The conservatives had the luxury of being idealistic because of their opposition status. All their policy propositions were theoretical. Talk is cheap. Once you get into power, it doesn't take long to realize you'll have to face the music and balance that ideology with practicality.
What bugs me even more than the strategies of the new government, is the naivety of some who think the PM is gonna prove to be a hero for their ideals. Harper is Prime Minister of the nation now, the heat is on, and he'll do what he thinks he must to make it work. He knew he was gonna piss people off with this, but he did it anyway for what he thinks is the greater good. It's easy for the rest of us to criticize; we don't have to govern.
Now for some venting:
Vic Toews for Justice Minister? Canadian John Ashcroft on our hands?
Emmerson is a... what's the agreed upon term? Political whore.
And Fortier can suck it.
BUT. I'm so glad Jason Kenny didn't make the cut, so glad... it almost makes up for it all.