it or not, the Conservatives will inevitably spend a lot more time in the next three years defending themselves than they have before. It's what comes with being in office this long -- and having a majority in the House of Commons. They may try to put the focus on the other parties and leaders, but it won't really work. In fact, the harsher they are toward their opponents, the greater the potential backlash among voters. Some of the more effective ministers in this cabinet seem to have adapted to this context change and adjusted their style. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney are two who come to mind: both were among the more bare-knuckled partisans in the minority days, and both now seem as though they are working to appeal to a much broader audience of Canadians. Finding the right tone is central to the ability of the government to escape harm or win support on controversial and difficult files. Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose has brought a tone of understated discipline to the F-35 file and the risks to the government have dissipated a bit, for now anyway. The proposed EI changes are unlikely to win more votes for the Conservatives because those who are most supportive of this policy are likely already Tory voters. So the challenge for the government is to avoid losing too many votes, especially in rural Canada. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's reference to "the only bad job is having