Simon_Foston said...

Simon_Foston at 11:50 AM JST - 9th September

What's more, there is NO NEED for a coalition with numbers this strong.

Unfortunately there might be, as the DPJ by themselves don't have a simple majority in the Upper House. The LDP and other parties in the Upper House will still be able to veto legislation if they want…

Posted in DPJ coalition talks drag on; Aso to resign Sept 16 at 11:50 AM JST - 9th September
Simon_Foston at 10:19 AM JST - 8th September

but at least they've demonstrated that Japan has become a healthy democracy, in which voters can kick out a ruling party that's become corrupt and useless.

And vote in another party that's probably going to be corrupt and useless.

I explicitly said I didn't have high hopes for the DPJ.…

Posted in Ozawa's comeback as DPJ secretary-general worries some at 10:19 AM JST - 8th September
Simon_Foston at 06:42 PM JST - 7th September

Kerry is an example of a liberal who spat on the service of Vietnam Veterans.

A liberal who served in Vietnam himself and was decorated for it, and had his own service spat on by Bush and Cheney's attack dogs in 2004. Still, even if they'd had the decency not…

Posted in Kerry positions himself as Kennedy's political heir at 06:42 PM JST - 7th September
Simon_Foston at 11:05 PM JST - 6th September

6 months before they implode unless the new PM can take charge. Aso and the LDP may have gotten the idea that Japan wants a stable gov......

No they didn't. I'd hardly call four PMs in four years a sign of a stable government. I don't have especially high hopes…

Posted in Ozawa's comeback as DPJ secretary-general worries some at 11:05 PM JST - 6th September
Simon_Foston at 08:20 AM JST - 5th September

masuzoe won his single seat constituency. he's still an MP but, he's no fool. who wants to be the captain of a sinking ship?

He's a member of the House of Councilors, which would be slightly problemmatic if he were to make a party leadership bid as the PM is…

Posted in Masuzoe says he won't run in LDP leadership race at 08:20 AM JST - 5th September
Simon_Foston at 11:01 AM JST - 4th September

This is hardly surprising news, as it's fairly common knowledge that Ozawa remained powerful within the DPJ after resigning as party president and it didn't exactly hurt them much in the election. It'll be a serious problem if the prosecutors can conclusively link him to the Nishimatsu scandal, though.

Posted in Ozawa to become DPJ secretary general with eye on next election at 11:01 AM JST - 4th September
Simon_Foston at 08:39 AM JST - 4th September

‘‘We will revive the LDP with an eye on the House of Councilors election next year.’’

It'll take more than a year to clean up that sorry mess. By the time the election comes up they'll have probably got through another four party presidents.

Posted in Aso apologizes to dozens of organizations for LDP's defeat at 08:39 AM JST - 4th September
Simon_Foston at 09:59 AM JST - 3rd September

They'd probably have to find some way of getting a lower house seat for him anyway. I suppose they could force some useless buffoon like Mori, Abe or Aso to swap seats with him, or even better, kick one of the out of the Diet altogether and have a by-election…

Posted in Masuzoe says he won't run in LDP leadership race at 09:59 AM JST - 3rd September
Simon_Foston at 10:18 PM JST - 2nd September

Really? Why? All I said was, "Guaranteed, if the current economic downturn, caused 100% by gaikoku, had never happened, Minshuto would still be an opposition party."

Oh, I see. I wasn't entirely sure what you meant by "gaikoku." Still, as it's generally thought that the economic crisis started in the…

Posted in Hatoyama to create economic recovery post at 10:18 PM JST - 2nd September
Simon_Foston at 08:31 AM JST - 2nd September

"when you say "gaikoku" I assume you're referring specifically to Bill Clinton and the US Democrats"

You would assume that and you would be wrong.

Really? Then I take it you were just being sarcastic. If not, do you agree with Hatoyama's opinion that a lot of Japan's problems have…

Posted in Hatoyama to create economic recovery post at 08:31 AM JST - 2nd September