The notable thing is that one of 2 of Canada's traditional leading Federal Parties, after a decade in power, is fielding such a weak and odd array of candidates for leader.  

Why aren't several seasoned and formidable former senior Cabinet Ministers or Premiers contending?  Instead, we have a former sometimes Minister with a checkered history and a bombastic TV personality who glories in having no previous connection to the Conservative Party or to electoral politics leading the pack and, trailing far behind, a couple of reasonable moderates that would make good Cabinet Ministers but are not ready to become leader and several reactionary bitter enders.

Those active in the Conservative Party (and this does not include me) need to ask serious questions about why such disarray is evident, how the various groups within the Party can pull together to present a serious, credible program and team forward and how a threatened slide to 3rd Party marginality can be avoided.