Abe, LDP scramble to control damage from Tokyo election loss

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's scandal-laden ruling party scrambled Monday to control damage from an embarrassing defeat in Tokyo municipal elections, but experts said the stunning result could mean the beginning of the end to Abe's long reign.

How fast the press changes their tune. His cabinet has been scandal-laden from the start but the press would never have printed it before.

Can't wait to see the back of Mr Abysmal.

North Korean false flag in 3...2...

Love the picture! All these Oyajis sitting there feeling sorry for themselves. They thought that they could do anything and get away with it. They thought the Japanese people were just sheeple that they could continuosly manipulate. They thought that no one cared about politics. And now they're being punished for their stupidity, incompetence, sexism, racism, and corruption. They deserve no less.  

but experts said the stunning result could mean the beginning of the end to Abe's long reign

(fingers clasped together-looking up at the sky)

Experts said voters had sent a message to Abe and his party for their perceived arrogance.

Finally someone called it as it is. Abe and his regime have been absolutely nothing but arrogant and condescending.

But he'll be forced to stop railroading policies and stonewalling demands to clarify scandals involving him and his aides, and his plan to be re-elected for a third term next year is now uncertain.

Good. Serves him right. He is a despot that needs to be dropkicked out of politics. Him and his goons.

Abe might need more than a Cabinet reshuffle to bounce back. "I think it will be hard for him to rebound and his popularity will continue to decline," he said. "Up until now, he's been a Teflon premier — all the scandals just sort of wash off and everybody forgets. But this was a bloody blow."

I can't see him bouncing back either with just a cabinet shuffle. This was a bad thrashing. Once it starts, it snowballs pretty fast.

We must take it seriously and do our utmost by reminding ourselves of our aspirations when we returned to power (in 2012)," he said Monday.

That right there is the problem you idiot. Its your aspirations that cost you the Tokyo election and got the people to turn on you. Any politician with half a brain would know that.  What a Jackass.

Wow ... what a telling photo - hardly the energetic and charismatic group one might expect of "leaders"

There doesn't seem to be too much 'scrambling' in that photo. It just seems to be a bunch of stone faces crying in their tea.

Abe is criticized harshly here about his inclination to his militaristic stance. He is only saying he wants to make Japan a normal country like countries you came from where use of force is allowed as a sovereign right of the nation settling (international) disputes.

Actually, they all look like they're about to cry... No "Kleenex" on the table ?

Abe is criticized harshly here about his inclination to his militaristic stance. 

That's only a small part of it. Of equal and greater concern is the gutting of employment practices in order to placate big business leaders like Toyota, the promising and reneging of "arrows" and affordable day care all the while helping his far-right wing buddies buy plum pieces and of land for pocket change. I could go on but I think I made my point.

you should scramble to make good policies for the people of this country, like Koike

and I can't stand the Nikaido jackov sitting next to Abe. He is the crustiest and most worthless of the bunch. They threw down the gauntlet at Yuriko and she picked it up and shoved it in their face, and then beat them down with it...

they had to draw straws for who has to be seen next to him. Actually not straws, arrows.

@AlyRustom. Well said, as usual.

The caption to the photo should read "Sluggards".

Watch the news in the next couple of days, out of nowhere will come a North Korea abductee story, and then an incentive package from the LDP. No mention that they will raise taxes next year...

schopenhauer - obviously millions of Tokyo citizens didn't entirely agree with your sentiments.

And apart from the ram-rodded constitution-sensitive bill, it appears most Japanese citizens who disapproved of Abe Inc, did so because of the constant deflection, barefaced lying and haughtiness on display.

Abe was lucky they wore it for a few years, but now they've cried enough is enough.

At Abe's only stumping speech( only 1 to avoid being embarrassed publicly), he was derided by 100s of people. I can't recall the last time I've seen a Prime Minister here catcalled by so many with powerful expressions such as 帰れ kaere - just go home, or やめろ yamero - just quit.

The locals are upset.

perceived arrogance

No. The arrogance is real enough.

You might also describe it as complacency.

Time for a change.

SchopenhauerToday  08:18 am JST

Abe is criticized harshly here about his inclination to his militaristic stance. He is only saying he wants to make Japan a normal country like countries you came from where use of force is allowed as a sovereign right of the nation settling (international) disputes.

Barely relevant. I couldn't care less about that one way or the other, personally. He's criticized harshly here for absolutely everything he does, something I suspect you're trying not to acknowledge.

This sentence in the article says it all 'Experts said voters had sent a message to Abe and his party for their perceived arrogance.' This word arrogance just doesn't only apply to Japanese politicians, but politicians worldwide. We know the system and the establishment will never change, but we have to create a more of a humble system, where those in power listen to the people.

Yup, photo says it all. Not exactly a vibrant, energetic young group of men and women with well-thought out, new ideas and perspectives on the future of Japan and her unique issues.

"experts said the stunning result could mean the beginning of the end to Abe's long reign."

One can hope!

Enthusiasm will fade away. Now is the peak of it. 95% of Japanese people are said poor. They are depressed and wanting to be salvaged from their hard life. Koike is a known wind cock. She lavished smiles to them as if she can save them from their hard life and won the election denouncing LDP to which she belonged until recently.

That's only a small part of it. Of equal and greater concern is the gutting of employment practices in order to placate big business leaders like Toyota, the promising and reneging of "arrows" and affordable day care all the while helping his far-right wing buddies buy plum pieces and of land for pocket change. I could go on but I think I made my point.

You have Sam. And it was an excellent point.

AlyRustom. Well said, as usual.

Thank you brother. And I would add the same to you.

schopenhauer - obviously millions of Tokyo citizens didn't entirely agree with your sentiments.

Exactly.

And apart from the ram-rodded constitution-sensitive bill, it appears most Japanese citizens who disapproved of Abe Inc, did so because of the constant deflection, barefaced lying and haughtiness on display.

Hear hear!!

Abe was lucky they wore it for a few years, but now they've cried enough is enough.

Abe has gotten away with crap NO ONE else has. Across the pond, the SKorean president was removed from office and arrested for less than what Abe has done. If he had half a brain he would have taken that as a warning sign but he didn't. Too arrogant. He thought he owned this country and the people of Tokyo decided to show him that he didn't.

At Abe's only stumping speech( only 1 to avoid being embarrassed publicly), he was derided by 100s of people. I can't recall the last time I've seen a Prime Minister here catcalled by so many with powerful expressions such as 帰れ kaere - just go home, or やめろ yamero - just quit.

Good news. I'm going to check this out on YouTube.

Barely relevant. I couldn't care less about that one way or the other, personally. He's criticized harshly here for absolutely everything he does, something I suspect you're trying not to acknowledge.

Another great point. Nice one Simon.

Abe is criticized harshly here about his inclination to his militaristic stance. He is only saying he wants to make Japan a normal country like countries you came from where use of force is allowed as a sovereign right of the nation settling (international) disputes.

This was never a campaign pledge nor was it one of his infamous dud arrows, yet it has been the only thing he has put actual effort and energy behind. As a politician you should be held accountable for basically lying to the public to get you and your party elected. But as they are the ones making up the rules and laws the last thing they are going to do is tie their own hands. As always what's good for the goose is NOT good for the gander! Koike-San on the other hand seems to be doing exactly what she promised...for which she has been rewarded by the public, which for me is a promising sign that the Japanese people are paying attention. Go Japan!

SchopenhauerToday  09:30 am JST

Enthusiasm will fade away. Now is the peak of it. 95% of Japanese people are said poor. They are depressed and wanting to be salvaged from their hard life.

And in 4 1/2 years what has Shinzo Abe done about that? Other than pursue ultra-nationalist pet projects like constitutional revision that don't make any difference to people's lives whatsoever?

Koike is a known wind cock. She lavished smiles to them as if she can save them from their hard life and won the election denouncing LDP to which she belonged until recently.

True, I'm not all that impressed by Koike. Then again, she also didn't set up sweetheart deals for her friends, try to cover up any sweetheart deals, get dubious donations or claim that government ministries wanted people to vote LDP. When it comes to the LDP there's a lot to denounce.

North Korean false flag in

Just like clockwork. Suga just on TV announcing NK launched another missile.

Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. Yay Pepto Bismol!

To all who would wish Abe gone (and I am one)

I advise you to remember the words of the great political analyst, Pete Townsend

"Meet the new boss. The same as the old boss".

Abe will probably be replaced by Ishiba Shigeru who is the current Minister for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy and  Minister of State for the National Strategic Special Zones. Also conpicuosly absent from the above photograph.

And if you have faith in Koike, Pete said with his usual irony " We won't get fooled. " But we usually do.

Gary

 He is only saying he wants to make Japan a normal country

Schopenhauer - that would be a reasonable argument if its leaders were normal. With the Abe's alleged close involvement in Moritomo Gakuen, his circle of unpleasant friends, and the very large number of his cabinet and party in Nippon Kaigi, an organisation that wants Japan to return to its prewar values, it's all too clear what kind of country he wants Japan to become.

Abe, LDP scramble to control damage from Tokyo election loss

Not really, Koike and crew is cut from the same cloth and that's why people are comfortable voting for her. She is basically Tokyo's Hashimoto and an ally to the LDP so their concern is probably pretty mild.

They know this is just a trend that will fizzle out in a few years. The LDP is a brand that will last centuries.

Inada shouldn't be fired, she should be jailed for treason and deliberately endangering the country

That's a lot of denture sucking in the photo.

CrucialSToday  11:14 am JST

They know this is just a trend that will fizzle out in a few years.

Just after Abe gets forced out by his own party if he can't get his act together. Which I see as unlikely to happen: he can maybe fire Inada but I don't think he wants to, he clearly can't come clean about the Kake Gakuen thing, and it's more than obvious he would rather just let everything continue the way it is and hope for the best rather than enact any 3rd arrow reforms like he promised he would. The usual vague platitudes about sincerely reflecting on the defeat and working hard to regain the voters' trust will amount to what they always do - nothing at all.

The LDP is a brand that will last centuries.

Probably. But that may be of little consolation to Abe if he gets kicked out of power.

Somehow I'm reminded of that episode of South Park where all Christian priests assemble in a meeting of what appears to be an attempt to tackle the pervasive problem of molestation. Instead, they just gather to talk about how they can continue to get away with it in the current climate. That's what I see here -- not molestation, of course, but a bunch of old men who are INCAPABLE of changing their ways, figuring out how they can just get people to go along with what THEY want instead of putting up a fuss. Abe has promised how many times now, for example, to be more see-through and improve things? Now he's promising them once again, but we all know it's hogwash.

Schopenhauer: "He is only saying he wants to make Japan a normal country like countries you came from where use of force is allowed as a sovereign right of the nation settling (international) disputes."

No, he wants a return to the Japan that got destroyed; the nationalistic nonsense that led to the war in the Pacific. More important to the point, though, the MAJORITY of the people don't want it, which is why it is a problem for Abe and the nation -- he is forcing through a personal agenda and not listening to the people.

The sense of awareness to how Yuriko Koike rhetoric and agenda politically can be a powerful tool for change is clear.

Also the message and timing to maintain the momentum within the Tomin First No Kai campaign, notably vague on how policies were given a clear costing or detailed time frames for implementation plus avoiding denial of current conservative affiliations is what differentiates between the former Osaka Mayor Hashimoto political toxicity and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike focus on male gender biases in J politics.

Most importantly how female politically submissive gender roles intertwine with the stunning success and the dismal failure of the LDP rule government.  

How this all manifests into the future make up of Parliamentary lead Diet politics a year from now and onward towards the next general election is more to the point.

Dishonest Abe cannot regain trust because he is unable to tell the truth. Coming clean about his crooked activities would land him in jail, so instead he just repeats the same old "I will explain clearly" phrase over and over again like a broken record.

There are no women pictured in this photo of party leadership. That in itself is disgusting. Those who are out of touch are soon out of time....

Christopher: If that kind of seemingly axiomatic expression were true, Abe and his crew, and the LDP in general, would have been gone long ago. Sadly, since it's Japan, moving at a snail's pace is still about 100 times faster than how quickly things change here.

It happens every time - the LDP's arrogance increases as its confidence rises.

If that kind of seemingly axiomatic expression were true, Abe and his crew, and the LDP in general, would have been gone long ago. Sadly, since it's Japan, moving at a snail's pace is still about 100 times faster than how quickly things change here.

There's progress at least. I mean, for example, they lost this one even after all the distractions they try to put out, like the NK thing.

What was the song old blue eyes sang, went something like.... And now the e.....

There are no women pictured in this photo of party leadership

It's clear from their expressions that they are waiting for the women to make the tea and it is taking longer than expected.

Because N Korea shot ICBM, US media reports are full with speculation how Japan behaves. 

@Scrote:  More likely they were trying to protect themselves from women pour tea on their head.