LDP suffers 'own goal' in Diet debate on security bills

Thumps up to Prof Yasuo Hasebe.

Finally.... a Japanese with a pair on him.

“I think allowing the use of the right of collective self-defense violates the constitution,” Hasebe said in response to a question from an opposition lawmaker.

I'm all for a change in the constitution and Article 9, but it must be done within the existing legal framework of a referendum.

We done, Mr. Hasebe.

The LDP legislation clearly violates the constitution and should be struck down by the supreme court. Half-wits like Abe and Suga can claim it doesn't, but they are not experts and their opinion has no legal basis.

Unfortunately, there is nobody at the supreme court with the guts to uphold the basic law.

A 35-yard absolute screamer of an own goal. That one had me off my seat.

didn't someone from the ldp ask this guy this question BEFORE they invited him to speak in front of the diet? i see a tummy ache coming on for abe kun, right after he chews out the guy who screwed the pooch on this.

Hereditary politicians are generally bad news and Abe is no exception. Rather than behaving like the 60 year-old man that he is, he's a lot more like some teenage princeling who cares more about upholding his grandfather's reputation than anything else.

An own goal...or was it? Will Abe now have an excuse to say the constitution itself needs to be changed?

"Government officials quickly rejected the view, but opposition lawmakers seized on the comments to criticise the government during debate on the planned legislation on Friday."

CLASSIC!! Yasube would DEFINITELY never have been invited if it had been known he would not stick to the prepared script and instead voice his own, honest and courageous views on the matter (not to mention the true legalities!). Hahaha. It's pretty telling what the current government's priorities are when they cannot even hire a person to say what they want him to say, and despite 80% of the people saying they are not satisfied with the explanations provided, and still the majority saying they are against the government's wishes, they are pushing ahead all the same.

Maybe this is the beginning of the movement to stop Abe's insanity.

All power to the voice of reason! Thank you, Professor Hasebe!

It would have been a much funnier headline if it read, "LDP shots itself in the foot with security bill!"

zootmoneyJun. 05, 2015 - 06:12PM JST

An own goal...or was it? Will Abe now have an excuse to say the constitution itself needs to be changed?

Duuhhhhh.

He's been saying that since 2007.

But Waseda University constitutional expert Yasuo Hasebe, called by the LDP to comment in a panel on Thursday, shocked his hosts by saying the change would violate the constitution. The view was echoed by two other experts invited by opposition parties.

Wow, this is so inidcative of the way Abe and the LDP operate. For one thing it demonstrates what many believe about Abe having his own ego-driven agenda and he will attempt to push it through, no matter what legal experts, or even the public believe. Second, it once again demonstrates what a bunch of silver-spoon, second and third generation bunglers the LDP is. They violated the one rule regarding a witness -- never ask them a question unless you are 100% certain of what they will say. Japan really is in poor hands.

I feel an earthquake coming.

Japan should never again fight another foreign war. We must learn from our past mistakes.

Good on the Professor!

Sigh

The LDP. They can't even properly find and screen an "expert" that follows their own script.

"Japan should never again fight another foreign war. We must learn from our past mistakes."

Yes, indeed you must. But, you don't.

An own goal...or was it? Will Abe now have an excuse to say the constitution itself needs to be changed?

I was under the impression he was already saying that. Wasn't he pushing for a re-write of Article 9? Regardless, all he needs to do is get two-thirds of the Diet and over 50% of the voting public to agree with him and then they can change the constitution. Until then, he must twiddle his thumbs.

@nakanoguy01JUN. 05, 2015 - 05:09PM JST didn't someone from the ldp ask this guy this question BEFORE they invited him to speak in front of the diet? i see a tummy ache coming on for abe kun, right after he chews out the guy who screwed the pooch on this.guess

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My guess is a majority of LDP members hate to change constitution and do not want minority LDP who want to arm Japan and so subconsciously together chose this professor. Or maybe they can not find war loving person in academic world in Japan? But I believe a majority of LDP members are scared of war. Maybe they hate irf ther children drafted and sent to Filipin? Malayasia? Burma? Thau?