In a nutshell

Sure, Bob Rae's comment is intended to refer only to the Libs' failures on Afghanistan in particular. But could anybody ask for a more concise statement of what's wrong with the Liberals generally than this?

But, for now, they are hostages to Conservative policy, as Mr. Rae admitted. “We have done an unusual job for an official opposition and we are not — we are not in a position to negotiate a plan, we are not in a position to do anything…,” he said after Question Period.