It's September, and Japan is in the grips of selection fever. This month Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi steps down, and the ever-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will choose a new president. To all intents and purposes, due to the party's parliamentary dominance, selection of an LDP leader is tantamount to election of prime minister.
In the United States, too -- where no sooner does one election end than the next one begins -- selection fever is also rife, with speculation rampant on who will be the presidential contenders to succeed George W. Bush in 2008.
During the Bush administration the Republicans have not only had the leadership ball in their court, they have owned the ball; and all players for the presidency are being judged, willy-nilly, in relation to the incumbent.