I understand your feelings re many comments in these forums and agree with you about Obama, but the commennts don't  prove we're "a nation of right-wing trolls".  Total popular support for the centre-left (Liberals, NDP, Green) is consistently over 60 per cent in the vast majority of Canadian elections. Looking back over the last 20+ years , for example, the total popular support for Conservative parties has been:  31.9% (2015), 39.6 % (2011), 37.7% (2008), 36.3 % (2006), 29.6 (2004), 37.7 % (2000, Reform + Progressive Conservative), 38.2 (1997, Reform +PC), 33.7% (1993, Reform + PC).  Before 1900, the Conservative Party had some claim to being the natural governing party in Canada, but not since, despite Stephen Harper's efforts to return to such (for them) halcyon days. Source: http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/compilations/ElectionsAndRidings/ResultsParty.aspx.  Still, centre-left voters cannot be complacent and must continue voicing support for progressive policies in dark times.