Much Ado about Almost Nothing: or, So Much for DPJ Sanctions

The latest news from Yomiuri has Azuma Koshiishi stating in today’s regular press briefing that “it is impossible that [ex-Prime Minister Hatoyama] will not be an official candidate” if the lower house election occurs during his suspension period. There is a semantic discrepancy between this and his earlier statement just two days ago that one “cannot be an official candidate during the suspension period” that can be bridged only through the fourth dimension by assuming that Hatoyama (and all the other suspended lower house members for that matter) will be pardoned if and when the Noda cabinet calls a snap election within the next six months. In the meantime, Hatoyama et al will be allowed to attend DPJ meetings as “observers.” So the camel(s) will be peeing in the tent and all the while, everyone else pretends not to see it. All this is no doubt motivated by the very real fear that dissidents will pick up their marbles and walk out.

Verily, the political theatrics have been transformed in an instant from suspense to farce. Could Shakespeare have done any better?

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So I guess my question is, or would be if I were Ozawa and his diehard allies, “Did I act too hastily in exiting the premises?”