tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post1467096974545712301..comments2023-10-09T00:45:55.603+09:00Comments on Shisaku: Accommodation with wolvesMTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-53768939201793035652008-05-29T23:04:00.000+09:002008-05-29T23:04:00.000+09:00Janne,Then I don't think we're in disagreement. My...Janne,<BR/><BR/>Then I don't think we're in disagreement. My point was simply that cooperation under the rubric of "responsibility" is a recipe for disaster. Cooperation with a view to improving electability should be lauded. (And the two should not be confused.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-29923935087096642752008-05-29T11:26:00.000+09:002008-05-29T11:26:00.000+09:00Even better news for Herr Morén...Kyōdō is predict...Even better news for Herr Morén...Kyōdō is predicting that the House of Representatives will pass the legislation this afternoon, with votes coming from the LDP, the New Komeito, the DPJ and the Socialists. The Communists and Japan New Party members will likely vote against the legislation:<BR/><BR/>http://www.47news.jp/CN/200805/CN2008052901000041.htmlMTChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-19067000376373895992008-05-29T11:03:00.000+09:002008-05-29T11:03:00.000+09:00Good news for Herr Morén...the House of Representa...Good news for Herr Morén...the House of Representatives Cabinet Affairs Committee passed the legislation with cross-party support:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/seiji/20080529AT3S2801C28052008.htmlMTChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-82966656781330290972008-05-29T07:27:00.000+09:002008-05-29T07:27:00.000+09:00Anonymous, my point is that toppling the Fukuda ca...Anonymous, my point is that toppling the Fukuda cabinet in this manner will <I>not</I> bring DPJ to government; it will instead strengthen the conservative wing or LDP (which is poised to take over when Fukuda falls) and make DPJ unelectable for many years to come. <BR/><BR/>Yes, the goal should be government. That goal, and the goal of giving the LDP a raspberry over this bill are in direct conflict. Ozawa needs to decide which is more important to him.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-58294956775680931142008-05-29T03:37:00.000+09:002008-05-29T03:37:00.000+09:00Janne,No - not really. The goal of the DPJ should ...Janne,<BR/><BR/>No - not really. The goal of the DPJ should be to win government. (<-full stop) Politics is a zero-sum game, and a bloody one at that. The LDP understands this better than oppositions have, which is, of course, why they've kept on winning. The decision over what to do about the bill should be determined by an assessment of whether agreeing or disagreeing will get them closer to this goal.<BR/><BR/>Being "responsible" is a code-word for doing what the DPJ's mortal enemy - the LDP - wants. To compromise. To "tash'te ni de waru" in Ozawa's language. This strategy has repeatedly led to opposition failure. It will do so again, unless the impulse to get along for the greater good is tempered by an understanding of when to move in for the kill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-2046977123968947462008-05-28T22:29:00.000+09:002008-05-28T22:29:00.000+09:00Such an act would of course also establish DPJ as ...Such an act would of course also establish DPJ as being utterly incapable of being a responsible partner or governing entity for as long as Ozawa is in the party leadership. Or anywhere near it. Like one the same island. Any other party would argue that you couldn't entrust a takoyaki stall to the DPJ, nevermind the country. And they'd be right.<BR/><BR/>The choice really is to be responsible, chalk passing this bill up as a success (which it is for the DPJ) and live high off the showing of mature, adult responsibility and having the state of the nation come before petty party politics.<BR/><BR/>Or have their moments of glee as they topple the Fukuda cabinet. Followed by a long-lived, politically unopposed Aso cabinet as both the LDP reformers and the DPJ cease to exist as viable political factors for a generation or more. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure Ozawa hates the Fukuda cabinet enough to commit political suicide.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.com