Simon_Foston said...

Simon_Foston at 12:01 AM JST - 29th September

Tanigaki is decent enough and probably has some sensible ideas, from what I've heard, but he looks too meek and diffident to stamp his authority on the party. He's already saying that everyone in the LDP needs to work together to win the next election, but all this means is…

Posted in Opposition LDP picks Tanigaki as new leader to renew party at 12:01 AM JST - 29th September
Simon_Foston at 11:35 AM JST - 25th September

Those are probably going to be the votes of all the grandpas who have held their Diet seats for 20 terms and want to continue doing things the same way as they did in 1981. Tanigaki won't stand up to them.

Posted in Half of LDP lawmakers' votes expected to go to Tanigaki at 11:35 AM JST - 25th September
Simon_Foston at 07:27 AM JST - 24th September

Tanigaki, 64, told the forum that LDP lawmakers ‘‘will certainly be able to reinvigorate the party if they summon up the mettle to do so through mutual help.’’

Mutual help? Pah. The last thing they need is more consensus, which pretty much amounts to cliques of geriatrics calling the shots…

Posted in 3 LDP presidential candidates differ over how to reinvigorate party at 07:27 AM JST - 24th September
Simon_Foston at 12:01 AM JST - 24th September

It makes sense to me. I'm sure not all of the Taliban are hard-core militant extremists, and that they'd have a hard time keeping up their numbers if Afghans had a real chance to enjoy the same access to education, employment, security and prosperity that we in the first world…

Posted in Hatoyama hints at providing vocational training to Taliban soldiers at 12:01 AM JST - 24th September
Simon_Foston at 11:47 PM JST - 23rd September

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this issue are, if the government has a clear policy it can't just twist and turn in the breeze because some people are upset about it; you cannot please everyone. In this case there is really little need for consulatation - the DPJ made…

Posted in Maehara discusses cancellation of Yamba Dam project with locals at 11:47 PM JST - 23rd September
Simon_Foston at 03:50 PM JST - 23rd September

Apparently Maehara wants to "gain residents' understanding" of his plan to cancel the dam project. He just needs them to understand that he's going to do it, and then do it.

Posted in Maehara discusses cancellation of Yamba Dam project with locals at 03:50 PM JST - 23rd September
Simon_Foston at 02:03 PM JST - 22nd September

Sorry to sound callous, but whose fault is it that this person grew up to be a useless unemployed sociopath? I'm appalled by Yuji Hayashi's actions and his thinking behind them, but when people are raised in an atmosphere where there's no sense of love, few or no attempts at…

Posted in Man arrested for attempted murder after hitting parents with golf club at 02:03 PM JST - 22nd September
Simon_Foston at 05:30 PM JST - 21st September

This is ridiculous. Minshuto wants to cancel a media arts center to save a few million yen, yet they're going to cost the economy billions of yen by insisting on trying to cut CO2 emissions by 25% in a futile effort to control Mother Nature. Idiots.

It does say in…

Posted in New culture minister calls halt to Aso's animation center plan at 05:30 PM JST - 21st September
Simon_Foston at 09:00 AM JST - 20th September

So what's he going to do - bring in the rights or keep the PNP? Can't have both by the looks of things.

That may depend on whether the PNP like being in government enough to give up their principles or not. As ex-LDP people they're probably just worried that…

Posted in Ozawa positive about granting foreigners local voting rights at 09:00 AM JST - 20th September
Simon_Foston at 07:59 PM JST - 19th September

Whatever. Just make sure none of the Komeito crazies gain back any of their influence.

What influence? They never had any power over the LDP whatsoever. Whenever the LDP decided something and needed New Komeito's support to get the legislation through the Diet, they went along it regardless of their…

Posted in LDP presidential race to be three-way battle at 07:59 PM JST - 19th September