Attacking themselves

Ryan Sparrow's suspension has already attracted plenty of discussion. But it's worth noting that Sparrow didn't just attack the father of a deceased Canadian soldier; instead, he attacked the father of a deceased Canadian soldier for spreading a message which the Cons themselves have pushed. Here's Gordon O'Connor in the wake of another soldier's death in 2006 (and just before the first Afghanistan extension vote):

More than ever before, we must stay the course so that the sacrifices made by the members of the Canadian Forces are not made in vain.

As a result, the story isn't just another example of the Cons reflexively picking partisan fights with anybody who dares to say anything which doesn't suit their political purposes - though it works on that level as well.

Perhaps even more importantly, though, it also highlights how little grounding the Cons actually have in the principles and positions which they've tried to sell as part of their party brand. And the fact that the Cons now consider the same words they themselves used not long ago as justification for attacks today should make it clear just how little reason there is to take seriously what they have to say during the campaign.