I remember a time, 5 or 6 years ago, when a young Stephen Harper was aghast that Paul Martin would have the nerve to suggest Liberal values were more Canadian than Conservative values. Young Harper railed against “Liberal arrogance” every chance he got.

Now?

Harper spends his time predicting his opponents’ demise, and telling Canadians “the Conservative Party is Canada’s Party” – he actually called them the “natural governing party” in one interview, though even Harper later recognized that may have a poor choice of words. He is, however, confident that “Conservative values are Canadian values and Canadian values are conservative values”.

It’s all very good for Harper to enjoy his win. And I get that he’s trying to undue years of the Liberal Party stiching its logo to the flag at every opportunity.

But he’ll be coming up on a decade in power by the next election. That’s usually when Canadians hand governments their walking papers if they start looking even the least bit arrogant. When you become a party of power rather than a party of purpose, you quickly stop becoming a party of power.