A welcome caution from Mr. Radwanski.

The CPC isn't just having "a moment" of vulnerability; they've been without coherent policies or a centre of gravity since the person who essentially created--and defined--them quit.

Stephen Harper ran the CPC pretty much as a dictatorship, and attracted followers with few viable policy ideas of their own to offer. Their main values to him were blind obedience and a talent for sneering at the opposition. The vacuum Harper left won't easily be filled--especially since  his approaches to policy and governing have already been rejected by voters.

What are the alternatives--to both Harper and his policies?

The party needs to be redefined, and that is what this leadership race is really about. It's not just about who will be crowned leader of a party with a long-established set of broadly attractive policies. They're starting almost from scratch, and just being opposed to the current government, as they are now, isn't enough to win them power.