Empty Vessels...

Two words, that mean everything in politics. If you come at it with a moderate perspective and keen sense of what it takes to rally the country, that's exactly what you'll do.

Now, if you're foolish enough to come at it as an empty vessel -- that your advisors pour into --then sure, you can win government but not for long.

A case in point: Trudeau, who won on hype and largely ran his government on fumes. There's no real Trudeau there, just a montage created by flailing advisors.

Think back to Mulroney, the guy that won two majorities, or Chrétien who won three. That's how you game it out in politics.

You don't do what Harper did, propelled into office only by Sponsorship, who then became his own worst political enemy, ultimately culminating in Harper being kicked out on his ass, after the way he handled the belated majority.

Harper had a choice: meet Canadians in the middle of the road or go gonzo-right. Guess which way he went?

And therein lies the political lesson for MacKay: it's all about rallying the nation and eventually winning an election.

MacKay, if he wins the CPC leadership can be all about moderation and consensus -- or he can be just another Harper.

The former gets to take down Trudeau. The latter gets to lose, badly.