I'm writing in response to the editorial cartoon published on the Dec. 5 Opinion page. In it, Republican Party members were asked to identify their candidate for president. Five people said, "Not Romney," and then a cartoon of Mitt Romney announced he was officially changing his first name to "Not." That implies that no one wants Mr. Romney to run for president and that Mr. Romney is desperate to get the nomination.

That said, I would like to ask a question. Why not Romney? I've heard a number of arguments against him that make no sense to me. Because he's a Mormon. Because he's ultra-conservative, etc. But let's be honest, here. Can he really do any worse than any of the others who have sat in that office in the entire 200-plus years of United States' history? Really? I was just wondering.

Julie Pratt, Kennewick