Why David Brooks Loves Mitch Daniels

At first, it didn't make sense. Why would a New York Times 'conservative', who hates Palin, and voted for Obama, like an obscure Mid-western red-state Governor. And then I looked at Mitch's biography and found someone who's:

• an Ivy-leaguer: Princeton Grad ('71) Georgetown Law ('79)
• not a social conservative -Arrested for Marijuana use (1970); Divorced and remarried
• a DC insider - Senator Lugar's Buddy and principle aide - 1971-1985 and Reagan White House political advisor 1985-1987
• a supportor of Big Business -VP of Global Pharmasuitical Company Eli Lilly and Company - 1990-2001
• a Supporter of George Bush and the Iraq War. -OMB Director 2001-2003
• a "neo-con" - President and CEO of the Hudson Institute 1987-1990.

So Mitch is really quite acceptable to moderate DC insiders like Brooks, despite coming from Indiana.