Japan scrambles for new leader after resignation

[unhappycamper]

Japan scrambles for new leader after resignation
By YURI KAGEYAMA, Associated Press Writer Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press Writer – 17 mins ago

TOKYO – Japan's ruling party scrambled to find a new leader after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned Wednesday, apologizing for failing to keep a campaign promise to move a contentious U.S. military base, as his party desperately tried to boost its chances in elections next month.

Finance Minister Naoto Kan, who has a clean and defiant image, emerged a likely successor. Party leaders were to huddle Friday to choose a new party leader, with a parliamentary vote for prime minister likely next week.

Sweeping into office just eight months ago by defeating the long-ruling conservatives, Hatoyama captured the imagination of many Japanese voters with his promises to bring change and transparency to government, as the country grappled with how to cope with economic stagnation and an aging, shrinking population.

So when he failed to deliver on his promises, including a pledge to move the Marine Air Station Futenma off the southern island of Okinawa, and his staff got ensnared in a political funding scandal, his approval ratings rapidly sank, falling below 20 percent.

"He could not live up to the huge expectations," said Tetsuro Kato, professor of politics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. "He just proved himself to be a rich kid without experience and leadership skills.

[RandomThoughts]

1. Or he was pressured by other elements to leave.

Finance is what the article says is probably successor?

It is not easy to make changes, lots of pressure in those areas.

But another good reason to not be in leadership roles, and why change has to be from many people. Sounded like he wanted to get some good things done.

[unhappycamper]

2. The Japanese have been protesting Futenma every month or two for the last year and a half.

Moving the Air Station is a big deal with them - do you blame them?

[RandomThoughts]

3. Not at all, I think they should decide as a people.

I was commenting on how difficult it is for leaders, and the pressure they are under. It is why decentralization is also important, so that a few leaders don't get all the bad side pressure, and also why many average people civilian leaders are needed, to dilute the bad stuff that tries to keep people down.

The only way bad can do anything is to work through authoritarian structures, since it is limited.

And that is why media, wealth, or anything else should not be consolidated also.

[unhappycamper]

4. Well put, RandomThoughts. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

5. when ya fall into that last sentence category..like Bush , the Manly thing to do is RESIGN as

Hatoyama did...

Bush did not...instead tried to bully his way through History and the White House...not manly at all.

[xchrom]

6. +1