Eric Talmadge an Associated Press Writer in an article today focused on the resignation of Defense Minister Kyuma rather than on the question of whether the atomic bombings were justified. He wrote: “Kyuma, a native of Nagasaki, said he did not mean to condone the 1945 bombings, which Washington has argued were necessary to end World War II without a potentially bloody land invasion. "I just meant that there was nothing we could do about it," he said after tendering his resignation to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose administration has seen its popularity plunge ahead of parliamentary elections this month. "I don't think people understood what I meant."

Politics in Japan is a horror story compared to our politics. The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled with an iron fist since “democracy” was established after the war with truth, justice and common sense not even an after thought. You take your political life in your hands, when even though you are a native of Nagasaki and are simply stating your personal opinion, you dare to challenge the LDP mantra. Everything and anything is done to stay in power including destroying the beauty of Japan by terribly overbuilding the infrastructure just to buy votes. The unlawfulness and injustice of the Attention Deficit Administration of Spoiled Brats is preschool compared to Japanese politics and societal control.

It makes little sense for Westerners to judge what happens politically in Japan unless you understand the enigma of Japanese power as wonderfully explained in the book with that title by Karel van Wolferen.

As a retired Air Force public affairs officer, I couldn’t agree more with what you advised Hornet Driver and agree less with your advice to Keith that he dispense with the “mindless craptrap and bullshit.” Those who support the Bush Attention Deficit Administration of Spoiled Brats regardless of the atrociousness of his Decider decisions suffer from the same malady- if I get what I want, any ends justifies the means. Then they have the nerve to tell us that one wrong, Clinton, makes #43 right. Reason and logic escapes their minds because it is full of so much neocon and right wing mantra bullshit that their ears and minds can’t function properly.

You are wrong about the varied content of Keith’s show. How long would most viewers watch if all they heard was excellently prepared and delivered rants and other serious, mostly depressing stories- especially viewers much younger than you or I? You are making the mistake that we frequently complain guys like Hornet Driver make, everyone must see the world as they see it. All parts of our culture, including Paris, make up the wonder that is America. Keith is making points in all parts of the show delivering some of them in the very effective style of the Stewart and Colbert shows.

Yes, there is too much coverage of Paris and celebrities. Yet, there are important things to be learned by their fans and others from the mistakes and travails they face. For example, thanks to Paris going to jail twice, a lot more Americans are more aware that money and power do not always prevail and that justice can be blind.

Adam Liptak in a New York Times article today said, “In commuting I. Lewis Libby Jr.’s 30-month prison sentence on Monday, President Bush drew on the same array of arguments about the federal sentencing system often made by defense lawyers — and routinely and strenuously opposed by his own Justice Department.”

The great Decider didn't consult the Justice Department because he didn't want anyone telling him he shouldn't do what he did. Nothing changes. That's the same rational he used for the Iraq invasion.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/washington/04commute.html?em&ex=1183694400&en=099e5073200596c9&ei=5070

Yes!