Beinart argues that Sarah Palin represents the end of an era, as the culture wars of the past generation have become passé. But as he concedes, that's largely because of economic woes, which may or may not last. He makes some good points, but it's too facile to suggest that what may be a passing moment represents real generational change.

Thoughtful column by Peter Beinart, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, who makes a good argument that the culture wars characterized by Sarah Palin's confrontational style of politics may be coming to an end. The author presents reasonable evidence in a logical way to suggest that these cultural feuds may no longer be relevant to Americans who came of age after the civil rights, gay rights and feminist revolutions -- and even less relevant in the middle of the largest financial crisis the country has ever experienced.

The history lesson we get about the relationship between generational changes, economic security and culture wars was excellent. Worth the read.

Huffington Post readers are familiar with this type of attempt to set the media agenda. (Read a 2006 post, "Peter Beinhart Has No Clothes," by David Sirota.) For all its studied eloquence, this predictable Beinhart piece is one more misargued example by a journalist-pundit accustomed to framing the news before it becomes news. Quite simply, Beinhart as a Yale-educated foreign relations expert and liberal hawk for war in Iraq has forgotten his Americana, beginning with Annie Oakley. Sarah Palin does embody outdated conservative viewpoints of the old Reagan Republicianism; but more so, she personifies Reagan's cowboy image and Western motif. Her staying power--and mark my words, she will stay (but perhaps not stick)-- is ... More »

As a former history major, it seems that saying the culture war "died" is exaggerated. Mutated maybe. Shifted certainly. But I live in a state where gay marriage could be banned today, with polling currently too close to call. And the third attempt to legislate parental notification for abortion just might pass--in a state considered one of the most liberal in the country. So Beinart's predictions seem premature to me--no matter what the polls say.