Toronto Star columnist Chantal Hebert looks at the recent performance of Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper and finds it wanting.

He's painted himself in a corner by being so hardline on same-sex marriage and by giving the Liberal budget of last week virtually instant approval.

However, she also has some sympathy for his position. An excerpt:

The post of Leader of the Official Opposition has long been known as the worst political job in Canada.

The Official Opposition may bring fewer players than the government to the parliamentary field but it can always count on a larger army of Monday-morning quarterbacks.

At his lowest point in opposition, Jean Chrétien was considered such a washout that there were suggestions he might use health reasons as an excuse to bow out.

Joe Clark, John Turner and, more recently, Stockwell Day all ultimately fell on the swords of their party members.

On all those scales, Harper is doing better than average. But his chances of beating the odds in the next election may be getting longer by the day.

In Canada, the Conservatives have traditionally fared best when they have run on a mix of liberal social views and conservative fiscal policies.

Harper, in contrast, is emerging as the leader of a social conservative Liberal party.