Comments on: And Kan begat Shintaro… http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/ Photos, Stories and articles on East Asia Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:31 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Durf http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/comment-page-1/#comment-68749 Durf Thu, 21 Sep 2006 01:50:07 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/#comment-68749 Well before this coronation there was talk that the first post-Koizumi PM would be a sacrifice of sorts--the guy they sent up to raise the consumption tax, at which point the public would rise up and the LDP would lose a bunch of seats in an election and the guy would have to step down again. Then they could pick the one they wanted to sit in the driver's seat longer. The upcoming elections will be key ones. There are local contests coming up in Okinawa, most importantly, and the LDP isn't too confident about its chances in many of them. And if it loses its grip on the House of Councillors, a distinct possibility, you get total gridlock on the legislation front . . . and again, the PM ends up stepping down. I don't think anyone believes Abe will enjoy a run as long as Koizumi's. (There are a few people who think the post-post-Koizumi leader will be Koizumi, but I'm not sure about that.) Well before this coronation there was talk that the first post-Koizumi PM would be a sacrifice of sorts—the guy they sent up to raise the consumption tax, at which point the public would rise up and the LDP would lose a bunch of seats in an election and the guy would have to step down again. Then they could pick the one they wanted to sit in the driver’s seat longer.

The upcoming elections will be key ones. There are local contests coming up in Okinawa, most importantly, and the LDP isn’t too confident about its chances in many of them. And if it loses its grip on the House of Councillors, a distinct possibility, you get total gridlock on the legislation front . . . and again, the PM ends up stepping down.

I don’t think anyone believes Abe will enjoy a run as long as Koizumi’s. (There are a few people who think the post-post-Koizumi leader will be Koizumi, but I’m not sure about that.)

]]> By: J From the Granite Studio http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/comment-page-1/#comment-68685 J From the Granite Studio Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:28:22 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/#comment-68685 Great post. What role, if any, does Nobuo Kishi play in his brother's political career? Great post. What role, if any, does Nobuo Kishi play in his brother’s political career?

]]> By: Ken http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/comment-page-1/#comment-68649 Ken Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:34:16 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/#comment-68649 How many of those Prime Ministers served in the 90s? There was quite the revolving door at that time. I guess I should actually look it up. Love him or hate him, one thing Koizumi did was bring some stability and inertia to the position. It'll be interesting to see if Abe can hold on long enough to actually get anything done, or if he'll just un-do the Koizumi reforms and be out in 9 months like the old (pre-Koizumi) days... How many of those Prime Ministers served in the 90s? There was quite the revolving door at that time. I guess I should actually look it up.

Love him or hate him, one thing Koizumi did was bring some stability and inertia to the position. It’ll be interesting to see if Abe can hold on long enough to actually get anything done, or if he’ll just un-do the Koizumi reforms and be out in 9 months like the old (pre-Koizumi) days…

]]> By: Mutantfrog http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/comment-page-1/#comment-68643 Mutantfrog Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:10:06 +0000 http://www.mutantfrog.com/2006/09/20/and-kan-begat-shintaro/#comment-68643 He's actually the going to be the 57th Prime Minster-but with the 90th <em>cabinet</em> since the parliamentary system was created under the Meiji constitution. But still, 57? The US has had only 42 presidents in about double that timespan! He’s actually the going to be the 57th Prime Minster-but with the 90th cabinet since the parliamentary system was created under the Meiji constitution. But still, 57? The US has had only 42 presidents in about double that timespan!

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