Japan Elections Tonight....Arrogant and Conceited to Lose..

[readmylips]

Japan Elections: The Lion weeps tonight (Guardian.com)

Japan's big-haired prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, has dented his once-unassailable popularity, writes Justin McCurry

The cult of Junichiro Koizumi is at an end. The Japanese prime minister, his party's greatest asset for the past three years, is quickly becoming its biggest liability just days before nationwide elections for the upper house of parliament. Criticism of what many consider his autocratic handling of pension reform and his vision for Japanese troops in post-war Iraq is beginning to stick.

Opinion polls published in this week's newspapers put support for the Koizumi cabinet at between 24 and 35 percent, the lowest levels since he became prime minister in April 2001. If the worst-case scenario is realised, by this time next week, the Lionheart of Japanese politics could be out of a job.
.....
For the first time, doubts surround the personal integrity of a man who not so long ago enjoyed personal popularity ratings in the high 80s.

"He has become so arrogant, so conceited and so confident that he even wants to change the constitution," Toshikawa said.

He was confident enough, too, to send Japanese troops to Iraq in the face of widespread opposition. His plans to incorporate them into a multinational force being put together by the Americans has fuelled suspicions that he is more interested in demonstrating his loyalty to Washington than in listening to voters at home.
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"Koizumi would stay on," he said, "but his ability to control his party would be severely diminished. Etc.....

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Arrogant and conceited. That sounds just like little georgie and his pal Tony the poodle.

[montanacowboy]

1. All the clay pidgeons are falling

Howard, Berlusconi, Blair, Koizumi, Aznar, all listened to Georgie Porgie instead of their constituents --

even Arroyo is having doubts about sending more troops....

[patdem]

2. WOW...and not even an Al Queda attack??

[D-Notice]

3. Nah...

An "Al Qaeda" indicent would be used to "convince" them to ensure their troops go to Iraq...

[AmericanErrorist]

4. Never Mind

http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1256902,00.html