfish, self-serving, foot-stomping, book-throwing infants.
Then become Democrats.

They should stop taking 1950s positions on issues such as gay rights. Meghan McCain was right. Younger voters such as myself view social issues in a very different light than older folks and as long as the GOP is in bed with the Christian Right it will continue to lose elections.
Dan
St. Louis, MO

The Republicans would have to invent a time machine and go back to 1999 or earlier to correct the horrific mistakes they have made under the Bush Administration in order to improve their image.

Jack

I am yawning. Their change team is just more of the NO change team. When they change from No to Yes we can as Americans instead of conservatives or liberals, then we will have change for the people.

They need to stop focusing on ideological issues. The Republican Party needs to realize that people are less focused on abortion and Gay Marriage and more focused on their home and their family. The less non-negotiable and stubborn they are, the better.

My Uncle John says, put Bush and Cheney in jail, then we might believe in them again.

Get Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck off the air.

To improve their image, the Republicans can distance themselves – a LOT – from the extreme, far-right, single issue people who thing that "abortion" is the most important thing we all have to worry about. In particular, they can distance themselves from Boss Rush, Newty, and (retch!!) Sister Sarah.

The Republican need to either change their motto from "minimum freedom, maximum government," to "maximum government, minimum freedom." It's either that, or they need to start listening to the moderates out there like Sen Collins, former Senator Chafee, and others. They stopped caring about freedom, stopped caring about the deficit, and stopped caring about the middle class. Moderate-libertarian stances will give them more than just the Conservative South and Midwest as its supporteres.

I personally don't think the republican party will ever come back into power after what they did to this country, but with that said, " They can beg for Mercy" from the Lord and truly pray that He hears them.

Jack, the answer is simple..all they have to do is get rid of Rush as their spokes person...no more to be said

They need to agree to dismantle the Republican Party. They have stuck their foot in their mouths and caused so much trouble with so many things that if a CEO of a major corporation did it, they would retire, as should the entire Republican Party.

Republicans need to either lead, follow, or get out of the way until they find a better image. A little smile along the way could help instead of looking as if they are angry at the whole world.

They could shuffle on into the 21st century. Even pretending to listen to the opposite side of the aisle would be an improvement over the petulant posturing and jockeying for Election 2010 and 2012.

If the Republicans in congress actually tried to work with the Obama administration in a bipartisan spirit it would be a good start. To just sit on their butts and vote 100% "no" on every issue paints them as negative obstructionists with nothing positive to offer voters. Most importantly, they should renounce Rush Limbaugh as not representing Republican party values, and find a vibrant, rational spokesperson that can relate to a broad spectrum of people.

They can stop waging war on the middle class and attempting to win through race baiting, religion and abortion. It is about time people woke up. Middle class Americans voting republican makes about as much sense as jews helping Nazis.

John, most modern day people associate the Rupublican party with the old confederates party or an extended branch of the party of "TOO OLD IDEAS". It has a long Southern rooted tradition. As long as Rush Limbaugh, John Hanniby and other extremist are representing the popular stand of the 'Good Ole Gentlemans club" the GOP image will never change!

Washington NJ

The Republican Party can start by accepting GAY MARRIAGE!
They can then soft-pedal their penchant for war, tone down their racism and prejudice, and quit seeing everything in militant terms ("battle", "strategy", "conquering", "defeating", "the enemy", and so on). And, they can stop thwarting efforts to clean up the environment, and put filters on the smoke stacks to factories that make them money–this 'money over people' ideology should end; Capitalism is the taking advantage of opportunity, not people.

That would be a start.

–Stephen Fox
Panama City, Florida

The Republican Party has to repudiate the supply side economics, also known as Reaganomics, trickle down economics, or voodoo economics as President Bush Senior named it.
As long as they are seen as the party of the rich, no one will identify with them as they have wrecked the economy so much that there are relatively few 'rich' people nowadays.

Jack, if the Republican Party ever hopes to rebuild its image, it must start listening to the people-contrary to what those members must think, they do not elect themselves and their agenda is not what it is all about--socialization means I have rights and I should allow you to have yours as well

They will have to disassociate themselves from Limbaugh Hannity,and the like.

Changing "image" is not enough. What we have here is a failure to communicate. The GOP still does not have a clue of what happen last November. The election results show that Americans do not want the bible codified and no longer trust the finacial institutions to monitor their own deeds. Maybe more instutitutions of higher education in the Red States wouls help but then the GOP may loose more members as they become more educated.

I think that the best thing to do would be to change your name. Its become clear as the facts are coming out just how close the "Republicans" under the Rove/Cheney adminstration came to undermining the entire Republic. It's probably time the Republicans considered abandoning their party title, as I'm sure not even Abraham Lincoln would want his legacy to have turned out like this. That's the proper way it would work in an economic sense.

The GOP needs to divorce itself from the religious right. Conservative reistance to government interference makes no sense if you want government to control people's private lives.

What does the Republican Party have to do to improve its image with voters?
Simple; Flush Rush

Jack,
I am tired of hearing about the Republicans and their problems. They haven't created all our problems, but they certainly have contributed to most of them. Now they do not want the President to succeed in solving them. Please - less attention on them and more on what the country is doing to resolve problems. To be honest, stories about them are really getting as old and tired as they are.

The Republican Party needs to do what the Whigs did after Millard Fillmore’s term, change their name. And not just change their name, but Split off the weird whackies that are pulling them down; like, when you whittle off a sliver of oak to make a beautiful wood carving.

The separation of Republican and Democrat is nothing more than an imaginary and unnecessary segregation poisoning the United States. If we do not ditch the Democrat and Republican labels and come together united as Americans, we are all certain to crumble as "individuals".

April 30th, 2009 5:10 pm ET

It’s not possible. They have been forever branded as narrow minded racists, despite their puppets, like Michael Steele…they are truly the party of “no” in response to all that is promising and inclusive.

Stop being the party of hipocrites. The GOP is the "life" party, yet is also the gun party. It's the party of religion, yet it's also the party that tortures. I will never understand a group that prides itself on resisting change, when change is the only thing that will ever bring progress.

It's simple...All they need to do is find a popular candidate who is good looking and doesn't sound like a bimbo and the Republicans will be back in business...remember Ronald Reagan?

This is honestly the last fight for the Republican party consider this the battle of the bulge. If the the Republicans dont move more to the center and get rid of their socially conservative ideals there will be a party realignment. The republicans need to start agreeing with the President, he has already reached his hand out for compromise.

They can start by being honest and renaming themselves to SENP fSouthern Evangelical Nut Party. As we all know honesty goes a long way. Otherwise they are confined to oblivion for a while.

Its easy Jack, all they have to do is to get Hannity, Glen Beck, and Limbaugh. These 3 guys are out of control with their constant negative attacks. They don't point out one positive thing about President Obama.

Drop McCain, He Lost. Its time they get a new face. How about they come back to the center just a little bit, and get away from the extreme part of the party that they have in my opinion gone towards way to much.

It depends on which republican party you're referring to, the fiscal conservatives that tolerate the social conservatives or the social conservatives who tolerate the fiscal conservatives. One of those groups will eventually drive the other into a third party.

Stop whining. Enough said.

The majority of Americans today are not purely liberal or conservative. The Republican Party, courting a narrow partisanship with candidates like Sarah Palin, are very narrow in appeal to a majority of Americans.

Who in this Party can embrace a moderate vioew and expect to get a nomination for President? As a starting point the Party would begin a resuragence by firing Michael Steele and marginalizing the appeal and power of Rush Limbough.

Politics is cyclical. People are truly stupid and forget quickly and easily. Unfortunately, the Republicans will come back stronger than ever You Betcha!.

Eric Cantor and republicans are "now joining" Pres Obama and copying word for word Pres Obama's.everything......like Pres Obama's words– New America, change, dream, hope, future plans, listen, disagree to agree!
Biden has been going already around America republicans listening listneing..to late Candor...copying copying copying everything from Pres Obama....are we???? Party of no no and NO IDEAS...

Now after 8 years of Republicans in power, doing nothing on ""Health Care"" ""Education"" Economy, Security republicans are talking about it....Why so worried now republicans?? hmmm?

Sorry republicans Pres Obama words, HIS IDEAS, future plans for the last two years and now is already doing it ALL.....TOO TOO LATE.

Republicans are "joining" with Pres Obama and telling the American people that for 8 years we are"sorry" Pres Obama IS RIGHT! Sorry Pres Obama, republicans while in power for 8 years, republicans did nothing! Now republicans have to do something-why???.....Or republicans know they will never win in next campaign election???

Republicans can get back by winning the idea debate. For every Democratic plan that comes out, Republicans should come out with an alternative. If the Democrats steal some ideas, so what? Running a British-style "shadow government" can force a debate on ideas and alternatives. Now that the Dems can force cloture, it might be all the Republicans have left.

The republican party's image is the least of their problems. They need new masters: the American people instead of the big corporations. They need new ideas: ones that advance the well-being of Americans not just tax cuts for the wealthy and small government (ever notice that they grow the federal workforce every time they are in power?) They need new members: easily done if they get new masters. Republican equals conservative equals antipathy to change. That package no longer sells no matter how you re-brand it.

Republicans have come to be known as: Angry, War Mongers, Greed Infused, Christians, and Reluctant to accepting new ideas and approaches. If they lose these characteristics, become more inclusive, lessen the bitter commentators and political "experts". They might have a chance. Let's move forward.

Jack,

The Republicans need to come to the 21st Century and be more inclusive. To just trying repackaging ideas that haven't worked and votes rejected isn't the solution. And stop letting only the extreme right wing continue to guide their platform and messaging.

Bob
Palmdale CA

Sorry Jack – too little – too late! After 48 years as a registered
Republican – I'm going to change my party. They are a disgrace and with Jeb and the rest of them, we'll only get more of the same old nonsense as before. They have no ideas and haven't a clue how to right the mess they created.

Divorce (no pun intended) themselves from Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, Ingraham and Dobson, the Quirky Quintuplets who said they would never vote for McCain and continue to gainsay every action the Obama administration takes as something (fiill in the term) – istic.

The first thing they need to do is to get a qualified leader. Someone t5hat the party has a trust in and will listen to. Not 5 or 6 trying to run it now. I would think about going back.

National Council for A New America?
What does this mean? We don't need a "new America" . America will evolve in the usual way not in a manufactured way.
The Republicans need a new party and the first thing to do is change the name of this National Council for a New America.
This kind of thinking is off.

Jack,

when I hear analyst saying that the President does not like conflicts and he will need a thicker skin...I think they are missing something in their analysis since it does not mean that if a person does not like conflicts that he does not have thick skin! Perception can lead sometimes to false interpretation!

Who cares. As Barack Obama said, no matter how much lipstick they put on the pig, it's still the same pig. (And just so there is no confusion, by pig I mean the Republican Party and not any individual.)

Jack,
Can we say quit copying the Democrats. Barack Obama is the 1st black President. The Republicans have their 1st black RNC chairman with Micheal Steele. President Obama did these town-hall meetings both as a candidate and as President. Now the RNC is going to hold their own town-hall meetings. They might as well get rid of the Republican Party, the elephant, lean a little more toward the left and call themselves Democrats. It's their own actions that has done their future demise. I am a Democrat by the way.

The Republican party needs to listen. Going around the country holding town halls will only matter if the Party actually listens to voters, rather than telling them what to think.

The only way the GOP can change its Image is too get rid of the old bitter Southern boys and kill its destructive agenda of Race and economic seperatism!!!

They could start by retooling and not being a party of hate, devisisivness and greed. This is a party that fundamentally changed it's defining characteristics when it united religious fundamentals with fiscal conservatives. Republicans need to refine and declare just what their party member's are.

The simple answer to this complex problem is for the GOP to change its party platform and move towards the center. The party has been taken over by right-wing hardliners who are out of touch with mainstream America–but do they really want to change? They'll be unable to "stop the bleeding" if they continue to embrace the status-quo.

What can the Republicans do to improve their image? Absolutely nothing. They have become irrelevant. They just need to admit that they are the equivalent of the old Dixiecrats, and call themselves the Republican'ts.

The Republicans have to stop behaving like petulant brats and get back to the ideals that once made Republican ideals a viable alternative to the ideals of the Democratic party. Sulking in the corner will not get them back on the national stage.

The GOP should jump off the nearest cliff. Then they could be the party of none instead of the party of no. As it is they remind me of a spoiled little brat who didn't get what they wanted so now they want to spoil every thing for all of us.

Advice to republicans stop screaming, stop the mean spiritedness, stop the hyperbole, use words with multiple syllables, and stop being so quick to categorize everyone who wants to have an open discussion with you about today's issues.

The party of God and apple pie must come to realize that the reconciliation of God and torture is an impossible task. The religious pyramid schemes that insist on their sole ownership of God must be exposed for the frauds they are and allowed to crumble as the financial pyramid schemes have. One has very much to do with the other. They are both Taliban like entities and have everything to do with the evil harvest sown by the last eight years of ignorance, arrogance, greed, and the lynch mob atmosphere of the right wing hate machine. In God we trust and publicans cannot be trusted for anything other than their parasitic ways

To improve its image with voters I believe that the Republican Party will have to first, be patient, because it will take several years to distance itself from what was easily the most incompetent, inept, and corrupt administration in my lifetime (DUH-BYA). Second, the GOP will have to develop a rationale for its own existence other than narrow social ideology (e.g., gay marriage, abortion, bla-bla-bla). Finally, the Republicans will have to find some way to remove the bigotry, prejudice, and WASPY predispositions of much of its leadership, which could easily take 30+ years for attrition to take effect.

I think its time for the GOP to call it quits. They are nothing more than the party of old men, a dieing christian right, and armed militants waiting for doomsday. Lets get real... Does anyone take FOX news, Bill O'Rielly, Glen Beck and Rush seriously?? Nothing but a bunch of old tired clowns. We need a party which represents centrists view... call them the Centrist party

The OLD CODGERS should get out of the picture and new, younger people with fresh ideas should take over.

Jack, The Republicans need to change their stinking message. They just refuse to see reality. They blamed their 2006 loss on their lack of fiscal discipline, instead of the lies about Iraq and doing whatever the Bush Administration told them to do. Once again they've blamed Obama's win and their loss with McCain to the fact that he wasn't "conservative" enough. What nonsense!!! The Republicans lost because they lied, and continue to condone Limbaugh and Hannity's extremist rhetoric. Now they want to brand Obama and all Democrats as Socialists. This is why the vast majority of Americans want nothing more to do with the Republican party.

I am a Democrat and have been for many years. I was raised in a Republican home but switched after I was married. I watched the Republican convention in 2008 hoping to hear some moderate remarks from the leaders. The night of the VP nomination, I was looing forward to hearing from Sarah Palin. Ha! As most Republicans do, she proceeded to make fun of Obama and his work in Chicago. Ever since then all the Republicans can do is bad mouth him and all Democrats. They need to learn to temper their remarks and quit acting as if they are the only ones who ever had an idea.

Simple, they need to become Dems! It's going to work for Spector.

The Republican Party lost my vote way back when it was hi-jacked by the religious right. They can improve their image by staying out of our bedrooms and doctors' offices. The only thing they are doing right is opting for tighter control of our borders and promoting government fiscal responsibility.

Stop saying NO!! Lessening to the people and stop being to far to the right. I'm a register Republican but this past 8 years had turn my stomach and I'm thinking of changing party. Not all Republican are far to the right. As Lincoln said "...that government of the people, by the people, for the people..." .

They have to be party of the working people and not just party of prosperity religion. That is what created class of greed. They beleive that God wants them to be rich and they have right to bonuses no metter if they do good job or not.

Jack, my advice to the Republican party is that first, they need to change their base, and second, they need to stop lying to them!

Scott Cohn
Newton, Ma.

In order to change their image, the Republicans need to change the underlying reality. Get the religion out of the party and take less extreme positions. e.g. Unrestricted capitalism caused the current economic crisis - they need to admit that. Not restricting the financial markets is untenable - working for a system of minimal restriction that will prevent a recurrence would be most palatable.

Jim, Craig, CO

You mean the party of the status quo, Big Oil and Big Pharma's vested interests at the expense of the country's, greed-based economics, self-righteous holier than thou hypocrisy and compulsive war mongering? The party that acts like anyone who disagrees with it is an idiot or worse, had 8 years of chances to have its ideology-driven reality proven utterly wrong, yet it still hasn't a clue about wearing out its welcome, and simply shutting up and going away? That party? Oh my....

How about just getting back to REAL limited government, cutting taxes...and most of all, cut the government employee payroll. If the leaders of the Republican Party would just reject porkulus, and do something really different to define conservatism. I think most people don't want government running their lives, they don't want abortion and they do not want a weak defense. So why are Democrats in power?

Why is it, that in this economic situation, only the private sector is slashing jobs...and not the Federal/State/local government?

Republicans expanded government during Bush's 8 years, but most of that was due to reacting to the 911 attacks and fighting the war on terrorism.

The Democrats expand government for social re-engineerings.

The republicans need to stop about talking about "purifying" the party. Many may think this is a stretch, but talk of purification send some chills down my spine, especially in light of some of the historical actions of the far right. The republicans seem to be a party of fear and propaganda and not ideas. I believe that the republicans need to be more inclusive. I think there are many people out there who believe in small government and fiscal responsibility, but who are scared or turned off by the inflammatory rhetoric among the republican faces we see regularly. In short, the Obama presidency may be the best opportunity the republicans have to assess the goals of their party and restructure it to include the beliefs of the American public. Instead of silly attacks, the republicans should be asking who they are and what this means for how they serve the interests of the public.

If they wanted to remake their image they need to get rid of people like Rush limbaugh and the rest of the old white male party that has no solution but always want to be a problem. It isn't just about them? There are more people in the U.S then just them and their terrorism scandels. This isn't the Cold War. We don't need to continue to keep Americans scared. We need help, and to help each other so we can continue to be the most powerful nation in the world. We cannot continue to bully people. It does not work. They got Bully Beatdown on the Spike channel. The table do turn sometimes.

Maybe they can take advice from the likes of AIG and call them selves something different without changing anything other than their name. Re-branding themselves by not actually changing any of their policies sounds just about right for the Republican party. I think the Whig party is available.

Quit sounding so venomous like a White supremacy organization. When I think of America, I do not feel included from a GOP standpoint. Yes, they have a few "token" non whites. But that's what they are. Ask yourself. If Obama had not won office, would Michael Steele have been elected to represent the party? Or would Bobby Jindal of Hindu origin, be the golden child? Hell no. Get real people.

Truthfully, I think the party should stop affiliating themselves with Sarah Palin and the quit promoting her as the next leader of the Republican party. Her lack of knowledge and views are disastrous among most moderates and independents. The longer she stays in the limelight; the worse it will get.

The first thing they should do is realize we are not all morons. The Repubicans had the house and senate for twelve years. Eight of those years they had the White House too. Well before Obama took the oath of office they had sold out our country to a communist country, China, while claiming their brand of capitalism was the holy grail of America's greatness. They are a party of fear and not they have moved from spreading fear of terrorism to fear of socialism.

Simple. Become Democrats!

While I am a Democrat, I appreciate the contrast that the Republican Party brings to the political process. The Republican Party has turned their back on the center, even their own if individuals have views outside of the Ultra Conservative platform. The Party of the 'Big Tent' needs to stop allowing this conservative sliver of the party from 'being the party'.

The Big Tent means just that, a Big Tent for all who have similar ideals. Ideals that all have their own weight and sway within the party and not the other way around.

Jack as long as the religious people have control of the party they will keep going back wards. The rest of the Country has moved on. We accept gays, Women rights, stem cell research, etc: there are some good things with the republican party, they just have to take it back from the fanatics.

The first thing they have to do is disassociate the party from such nut as Limbaugh,O'Reilly,Coulter,Hannityand on&on&on, On the other hand, the dems have to shed the likes of Olberman,Maddowand their ilk. People (nuts) such as these are the source of most of the friction in this country

They can stop trying to frighten people regarding consequences of Democratic actions; ie, universal health care, by running ads that beat the half-truth drum of the nineties. They can also offer some constructive solutions to the economic mess they helped create instead of just saying no, and staging teabag parties without any clear purpose. The Republican party is a 20th century dinosaur led by old thinking, old leaders and outdated propoganda. We need a two party system in this country, but Republican political philosophy in general , at least as it stands now,is not going to fit in this new global world.

Jack,

The GOP, through its own strategic blunder of catering to fear and ignorance, is finally seeing its chicken's coming home to roost. The party which once stood for fiscal responsibility and bootstraps has slowly morphed into the party of bigotry and all-out insanity. Since Steele announced that he'd like to make the GOP more "hip-hop", the 75% of us smart enough to consider ourselves Democrats, Independents or Libertarians aren't buying anymore Repubican memes. There is no rebranding the GOP, it's dying a slow, self-inflicted, and well-deserved death.

It is inconsistent with the core principals of the Republican party, principals such as keeping government out of the lives of citizens, for the party to hold stingent, narrow, social platform positions based on the religous beliefs of the extremist, far-right Republican base. The Rebublican party must jettison its extremist, far-right base and move back into allignment with its founding core principals, where the vast majority of Americans reside politically.

Jack,
Republicans have been know to be against the little people for as long as I can remember in my 63 years of life. The have put their religious belief as part of their creed. For years they complained about working mothers ( I have been one and raised 3 wonderful children), homosexuals, young couples living together, and have taken away a lot of the government regulations over the past 20 years. In my opinion they don't need a person like Palin who during the campaign incited people to be evil. Our country is young and we have made many mistakes but the one thing the GOP needs to do is to live in the shoes of the average working person who makes minimum wages and has to support a family. I honestly do not believe they know anything about that. I don't think they know what it is like not to have health insurance or food on the table, or to go to a government agency and beg for help and get shut down. They the GOP definitely needs help and I don't see anybody over the age of 60 in the GOP who has the vision to change their ways. No one over the age of 65 should be a representative of us. Get some new fresh young blood in there.

Seriously, who wants to be a member of The Banana Republican Party. They have the bar set where only old, white, Bible toting, Jesus loving males are welcome. Never thought I would say this but I question their morals. They not only torture, but they lie about it, condone it, and still want admit that it's a crime. NO WAY JOSE'.

They have to resolve if they want to be a political party or a religion. In religion there is no compromise on principle; a political party means compromise. In doing this they would shed their anti-intellectual bias (because compromise means intelligent dialogue), their mean-spirited fear of others (because compromise requires respect of the other). They could define themselves as representing the interests of the wealthy, and the materialism of our culture in an honest dialogue.

At the next Republican National Convention, use another chant other then "Drill Baby Drill".

Arnold for president in 2012. Can't happen because he wasn't born in the US you say? That didn't stop our current president. It's not a question of will it happen, rather a question of when? Arnold will be a US president

If the GOP wants to remain relevant, the connotations associated with G and O must GO (poor pun). There has to be a recognition that there is more than one kind of Republican, that marching lockstep to a certain set of ideals is no longer a unifying factor of this party; conservative values can differ in scope and severity. Obama wrote his ticket by reaching out to all people in a modern way, eliminating the notions of 'grand' and 'old' as significant ones. This is just the view of a registered Democrat who is not entirely comfortable with the possibility of one-party Democrat rule, but much less comfortable with the old Republican guard getting in the way of any progress whatsoever.

Their future needs to be much more inclusive and closer to the center of the road, or at least somewhere in the right hand lane, where they were before the last administration drove them into the neocon ultraconservative ditch. It will be interesting to hear what this group has to offer, especially regarding their leadership vs their radio entertainers, if there is a difference. Just saying NO didn’t work in the war on drugs and it isn’t working for the Republicans now, either. It’s time for a CHANGE?

To improve their image the Republican party must come to the realization that their non inclusive, you're either with us or your anti American attitude must change. The Republican party must change it's image by accepting that there's room for everyone in America, not just people with their ideology. America has changed and the Republican party is still trying to win with and ideology that people have come to realize is wrong.

The Republican Party has to stop being the party of sore losers for me to begin to take it seriously. Honestly, when have we ever seen such whining after a lost election? This is the party of Tom DeLay, aka "The Hammer." OF Karl Rove and Dick Cheney, who hid dirty deeds behind a cloaks of patriotism. And of misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies. Bullies just can't stand losing, especially, it seems, to someone who does not represent the culture that was dominant for centuries. This party has become silly and sad, and like the "pundits" who front the worst of its prejudices, talentless. What does it have to do? It has to shape up, dump Rush, Sean, Glenn, and a host of greedy guys hiding behind clerical collars uniting to scare their followers into lockstep.

Jack, the Republican Party doesn't need to do anything. They had their 8 years of fame and fortune. Now it's the Democrats turn. I have never seen such sore losers, have you?

The GOP will be back after the Dems bankrupt this country. By bankrupt, I mean financially, morally and spiritually. Recorded World history has shown that path the Dems have put us on will bring us to ruin.

What the Great Old Party has to do is re brand. They need to lose the fringe right wing folks like M. Steele as a leader. They need to rain-in or lose the hyped up ‘entertainers’ (ie) Limbaugh. The need to listen to American’s and search for the political center.
It is not enough to simply oppose. They need to provide alternatives.. Not before tried and rejected via elections ideas. Especially tactics used over the last decade that got us where we are!
Kind of hope they continue to not listen though. Enjoying watching them sink like the Titanic. Unfortunately I realize the Eagle needs both wings to fly Jack. What will it take for the RNC to get a grip? Who knows! For now we sit back, watch and enjoy the ride

I'm a proud Democrat but there is one solution for Republicans to improve their image to voters and that is to be more like Democrats. Drop their social issues agenda and do more to protect people and not businesses and people will be more open to their ideas. People are voters, not businesses.

The Republican Party can improve its image by following the lead of Senator Arlen Specter, join the Democratic Party. Some Republicans have redeeming qualities. However, some are intolerant ideologues and should join the Taliban. Still some others have no redeeming qualities and should join the Republican circular firing squad.

Get rid of the old white men, throw out the old political GOP dogma, get some new people who have some better solutions to this country's problems than the democrats do. BTW Jack, I'm an old white man, and don't claim any party affiliation.

Stop looking like and old white group that has only one
word in their vocabulary-–NO-!

Jack, Seems to me one of the first things they should try is stop the nonsense about being the "GROWN-UPS" for the nation. Their record(and that of the Democrats) clearly indicates otherwise. Instead of telling the public what's best for them, how about just shutting the hell up for once and listening to the voters as a whole instead of the special interest groups.If all the polls taken in the past 20 years are any indication, the public at large pretty much consider them a pack of morons, crooks, and sexual predators (with very few exceptions). Layne A. Antioch, Il. A

Hey Jack... 'Improve' is too strong a word... but 'Change,' I like it better... so I would say... Move!

Republican Party has to distance itself from Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Mark Levin. Their Leaders have to be look like White, black, brown and yellow. It must be a party of rainbow , not a party of snow. Regan must be hurting right now by looking this party he loved and thinking what went wrong, Where are people like me who are overcome by people like Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingram.

The GOP have got to re-evaluate some of their more divisive elements. Articles of Christian faith should not be the sole basis for public policy. A simple answer of "The Bible says so" cannot be a rebuttal to a reasoned argument. You cannot base public policy on faith. Economically, looking back fondly on Reaganomics as the cure all for today looks foolish. The GOP have to present a plan, outline its effect and illustrate why the opposing plan is flawed.

Currently, the GOP alternates between looking idiotic (Rep. Bachmann) and smug/superior (Good ol' Rush Limbaugh).

As a life long democrat I would prefer the GOP fade away while they cling to their tea bags, guns, greed, oil, and imperialistic views. But if there is a miracle, they can go to school and learn to accept the reality of world right now.

As long as Republicans embrace Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck , Limbrough and Steele as their spokes persons, they will remain tossing in the pig pen of their making.

They need to kick out all these crazy right wing religious nuts that have turned the party into the Right to Life party and party of "family values". Whose values? We, the republicans’, are a party of less government. Trying to legislate morality and values is so far from what the Republican Party stands for s what you see now is a farce. Unfortunately Specter left and more may go but I had hoped the Moderates would stand up and take back control of my Grand Old Party.

file for bankruptcy and start a new if it can work for chrysler and G.M.
why not them .............hahahahah good bye G.O.P

Jack, to which Republican Party are you referring? The party of Abraham Lincoln or Rush Limbaugh? The Republicans' biggest challenge, from the perspective of a life-long Democrat, is re-defining themselves outside the context that includes Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Limbaugh, and yes, Michael Steele. That's no small order, with moderates like Arlen Specter defecting, and its chief spokespersons in Congress continuing to use the Karl Rove playbook they should've long since discarded.

Simple. Stop being a bunch of "Hypocrites".

They could all follow Arlen Specter, maybe write a tell all book first, but they’ll probably just wait for the next attack or catastrophe and blame it on Obama. Cheney and the republican Kabal have an “I told you so”at the ready.

The dismal image of the Republican Party is a result of the party's fanatical embrace of the failed policies promoted by Ronald Reagan. Those policies include "trickle-down" economics, the effort to destroy labor unions (both of which benefitted wealthy individuals and big corporations at the expense of everyone else) and the calculated effort to divide the public on issues of god, guns and gays.
To improve their image, Republicans need to abandon those positions.

1. Stop suggesting that problem will solve by dropping bombs on countries who disagree.
2. "Support life" for people who are living and suffering due to poverty and diseases. Some the diseases have very good chance to be cured. It is absurd to support a life when it is in womb, Once borned, republicans do not seem to care. They oppose tax cuts to poor and and no fundings for advance research such as stel cells.
3. Watch 2008 election result 1000 times and try to understand what people want.

1. For Starts, Stop Fear Mongering!
2. Get Some People Of Color In The Party " This Will Take Years"
3. Stop Trying To Project Your The Pure Party/Race!
4. Learn To Work Together For The Common Good!
5. Again Stop Fear Mongering!

Republicans have to present some ideas that are not 20 + years old. Trying to re-channel President Reagan simply will not work. Like it or not they need to work with the president and have some influence, however little on current legislation. They have to learn to get along with the other side of the aisle. They have to offer something, not just complain. They have to stop calling anyone who dissagrees with them names, such as naiive, misinformed, stupid, unamerican, traitor, or worse. They have to mature, and yes they have to genuinely attempt to be bi-partisan, they have to demonstrate that they can put Main Street and the county before national party.

Approach all possible situations with a diverse perspective. In order to fulfill maximum potential, America needs to opperate with acceptance of all the diversity that resides within its borders- i.e. its exceedingly diverse ethnic, religious, socio-economic, sexual orientation etc.populace and truly accept that no matter what, a United States citizen, of any sort, is a citizen who pays taxes and can work and do just as much as everyone else. With this approach- working with others no matter who they are (so long as they are good workers) will accomplish all of America's goals. In addition we will be holding treu to our tradition of acceptence of others into the Great melting pot America represents to the world.

The first thing is to start acting like there is a problem instead of trying to blame everyone else for the problem's they've caused for themselves. Half of them are still walking around like nothings wrong.

I think its time for the GOP to call it quits. They are nothing more than the party of old men, a dieing christian right, and armed militants waiting for doomsday. Lets get real… Does anyone take FOX news, Bill O’Rielly, Glen Beck and Rush seriously?? Nothing but a bunch of old tired clowns. We need a party which represents centrists view… call them the Centrist party
Sussex, New Jersey

Republican Party

First they must do something besides object. Then they must propose a positive program. Any positive program! I voted Rpublican and feel betrayed with the feeble bleatings of our leadership. Are Rush and Sean really all that is left?? They are entertainers, not politicians.

Vince Landis
Lakeside, CA

Bottom line? I will never be able to repair itself until another generation appears who don't remember how nasty, refusal to do actual work instead of crying about their precious 2010 elections 4 years out, lying, manipulating, unpatriotic overtures to our government. They are so disgusting...no one with brains will trust them ever again...for at least one or two generations.

I am an African American male and I think the Republicans should start showing that they can be a diverse party and adress the concerns of all people. In my community many African Americans and other minority groups feel that Republicans do not care about the issues we deal with.

One of the reasons this country is beautiful is because of our cultural and ethnic diversity, the Republican party is not a reflection of that.

All they would have to do is nothing: stop talking, stop doing interviews and just be quiet. Then and maybe then someone may hear them. From out of the mouths of babes there is much wisdom. As the elders use to say a child is seen and not heard. This would be the rebirth of the Republican Party rising out of the sackcloth and ashes. This will demonstrate that they have truly repented and mourn the death of their party. This will be their born again experience that none could deny.

Richmond, VA

The Republican Party must finally realize that this country is getting more diverse and younger in the coming years. The white males don't want to accept this. They better face up to the fact that the times they are a changing. Better to adapt than fade into the sunset.
Republicans must learn to stop trying to control the unimportant issues of the day, such as gay marriage, birth control, and marijuana use. They need to concentrate on the serious issues facing this country, such as the environment, crime, crooked corporations, home foreclosures, job losses, etc. Start offering real ideas, and stop being so controlled by the religious right.
It's time for Repubicans to get their heads out of the sand, and face the real world. They may not like it, but they better moderate their tune. Otherwise, they will continue to get drilled in future national elections.

This is going to be very difficult to accomplish because it's the same old people which equals the same old ideas. The only hope the party has is to become more moderate.....especially on the social front. They have to start standing behind Obama and the Democrats on some issues. Obama won by 10 million votes. The direction America wants the country to go is very clear...the GOP needs to understand this and stop opposing everything the dems try to do. A little resistance is okay, but they don't stand for anything the majority of the country stands for. Thats why they are a minority party. I think the GOP needs more of the likes of Meghan McCain and Michael Steele.

Until right before the primaries in the last presidential election, I was a Republican. It felt like the Republican Party leaders were headed in an old direction without consideration for the changing times and views within the Party. How can you lead if you have no followers??? Now Im a proud conservative Democrat that is proud of America and the feeling that we are transitioning from a teenage country to an adult country!!!!!!