OBAMA BASHED/PALIN ELEVATED: 2nd Time in 2 Weeks in Prime Time Japan TV Specials (My Translation)

a) Hidaka Report, b) "Manaberu News" (News You Can Learn Something From) ^ | 22 November 2010 | AmericanInTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

For the second time in two weeks, Japanese TV viewers have received very fair, unfiltered and actually rather complementary TV coverage and background reports on Sarah Palin and a possible run for the presidency; in the same vein, Obama has been subjected to unprecedented scrutiny and negative reporting. One such report which aired yesterday here in Tokyo referred to the November Midterms Election as essentially a National Vote of No Confidence Against the Obama Administration. 「オバマ大統領に対しての不信任決議」

[AmericanInTokyo]

Broadcast within the last two weeks, on Asahi Television, in prime time. As I recall, on the 13th of November, featuring a popular Japanese professor and commentator, Akira Ikegami, it contained a 15-minute introductory corner on Sarah Palin (サラ・ペイリン), and gave in-depth coverage of her 2008 run for Vice President, her current book tour and alliance with the Tea Party, (footage out on the stump for Tea Party candidates and a result sheet showing how many candidates she supported when on to defeat Democrats--this elicited some "oooh's" actually!), and the like. It positioned Palin as a direct challenger to President Obama now and in 2012, whom the commentator also said is experiencing an unprecedented drop in presidential popularity. The live TV audience assembled on stage in front of Prof. Ikegami were foreigners in Japan, many appearing to be Americans--as if he were giving them a college lecture with his pointer and chalkboard. A number of them were nodding in agreement all through the professor's presentation--not a single one challenged nor made a peep. Interspliced were good, recent video footage of fmr. Gov. Palin. Granted, the commentator did touch upon her family's problem (daughter's pre-marital pregnancy) but ended on the note that she skillfully and masterfully rolled with all the punches and recovered very artfully, actually turning this adversity into a plus at the 2008 GOP National Convention, much to the amazement and smiles of the Japanese panelists (mostly younger women). To this, the assembled panel of Japanese entertainers showed awe, and surprise and seemed unaware of all this Palin background. It was is if the Professor were revealing this to broad Japanese TV audiences for the first time. The show also equally intimated how so much has changed in the USA in a short two years, from outright adulation of Obama to almost widespread disgust and regret. Needless to say, I was happy such truth was getting out to the Japanese people finally.

The second show aired just last night, at 5;00 p.m local Sunday, called "Hidaka Report from Washington" (co-hosted by Fred Barnes) on TV Tokyo. It also had an EXCELLENT report on the Tea Party movement, and had a reporter stationed at a Tea Party rally in Northern Virginia on election night in support of conservative candidates, and interview people who were eloquent spokespeople, not isolated "nutcases" that CNN actively seeks out.

The program essentially concluded that Obama has been an abject failure, has come to the office of President with little administrative experience, and is on his way down and out. It further elevated the image of Governor Palin as the new rising star of the GOP and stated that she could well challenge Obama in 2012, if he is not already taken down and/or weakened by a leftist challenge within the Democratic Party which would rip it to shreds.

These were both excellent programs.

Post script: This is not at all without some drawbacks.

One of the best sellers in Japan (which I say is primarily due to Obama's amateurish and stupid, "Jackassion" Japan Policy/Asia Policy of ignorance, insults and slights), happens to be this bestselling Japanese paperbook currently by the same Hidaka-san:

The title? Simply: "Japan Can No Longer Rely Upon The United States".

Great going, Kenyan!

[Psalm 144]

read later

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

[STARWISE]

BUMP!

[SevenofNine]

Good going

Question do Japanese have crush on Sarah Palin

[MamaDearest]

"Japan Can No Longer Rely Upon The United States".

How can the international community depend upon Obama when he jokes about visiting tyrants and treats the citizens of his own nation like Holocaust victims to their destination (spread eagled and threatened). There seems to not have been a week since his presidency began that he's not infuriated millions of citizens. He's taken away our civil rights and given them to terrorists for their trials (thus they will never face the same threat of death that they impose upon us in America).

[RegulatorCountry]

How do they wrap their tongues around pronouncing “Sarah Palin?”

I’m guessing “Seh-roo Peh-rinoo.”

[Tench_Coxe]

"Japan Can No Longer Rely Upon The United States"

If that is truly felt in Japan, China might have something more to worry about than holding US treasuries.

[bwc2221]

Bbbbbbbbut on a previous thread a poster said that Sarah Palin only is news on FR. Japan ... how can this be???

[xkaydet65]

That’s nice but Japanese have no vote in 2012.

[max americana]

The reason is probably because her signature eyewear/eyeglasses are bought solely from an eyeframe company from Japan. Masunaga Optical Manufacturing Co ...

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/palins-glasses-give-boost-to-japanese-companys-sales

[AmericanInTokyo]

saw [like past tense of see, "saw"] rah [as in a high schooler's "rah-rah!"] pay [as it reads] reen ["green" without the "g"]

There you have it.

[null and void]

Thanks.

[Eye of Unk]

Thank you AIT, I always enjoy your posts.

Mostly I read them before they go into the “memory black hole” and disappear.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Fine.

But I don't report it from that angle nor expectation.

[max americana]

Dude, you’re the man. Keep it up with the TL’s..

[AmericanInTokyo]

It's rather surface, but they are absolutely thrilled that she "buys Japanese", as in those trademark eyeglass frames she had on in 2008 from I think Shimane Prefecture or some where in the boonies, very highly crafted and expensive. When that was mentioned, unanimously the panel smilled and nodded (saying, "oh yes, that's right!") so at least that surface image on that point went out long ago. Overall, yes, I think they like her. She was portrayed as "weird" and "unstable" and "radical" for the last two years generally, but this was the first prime time report I saw that took issue with that image earlier presented.

Best way for the Japanese People to know her is for her to come here directly to Japan on a Modified Apology Tour (Apologize to the Japanese on behalf of the USA for Obama's Offensive Disrepect for Japan and offer an olive branch from "non-Obama America").

[4rcane]

Japanese are very strong on conservative social values. Family, love for country

[AmericanInTokyo]

super!

[Cicero]

Thank you. This is good to know about.