Who will slither in

to replace Fukuda?

I was surprised to hear that PM Fukuda suddenly resigned today as apparently so was everyone else. The question is who will replace him? Is this Aso's big chance? Will Japan return to the rightist policies of Abe or go even further with Aso? The MangaMan will at least handle the selection of the new LDP leader according to Fukuda.

Or, does this mean that the LDP is once again doomed as we have been hearing from some for years and years? Perhaps Ozawa and the DPJ will be able to use this to finally wrest control from the LDP, not just for a year or two, but long enough to bring Japan a real two-party system. If so, it seems like it would happen more because the LDP is showing itself to be completely incompetent and incapable of governing than because of anything that the DPJ does or says. (Ozawa? Is he an improvement on anything?)

I am skeptical---actually cynical---about the latter, and with unjustified self-confidence assume the Aso/rightist scenario is much more likely in both the short and long term.

2320: Even I have to admit that the LDP looks so bad now that those who have been predicting its fall for years may be right this time. Still, I'll believe it when I see it.