As I think about it (although not for long), perhaps David Brooks fancies himself the next William Safire in that he feels an obligation to show his far-left editors and colleagues that he is a “new kind” of conservative, i.e., a non-conservative. The more he is criticized, the more he is ingratiated into the Gray Lady’s fold. I expect he’ll become a regular on many of the talk shows who can use him as the house conservative. Let’s see.