Comparison of future Conservative and Liberal leadership races

If you read my previous post, you may get the sense that it is not worthwhile to run for Liberal leadership. However, there is always the chance to become prime minister if the new Liberal leader manages to defeat the Conservative government. On the other hand, next Monday Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper will form his Conservative government. All his cabinet ministers will have political experience in the opposition benches or have served in provincial governments. The Harper ministry will be a pool of talent as these ministers mature in their jobs. Remember the Harper ministery will also be younger than most of the Liberal leadership candidates. The steps to build the Conservative Party to greatness will be easier than any steps required to rejuvenate the Liberal Party. What will be interesting to see is whether the Liberal Party can rebuild in eastern Quebec, formerly represented by Marc-Yvan Coté and Jean Pelletier. The former was expelled from the Liberal Party and the latter was fired from the Liberal Government by Prime Minister Paul Martin. Whether a Liberal parliamentary caucus of Ontario MPs is any better than a Conservative caucus of western MPs to expand beyond its base. Whether the Liberal Party of Canada will either renew itself with new ideas and bold policies like what Mike Harris did with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario or rebuild more slowly and wait for the voting public to be tired of conservative governments like what Dalton McGuinty did with the Liberal Party of Ontario. Time will tell.