Bit o' Politics

Not as much fun as the poodle/lamb scam, this news is more political. Prime Minister Abe, whose accomplishments include:

*Requiring history books to instill a sense of patriotism [AKA white washing]

*Pushing for constitutional revision, as a prelude to rearmament

*Defending his colleague's "Women are birth-giving machines" comment

can now add "appeased the nutso right-wingers" to his list. Abe had refused to comment about any visit he may or may not make to Yasukuni Shrine. For those of you who don't know about the shrine, why it's controversial, or why riots in China n S. Korea break out whenever a Japanese PM visits said shrine, read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_shrine

Anyhow, Abe didn't actually go to the shrine. Instead he donated a $500 potted plant and signed it as the Prime Minister. While I completely am against Yasukuni, at least Abe is fairly upfront about his support. The lion-haired Koizumi talked one way, then shamelessly acted in another, all to please the scary right-wingers.

note: Yes, they deserve the title "scary" as the extreme right-wingers have shot more political figures than the Yakuza.