DPJ crushes LDP in landslide victory; Hatoyama certain to become next PM

Monday 31st August, 12:32 AM JST

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Hotbox08 at 10:21 AM JST - 31st August

In the end, it was great to see all the over-60 cronies of the LDP pushed out of office. At first glance, looking at the mostly 30-40 something DPJ winners makes me worried that they have no experience in leading Japan. However, at least they have a deeper understanding of the troubles facing those people in their 30's, 40's, 50's who are paying their pensions and are worried whether or not they will collect; rather than those over-60 cronies of the LDP. It was also good to see more women elected from the DPJ.
adm_kenshin at 10:55 AM JST - 31st August

In my opinion, the only time a political party in Japan has run the country well, was when they left all the decisions to the experts, ie the technocracy of the post-war showa era. Politicians are generally incapable of running a country, and why shouldn't they be? The skills needed to run a country are far different than those needed to be elected.
Simon_Foston at 12:32 PM JST - 31st August

In my opinion, the only time a political party in Japan has run the country well, was when they left all the decisions to the experts, ie the technocracy of the post-war showa era. Politicians are generally incapable of running a country, and why shouldn't they be? The skills needed to run a country are far different than those needed to be elected.

So given that politicians are elected specifically to run a country, what you're basically saying is that we don't actually need them at all?
Simon_Foston at 01:40 PM JST - 31st August

Yeah, they're gone!: Nakagawa, Ota, Machimura, Yanagisawa

How did they possibly win?: Mori, Abe, Koizumi Jr.

When these guys got kicked out: Yosano, Fukuda

Yosano and Machimura got elected in their PR blocks having lost their single-member district seats, whereas Fukuda did actually win in his constituency. But I want to know how Mori, Abe and some of those other LDP deadbeats managed to get re-elected as well.
Sarge at 02:48 PM JST - 31st August

"religious nutters of the Komeito party"

What makes them nutters?
onewrldoneppl at 03:46 PM JST - 31st August

landslide? more like a carpet-bombing, complete with cluster bombs and landmines! if you've ever delighted in watchin'a train-wreck or a ten-car pile-up then this was the election for you!!! let's hope the DPJ don't forget what happened yesterday. if they do, 4 years from now, they could find themselves on the receivin'end of a "jailhouse shower" initiation ... he he he. DPJ +198 vs. LDP -183 ... hahaha!
TokyoRoughGuy at 05:09 PM JST - 31st August

Sarge:

The fact that they believe in a religion makes them nuts to me.
GW at 06:35 PM JST - 31st August

adm kenshin

yr right in that the beaurocrats run things here but seriously I hope you arent saying they do a good job?!?!?!

I remember in the 80/90s the media loved to say how the lifers in Nagatacho(until amakudari kicks in) did all this great stuff. I always shook my head because to me its ALWAYS been that Japan has done well DESPITE the idiots running the beaurocracy in Nagatacho not the other way round
Nessie at 06:47 PM JST - 31st August

Mr. Hatoyama clearly stated many times that in order to implement his policies he would cut unnecessary spendings, including the building of zillions of white elephants accross the country , reducing the influence of political machines and of the clientelist system through the distribution of welfare to some regional administration and local governments. It is a very long and painful process but it has to be done.

Great, we finally get a Hokkaido boy in as PM and they start talking about shutting off the slush spigot. It just ain't fair.
Nessie at 06:49 PM JST - 31st August

Good stuff, Cleo. Revising the dual nationality status would certainly solve many of the named problems. I happen to think non-citizens do not deserve a vote, but I completely agree that dual nationality should be recognized. And I say that as a dual national. :)
seijichuudo9sha at 03:49 PM JST - 1st September

Looks like the Komeito crazies will be getting a new leader.Chief Akihiro Ota is rumored to be stepping down.Good riddance.
Blue_Tiger at 11:28 PM JST - 1st September

JmannGod - No sour grapes here, merely pointing out my opinion that I didn7t think the DPJ would win. I hope that they are able to govern as well as thety've said they can....
seijichuudo9sha at 06:18 PM JST - 2nd September

Anybody will be better than the LDP and the Komeito clowns
jeancolmar at 07:38 PM JST - 3rd September

I am still celebrating. Never thought I'd see it my lifetime. What's next? Foreigners treated like normal human-beings perhaps. The mind boggles.

Dumping the LDP was long overdue. Good riddance!
LFRAgain at 12:47 PM JST - 4th September

The title of this article should be changed to read "DPJ crushes LDP in landslide victory; Ozawa certain to become next PM via Hatoyama"

Sadly, jeancolmar, nothing has really changed.