Word: abely
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...coasted to the Prime Ministership last September, Shinzo Abe often spoke of his grand ambitions to remake Japan's postwar system and enlarge the country's role on the world stage. But after what is shaping up to be a catastrophic performance in Sunday's elections for the Japanese Diet's Upper House, it may be the Japanese public's turn to reshape the administration of Shinzo Abe - if his government survives...
While final tallies won't be counted until Monday morning, early results indicate that the ruling coalition of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito party has decisively lost its majority to the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). For the first time in the history of the LDP - which has dominated Japanese politics since its founding in 1955 - the Upper House will be controlled by an opposition party, potentially paving the way for Japan's first true two-party system. "This election was entirely a vote of no-confidence for Abe and the LDP/Komeito coalition...
With a DPJ landslide all but assured, the big election night question quickly became whether Abe would resign. Prime Ministers in the past have voluntarily stepped down after similar defeats - most recently, Ryutaro Hashimoto in 1998 - but even as the full extent of the loss sank in Sunday, Abe and his advisers gave every indication that he would try to hold on to power. "We tried our best and felt we made some progress, so the results are extremely disappointing," a bleary Abe told Japanese reporters from LDP headquarters. "I must push ahead with reforms and continue to fulfill...
Because the ruling coalition still holds a massive majority in the more powerful Lower House, the LDP retains control of the government. Abe could still face pressure to step down from members of his own party, although for now the LDP's most bloodthirsty factions may be content with the departures of some of Abe's closest Cabinet ministers, including LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, who appeared on TV to take responsibility for the loss and submitted his resignation late Sunday...
...like [Ross] Perot and [Mike] Bloomberg" [July 16]. This may be Kristol's view, but for many others the "gloom" is about improving the nation. America can be greater than a bunch of lifer politicians who view the world through the haze of their intoxication with power and privilege. Abe WalkingBear Sanchez, CANON CITY, COLORADO...