Nobody likes me, everybody hates me...

I'm gonna eat some worms!

Really Shin-chan, you're gonna eat worms? Let's see you do a handful. In fact, we want to see you chug 'em. (*)

Abe ready to resign if Diet doesn't extend fueling mission
The Mainichi Shimbun

SYDNEY -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday he was ready to resign if parliament fails to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan.

"I would not cling to my job as prime minister," Abe told a news conference, when asked what would happen if the vote fails. Abe was in Sydney for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which ended Sunday...

Gosh, Abe Shinzō's threat to resign will certainly stop Democratic Party leader Ozawa Ichirō dead in his tracks. No way Ozawa will let legislation founder in the House of Councillors now.

I guess the constant needling since the announcement of the new Cabinet has hit home: Abe does not want to be just a pretend prime minister. He is going do it otokorashiku. He is going to show them all what he is made of. He is going to go down, and down hard, on his own terms.

He will resist the majority of the population's wishes, forcing through even against the advice of friendly opinion a law aimed at bolstering a close, demeaning and possibly counterproductive politico-military relationship with the United States.

Crowds of angry demonstrators outside the gates of the Diet
protesting the Abe Cabinet's attempt to renew the Anti-Terrorism Act
(artist's rendition)

a) Is there anything Abe says which does not immediately jackhammer into your skull the thought that he is a pale, underachieving reincarnation of his grandfather?

b) One of my less-than-complimentary monikers for Mr. Abe (I have a few) is "the Prime Minister from AEI". In pledging to sacrifice his prime ministership on the altar of the Anti-Terror legislation, who else could he be trying to impress except right-wing U.S. think tanks?

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(*) all apologies to Gary Larson's famous cartoon in The Far Side.