I agree, Jonathan. Interestingly, Brooks does write this passage:
Not long ago, there was a clear distinction between conservatives and Republicans. Conservatives believed in principles; Republicans sold out. Conservatives admired capitalism but understood that businesspeople fundamentally did not like competition and would much rather use their lobbying power to induce government to protect them from competition, to counter unfair advantage, to offer them subsidies and to issue regulations that blocked future competitors. Over the past few years the distinction between conservative and Republican has eroded. ...
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on August 30, 2004 at 6:37 AM