Or....

Another way of saying that is to say that, although we hear so much about the conservative intellectual tradition, conservatism isn't really an ideology, but a synonym for the Republican party. Brooks, as moderate as his soft voice and lack of obviously Limbaughian spleen may make him seem, is a party man. That's all one need know about him.
If he, like Rove, had a choice between party and country, it's hard to imagine he wouldn't make Rove's choice.