Campaigning begins in opposition Democratic Party leadership race

Maehara is just like Abe. Member of the same nationalist/imperialist-group Nippon Kaigi, and previously also supported amending probably the world's only pacifistic constitution. Voting for Maehara is like voting YES for another 4 years with Abe:( Abe has probably lobbied Maehara during their Nippon Kaigi-meetings to propose a merger between LDP and DP after Maehara is eventually elected. To ultimately secure a sole "one party-state", but by doing so with democratic means to evade any suspicions.

On the other hand Maehara might just be what DP need right now. A conservative right-winged, who's able to draw Nippon Kaigi affiliaters from Abe's LDP. But who's also able to maintain the essence of social liberalism within his party. But again, Maehara seems like a "joker" who can quickly turn his back on his DP in favor of a post in any kind of government offered by probably Abe:( Yukio Edano! You better not be "sleeping" right now!;)

Together with JCP will hurt forever. Reno should defect to LDP. Abe an LDP seem to utilize female politicians. A half of voters are women.

Strikebreaker555Today  07:21 am JST

Abe has probably lobbied Maehara during their Nippon Kaigi-meetings to propose a merger between LDP and DP after Maehara is eventually elected. 

That would make sense if all the liberals and socialists get out. Either that or the conservatives get out of the DP and join the LDP. The current situation with conservatives and liberals somehow trying to stay together in an opposition party is just stupid.

Abe will be.safe for three more years

this race shall be dubbed "The race for king of the losers"

Reno should defect to LDP. Abe an LDP seem to utilize female politicians.

1) they shafted their best one, Koike

2) Renho is not as competent as Koike with one hand

Koike was the minister of SDF in LDP But she is concentrating on Tokyo.. If Abe retires, she chanhas petty good chance to be against Nobuooo kishi.

Opposition party must be opposite. Abe's policy must be reversed and abandoned. Japan must move forward, not backward. Peace, not force, is the future.

LDP will be majority again. So,, Abe will be p.m. again. Might be more than three years. Then Nobuo Kishi may be ready, Koike will be stuck with Tokyo.

DPJ, try this to stand out/be different from the LDP:

1) Abolish the consumption tax.

2) Abolish property tax (wealth is calculated based on how much they make from work, not their livestock anymore).

3) Make the income tax the all-tax (no hidden fees or other taxes); harmonize at the national, prefectural, and community levels (ideally with each level getting 1/3 of the allotted max rate) so that all 3 levels are at or below the total max rate.

4) Institute a yearly cap on hours in the workplace (around 1600 hours per year). Once maxed out or when negotiated earlier, the rest of the year is paid vacation.

5) Max hours per day is 10, unless requested to stay longer, up to 12 hours (cannot occur more than 5x per month).

6) Make everyone salaried. Salaried work is more stable and provides better security. With #s 4 and 5 in place, it would not stress the person too much.

7) Give all citizens a basic guaranteed income. No more means-testing; saves money on bureaucracy. The basic guaranteed income would double as a pension, in addition to saved money and any pension/401k from the person's company. The basic guaranteed income would give the cost of living equivalent to a 1 bedroom apartment, 1 full-course meal per day, and 1 pair of clothes per 6 months. The basic income guarantee can be in form of a token for each (housing, food, clothes) so that the token represents the current value.

"Journalists" should ask Maehara to explain clearly how his policies (if he has any) differ from those of the LDP.

Still, the DP is such a shambles that I expect the loser of the contest will leave and set up his own party.

JUMINREE FOR PM!

everybody forgot Maehara quit because of corruption. Also google wikileaks about him.

Edano told all Japanese in Kanto and Tohoku that radiation is safe and so many people have cancer.

A string of party lawmakers have jumped ship in recent weeks...

With those two nonentities as the only leadership choices I can't say I blame them.