「自民と民主は、打ち合う二人のパンチ・ドランカー」 |
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米保守系シンクタンク、ヘリテージ財団のブルース・クリングナーが『アジア・タイムズ』(香港『亜洲時報』の英語版)に「日本にとっての更なる政治的膠着」と題する時評を書いた。色々面白い表現が出てくる。一部、紹介してみたい。
「アメリカの政府関係者は、政策作成過程が欠如し決定が下せない日本の民主党を、秘かに『アマチュア』と呼んでいる」
「野球でいえば、2回にリリーフ・ピッチャーをブルペンに求めねばならない民主党に、今後を期待するのは難しい」
「民主党は7月の選挙で単独過半数を獲得し、用済みとなった左翼の社民党を連立から追い出して、より中道寄りの外交・安全保障政策を採用するだろうというのが、1年前、海外の日本専門家の間で一般的な見方だった」(要するに、甘い見方だったと言える―島田)
「自民党と民主党は、今や、互いに打ち合う二人のパンチ・ドランカーのようなもので、それなりにポイントは稼げてもノックアウト・パンチを放つ力はない」
ちなみに、クリングナーもその一員であるアメリカの保守派においては、オバマ政権についても「アマチュア」「無能」(incompetent)と見るのが一般的である。鳩山ほどルーピー(能天気)ではないが鳩山より左翼、といったところか…。
保守勢力の巻き返しにおいて、日米どちらがまさるか、これからが勝負だと言えよう。
Jul 15, 2010
More political stalemate for
By Bruce Klingner
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/LG15Dh01.html
……The prime minister (Hatoyama) was also derided for lacking a strategic vision and his frequent policy reversals.
……That the DPJ chose Hatoyama as its first leader after its unprecedented 2009 electoral victory reflected poorly on the party and its future potential for success. Having to go to the bullpen for a relief pitcher in only the second inning of the baseball game doesn't instill confidence in the DPJ. Newly-selected
A year ago, it was common for
……As a result of its underwhelming election results, the DPJ coalition can no longer ensure approval of its legislative initiatives. Although the DPJ has a majority in the more powerful Lower House, it does not have the two-thirds majority necessary to override bills rejected by the upper house. A "twisted parliament" portends even greater legislative stalemate and political gridlock.
The main opposition LDP, banished with disdain by the electorate following last year's Lower House election, rebounded with 51 seats, up from 38, for a total of 84 in the Upper House. The LDP shouldn't become complacent about its victory, however. Just as the DPJ won last year's election mainly because it wasn't the LDP, the LDP gained ground on Sunday simply because it was moderately less offensive to voters than the DPJ.
……With the DPJ's aura of invincibility tarnished, the LDP and DPJ are now like two punch-drunk fighters bludgeoning each other to score tactical points but unable to deliver the knock out punch. ……
Some analysts hope that the political tumult will eventually lead to a strategic political realignment in which the existing political parties disintegrate with new ideologically-based parties arising from their ashes. If that were to occur, it would offer the Japanese electorate a real choice between opposing political ideologies and policy objectives.
This scenario, however, would require far greater dynamism than
Bruce Klingner is a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation's