Well at one point the Conservatives almost collapsed. In Canada political parties are never safe and the country evolves over time. Now I think what happened this time is that the Liberal's made a few key mistakes.
-First they talked about a coalition Government. Big mistake as many of their supporters were center and center right politically. They back tracked under Ignatief and said they wouldn't do one. But to this day the NDP still says they expect a merger and agreement with the Liberals. The Liberal's pretty much showed they were willing to merge with the Bloc and NDP to form a Government.
-Forcing an election. The last two elections that have occured in Canada were called by the Liberals. Now some say the Conservatives made it impossible for the Liberals to work with them. But thats not the point infact only months after loosing the first election they called they were talking about another election. The Liberals weren't satisfied in opposition they had to rule and just because they lost the vote didn't mean they would settle for opposition. Them constantly calling elections got alot of Canadians pissed off.
- Liberals going left wing. As I said earlier many Liberals were center and right wing. I know several people who thought the Liberals were a good alternative to the Conservative Party. However when the Liberals started going left wing alot of their center and center right members jumped ship. The Liberal Party for the past decade or so have been known for being near the center, not left or right winged.
-Quebec, the Liberal Party mentioned Quebec as a nation. Now sure Ignatieff and the Liberals were against Quebec leaving they zero'd in on Quebec alot.
- Ignatieff, some say the leader wasn't responsable. But Ignatieff spent most or at least alot of his life in America and Britian etc...etc... he came back to join the Liberals but this hurt his credability. He also bounced back and fourth on issues and wasn't seen as a strong leader. He was also pretty arrogant even after loosing so badly at the end of the last election he said he would stay on as leader of the Liberal Party as long as they wanted him. Like the next day it was announced that they did not want him.
In the end I don't think this is the end of the Liberal Party. I really hope it isn't while being Conservative and against the Liberal Party I would not want to see them killed off. I also would not want to see the Liberal Party merge with the NDP. I do not want a two party Government like the US. I don't want a Right wing government or a left wing government to be both opposition and leader. I think the Liberals play a roll in ensuring neither right wing nor left wing rule the country unnopposed.
In the end I think the Liberals could claw back some seats next election. For the time being I think Canada will go on to be lead by the Conservatives with an NDP opposition. But say 2-3 elections from now the Liberals could be back in power. They just need to regroup focus on retaking some ground from the NDP/Conservatives and be very patient!
Canada wants a multiparty democracy, not two party (Like the US). Their will be a place for the Liberal Party as long as they want one!
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
