If history repeats, we are about a decade away from the publication of a book called "The Strange Death of Liberal Canada."

When the Conservative party gathered at the Ottawa Convention Centre in June, the turnout was impressive. When the Liberal party gathered at the Ottawa Convention Centre last weekend, the turnout was impressive. The Conservatives had energy. The Liberals had energy. The Conservatives had precocious young people who dream of chairing committees and shouting "point of order!" into a microphone. The Liberals had plenty of those, too.

But the Conservatives had something the Liberals did not. It is a core identity. And if the Liberals don't get one of those, they can forget about ever returning to power.

"Friends, remember we are not here to do politics," Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a packed and cheering crowd at last week's Conservative convention. "Sure, we do politics. But that's the instrument; it's not the music."

"Our party is called to a great purpose," he declared.

From some politicians, that would be sugary rhetoric. From Stephen Harper, it's much more interesting.

Michael Ignatieff has a doctorate in history so he may enjoy this column. Up to a point. Then he really won't like it at all.

Anyway, here comes the history.

As the logic of conflict drives Parliament irresistibly toward the moment when the great assembly is dissolved and a nation is called on to decide its destiny, I hope my fellow citizens will bear in mind the sage observation that one esteemed Canadian recently shared with another: "We're f***ed."