8/30 election

[Osakadave]

What're ya'll thinkig re this general election - predictions (beyond "LDP's gonna lose!"), hopes, etc.

Personally I'd like to see a DPJ/JCP coalition with enough JCP seats to have a decent effect.

[Iraira]

Well, unless ballot boxes get stuffed or there is an amazing SMAP effect, yeah, the guard will be changing. Only thing I have to add is a counter to anyone who is claiming that Aso can't see that the ship is sinking. Aso for all his faults, is a politician, and no politician (especially an incumbent) going into an election is going to admit that things look bleak. McCain didn't, even though it was pretty damn obvious he was going to get slammed. I'm just glad that I won't have to see as much of Aso's mis-shaped mouth in the future.

[hundefar]

[Midwinter]

Whoever wins, everybody loses...

[Greji]

Whoever wins, everybody loses...

You just described politics in most countries.....

[Catoneinutica]

Whoever wins, everybody loses...

Nah, I definitely win if that loathsome little prick of a botchan Usui loses here in Chiba.

[canman]

I'm interested to see if Taizo Sugimura will retain his seat. Remember the little shit from Hokkaido who ran on a whim, and won a seat thanks to riding Koizumi's coattails. I really hope he loses and goes back to being a nobody.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I'm interested to see if Taizo Sugimura will retain his seat. Remember the little shit from Hokkaido who ran on a whim, and won a seat thanks to riding Koizumi's coattails. I really hope he loses and goes back to being a nobody.

He's already left the Diet (when his term expired at the end of July) and not contesting the election.

Taizo was great...at least he was honest about what it was like to win an election, boasting of buying his posh car and free rides on the train and stuff. I'm sure all the other corrupt politicians are thinking along the same lines but just aren't quite so naive as to voice it like Taizo did.
I'd rather have someone like Taizo in for one term than the dozens of others who make a life out of similarly avaricious thoughts.

[kusai Jijii]

[dimwit]

Shikoku is really interesting for the first time in... well forever. Last time the LDP won 12 of 13 districts. This time they will certainly lose Takamatsu, Kochi, and Tokushima cities. In addition they could another one or two in Tokushima, one in Kagawa and one in Ehime. Matsuyama is up for grabs with a popular incumbent facing a well known local news reporter. The interesting question is whether being faced with major loses will LDP supporters back out of their commitment to support Komei in the proportional representation.

[IkemenTommy]

Election... again?

Japanese love to do this shit like every 6 months with huge megaphone trucks blasting noise in front of the train station.

[Mike Oxlong]

Yup, they'll never tackle the bosozoku problem until they take care of all the other noise pollution. Hard to tell the kids "no!", when every politician, uyoku, baked-potato saleman, and jichikai is blaring out announcements louder than a KISS concert...

[Yokohammer]

Yup, they'll never tackle the bosozoku problem until they take care of all the other noise pollution. Hard to tell the kids "no!", when every politician, uyoku, baked-potato saleman, and jichikai is blaring out announcements louder than a KISS concert...

At least KISS concerts don't drive by your house five times a day every fucking day of the week!

The latest scourge are the "recycle" guys who want your old TVs and motorbikes and air conditioners. This is probably fodder for a different thread, but when I was in Yokohama (up until the end of June), no less than three of those self-appointed disrupters of the peace would drive sloooowly around the area every single day.

But yes, that is the problem. If they're going to let the pols do it they have to let everybody do it. Another example of how sensitive to public sentiment Japanese politics are.

[samuraiwig]