DS comments

I see "whale bacon" advertised on TV all the time, in SkyPerfect.

I'd love to see Japan try and pay the real cost of self defense. Considering the neighbourhood and the neighbours, Japan's military budget would need to triple overnight, if not more. A good 'stimulus' for the economy, though. Plus, what happens if JSDF members replace Americans in Okinawa, and there still is crime? Kick the JSDF out too?

Personally, I have no problem with the US pulling back in a number of countries. Too much warmongering in the past 100 years, especially by Democratic presidents who want to interfere in the affairs of other countries.

Get him tried, convicted, and in prison among the general population. Then he will get a taste of what it feels like to be the victim. Not sure what position he played in football, but a few months among hardened convicts will surely turn him into a wide receiver.

900 whales is nothing compared to the overall population. Allow hunting within mutually agreed numbers and then get out of the way. The only reason the J-govt gets all stroppish about it is the outside pressure. The world presses, and Japan presses back. It becomes a matter of pride. If nations could agree on how many whales could be hunted without species loss it would be a much better long term solution. At that time, the J-gov't could step back and see if whaling could survive as part of the overall commercial fishing industry.

If it can't, it will die a natural death. If it can survive, it will provide a renewable source of food to a willing consumer base.

Remember when you were a kid? As soon as someone said, "you CAN'T.....", you wanted to do it. Even if you had little interest, or it would cost you money/time. It's a natural human reaction to pressure. Remove the pressure, and then we can know whether or not whaling is truly viable.

I think it is the height of hypocrisy for stores and malls to benefit so much from Christmas shopping, but refuse to acknowledge the holiday that the season represents. They take the money from Christmas shoppers and can't say "Merry Christmas"...

Considering the federally mandated holiday is called "christmas", it is stupid to call it anything else. The naming of the tree is a joke. Everyone KNOWS it's a christmas tree, why try to pretend otherwise

As for the term "happy holidays", it's offensive to everyone. A weak, PC infested phrase that assumes that everyone is so thin-skinned as to be offended by a simple greeting. Plus, the athiests among us may be offended by the word "holiday", which is an abbreviation of "holy day". Wishing a non-religious person to have a great religious day is terrible, isn't it?

I wonder if Thanksgiving and Easter bring equal squaling from those with nothing better to do...

Virtuoso, I was talking about the US, not Japan. It was an example of how the knee-jerk reaction that guns equal crime is not necessarily accurate. The US has a special, and dare I say "unique" relationship with firearms. I wouldn't advocate other countries adapting their solutions. However, simply allowing people to keep firearms, especially when there is a demonstrated need, is only common sense.

You may want to do a bit of research, anglo. In many areas which loosened requirements and allowed people to carry weapons freely, crime went down.

The "thin edge of the wedge" has always been a poor argument. Japan lacks the cultural/social atmosphere and history that surround firearms the way the US does. Plus, gun laws in the US are largely left up to the individual states and not the federal government. So there aren't many "American" standards or laws regarding weapons.

Terrible point Anglootaku. The hysterical argument "oh no, we'll become the next USA" is a strawman, and ignores reality. Many countries have reasonable restrictions on firearms which allow for sport hunting and recreational use.

Guns usually aren't the problem, especially long guns and shotguns. And for people with valid reasons to get them, there shouldn't be such unreasonable restrictions on getting them. As for hunting/animal rights, if animals were so smart, THEY would get the guns and start hunting people.

Contrary to the popular slurs mentioned here, most gun owners/hunters are intelligent and respectable people who are environmentally aware and take care to not cause irreparable harm.

Saudi Arabia is an incredibly backwards society. 21st century technology with 7th century social mores. I don't know why the world doesn't just boycott them to extinction and be done with them. Yeah, they have oil, but so do a lot of other places that are at least only moderately evil. Not to mention that SA produces a truly remarkable secondary export- terrorists. And financial support to extremist groups that promote their horrid, misogynistic way of life.

In that sense, Cain was right. The vast majority of wealthy and successful people in the US are in that position because of their own efforts, not inheritance or trust funds. Get a job, work hard, open your own business, work harder, employ others, that is the usual formula for financial success.

No, it would be allowing the free marketplace to decide winners and losers, instead of incompetent central planners. If banks are gonna fail, let them. That's the cost of doing business poorly. The system doesnt work if rewards are kept, but risk is spread around and/or eliminated..

The idea of a unified currency was a joke. It's like having a joint bank account with the loser down the street. You want HIM to have access to your money?

It's a ridiculous law, and an egregious breach of freedom. As if anyone alive doesnt know that smoking is unhealthy...

The government really has no business wasting time of this kind of "feel good" measure that has no benefit. People can "vote" on it every day, by not buying the product in question.

Jeremiah you forgot the /sarcasm after your comment.

The govt has murdered 4000 innocent civilians. The world reaction? Yawn.

Thank you for admitting that you were wrong, Yabits. It's rare to see that honesty here.

The finanical mess has many parts, most of which have to do with politicians trying to feather their own nests. Add to that the government compunction to try and pick winners and losers in the economy, the artificial stimulus programme that would not allow bad businesses to fail (as they should), and you have today.

Yabits;

There is plenty of blame to go around for the economy. Again the strawman argument though- I didn't "admit" that the right was responsible. Try avoiding that, it makes it difficult to have an adult discussion. The roots of the disaster can be seen even before Bush, in the whole low interest policy pushed by the government. It made getting loans far too easy for people who frankly shouldnt have received them. Add that to the ridiculous "too big to fail" policy that both Bush and Obama supported, and we are where we are. These aren't entirely political issues that require partisan attitudes.

As for Cain, he was never ready for prime time. He has a great personal story, but wasn't careful enough to hide his personal failings. Welcome to being a question on a game show, Herman.

Didnt say that Madvert, stop making strawman arguments.

When you see the Christian Brotherhood getting a third of votes in the US, then you have something to argue about. Until then, the supremacy of secular politics and social values is still supreme.

Serrano, that would be nice. Unfortunately, Islam as a political/social force would not allow it.

Yabits wrote:

"I would like to know, and only a Republican/conservative can tell me: How does it feel to have your ass handed to you by such a "light" candidate?"

There's no mystery to Obama's victory. He ran a tight campaign against an unpopular incumbent and an uninspiring opponent. Plus, most importantly, the economy was in the crapper. All factors which made the thinness of Obama's resume a smaller issue than it should have been.

2012- bad economy, made worse by an unpopular incumbent. He's ripe for the picking. Look for President Romney.

The difference, Madverts, is that very very few bible-thumpers want to return the USA to a state ruled by the laws of Leviticus. None, actually. The comparison is ludicrous.

Sex scandals are not by any means exclusive to one party. I remember a certain hopeful in the Democrats in 2008 who actually fathered an illegitimate child, while his wife was dying of cancer....

Politicians on both sides are pretty much the same in morality, or lack thereof. Ditto for financial shenanigans.

IMHO, the process of running for president virtually ensures that the best, most qualified candidates will NOT even enter the fray.

SS: Considering that the Democrats selected a man whose total business/private sector experience was basically zero, and whose total leadership experience was basically zero, and whose resume was half a term as a junior Senator...

...don't liberals have ANY pride for their country?

"Moderate and fair" apply to the Muslim Brotherhood about as well as "Fair and Balanced" apply to Fox News. They need to be exterminated.

Another typical gaijin suketto pick-up by a NPB team. Mediocre minor league player, no success in the big leagues. Sounds perfect.

And people wonder why MLB is seen as far superior? The cream of Japanese baseball goes to America, and with one or two exceptions are totally underwhelming. By contrast, minor league players and major league cast-offs can come to Japan and have great success.

Sorry, bureaucrat then, not politician. Same principle though.

As to the idea that nobody understands the feelings of Okinawan people, that is nonsense. People DO understand. They just don't care, and don't think feelings have much importance when deciding issues of national security.

No surprise. That's what happens when the government inserts itself into the marketplace. Greedy politicians take bribes from greedy businesses. Let the free market run, and corruption would be shattered. There can't be any crony capitalism if politicians dont have any power to rig/sabotage the marketplace

The real story her is why was a politician going to a drinking party with a bunch of REPORTERS?!? A shocking level of stupidity and ignorance. Even if the journos promised the remarks would be off the record, it would be stupid to trust them.

Time for the Okinawans to stop whining. If the military leaves, their economy will be destroyed. I'd love the US to pull out and go home. Can you imagine the chaos is Japan were to actually have to defend ITSELF? Living next to 2 nuclear armed countries that hate Japan, a long coastline to defend, etc. The defense budget here would need to be tripled at the very least.

Ah, the sweet shortness of the liberal memory. It was only a few years ago, in 2007, when the Democrats were having the same winnowing process that the GOP is now- seeking a candidate. Complete with such political luminaries as Dennis Kusinich, Mike Gravel, Al Sharpton, and John Edwards.

Things will sort themselves out, and the serious candidates will survive. As they do with primaries for both parties.

EM: "They" didnt have a revolution. It was a military coup that resulted in a brutal murderous dictatorship responsible for untold crimes. Pardon me if I dont respect what they do or say.

Ditto for Taiwan and the farce of calling it "Chinese Taipei" in various international events.