Fresh GOP faces wanted for 2016 election: Your Say

In a closer-than-expected finish, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky beat Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in the straw poll during the Conservative Political Action Conference last week. Letter to the editor:

Now that the annual Conservative Political Action Conference is over, the pundits are weighing in with their assessments. The question many are asking is, what did we learn from the results of the presidential straw poll ("CPAC: Paul edges Walker in straw poll")?

The simple answer is Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky came in first, and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin second. On the other end, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie finished a distant 10th. Other hopefuls, such as Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina and Donald Trump garnered support here and there.

Historically, the winner of the CPAC straw poll means very little. In 20 of the polls, only three winners have gone on to capture the Republican nomination for president. The last one was Mitt Romney in 2012. After all, winning is better than losing. I'm sure Paul is happy with the results, but he is a long way from capturing the nomination.

Denny Freidenrich; Laguna Beach, Calif.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

I think that Scott Walker's ace in the hole is that the general population doesn't know enough about him. Also, the consequences of many of his decisions as governor haven't had time to become clear. He is a strong front-runner for the GOP at this point. But he will need to hide in the pack for a bit. His case to become president isn't strong enough to take the limelight so early.

— Terry Mayer

Jeb Bush is the moderate conservative. He could win the presidency if there were enough moderate conservatives. Too bad the moderate conservative is on the endangered list.

— Bernie Cloutier

Candidates can say anything. But to get something done, they must work with the Senate and the House. Somehow, we must get the federal deficit under control. I was not a big fan of Bill Clinton, but he did have the deficit under control. The conservatives must put someone electable in place. Dump Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Chris Christie and Bush. Instead, look to Walker, Bobby Jindal, Ben Carson or Rand Paul.

— Paul Butch Roby

Americans are sick and tired of the same old candidates. They want people with clear principles, integrity, guts, independence and a strong belief in American leadership.

They want someone who will cut corporate taxes to bring home jobs from overseas. They also want someone who will slash regulations that doom small businesses. Finally, they want education reform that lifts minority and poor children out of failure instead of sentencing them to the worst public schools because of their ZIP codes.

— Ginny Sand

Walker is a man of the people, unlike the Clintons and Bushes who are elitists. America has seen enough of those families and what they have done to our country. It's time to move on with fresh ideas and faces.

— Gino Schafer