[sumo] Off topic - Mr. Abe's resignation

[Carl Freire]

At 11:35 PM -1000 9/13/07, Lawrence Rogers wrote:
>  > There needs to be a Vice Prime Minister type of position, someone who
>  > is able to take over when the Prime Minister is out of commision.

Well, there is.  Under Japan's Constitution, the Cabinet 
Secretary--in the current situation, Kaoru Yosano--can undertake 
basic prime ministerial functions if the premier is absent or 
incapacitated, more or less the same as a vice-president under the 
U.S. Constitution.

The problem is not a matter of parliamentary vs. presidential systems 
of governance.  The problem is a matter of what the person in the 
position feels he is and is not capable of doing.  Abe basically is 
(was?) a legacy boy, in his position of political power because it is 
the family business, not necessarily because it's what he has sought 
to do.  What we've been learning over the past week is the extent to 
which he was able to physically and psychologically put up with the 
demands of the job.  He's looked pretty shell-shocked since the July 
election, and let's not forget he had a minister he selected commit 
suicide on him, too.

The PM has had more than he can handle.  Arguably, it's good that he 
said, "Enough!" instead of trying to tough it out.

FWIW.

Carl
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Carl Freire
cfreire-[AT)-ix.netcom.com
Tokyo, Japan