Andrew C. McCarthy writes that the "Buckley Rule", which called for conservative voters to choose the 'rightwardmost viable candidate' in primaries, is not applicable to our current political climate. McCarthy believes the GOP should be purged of its establishment, accomodationist elements. Bravo.

Peter Beinart believes such a purge is the mirror image of what happened in the Democratic party after 1968, when liberal activists, upset at what they perceived to be the betrayals of the establishment Democrats during the 60s, took over the party, which led to the nomination of George McGovern in 1972. McGovern, of course, was wiped out in November that year in a 49 state landslide for Richard Nixon. Beinart thinks this similar drive for ideological purity will lead to a Republican debacle in 2012, whether Sarah Palin is the nominee, or someone equally as ideological. Time will tell, of course, but Beinart's beliefs are based on his assumption that America is a center-left country, not center-right, and that young people and Hispanics are the driving force, not aging, white conservatives. He also assumes that the election results are mostly derived from economic conditions so that, if the economy has improved sufficiently and the GOP nominates an anti-McGovern, Obama will win easily. The thing I like best about discussions of this sort is that the contentions made can be proved or disproved by election results. I just wish we didn't have to wait two years to find out who is right.

Jonah Goldberg says the Tea Party has already taken over the Republican Party, so rumors of a civil war within the GOP simply amounts to just so much more wishful thinking from liberals and their media allies.

Jeff Jacoby has a second column on why so much of our curbside recycling measures are simply a waste of energy and resources.

Is Republican Carl Paladino closing the gap with Andrew Cuomo for governor of New York?