The Liberals have staked out the middle ground and do not hesitate to shift their perimeters further left or further right, depending on the issue and depending on the mood of the electorate. One could argue that the left and right have lots of room to manoeuvre, but moving too far left or right doesn't play well in Canada, at least not at this moment.

And then there is the question of leadership ... the Conservatives do not recognize that many (or most?) Canadians find their leader at best enigmatic and at worst frightening. The NDP? While their average MP is a sincere and caring plodder, their leader is a whiz-bang strutter. Not my cup of tea.

As Academic points out, we're probably in for more of the same.