Posted on 08/29/2009 3:50:22 PM PDT by chuck_the_tv_out
TOKYO, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Japanese voters are expected Sunday to vote the country’s Liberal Democratic Party out of office for the first time in 55 years.
The latest Kyodo news poll indicates 35.9 percent of voters are planning to back the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, an increase of 3.3 percent over last week, The Daily Telegraph of London reported Friday.
Prime Minister Taro Aso has been portraying his opponent, Yukio Hatoyama, as inexperienced and says he is trying to win over voters with promises that are impossible to keep.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
I thought they lost an election some 15 years ago. At least they will not lose to the JSP.
Anybody have an explanation of the implications of this result?
They are giving the traditional Japanese “Ay-Ay-Oh!” cheer. It’s not a salute.
Anytime a group of Japanese start anything, it could be picking up litter on the sidewalk or starting a drinking party, you might hear that cheer.
It’s like “Charge!” or “Do your best!” It doesn’t mean anything political in itself.
So, they replaced the Democrat Party with another Democrat Party?
Kinda sounds like our country.
Here is a link to an article on the DPJ platform.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20090729a3.html
As noted in the article, the DPJ is making a lot of promises they know damn well they are not going to be able to keep.
It's almost impossible to express how different Japan is from a Western nation.
Cool. I love the stuff you pick up here.
Never fear! Obama has sent them a shipment of unicorns with gold and silver dander.
Mornin’ Boss. Time for me to hit the hay. This sounds like good beer in the park conversation for tonight or next weekend.
#1, see it all the time...
Well, it was the liberals who opposed the war faction during the days before WWII.
You are referring to when Haruyama of the JSP was PM for a year and a half starting in 1994 . His cabinet was based on a coalition which consisted of the Japan Socialist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, and Sakigake.
As far as I know , the LDP has always been the majority in both upper and lower houses of the Diet .
日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
My wife has just corrected me . There have been a few times over the years when they were the minority in one of the two houses . Didn’t last long , though .
Yes, it is essentially a battle between 2 democratic parties, but the one closer to the center is expected to win. It probably won’t change their policies too much.
A little trivia . Japan has had SIXTEEN Prime Ministers since ...........1980 ! We’ve had 5 Presidents .
Ask a Japanese friend to name all 16 . I bet there isn’t a person in Japan who can name them in order of succession .
I see. Thanks for the explanation. It has a completely different connotation to people in the West! In the West it has connotations of insider solidarity with an edge of violence.
At one time I had them all memorized just to freak out my Japanese friends.
And don’t forget the LDP’s biggest cynical move — jumping into bed with the socialists — making Murayama Prime Minister, just so they could stay in government and basically run things.
Of course, Murayama’s political expediency cost the socialists dearly later. They went from being the second largest party to obscurity. Most JSP members bolted to DPJ when it was formed in 95, I think.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.