Japan's Opposition Party is clueless...

[JerseyBoy]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090201a7.html
What possessed their collective empty minds, I don't know. It is just amazing Japan's politics is so out of whack.
Advise from the wise to DPJ: Stay away from Afghanistan, Iraq, & Pakistan issues, Focus on the economy, reduce taxes, reduce waste by the bureaucrats and unnecessary red tapes.

PS. I wonder how they are going to broker agreements there. I highly doubt DPJ members speak English.

[JerseyBoy]

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200902120068.html
Another example of the clueless opposition party. No policies to talk about...

He changed his mind after all...
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200902160075.html

[Elizabeth]

There is no shortage of reasons why Japanese politics is so inept, it is true. The major one in my opinion being doddering legislators and ruling party pms being very good at raising money but not so astute in the art of modern political communication skills with the aim of getting a clear policy message out that will mobilize masses of voters.

But the opposition does have a pretty amazing administrative reform plan that gives cabinet members a lot more control over their ministries to fire dissenting members of the elite bureaucracy etc, the ones that hold their LDP swords over the majority of policy and legislation. Of course the sheer enormity of problems facing the country could crush every effort at structural change -- but if power isn't matter streamlined and made accountable, nothing else matters either.

So not all gloom and doom. :) Stripping power from untransparent, hopelessly antiquated backroom bureaucracts is at least one element that gives me hope the entire system doesn't have to wait for a younger, more media savvy generation to start to be gradually pried open.

[Dogen Z]

Ozawa has now become a huge liablility for the opposition party, DPJ. His ties with a corrupt official in the DPJ makes the DPJ no better than the ruling party, LDP. To say he didn't know anything is disingenous and the public is not buying it. If the DPJ wants to win in the next general election, it should get rid of Ozawa, and the sooner the better. Otherwise, it will leave a sour taste for the public, who will then skip the election. What the public wants is CHANGE! CHANGE THEY CAN BELIEVE IN. YES THEY CAN! :blush:

[Elizabeth]

The public may not believe Ozawa's explanation of the scandal, want him to resign resign, believe that the ruling party is more than peachy clean, or whatever.

But every poll I've seen they still intend to support the DPJ in PR voting in the general election and still overwhelmingly support a DPJ-centered government. At some point the party elders have to take a calculated risk either way and stick with it, but a leader that continues to not be a drag on DPJ candidates this fall has no reason to step down.


http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0329/TKY200903290230.html

[Elizabeth]

Ozawa has now become a huge liablility for the opposition party, DPJ. His ties with a corrupt official in the DPJ makes the DPJ no better than the ruling party, LDP. To say he didn't know anything is disingenous and the public is not buying it. If the DPJ wants to win in the next general election, it should get rid of Ozawa, and the sooner the better. Otherwise, it will leave a sour taste for the public, who will then skip the election. What the public wants is CHANGE! CHANGE THEY CAN BELIEVE IN. YES THEY CAN! :blush:
I should have made clear in the earlier post that Ozawa probably will and should stay on as leader of the party IF no other scandals or details come up in the next few months and IF his image doesn't seem to be affecting the election. If more surfaces in regard to the Nishimatsu deal or all the attention distracts from constructing a positive message to the public, at that point he will almost certainly either step down immediately or be forced out.

Resigning now could indicate total guilt and risks everything while riding it out at least gives the party the change at a makeover and puts the scandal in a slightly more ambiguous light. He should definately lay low and run things from a more behind the scenes role, though. :D



It will be an interesting few months in Japanese politics. :p

[Dogen Z]

In the meantime, I think the LDP will do whatever it can to weaken DPJ support among voters. Aso may have finally gotten a wake up call and started to be more of a Prime Minister rather than just acting like one. His political instinct will try to find a way to use the North Korean Missile Crisis to his advantage, as well as the upcoming G20 summit (this is a must after the Rome fiasco).

In all likelihood, I think Ozawa staying on will drain the DPJ of public support. That was apparent in the recent Chiba gubernatorial election.

Kono kuni ha...kawarimasen.

[Elizabeth]

In the meantime, I think the LDP will do whatever it can to weaken DPJ support among voters. Aso may have finally gotten a wake up call and started to be more of a Prime Minister rather than just acting like one. His political instinct will try to find a way to use the North Korean Missile Crisis to his advantage, as well as the upcoming G20 summit (this is a must after the Rome fiasco).
In all likelihood, I think Ozawa staying on will drain the DPJ of public support. That was apparent in the recent Chiba gubernatorial election.
Kono kuni ha...kawarimasen.
Well, I personally think there are reasons to question the significance of the Chiba results in terms of measuring the impact of the scandal on DPJ candidates. But that aside, it really is too soon to predict anything definitive in regard to their electoral prospects at this point.

And Aso better hope that if NK does goes ahead with the missile test, with Japan in all likelihood missing the interception, there is no damage from landing debris. Never mind what Mr Ozawa may or may not have done years ago, that alone would completely destroy the current LDP government in my opinion.

[JerseyBoy]

This is a little old news article. But, here it is. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7960630.stm
Just another example of ungovernable opposition party in Japan.

[Dogen Z]

Ozawa has finally decided to resign from his head post in the party to bolster the chances of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the coming election. Although it was quite late in coming, I applaud Ozawa for finally doing the right thing. Now if the DPJ can make the most of Ozawa's grand gesture, it will have a great chance in gaining much more seats in the lower house.

Prime Minister Aso--be afraid--be very afraid. Bwahahaha! :p

[Otto]

Now if the DPJ can make the most of Ozawa's grand gesture, it will have a great chance in gaining much more seats in the lower house.

Prime Minister Aso--be afraid--be very afraid. Bwahahaha

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I agree it would be a breath of fresh air if the DPJ can gain more seats. But do you really think they can get enough seats to make a significant difference. Besides when it comes to the big crunch, I think the voters will choose to have the same screw-ups in charge anyway. However, when things fall apart, people seem to always point the finger to everyone except themselves for choosing their representatives.

[Dogen Z]

The DPJ could still shoot themselves in the foot through internal squabbling and not gain anything, but I don't think Ozawa will allow that to happen after sacrificing his lifelong dream. The DPJ will make inroads, but whether it'll be enough is the question.

You've got a great signature, Otto. :)

[Otto]

The DPJ could still shoot themselves in the foot through internal squabbling and not gain anything, but I don't think Ozawa will allow that to happen after sacrificing his lifelong dream. The DPJ will make inroads, but whether it'll be enough is the question.

I sure hope you're right.

You've got a great signature, Otto.

Thank you.

[JerseyBoy]

The DPJ could still shoot themselves in the foot through internal squabbling and not gain anything, but I don't think Ozawa will allow that to happen after sacrificing his lifelong dream. The DPJ will make inroads, but whether it'll be enough is the question.
There won't be much difference in policy regardless of which party takes over premiership. It would be more of the same. Japan has been on the same road over 2 generations. I am sure it would follow the same tack for the next.