The boss writes at the Washington Post:

The moderate-conservative divide in the GOP was never more evident than in 1976-1980. Ronald Reagan challenged President Gerald Ford for the nomination in 1976, conservatives knocked of Republicans in Senate primaries in 1978 in New Jersey and in 1980 in New York, and there were bitter fights on economic policy (supply-siders vs. traditionalists), social policy (pro-life/pro-choice), and foreign policy (Reaganites vs. Kissingerians). It all turned out okay in 1980 with Reagan's victory and the GOP capture of the Senate.

Now, obviously, there are times when divisions in parties can be damaging. But what's happening in the GOP right now looks to me more like healthy turmoil than destructive recklessness, more like vigorous competition than bitter fratricide.

Read the whole thing here.