Opposition demands defense minister quit over SDF remark in stumping

Demanding a Cabinet minister resign must be accompanied with  clear policy alternatives. Japan's main opposition Democratic Party must prove they are a government in waiting.   

Maybe I am mistaken? In there any one post the Democratic Party could offer a policy alternative? And more importantly convince the electorate?

The prime minister gave her the same instruction that I did...(We) want her to fulfill her responsibility to explain herself as a minister, and continue to perform her role," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.

"Oh no! an explanation!," another one? Next she will forget what she said, find herself at another Narzi party function. Misinterpret statistics, order her hat stand to send in the troops. Meanwhile Sinzo Mugabe will continue to support anyone who extolles the Nippon Kaigi virtues.

A fellow Cabinet minister denied Inada needs to resign, but said she "should have noticed and corrected her comment immediately afterward." Suga said he instructed her to swiftly retract the remark when she reported the matter to him over the phone Tuesday night.

Meaning she truly believes what she did was no problem and only attempted to correct the problem after Suga told her to do so.

She should step down, if someone in the government attempts to influence an election by their comments they need to step down.

Yubaru: "She should step down, if someone in the government attempts to influence an election by their comments they need to step down."

Oh, she SHOULD have stepped down about a dozen times for things she's said and done, including the fact that she "can't remember" doing or saying so many things that she either has Alzheimer's and should not be doing her job in the first place, or is just a flat out liar and criminal. But this is Japan, after all. Not only will she not step down, she'll likely be defended by like-wise criminals who should have stepped down long ago, Abe included.

Couldn't agree more. DP should be milking this for all they're worth! Great if they manage to get rid of Inada, and even if they don't they can continue bashing away at the squirming Suga and Abe.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  05:11 pm JST

Demanding a Cabinet minister resign must be accompanied with clear policy alternatives. Japan's main opposition Democratic Party must prove they are a government in waiting.  

That may matter a lot less than you think. The LDP didn't need to bother with any of that "clear policy alternatives" stuff when they kicked out the DPJ in 2012. The DPJ weren't a very credible government in waiting when they walked all over the LDP in 2009.

and Aso San opinion on the defense minister is.. ? Nippon Kaigi members are without gender ?

Inada has clearly broken the law and as a lawmaker, she will therefore need to resign immediately.

Her excuse of the possibility of her comments being misunderstood is unacceptable. She and not any other person has misunderstood her role as a cabinet minister and she, not any other person has made the inappropriate comments and she, not any other person has broken Japanese law. Following her resignation, an investigation should be conducted as to why a cabinet member broke the law and what (if any) punishment under the law should be administered.

The excuse of "my comments being misunderstood" is often given in Japan and I wonder why Japanese journalists do not challenge and correct politicians who utter such baseless words. People understood exactly what the comments meant and why they were wrong and that is why people are calling on the minister to resign.

Now wait a second, isn't this just slightly "regrettable" and worth a few bows and mutters?

Hi Simon Foston, The issue is presenting clear policies that will convince the electorate.

Defense Minister Tomomi Inada without doubt should have resigned when found out be economical with the truth in the first instance, the fact that Tomomi Inada is still a cabinet minister is a wake-up call to Democratic Party leader Renho. Must do a whole lot more and smartly.    

Abe Cabinet weathers school scandal as Democratic Party’s chronic weaknesses provide little alternative......

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/04/11/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-cabinet-weathers-school-scandal-as-democratic-partys-chronic-weaknesses-provide-little-alternative/

These people occupy a social stratter that is immune from consequences unlike myself, good lord do I get greif for wearing Nazi pyjamas. My bad memory of court appearances has resulted in more court appearances. I'm met with aggression when my talk is interpreted as racism, stupid forengers mostly. My flat out denial of historical facts has also resulted in ridiculous accusations of stupidity. Yet a cabinet position still eludes me.

The key here is to for the Democratic Party leader Renho to inspire 18 to 25 to understand the importance political participation within the democratic process.

At present politicians are not necessarily elected for the people, but in a way afforded their position by the political will of an unseen minority.

Japanese people must stand up and say no to PM Abe of Japawn. LDP must rebel and refuse the sabotage of the party by terrible extremists and cut its head off. How much money has Japan lost since Abe is in charge? This Inada must be fired. If this is a war, she would have no second chance.

It actually is pretty bad. SDF personnel could interpret it as an order and they are supposed to follow orders, especially from the Defense Minister, their current big boss.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  07:35 pm JST

Hi Simon Foston, The issue is presenting clear policies that will convince the electorate.

Maybe you can help me out here, then. What clear policies did the DPJ present in 2009 to convince the electorate, or the LDP in 2012? I can't recall any. I kind of got the impression they won because everyone was so sick of the party in power. Abe himself was quite honest about it after he won in 2012: he pretty much admitted that people had voted against the DPJ rather than for the LDP.

Admittedly though, it would help if the DP were a bit less rubbish. It's not just a matter of presenting clear policies, they also need to kick out the conservatives who really belong in the LDP and stop fielding the same candidates who have lost elections before.

Hi Simon Foston, with hindsight the pledges and promises from this current LDP government have been a disappointment to say the least.

Economically debt has risen as promised increases in wage growth for a forgotten 40% have fallen. Reforms and restructuring across a whole range of sectors has been continually delayed as policies have concentrated unnecessarily on rewriting a pacifist constitution that many value and cherish.

For the DPJ to regain the political initiative they will need to fully cost out a reform programme. There will be losers though. Tax, agriculture, education, plus direct family orientated policies must take priority. And be achieved within current budget restraints. How this is communicated needs to be thought through. Maybe a new party will emerge. On Sunday I think the country will find out especially since some 50% remain undecided.

Man this Renho is really annoying

Only two words are necessary in this case: Inada resign.

Abe is coated with teflon at the moment and nothing is sticking. Inada knew if she retracted the remarks there would be no serious repercussions. It is up to the voters to understand where that crummy taste left in their mouths is taking this country. Koike seems to have a much better head and will hopefully inflict some more damage on them in the upcoming Tokyo election.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  09:43 pm JST

For the DPJ to regain the political initiative they will need to fully cost out a reform programme. There will be losers though. Tax, agriculture, education, plus direct family orientated policies must take priority. And be achieved within current budget restraints.

That's all great, but I think they also need to communicate just how bad the LDP administration has been and how much of a disaster it will be if they stay in power. I have a feeling though, that the LDP and their media stooges want to shut down any criticism and to this end they have successfully spun this story that all the DP can do is criticise - I mean, I'm sure the "the opposition must present viable policies" line has popped up in Yomiuri editorials. Nevertheless, even if the DP are as woefully ill-prepared for government as the LDP were in 2012, attacking the LDP at every opportunity is always the right thing to do. They're so inherently bad that exposing them and beating them should always be the first priority. No one was thinking too hard about what the SPD would do differently after Hitler and the Nazis had been beaten.

How this is communicated needs to be thought through.

There's a lot more that needs to be thought through than just that.

How Koike is handling this?  LDP will lose more in any future election.

Nothing will change.

If she ordered this SDF to vote for the LDP, that's unforgiveable and she should be fired.

If she just expressed an opinion that the LDP was the best choice an SDF member could make, that's being a politician - nothing wrong with it.

I suggest inaada to resign from current position.

Maybe, if demand, were replaced with respectfully request.

Simon Foston, Planning an effective campaign and communication strategy is an essential requirement. The message has to be clear and consistent. What each candidates role within that strategy has to link up with party's campaign.

I spent my early years at Universe as a research assistant (finance and economics) for a number of UK Labour MP's.

Harping, whining and moaning from the sidelines won't increase the opposition Democratic Party approval rating which are pitifully  hovering around  single figures!

 Have a thorough understanding between that embraces policies, and structuring a strategy for all fields of media and communications is of paramount importance.

Failure to comprehend this basic element would be handing the ruling LDP government victory on a silver platter.

RationalReaderToday  02:51 am JST

If she ordered this SDF to vote for the LDP, that's unforgiveable and she should be fired.

If she just expressed an opinion that the LDP was the best choice an SDF member could make, that's being a politician - nothing wrong with it.

Well, what she actually did was tell voters that it was the "request of the SDF" that they vote for the LDP.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  07:47 am JST

Simon Foston, Planning an effective campaign and communication strategy is an essential requirement. The message has to be clear and consistent. What each candidates role within that strategy has to link up with party's campaign.

Harping, whining and moaning from the sidelines won't increase the opposition Democratic Party approval rating which are pitifully hovering around single figures!

 Have a thorough understanding between that embraces policies, and structuring a strategy for all fields of media and communications is of paramount importance.

Yes I do know all that, thank you, and I realise that the DP's various inadequacies could well lead to more LDP victories. But you seem to be refusing to acknowledge that a lot of the time, parties win elections not on their own merits but because of the weaknesses of their opponents. The LDP, for instance, have got a lot of mileage out of the distrust voters now feel for the DPJ/DP after their disastrous time in government. The LDP's basic "vote for us because there is no alternative" message isn't really so different from what you accuse the DP of doing. How did Labour keep winning between 1997 and 2010? Blair, Cambell and Mandelson were masters of spin, obviously, but let's face it - a key factor in their success was how much everyone hated the Tories. It would be great if the DP could manage to run effective campaigns based on promoting viable and practical policies, but I see nothing wrong at all with pointing out the abject failures of the current government and the misconduct of Abe and his lackeys.

I had a very minor role for one of the Milibands and Alan Johnson, mostly confined to coffee making and paper shuffling but I did learn about how a political party develops a campaign strategy.

At least three of the current cabinet could be walking the plank. I frankly believe Defense Minister Tomomi Inada should face an criminal investigation over her past role in the school debacle/scandal.

The new party formed by popular Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is most encouraging and some form of collision with main opposition Democratic Party leader Renho is a way forward.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  08:28 am JST

I had a very minor role for one of the Milibands and Alan Johnson, mostly confined to coffee making and paper shuffling but I did learn about how a political party develops a campaign strategy.

I wouldn't have thought it would be very similar to the... what I shall call for want for a better term, "campaign strategies" they employ here, e.g. driving around in loudspeaker trucks full of unpaid volunteers waving at passers-by, or making roadside speeches at passing traffic.

At least three of the current cabinet could be walking the plank. I frankly believe Defense Minister Tomomi Inada should face an criminal investigation over her past role in the school debacle/scandal.

Indeed. And whether or not the DP manage to get anything else right, I do think they should make people well aware of this, as should responsible media outlets.

The new party formed by popular Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is most encouraging and some form of collision with main opposition Democratic Party leader Renho is a way forward.

Koike is basically an LDP member and she's also prominent in Nippon Kaigi. I would prefer it if the Democratic Party formed alliances on ideological grounds, there are too many conservatives in the party as it is due to past shabby deals and questionable mergers.

Hi Simon Foston I agree, one would have to be transported back to the 70's to even be aware or sense any similarities within UK/Japan styles of political campaigning.

UK supposed democratic superiority are hidden behind a tightly scripted combination of media intense politically choreographed fakery.

My English old school uncles and grandparents lament about politicians standing toe to toe with the electorate on the stump, campaigning as if their lives depended on it.  All that spontaneity evaporated  long before my time, having been replaced with a crass media circus of stage managed fake news and fear mongering.

What is outrageous and unacceptable is the manner in which blatant criminal behaviour, and wonton acts of dishonestly have been allowed to fester and take hold of the democratic process of government.

Politicians are evading any means of accountability and in extreme cases  able to shamelessly remain in office.

This is one area that the UK and Japan politicians have in common, the ability to pull the wool over the eyes of the electorate and expect to escape justice at the ballot box.

The Japanese people are not interested in politics, they don't care about the arrogance of

Abe and the LDP and no matter what the DPJ does it won't change a thing cause the people

aren't interested.

The DPJ had some good policies last time like trying to cut waste in the gov't chaired by Renho

, wresting policy making from the bureaucrats to the cabinet and that didn't sit well with the bureaucrats

who resorted to sabotage the DPJ.

The problem lies with the people, it is that simple. What do you want Renho to do jump into the street and

whip people to care more about how their tax money is being wasted by a select few.

For the sake of democratic government, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should consider stepping down and calling a intimidate full independent inquiry over the behavior into the political activities of his Defense Minister.

Also misuse of government resources, and malfeasance in public office in accordance to the position of number of senior bureaucrats.

There also could be evidence of misconduct in public office arising out of accusations of favoritism to secure financial gain.

itsonlyrocknrollJune 29  06:53 pm JST

For the sake of democratic government, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should consider stepping down and calling a intimidate full independent inquiry over the behavior into the political activities of his Defense Minister.

He should, but he won't unless the LDP starts getting rebellious over it. Abe seems to think she's Wonder Woman.